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Send a ComplimentAugust 26 2010
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Oakland Zoo
9777 Golf Links Road,
Oakland,
California 94605
Oakland,
California 94605
"How to Do the Oakland Zoo"
1. Bring binoculars - the other zoo goers were clearly envious and if I had been on my game, I might have even been able to make a trade for an iPhone...but then we would have missed the adorable faces of the lions slumbering atop the ridge and the grotesque baboon butts my husband tried to make me to see (um, no way, honey).
2. It's really not all that hilly. Or at least it didn't feel that way to me and I never exercise or even walk anywhere. Or if I do, it's at .05 mph since that's the rate of a toddler, preschooler, and elementary aged child trying to share a sidewalk. It seems like if you strategize your route, you can end up walking downhill more than not. My almost 3 year-old had no problems with the inclines that we did ascend.
3. Everyone was right about the food. It's decent and not as pricey as other places, but not worth paying for, especially when there are so many great picnic spots. If we had not spent the $30 on lunch for the five of us, we could have had money for the rides, which I actually wish weren't there because it sort of detracts from the zoo being about animals. And we went home with all three children crying. That would have probably happened anyway, though.
4. Everyone was also right about it being better than the SF Zoo. Sunny - check. Happy animals - check. Natural, spacious habitats - check. We really enjoyed the creative landscaping which was easily navigated by map. That and the smaller scope of the park lent itself to revisiting favorite animals or animals that had been hidden when we first passed by. In fact, we were able to see the tigers 4 times, and the last time, just as we were getting ready to leave, they came into full view, as close to us as they could possibly have come...one of them relieved himself (thankfully just pee, but it went on and on). I think this also happened because my husband prayed that it would, aloud (not the peeing part, the tigers coming into view).
5. We had kind of a special experience because we accidentally met up with one of the zookeepers (Lorraine) and she sort of us took us under her wing...for a few minutes, at least. First, she fed the meercats (sp?) which was very cool. Then she showed us the hyenas (who were sleeping) and said they were her favorite animals because they are actually very sweet (unlike the stereotype thrust on them by the Lion King--still like the film though). We also watched as she fed the green monkeys (whom I believe the term "zen monkey" originated from). My oldest was thrilled with the personal attention because she aspires to be a zookeeper one day (one day a week actually because she has other careers planned for the other days).
6. Something not to miss is the river otter feeding at 1:15. My middle child expressed her desire to be an otter while my oldest said she'd rather be human after my husband offered to feed her raw fish. Anyway, the otters diving for their food and chomping on it is like a 10 on the cuteness scale, right up their with the big cats rolling on their backs, the meer cats on their hind legs, the snoozing bobcat all curled up, the squirrel monkeys frollicking, and the green monkeys pawing at small objects.
7. I normally avoid petting zoos like I do large birds. I just send the kids in and hope for the best from the other side of the gate. But I actually ventured into this one because there was so much room--it was half out of doors, so that really helped (especially when one of the goats sneezed and passed gas at the same time). I liked the brushing rather than feeding approach, except that my son combed the goat and then his own hair. The pygmy goats were especially cute. I also liked that there was a roped off "retreat" area where the animals could go when they didn't feel like being petted.
8. I ran into an old friend from high school and college who it was a joy to reconnect with (it had been over a decade at least). She's in Livermore so I never would have seen her any other way. It was her daughter's first b-day so they were celebrating at the zoo.
9. Just go, already! But do hunt around online first, though, because I found a half off deal (actually a friend alerted me to it from a radio station).
2. It's really not all that hilly. Or at least it didn't feel that way to me and I never exercise or even walk anywhere. Or if I do, it's at .05 mph since that's the rate of a toddler, preschooler, and elementary aged child trying to share a sidewalk. It seems like if you strategize your route, you can end up walking downhill more than not. My almost 3 year-old had no problems with the inclines that we did ascend.
3. Everyone was right about the food. It's decent and not as pricey as other places, but not worth paying for, especially when there are so many great picnic spots. If we had not spent the $30 on lunch for the five of us, we could have had money for the rides, which I actually wish weren't there because it sort of detracts from the zoo being about animals. And we went home with all three children crying. That would have probably happened anyway, though.
4. Everyone was also right about it being better than the SF Zoo. Sunny - check. Happy animals - check. Natural, spacious habitats - check. We really enjoyed the creative landscaping which was easily navigated by map. That and the smaller scope of the park lent itself to revisiting favorite animals or animals that had been hidden when we first passed by. In fact, we were able to see the tigers 4 times, and the last time, just as we were getting ready to leave, they came into full view, as close to us as they could possibly have come...one of them relieved himself (thankfully just pee, but it went on and on). I think this also happened because my husband prayed that it would, aloud (not the peeing part, the tigers coming into view).
5. We had kind of a special experience because we accidentally met up with one of the zookeepers (Lorraine) and she sort of us took us under her wing...for a few minutes, at least. First, she fed the meercats (sp?) which was very cool. Then she showed us the hyenas (who were sleeping) and said they were her favorite animals because they are actually very sweet (unlike the stereotype thrust on them by the Lion King--still like the film though). We also watched as she fed the green monkeys (whom I believe the term "zen monkey" originated from). My oldest was thrilled with the personal attention because she aspires to be a zookeeper one day (one day a week actually because she has other careers planned for the other days).
6. Something not to miss is the river otter feeding at 1:15. My middle child expressed her desire to be an otter while my oldest said she'd rather be human after my husband offered to feed her raw fish. Anyway, the otters diving for their food and chomping on it is like a 10 on the cuteness scale, right up their with the big cats rolling on their backs, the meer cats on their hind legs, the snoozing bobcat all curled up, the squirrel monkeys frollicking, and the green monkeys pawing at small objects.
7. I normally avoid petting zoos like I do large birds. I just send the kids in and hope for the best from the other side of the gate. But I actually ventured into this one because there was so much room--it was half out of doors, so that really helped (especially when one of the goats sneezed and passed gas at the same time). I liked the brushing rather than feeding approach, except that my son combed the goat and then his own hair. The pygmy goats were especially cute. I also liked that there was a roped off "retreat" area where the animals could go when they didn't feel like being petted.
8. I ran into an old friend from high school and college who it was a joy to reconnect with (it had been over a decade at least). She's in Livermore so I never would have seen her any other way. It was her daughter's first b-day so they were celebrating at the zoo.
9. Just go, already! But do hunt around online first, though, because I found a half off deal (actually a friend alerted me to it from a radio station).
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