Where the Wild Things Are [Nashville Zoo]

Last Saturday before winter came back to Nashville, we decided we wanted to go do something fun outside. So we went to the Nashville Zoo.

We hadn't been in about three years – I only remember the date because we (same group of friends) went on St. Patrick's Day 2007, and it was really chilly and some of the animals weren't out. This time, it was sunny and beautiful, a balmy 50 degrees ... and super, super crowded. I think we were the only people there without children, and we were disappointed the price had gone up since last time... it was either $8 or $10 in 2007, and the 2010 admission is now $14 a person. If I thought I'd go back again, I would have paid the extra few bucks for a season pass, but I don't have kids so it'll probably be another three years before I return.

Anyway, we were disappointed the warthogs weren't out, but other than that all the animals were out to play. It wasn't as adorable as the playful kitties that Ty and I saw in Tampa at the Big Cat Rescue, but we did get to see elephants and giraffes and meerkats and all that.

I also thought it was pretty crazy that Nashville still has snow from #thesituation2010:

This snow reminds me of dirty Chicago snow that takes forever to melt. I mean, that snow has been there for more than a month... gross.

But overall the zoo was a lot of fun – something different, at least. And we walked a lot, which is great. I took lots of pictures, including some of spiders in the creepy sweltering indoors area of the zoo that has all the fish and reptiles. Slowly conquering my phobia. (Shudder.)

Also, I had no idea there was an old plantation house, a community garden and a cemetery in the Nashville Zoo, but we stumbled upon that when we needed a breather from the throngs of families. It was very peaceful, but the house wasn't open in the winter, apparently. The garden is operated by master gardeners, so I was interested to learn about that. (Oh, and last weekend we started making plans for MY garden now that I have a house and yard... exciting! Hopefully with my mom's sage advice I won't kill everything I grow.)

This area of the zoo also had a petting zoo and farm animals, but I can see those any time. It did crack me up when one of my friends talked about visiting a zoo somewhere in Europe, and they had cows and goats that were considered, like, exotic animals. Of course, I guess people in South America probably think it's weird that we are fascinated by these birds that they have everywhere, and same with Floridians and alligators. Of course, that's also how I feel about their brown recluse exhibit. (Shudder again.)

I think my favorite were the adorable red pandas, but we couldn't see them very well, or the snow leopards, which were beautiful. I just don't know how I feel about leopards in captivity – or animals in captivity – after my trip to Big Cat Rescue. Obviously I'm not that against it, though, or I wouldn't visit the zoo. I know they're treated much more humanely than the crazies who keep them as pets in really confined spaces. Or killer whales at SeaWorld.

I figured out how to embed a slideshow, so here it goes.


Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.


I am glad I'm able to write a nice wholesome family-friendly post before blogging about an unexpected Nashville event I went to this week. It was very... Bollywood.