Take a Trip Tues at Hogle Zoo

Ever since Rocky Shores opened up at Utah's Hogle Zoo, the kids have been dying to go.  They have a polar bear!  Enough said. :)


So for the last few weeks they have been saving up their allowance to go.  They worked hard and paid their own admission cost and a ticket for the train - a whole $12.25.  I am very proud of them.  I am also grateful another wise mom suggested I make them do this...a concrete way of teaching them about hard work and the satisfaction that comes from sacrafice and delayed gratification.  I honestly think they enjoyed it much more because they had to work and pay for it themselves.  Plus they kept thanking me the whole time for bringing them!  Ummm...this technique is here to stay. :)  The next place they are saving up for is a day at Cowabunga Bay - a fantastic looking water park in Draper.  They are going to need about $20 this time.  We'll see how soon we get there. :)


I digress, back to the adventure at hand.

The first stop was the train ride.  They kids seemed to like it, but honestly, I wasn't too impressed.  It was over in like 5 minutes and you only saw like 2 animals.  Booo....

But the kids liked it, so that's what counts. :)


Next stop, my favorite...the elephants.

We also saw rhinos on our way to Rocky Shores.  

This where the real action happened!  We saw bald eagles, sea lions, sea otters, and last but the best of all...the Polar Bear!


This guy was seriously awe-some.  Tell me if your experience at the Zoo is similar to mine.  You go thinking you will see active animals.  Instead you see sleeping animals laying so far away from the glass that often you have to search to spot them.  Not this guy!  He was so playful!

Can you believe that???!!!  He kept coming right up to the glass, face-to-face with the kids!  Then would fall back, swim down, and do it again - over and over.  It was so neat and the kids (and adults for that matter) were just zoned in!  Oh my stars it was cool!


After leaving him, we headed to the Giraffes. These animals always amaze me.  What a fun creation they must have been.

Next up, big cats...Tigers.

These little cubs were in the reptiles house...umm ok?


After that we headed to the Apes which were pretty cool...on the way we saw peacocks, camels, and the carousel that Abby lost it over when she found out she couldn't ride the "PONIES"!  


Once we left the apes, we were all pretty hot and getting tired, so we finished out the day with some ice cream.  It was well received. :)

Great day. :)