Second Annual Zoo Vacation!

We went on a vacation! Okay, so it was only 3 days/2 nights but it was still a vacation! On Friday, we left right after lunch time and drove to Omaha to see their zoo. You may remember last year, on our trip to the Indianapolis zoo we drove through a monsoon. This year's trip did not disappoint on the rain front. It wasn't nearly as monsoony as last year but it still rained pretty much the entire drive. The upside to this is the car looked great and because it was dark both kids took great naps. (Plus the rain was a real sound machine! Fancy!)

Saturday was zoo day. We got there right as they opened and headed straight for the Scott Aquarium to see the penguins because that is what C was the most excited about. They did not disappoint. In case you have a child who loves penguins and can name most of the 17 breeds of penguins by sight, the Omaha Zoo has Gentoo, King, Rockhopper and a Macaroni Penguin in the Aquarium and then African Penguins out by their barn area.

They have a wall of penguins, where you can see how big you are compared to all the different breeds. C thought this was a snazzy wall. The breeds the zoo has were 3D, the others were just pictures. C definitely impressed this lady as he walked down the wall naming all the types. by sight. Heck, he's my kid and I am impressed by this too.

C is the same size as a King Penguin.

They also have a bubble where you can get inside the exhibit a little and they can swim right to you, and he loved loved this.

After the aquarium, which was really cool, we headed out for the polar bear which was C's other top choice to see. Our intention was to get our must sees checked off the list right away when the crowds weren't huge. Which was the best possible plan. I had read a lot about how to best do the zoo and read a tip that going through the gorilla building was the fastest way to the back of the zoo.

I am so thankful for that tip, because we hit the gorilla building while the gorillas were active and excited. Plus there was barely anyone there. We basically had the entire building to ourselves so we got up close and personal with the gorillas.

A little bit further into the building, there were more bubbles to go into the exhibit through this tunnel. We were all in one together and then M and I went to the next one over to wave to the boys. Then I looked up and there was a gorilla. Because the building was so empty and quiet, (in this section were were completely alone) we could talk to each other from the two bubbles and we watched the gorilla as a family. It was so peaceful and so cool. We didn't take any pictures and I am honestly so glad because it was such a great moment to just be present in. 

We headed off to the polar bear and M had a bottle while C spent about 20 minutes with the polar bear. It was so great. The weather was crisp and beautiful, there were peahens walking around and we saw a grand total of 5 other people the whole time we were there. The polar bear was especially active in the cool morning as well, walking and pacing, then he settled down on this rock. 

After that, we conquered the zoo. For having two young kids I am pretty impressed by how much we did. And we had pretty impeccable timing throughout the day. We had a really peaceful lunch overlooking the monkeys in the jungle and just as we were leaving the line to get in was CRAZY. 

The African Penguins were also a lot of fun. 

The Garden of the Senses was really pretty and quite calming for our kids. Which was good because the day was so stimulating. M settled in for her nap in this garden and C was able to regroup and find his happy face on the baby elephant statue.

The Desert Dome was very interesting. And it took a really cool picture. But the actual animals in the desert weren't super interesting to me. But in the basement, they had Kingdoms of the Night. Which was pretty cool. Except for the giant giant giant room full of bats flying around. I could have done without that for sure. Still giving me the creeps just thinking about it.

The very last thing in the building were crocodiles. While looking at them, they turned the lights on in the exhibit, to feed them or something. Most of the crocs swam away, but one came right up to the glass up to C's face and they were nose to nose. There were a lot of people watching C and his reaction, because hello, crocodile. C, ever the animal lover was all "So cute! Look at the crocodile, look at his big eyes. Look at his nice teeth." So not scared.

I feel like when I was three I wouldn't have been so excited about the same experience. We saw a lot of kids scared of a lot of animals throughout the day but not our mini zookeeper. In fact, when it was time to leave the building, this was the end of our day, and it was one of C's only moments of tears. Someone walked in just then and said "It's okay little boy, there's a lot of glass there, they aren't going to hurt you." Which was a nice sentiment but not exactly the problem. 

My kids by gorilla statues. Proof M was there, since we didn't take a lot of pictures. 

We had a really great time at the zoo. We walked in at 9:00 and stayed all day, not leaving until just before 5:00. While the buildings stayed open until 6 and we never made it inside the jungle or a few other things, we packed a lot in and it was time to go. It was so good to have a fun family mini-vacation.