Every summer while growing up, our family took an annual trip to the zoo, but it was always to the Toledo Zoo -- and, when we were very young, the small zoo of Michigan-only animals while on vacation in Traverse City, until that zoo closed. For some reason, we never went to the Detroit Zoo. Now seemed like a good time to check it out.
Ellis (and Blanden too) got some rest on the hour-long drive up to Royal Oak.
The zoo is enormous! Much bigger than Denver or Toledo. It was recommended that we ride the train to the back of the zoo and work our way forward, so that is what we did.
As soon as we arrived, we purchased tickets and waited for the train. Papa visited this zoo once as a child and has fond memories of this same train.
Eagerly awaiting sight of the engine.
All aboard!
And we're off.
It zipped right along, speeding past all the animals and even into a long, dark tunnel.
The first stop after exiting the train: lunch. The second stop: the lions, Ellis's favorite (although at this moment he clearly seemed more interested in my sunglasses than the large felines behind him. Naturally, we saw the giraffes too.)
But this was the best exhibit: the Arctic Circle of Life.
We got to walk beneath the watery worlds of the polar bear and seals.
Blanden as a giraffe. :)
Checking out some farm animals,
And a big bear fountain.
Ellis was all tuckered out,
but Blanden found energy to play for a bit before heading home.
After dinner, we decided to fit one more thing into the day:
We baked cookies. The family favorite, from Blanden and Ellis's Great-Great-Grandma Schrauder, of course.
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