Life with Dylan

Category: Zoo Road Trip 2013

  • More of the wonderful Fresno Chaffee Zoo

    I promised more from our trip to the Fresno Chaffee Zoo, so here you go. As I mentioned in the previous post, the grounds of the zoo are beautiful. From the tall trees to the log fences … you feel like you are smack in the middle of nature … Which by the way is how I think all zoos should make you feel.

    Even though our main reason for visiting was to see Mek and Paca, we really enjoyed meeting some of the other animals too. Next to the tigers, I think the orangutans were Dylan’s favorite.

    There is a little hut like area between the tigers and orangutans that has some great information about the Species Survival Plan and the animals the Fresno Chaffee Zoo is helping to save.

    We spent almost an hour here, reading all the signs and learning everything we could. This was actually my favorite part – I loved seeing how another zoo uses charts to educate the public.

    Along with a sign that described a day in the life of an orangutan, there was this one that teaches about different facial expressions and what they mean in adult and infant orangutans. The wooden cards lift up to reveal the word associated with the expression. Happy, angry, etc.  I thought this was a wonderful way to educate people of all ages about the orangutan.

    Since it was 106 degrees, I thought we should head over to Stingray Bay and get our hands in some cool water. Not to mention our bodies in the shade!

    For under $10 Dylan and I both got to feed the stingrays and learn a little about these beautiful sea creatures.

    Oh, and in case you are wondering, some sort of headless/tailless fish and shrimp was on the lunch menu for the stingrays.

    The heat was starting to get to us and we were both thankful that we had arrived when the zoo first opened. In fact, we were the first ones through the gate. Just a few more animals to see.

    Look, kangaroos! Wait, something isn’t right with this kangaroo – I see too many feet.

    Oh, never mind … that’s just a joey sticking his legs out of momma’s pouch!

    We had an amazing time at the Fresno Chaffe Zoo and are excited to go back for the opening of the new African Adventures exhibit in 2014. We even gave some change to help out … ‘cuz that’s just what Dylan does.

    The mission of the Fresno Chaffee Zoo is to inspire wonder of our natural world, provide an engaging learning environment, and create a passion for conservation.

    We were inspired, we were engaged in learning, and our passion for conservation grew bigger.

    If you are ever in the Fresno area I encourage you to visit the Fresno Zoo. If you thought you would never go to Fresno, now you have a reason to go. You can follow the Fresno Zoo on twitter, Instagram and of course like them on Facebook!

    Oh, and one more thing … the urban wildlife at the zoo was pretty cute too!

    Even the squirrels were trying to beat the heat.

    Be sure to view our Flickr album for more pictures from our visit to the Fresno Chaffee Zoo.

    Coming up next on our Zoo Road Trip 2013 recap – The Sacramento Zoo

  • Our visit to the Fresno Chaffee Zoo with Mek & Paca

    Over the summer Dylan and I set out on an adventure – a Zoo Road Trip to be exact – and our first stop was the Fresno Chaffee Zoo. This is actually what started the whole idea of taking a road trip because we just had to see Mek after learning that she had left the San Diego Zoo. Mek is part of the Species Survival Plan (SSP) and was transferred up to the Fresno Chaffee Zoo so she could be reunited with Paca in hopes of breeding and producing some more adorable tiger cubs.

    We spent months planning and even had several communications with the Fresno Zoo through email and social media. We were on a mission to see Mek and nothing was going to stand in our way, not even the major heat wave that hit California the day we left. Yes, major heat wave, as in 106 degrees when we arrived in Fresno on July 1st.

    Not knowing exactly what to expect, we were anxious to see this new zoo. Compared to the San Diego Zoo (100 acres), the Fresno Zoo was small (18 acres), but something we wanted to experience. Nestled away in a park, the Fresno Chaffee Zoo is a place we plan on going back to again. The landscaping was beautiful and the staff was wonderful. Everyone we met was so friendly and went out of their way to help us see Mek. Some couldn’t believe that we drove all the way from Orange County just to see a tiger. Obviously they don’t know Dylan and his love for tigers.  

    We entered the zoo and headed right for the tiger exhibit. The anticipation and excitement was almost too much to contain. We were finally going to see Mek …

    … but wait, the tiger in the exhibit wasn’t Mek, it was Paca. Where was Mek? We had come all this way to see her. After hearing our story, a friendly maintenance worker radioed one of the keepers and she was there within minutes.

