One of the highlights of our Columbus weekend was a day at The Columbus Zoo.  We got there right at opening and got a nice discount for being Minnesota Zoo members.  We did not really have much of a plan for the day – just wanted to see everything.

Not in any particular order…

• Saw the tiger feeding and met a staff member who had been part of the Secrets of the Zoo show!
• Watched a training session with two gorgeous cheetahs.
• Walked through Adventure Cove (glass tube with water on all sides so you can see the various sealife swim above you and below you.
• Watched the lion feeding.  I had the BEST spot of anyone… I kid you not.
• YA walked through the Lorikeet Aviary
• Lots of kangaroos in the Kangaroo WalkAbout
• Extraordinarily expensive pizza lunch
• Spent a LONG LONG time at Stingray Bay. YA is besotted with petting stingrays and little sharks.
• Petted some goats at The Barn
• Gorgeous polar bears
• Visited the manatees and got to see “Stubby”, who can’t be released to a boatstrike injury but has acted as a mom to many young rescue manatees over the years.  Even found a cool manatee t-shirt!

I’ve talked about Jack Hanna running the Zoo for many years, basically turning it around and creating the fabulous experience that it is today.  Up near the Africa area, there is a great bench/sculpture of Jack and his wife, Suzi.  I couldn’t resist the photo op!

We were at the zoo for almost 8 hours and I can truthfully say that I slept like a rock that night!

Do you have a favorite animal?