Living and Learning on the Move

     We are kind of zoo fanatics so today we ventured out to see our National Zoo. I don't know how much you know about DC or the Smithsonian, but the Smithsonian consists of 22 huge museums, in all, for free. The National Zoo also falls under the Smithsonian. (Note: Almost everything in the DC area is free. What they don't tell you, is that it'll cost you around $20 to park!)

     We kind of got a late start, as evidenced by our terrible far away parking spot! After finally making our way from our parking spot, up the zoo pathway, we ended up seeing lions, tigers, and bears, oh my! LOL! Actually, the first few "animals" we got to see were prairie dogs and turtles. So much for seeing unique animals! After that we started seeing some pretty interesting animals. At the lion habitat, Brad used his observation skills and saw a black snake deep inside the bush. It was even close enough to touch. Not knowing if it was poisonous or not, we didn't want to get any closer to take a picture! Very good eye Brad! It was so hot and muggy today! The heat, humidity, and rain have been so hard on us! I think only fellow east coasters could know how extremely hot it is. It's crazy! We love summer and the sun but it's just so miserable when it's this humid. It turns out many of the animals feel the same way as they were hiding and sleeping away from the sun and our view. :(  We saw as many animals as we could; but, more and more habitats appeared to be empty because of their hiding. We couldn't leave the National Zoo without seeing one of the animals it is well known for, the panda!

This is the map of the zoo. (To get an actual souvenir map to look at and find your way around or take home cost $2!)

This describes what animals are within the park.

Brad and Kristi as we were coming into the park. :)

     After leaving the zoo, we had to stop by the grocery store to pick up something for dinner and maybe a dessert snack. The kids have been getting good at cooking/baking and Brad enjoys making brownies.It's hot; but, maybe we should make some more snacks for tomorrow. It is going to be a long day downtown DC. It's our last day here and there is still so much to see. We've had a lot of rain days or days off in between visits because it is easier for our family to have a beak in between our days out and about. So we have to pick and choose out of the many things left to see and decide what our must sees are and try to hit them tomorrow.

Kids in front of a small pretty waterfall (even though it looks like it's bouncing off Kristi's head). Don't they look enthused that I want to take a "another" picture?

A turtle! What a "unique animal," right? Just kidding!

This is the top of what they call the O-Line or something like that. The orangutans get to travel across the top of the zoo on these "vines" into another orangutan home. (See the example on the right.)

The rest of the Orangutan transportation system! They actually climb to the top of that and swing across it!

I love watching them... they look so graceful and peaceful.

Can't get enough of them!

Kristi and Brad chilling!

This little guy was so fast we could only get a blur on camera! He was so pretty though and looked soft and cuddly like your everyday house cat! I wish I could have gotten a pic! This is my second favorite after the Meerkat!

They have these cute little statues throughout  the zoo. We had to get some pics of them!

Interesting looking squirrel! They are called a Prevost Squirrel! We had seen a very similar one in Florida and someone had thought they were called a Fox Squirrel or a Monkey Squirrel. Now we know! :)

Just thought this was beautiful and creative all-in-one!

More Orangutans.

These are all the FEMALE Giant Panda. We didn't get to see the male Giant Panda because my scooter was almost completely dead so we had to make it to the parking lot! :) Seeing her was good enough to me!

We loved looking at all these neat statues throughout the zoo.

Isn't she so beautiful?

I forgot to see how much she eats in a day! I guess its another area we can look up and learn from!

It was neat just to watch her chilling and eating. It was almost surreal that we could be looking at such wholesome beautiful nature! :) Another of God's creations.

Our location today: National Zoo - Smithsonian