When my children were little (I mean, really little, like 1-3 years old), we lived in the Chicago suburbs and within an easy drive to the Brookfield Zoo. I don’t remember too much from those visits as I was too preoccupied keeping those two little ones corralled in a double stroller. However, I do know at that time, the Brookfield Zoo was known as one of the top zoos in the country.
By the time my children were in elementary school, we were living in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and visiting the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo became a favorite pastime. Long gone were the days of that double stroller, and keeping my eyes peeled on the little kids. I was finally able to enjoy the zoo experience and focus on the animals. Our visits continued into adulthood …
The Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is located in an absolutely beautiful place. But be forewarned, the zoo is built into the side of a mountain, and therefore, has some hilly walkways and elevation changes to navigate. Even for those of us used to the 6,000 foot plus altitude, those hills can make even the fittest person huff and puff.
Now that my children live in Phoenix, Arizona, we like to make a day of it and visit the Wildlife World Zoo. This place is huge and constantly expanding.
The first time my son introduced me to his then girlfriend, now wife, was during a visit to the Wildlife World Zoo. It was a great day watching their blossoming relationship.
During that particular visit to the Wildlife World Zoo, my focus was more on getting to know the young gal that my son was falling in love with than photographing the animals.
So a few months later, I connected with my blogging pal, Nancy, for a photographic day at the zoo. We enjoyed a very fun day and took tons of photographs, but guess what? I can’t find the images from that day 😥
This past weekend, I spent well over an hour going through two external hard-drives looking for that file to no avail. I have one more external drive to check which is located at my son’s house.
It’s always a good idea to keep an external hard-drive filled with photographs and important documents off-site at another location.
If I still can’t find those photographs on that external hard-drive, that means Nancy and I will HAVE TO do a repeat. I’m sure neither of us will complain too loudly about a trip to the zoo. Will we Nancy? Maybe we’ll even throw in a visit to the Phoenix Zoo, which I haven’t visited yet.
Drive-through Wildlife Parks
Another great way to see animals up close is via a drive-through wildlife park. Of course, I always prefer to see animals in the wild, but we can’t nor shouldn’t get as close to the animals in the wild as we can in a park or zoo.
The first and only time I’ve visited a drive-through wildlife park was a couple of years ago when we were meandering around the state of Idaho. Yellowstone Bear World was a wonderful way to see a bunch of bears and cubs in addition to a variety of other animals.
Yellowstone Bear World is a relatively small park and a two hour visit was enough to satisfy my camera. Even though small, I’m really glad I made time for this excursion. Next on my ‘must see’ list is Bearizonia in northern Arizona.
Since my sister and her daughter came to Arizona to attend my son’s wedding this past August, they not only visited the Grand Canyon but stopped in at Bearizonia per my recommendation. They were not disappointed and encouraged me to visit. As many times as Al and I have camped near the Grand Canyon and Williams, something has always come up that thwarted my visit to this wildlife park… sigh! Therefore, it still remains on ‘my list’.
Favorite zoo or wildlife park
Do you have a favorite zoo or wildlife park that you like to visit? For this weeks photo challenge / theme, I’ve chosen the prompt zoo. Feel free to share a link in the comments below or link back to this page on your own post.
Wandering Wednesday – Ingrid’s Inspirations
Each Wednesday I post a different photo prompt / challenge as a way for bloggers to share their love of photography and engage with other like-minded bloggers. Maybe this will help inspire you to pick up your camera in search of a composition or a reason to go through your photo archives. Whether you shoot with your phone, a DSLR or something in-between, don’t be shy, share and connect 🤗
Next weeks prompt – Around Home …. get out and shoot or peruse those archives!
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43 responses to “Favorite Zoos – Photo Prompt”
Those are GREAT photos! As you know I am a fan of the zoos! Thanks for sharing.
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After years of seeing many of these animals in zoos, it was something else to see them on safari. I chose a lion photo for this week: https://wp.me/p2owKx-11R
Cheers, Amy
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What a wonderful experience that had to be!
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Yes, for me it really one of those chance of a lifetime sort of trips.
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[…] to Live Laugh RV, Favorite Zoos, and Travel With Intent, Six-Word […]
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What a cuddly bear you have there, Ingrid! Though I guess it would have been wise not to cuddle. The moose is quite the beauty too :-). Love the photos and the string of memories along with them. xx
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Thanks … he/she does look cuddly. Although I doubt he knows the meaning of the word 😄
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I am not taking on the task of enlightening him for sure! x
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Ingrid there is something about connecting with animals that brightens any day. The high light of that for me was our trip to Africa. It had long been a dream to see those astounding animals in the wild. I think you have seen that article but here it is none the less. https://traveltalesoflife.com/40-photos-inspire-your-trip-to-africa/
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Yes, I do remember seeing that post, but thanks for sharing it here. Your walk with penguins still remains a favorite of mine, and you’re so right about connecting with animals and them brightening our day … love it!