    Her name was Katrina. She told us that Mek was in the bedrooms because they thought that she might be pregnant and had to monitor her. Our smiles quickly turned to frowns. That is until Katrina asked for my cell phone number. About 10 minutes later my phone rang and Katrina quickly became our new best friend. She had arranged to take us behind the exhibit and see Mek in the tiger bedrooms.

    I wasn’t allowed to take pictures where Mek was, but the important thing is that we saw her. We were just a few feet from her and she was so beautiful. Just like we remembered her to be. While Katina fed Mek meatballs and told us how she was doing, Dylan and I got to sit there and just take in her beauty – the beauty that is Mek the tigress.

    It was such an amazing experience. I have never been so close to a tiger. I just held my breath and felt tears welling up in my eyes. Her paws, her chuff, her eyes, everything about her is majestic. I like to think that Mek remembered us from her home in San Diego.

    After seeing Mek, we thanked Katrina and went to explore more of the Fresno Chaffee Zoo. Of course we spent time visiting with the handsome Paca too.

    One of the things that I really enjoyed about this zoo was the hands on tools and interactive areas where guests could learn more about the animals. The Fresno Chaffee Zoo may be small compared to some other zoos, but one thing is for sure – they care about conservation, education and creating awareness.

    Thank you for letting us be a part of the Fresno Chaffee Zoo Family for the day. Together, we can help save species with a hope and a dream.

    Stay tuned for part 2 of our Fresno Chaffee Zoo visit! 

  • Our road trip was a blast, Now back to reality

    The days leading up to a vacation are almost as exciting as the day that you actually leave, but the days after you come home from vacation … well, that’s a totally different story. We have been home from our zoo road trip for a week now and I am just starting to feel like myself.

    Although we made numerous stops and had tons of fun, the last two days of the road trip involved all day in the car. We left hotels by 9 am and didn’t arrive at the next hotel until dinner time. That made for one tired Mom when we got home. I don’t think I even got dressed, let alone got off the couch our first day home. Then it was Dylan’s birthday and we got Tiga. I’m finally starting to get back to my routine and feel like I’m not sleep deprived.

    As for the 800 pictures I took on our zoo road trip … yeah, those will just have to wait a bit longer. However, I did manage to get the 85 mobile pictures from my iPhone up on Flickr. Sometimes it’s fun to see spur of the moment pics from your phone.

    Not all are perfect – some may be blurry (since the car was going 75 m.p.h.) – and some are just plain silly. Regardless, they are memories.

    I’m starting to think that coming home from vacation is more work than planning and actually going on vacation!

  • Time to hit the open road

    We’ve been planning this for months now. Saving up money each month with one goal in mind – have enough money for the much anticipated summer vacation. We didn’t take a vacation last summer and this summer I wanted to do something that would give Dylan and I time together. Time to reconnect after a busy school year and do things that we both enjoyed.

    What better to do than plan a road trip centered around our favorite things? A trip created to check things off the family bucket list. A road trip to visit Mek and say hello to CJ for the first time. No, these aren’t people … they are tigers. Yep, this trip is going to take us to a variety of Zoos, National Parks, and the California Redwoods. It’s a zoo road trip!
    We started with the idea of visiting my Dad in Northern California and making a day trip from his home to see the California Redwoods – then the idea hit me – Road Trip! 

    First we will go to the Fresno Zoo to see out beloved Mek.

    Next stop, Sacramento Zoo so that we can meet CJ the 4 month old tiger cub.

    Then we will head west, driving through some beautiful scenery, and ultimately arriving at my Dad’s home. After spending some time relaxing in what I like to call “so not Orange County” and taking in the majestic California Redwoods, we will start making our way back to Southern California.

    In hopes of seeing a wild condor in flight, we will be visiting Pinnacles National Park. I have heard it is beautiful.

    Once we hit the Central Coast, we will visit the Charles Paddock Zoo. Sure, it’s a small zoo (only 5 acres), but it’s the only zoo in the Central Coast area of the United States. Really, for any zoo lover this is a must see zoo. 

    I’m sure there will be numerous unplanned stops along the 101. The drive is just too beautiful not to stop. A night in Solvang will bring walks on cobblestone streets (yep, that’s a bucket list item) and some yummy Aebleskivers. Along with a bit of Danish history and culture. 

    Finally, a drive down the coast would not be complete without a stop in Santa Barbara. So what will do? Visit the Santa Barbara Zoo of course!

    I won’t be writing much while on vacation because … well … I’m on vacation! 

    However, I will be tweeting, sharing pictures on Facebook, and Instagraming along the way so be sure to follow us. #ZooRoadTrip2013