My 3-year-old daughter is wild about animals. So much so that during the course of the day she often morphs into a horse, cow, penguin, lion, or in today’s case, a pig. That’s right; tonight she jumped whole hog into character right around bedtime.
Me: Okay, sweetie it’s time for bed let’s start picking up the toys.
My daughter: I’m not a sweetie. I’m a pig.
Me: Okay, but you still need to start picking up your toys, hon.
My daughter: I’m a pig.
Me: Taylor!
My daughter: Pig!
Pig. Cow. Horse. Giraffe. Some days (most days) I can’t keep it all straight. The point is the kid loves anything with four legs and if your child is anything like mine then you spend quite a bit of time at the zoo. One of my favorite places to watch the wild things roam is the Philadelphia Zoo.
If you are a fan of felines you don’t want to miss the zoo’s new Big Cat Falls. It is home to more than a dozen big cats, including African lions, leopards, jaguars, mountain lions and tigers. The exhibit is designed to showcase the animals in a more natural setting. But, unlike other zoos where you practically need binoculars to view some of the “wilder” animals, with this new habitat you can stand behind a glass wall and watch the big kitties come within inches of your face.
The summer season is one of the best times to visit the zoo, especially if you have children. From April through October, the zoo offers special attractions including camel and pony rides, Swan Boat Rides and the ever-popular Zooballoon. The zoo is open year-round from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily; it closes at 4 p.m. from December to early March. Admission is $16.95 for adults, $13.95 for children. Parking is $10. Here’s a tip: If you plan to visit the zoo more than once in one year, it’s worth your while to get a membership. It pays for itself in one visit.
This year it’s wild animals, farm animals, and jungle animals. Last year my daughter was obsessed with anything that swam. We visited some of the nation’s largest aquariums in the quest to give her face time with her finned friends. If you find yourself in the Philadelphia area don’t hesitate to visit the Adventure Aquarium. It’s located on the Camden Waterfront, just over the Delaware River in New Jersey. You can stroll through the shark tunnel and watch as the denizens of the deep swim overhead. Some other must-see exhibits include the 4-D theater where you can get a fish’s perspective on life and the ever-popular indoor hippo exhibit. The aquarium is open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets are $17.95 for adults and $14.95 for children 2-12.
Related Articles: