Our Amazing Day At The Zoo {A Feature}

Anyone living in or near my hometown of Fort Wayne, Indiana knows, without a doubt, one of the biggest "must see" attractions is The Fort Wayne Children's Zoo. I'm not kidding when I saw folks come from all over the state, and even surrounding states to see what we are lucky enough to have in our very own backyard. (Seriously, it's 15 minutes from my house!) Alex and I were lucky enough to be invited to spend a day at the zoo last week, and I wanted to share with all of you the fun we had, and everything that is available if you are planning a visit!

Voted Indiana's #1 Gotta-Do Summer Attraction, the zoo has something for everyone! From exploring Africa, to visiting the "land down under" each turn on your zoo adventure will bring something interesting, new and fun. 

When Alex was little, we were lucky enough to have a family membership, and we were weekly visitors. In fact, some days we would go for an hour, come home and then go back the next day because it was so easy and close. But alas, as he got older and our schedules got busier and more hectic, our trips to the zoo become less frequent. In fact, we figured up it had been 3 years since we last visited, so you can imagine how excited my little man was! 

Since this was a special visit, he was much older than when we used to go, I had a surprise in store for him. Our first stop is usually The African Journey, and this time I was going to make sure we got to ride the Sky Safari Ride.

If you don't mind heights, this is the view you want. Look over the African grasslands and see zebras in their natural habitat. Sit back and enjoy the scenery, because it is beautiful!

Another one of the reasons Alex loves the African Journey so much is the giraffes. And not just because they are cute...nope, at our zoo you get to be up close and personal with them. When I say up close...I mean up close!

For an extra special treat, your child can even feed a giraffe. Yep, they have lettuce leaves right there for purchase and the giraffes will come up and take them right from the kids' hands. I'm telling you , it's something to see, and it's a must-do every time we visit. The first time we did it I got tears in my eyes at how excited he was, and that level of joy doesn't go away no matter how many times he does it.

Our next stop was the Australian Adventure, which just so happens to be the latest part of the zoo getting a face-lift so to speak. I couldn't believe the beautiful changes that had been made since our last visit. Gorgeous landscaping, buildings and even more places to sit down and enjoy a meal or snack make this the perfect spot for your family to rest and plan your next stop!

Plus, the Australian Adventure is home to cute kangaroos (that you can get very close to as well) and the Great Barrier Reef, where kids can see hundreds of tropical fish, jellyfish and even sharks!

These new changes are just part of Phase I of the Australian upgrade. Coming in Phase II is Stingray Bay, an exhibit that is sure to be a highlight of any visit.

Even the fountain (where every child who has ever needed to cool down during their zoo trip has splashed and played) is more beautiful than what we remembered.

Our second to last stop was the Indonesian Rain Forest, exploring all the things the jungle has to offer, including some of the world's most endangered animals, including orangutans, Sumartran tigers and rare Javan gibbons.

We finished our day the same way we have every visit, in the Indiana Farm. That's right, for generations, "city kids" have been able to see what a traditional Hoosier farm is like, and what animals they might find on one. From the miniature donkeys, to the cow, horse, pigs and chickens, they all help the farm to come to life.

Now Alex's favorite part of the farm, is hands down, the goat corral. Kids can pet, feed and even brush goats as they roam around making new friends.

If you are looking for a fun, family friendly activity this summer, and you live within driving distance of our fabulous zoo, it has to the at the top of your must-see list! And to make this easier, the great folks at the Fort Wayne Children's Zoo have given me a family pack of tickets to give away to one lucky EMM reader. Just scroll to the end of this post to see how to enter.

For more info, zoo hours, admission prices and so much more, you can check them out online, on Facebook and Twitter too.


***Giveaway***
(1) Winner Will Receive 

(1) Family Pack of Tickets
2 Adults
2 Children

To Enter: Simply leave me a comment telling me your favorite zoo animal. Please leave an email address so I can easily find the winner. 

Contest Ends: July 14, 2014

Disclaimer: I was given (2) tickets and (4) to giveaway in exchange for this feature. All thoughts and opinions are my own.