It's a ZOO Out There!

There are many advantages to living in NC.  We have the best of MOST worlds...beach, mountains and the ZOO are just a day trip away for us!  When the big kids were small, Greg and I would take them on many adventures on the weekends.  One trip that was always a favorite was the NC Zoo.  Since Taylor is so much younger than Gregory, Tiffany and Sarah, she doesn't remember a lot of these special trips.  Greg and she were talking a couple of weeks ago about our last trip to the zoo.  Much to our surprise, she didn't remember much about it but what she did remember, she LOVED.  Greg had off Saturday, Taylor invited her good friend, Mallory and we hit the road for Ashboro bright and early!  Now you must understand, early for the Dixons is early! 

Greg is pretty much a type A personality (actually, I am too) so getting to the zoo or any other destination when the gates open is the ultimate goal.  If we don't get there on time, we may miss something really important or we may not be the visitors to see the polar bears take their first plunge in the pool for the day!!  Well, needless to say, we got there in plenty of time to enjoy all the animals and exhibits from Africa and North America.

I love watching the zoo animals.  My favorite is the polar bears!  They are so large but swim so gracefully in the water.  Floating on top of the water then diving to the bottom of the pool, climbing on the plastic iceberg float...they are so entertaining.  They really put on so a show!

One thing that wasn't so pleasant was the extreme HEAT!   It was hot and those who know me, know I do NOT do well in the heat.  It was 120 degrees (granted, I am exaggerating but it felt like it)! Talk about whining...I was whining like a toddler. I was worn out by the end of the day actually but lunchtime.  Just when we had seen every animal from Africa (zebras, giraffes, elephants, monkeys, gorillas, exotic birds, etc...) to all the animals from North America (bears, bison, polar bears, puffins, reptiles-YUCK, sea otters, fox, etc...) guess who wanted to play on the playground...Taylor and Mallory.  I was so ready to get into the car with some maximum A/C and they wanted to play!  I sat down in the shade (still about to die from heat) and Greg took pictures of the 15 year-old-beauties on the insect-inspired playground.

When we did leave and I got cooled off in the lovely A/C, I reflected upon our day.  It was a great day.  We definitely got our moneys worth of zoo life and made many wonderful memories.  This was a trip that Taylor will remember and share with her kids one day.  Life as the Dixons is a good life!