An Animal Adventure

Well, last Friday afternoon we told the kids we were going on a secret adventure. They guessed and guessed were we were going. We tried and tried to get them to bed knowing we would have to get up early to make the drive (which is over an hour). We didn't want to tell them we were going to the Riverbanks Zoo till we got there. What if it rained or something. Boy we would have some disappointed kids on our hands. So we planned on getting out of the house by 7 but didn't leave till after 8 but that was ok. Mom was still doing ok and not too stressed! LOL It was all about fun right! Boy the drive there was good. Other than the constant guessing by Gracie, which didn't start until about 30 min. before we got there, it was pretty quiet. I made all the kids go potty before we left the house because mommy was not stopping! Well, mommy stopped! Mommy had to go! LOL We finally got to the zoo about 10.
We decided earlier in the week to get yearly passes with all the bells and whistles. Unlimited rides and such. While we did that and got things set up and figured out what to do and where to go first, next, last and such the kids played on the lions.



They were having a blast but now onto the living animals! Eli was my partner for most of the tour while Hannah was Randy's partner. Gracie is old enough now that she got to wonder on her own as long as she didn't go out of sight of one of us so she stuck close to Randy the whole time. Unfortunately, Eli and I went through the aquarium much faster than the others and all the pics. I have are of him in there.


Eli and I outside the aquarium waiting on the others to finish.

After the aquarium we headed over to the cafe for lunch. That was an adventure. Overpriced food, which wasn't too horrible but after the kids were whining because they were soooo hungry you would think they would eat their $6 chicken tenders and fries that so weren't worth it. After lunch we decided to go feed some giraffes! What an experience!


After hand feeding the giraffes we headed over to the elephants. Well, that was interesting but in an odd way. We get there and there were a couple elephants in the area. All of a sudden two run over to where we are (they have a huge elephant area). One of the ones that ran over stood right in front of us and peed. Yes, he did. We all said, "gross". Then we looked over and another one was peeing. Hey, I guess an elephant has to do his business too though. Hanny laughing about yet another elephant peeing.
Gracie is getting so tall. Randy and I enjoying the zoo with the kids.
After the elephants were the flamingos, and boy, did they stink! We didn't stay long! I think the kids had more fun playing on the statues than anything. They loved all the statues of the animals at the zoo and everytime we saw one they would run to it and start playing on it. We need one at home! It could probably entertain for hours! LOL

We soon went into the penguin area and Eli and I soon left. It smelled like a fish house. If you are from Pensacola (it smelled like Joe Patti's). Eli and I couldn't take it but I did get a good pic. of him there.
Hanny found a little hole type thing in the rock wall they had surrounding the penguin case that she played in for about 10 minutes before she and Randy moved on and she, Randy, and Gracie met Eli and I outside in the fresh air. We then found the merry-go-round. After the fight over who gets what animal that was a nice ride!


We finished our trip to the zoo with a train ride.

All in all it was a great trip! We all had a blast and although we were planning on a trip to what is supposed to be a good burger joint in Columbia we had to not go due to the fact that we were still full from zoo food. Next time we will plan better though and stop for burgers on the way home! We hope you enjoy a glimpse into our trip to the Riverbanks Zoo last weekend!