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🦋 Beautiful Photos.
Great post.
Wonderful blog.
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Thank you 😊
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I live in San Diego and we have a world-class zoo… which I haven’t visited for a while. Now that the kids are back in school and most of the tourists have gone, I’m thinking that I need to get myself and my camera back there soon!
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Yes, the San Diego Zoo is world-class. The one and only time I visited that zoo was probably around 20 years ago and I don’t remember much about that visit other than dealing with my whinny children 😏 An adults only visit sounds great to me!
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I currently don’t live close to a zoo but I can recommend some great ones! The Omaha Zoo is amazing and surprisingly an all day excursion! The next is the Minnesota Zoo, another large one. And another zoo that is much smaller but is absolutely beautiful is the Pueblo Zoo in Colorado. Love your pics, Ingrid and good luck on finding the lost files!
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I lived in Pueblo West over ten years and never made it to the Pueblo Zoo … drove through the neighboring park many times, but never stopped in at the zoo. Thanks for sharing!
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Good luck finding those files! Nothing more annoying when photos go missing!
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Thanks … fingers crossed!
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Waaao…so beautiful photos ❤❤
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Thank you 😊
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That’s an awesome close up of the Ostrich!
I can only remember of two instances I visited a zoo, one at the San Diego Zoo decades ago before the digital camera was invented and the second time was at the 160 acres Henry Doorly Zoo in Nebraska (one of the best zoo in the world).
Here is my link to Henry Doorly Zoo, although I only had two pictures for it was raining while we were there: http://lowestravels.com/2015/07/18/looking-for-fun-in-omaha-nebraska#link-target
And I had a wonderful alone time at Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park in Florida
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Looks like a couple of fun spots. I always enjoy your bird photos. It has been years since I visited the San Diego Zoo – like you, before digital.
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The grizzly and wolf discovery center is the only zoo type place I’ve been to in many many years.. It’s a great place. Your ostrich photos are very cute.
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Thanks Mary. I wanted to visit that discovery center (per your post) but we ended up needing to reroute our travels.
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How cute that you met your daughter in law at a zoo for the first time!!
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Yeah, I think that was a fun way to be introduced. Hope you two have traveled far enough inland that you don’t encounter too much of “Florence”.
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I know those pictures are in AZ!
But heck… we need another excuse to go talk to the animals, right?
Your photos are splendid! And that MOOSE! I have never seen one in the wild. That my friend is my favorite.
Thanks once again for hosting this fun wandering Wednesday!
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Glad you enjoyed, and of course, you and I never need an excuse, but it helps 😀
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Cherokee Trace Drive-Thru Safari is a hidden gem in East Texas near Jacksonville. Got some great photos this summer.
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Hmm, I’ll have to make note of that one for our next trip through Texas. Thank you!
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I’ve not been to the zoo in Phoenix yet but now I’m inspired to make a visit. With the camera. I’ve gotten very out of touch with my photography lately.
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Perhaps you and I should meet at the Phoenix Zoo this winter??? A little camera time accompanied by chit chat is always a fun day 😁
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When my daughter lived in Colorad Springs we went to Cheyenne Zoo several times. Beautiful zoo and amazing Giraffe exhibit.
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Totally agree and loved visiting with the Giraffes … our favorite!
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Beautiful captures of these animals, the bird is my favorite.
Thank you for the link of the Wildlife World zoo! 🙂
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Wildlife World is one of those places that takes an entire day and you still won’t have seen all. I’m hoping to revisit at least a couple of times this winter.
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The detail on your ostrich photo is incredible! We don’t get to a lot of zoos but drive by Bear Country here in the hills almost every week and get sneak peeks at them.
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Thanks Jim … When we were in the Black Hills, I wanted to stop in at Bear Country but we were always on our way to something else.
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[…] Inspired by Ingrid’s Wandering Wednesday – Zoo […]
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I hate to hear you may have lost those photos. I’m glad you were able to find a few for this post. I love the giraffe!
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Next time visiting family in AZ need to go to Bearizonia. I am like you in getting out to photograph the wildlife. Happy Day – Enjoy 🙂
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I haven’t been to the zoo in years. Now that it may be cooling off I might wander on over although we did go on that photo safari last year 🙂
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[…] Ingrid of Live Laugh RV’s theme is Zoo for Wandering Wednesday […]
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