Sat Afternoon at Baltimore Zoo
It's been a beautiful day - started early, far too early. But we had an appointment with Angelfood Ministries to pick up our order. As always the box was stuffed full and for only $41 it was a great bargain. And boy does every savings help!
We thought we had the cat clinic today but that's tomorrow so our weekend plans were suddenly derailed. And boy were we glad that we checked before crating the grouchy cat. She's still mad at the fact that she had to endure a bath last night! Putting her in the crate and then taking her out for a ride would have made her vanish for at least two days. Tomorrow is going to be so fun - not!
So at 10:30 we decided... let's check out the Maryland Zoo. We experimented and ordered tickets online and then headed out. Got there at noon. They close at 4 so we thought we'd have to rush. It was not necessary, the Zoo in Baltimore has a tram to take visitors down to the open section.
Anyone who has gone to the MD Zoo as a kid (ie, before 2000) would remember the old bear and big cats section that started right after entering the main gates. Well, it's mostly gone or closed off now. Yes, the bronze & iron lion statues are still there. Some of the cages and enclosures are still visible but the area is now overgrown and waiting renovation. The prairie dog exhibit there is rather cute and the little things were up and about both at noon and at closing.
There are three main areas open down at the halfway point of the main hill. Africa Wilderness, a Polar Bear/arctic area and the Maryland Wilderness/Kids Area. The tram lets people out right outside this section and the first thing you find is the Polar Bear area.
Anyone who fell in love with Hedwig from Harry Potter (books or movies) will find two of the most adorable Snowy Owls. One male and one female. They are awake and vocal during the day. There was also a polar bear (snoozing in sun). The ravens were hiding as were the arctic foxes.
The African Wilderness area is absolutely awesome. Period. Full stop. By the time we hit the Africa Bird Oasis/Aviary we had seen more animals than in the entire National Zoo at DC. It more than made up for the cost of going ($14/each). We spent over two hours in the African Wilderness alone.
Lions, cheetahs, chameleons, vultures, storks, sitangas, tortoises, ducks, gazelles, rhinos, ostrich, zebras, giraffes, elephants, chimpanzees, crocodiles, turtles, lemurs, monkeys, great apes, warthogs, dikdiks, and more.
The kids section was pretty cool, at least the dozens of squealing, laughing, running kids seemed to think so. There were plenty of misting stations consisting of giant, rotating fans equipped with a ring that provides a fine water spray to break the heat. There is, of course, the train (it's been there since I was a toddler).
Yes, there is construction and several of the displays were closed due to renovation or medical difficulties, but the zoo was still very much worth every penny. And for the day - it cost less to go to the Maryland Zoo than the National Zoo (gas& admission vs. gas, parking & metro). We saw more animals and birds too. The only thing I liked better at the National Zoo was their bird building and aviary. The one at the Maryland Zoo has different birds but is not quite as impressive. All in all though, for animals the MD Zoo wins hands down. I want to go back to both when I have a better SLR though - just for better pictures.