Milwaukee's Zoo

We took our first roadtrip of the summer over July's holiday weekend.  Unfortunately, the next day our dog was hit by a car and these photos were all but forgotten while I was in crisis mode.   I wanted to get this posted before our fun day at the zoo was a distant memory. 

The boys and I drove to Grandpa's house on Saturday morning.  I can hardly believe it but he let them eat ice cream in his pristine home. (I had to eat my summer treats outside until I was 18!)  Grandpa is very indulgent with the boys but I grabbed them both before they could head into the carpeted living room.  As it was, I had to change them into,their spare outfits before we headed off to the Milwaukee County Zoo.

Crossing the miniature train tracks--next time, we'll take a ride!

On this particular day, veterans and their families received free admission to the zoo.  Grandpa is an Air Force veteran and was happy to join the festivities (especially the complimentary lunch) for men and women who have served their country.  One of the amenities was a shuttle bus from the remote parking lot, so I only brought a single stroller.  As it turned out we were able to park in the zoo lot for free.  I thought I'd regret not having a stroller for Henry, but he walked the entire day.  There was just so much to see, he forgot to get tired.

We began with a tour of the petting zoo.  Liam lost a shoe back in the parking lot and before I knew it, he was out of the stroller walking through the goat yard.  I didn't need a zoo emloyee to tell me how unsanitary this was, but she did anyway.  I scooped him up when I realized the error of my ways and used hand sanitizer on his tiny feet!  He wore Henry's spare slip-ons for the rest of the day.

I highly recommend this zoo. The grounds are beautiful, there's lots of shade and lots to do.  Liam enjoyed the playground-- tackling equipment that would scare kids twice his age.  Henry was able to see many animals up close.  I think the exhibits/habitats are bit more viewer- friendly than those at our local zoo.

I didn't get a photo, but the penguin pool is especially accessible to little ones.  They can walk around the outdoor enclosure and press their noses against the glass as the penguins swim by. It tied for my favorite with the North American bear exhibit.  Those grizzlies were majestic and graceful in a way only a bear can be.

We ended our visit in a shady picnic grove surrounded by flamingoes.  Liam was sound asleep in the stroller but Henry had just enough energy to stare out at these beautiful birds.

Amazingly, even after a post-zoo Chinese dinner, neither boy fell asleep on the long drive home.   They were quiet though, so I was able to spend part of the drive listening to an audiobook and planning our next roadtrip.