Tampa Lowry Zoo

We went back and forth for a while on whether to head to the Tampa Lowry Zoo or Busch Gardens while in Florida.  After a few recommendations, we decided the Zoo would be more appropriate for our needs this year.  Both the kids love going to the Zoo and this is supposed to be the "Number One Zoo in the Country"! With our annual membership, we got in for half price too, which actually saved us a lot in the end!

Like I said, we love our zoo in MN, but it's nice for a change of pace to go somewhere new and see different animals.

Since we have been going to the MN Zoo, they have only had the African Exhibit one year.  The Lowry Zoo had the exhibit and it made the whole trip worth while.  Each of the boys were able to feed the giraffes and it was so fun to see their faces and bodies as they were doing it.  The tongue of the giraffe looks very long and as Alex stated, "Sand-papery".  This was definitely something Andy had to do with the boys since it was way out of my comfort zone.

They also enjoyed waddling right past the penguin exhibit and talking like penguins.  Yep. I don't know how penguins talk, but apparently they talk different from us humans.

The sting ray area was also another area that was difficult to pry the boys from.  The string rays are in maybe a foot of water in a regular sized pool.  They swim right along the edges and you can feel them as they go by.  The boys both thought it was the coolest thing since sliced bread!

They had a kids area with lots of different rides for the kids.  Alex like the bumper boats the best.  Aiden was a bit too little for any of the rides, but enjoyed watching his brother.  Some day, little guy.

They both really wanted to take their pictures with the bats.

It was a big day and we decided to end before dinner and go check in at our hotel.  When driving up, no one could believe this was going to be our hotel.  It was a bit much and not somewhere we would normally stay.  The travel agent did it, and I guess we just had to live with it :)  By not somewhere we would normally stay I mean that we were given champagne when checking in, we were given appetizers and smoothies for free when on the beach, they provided coloring books and sand equipment for the kids, there were 2 heated pools outside (and heated they needed to be), a full size bar, live music almost all day long, and it was on seven miles of beach.  Soft, white, sand beach.  It was beautiful...and cold.

Our first night there we headed to an Oyster Shack for dinner where Andy got the crab bucket.  Turned out Alex and Andy really enjoy crab.  Aiden seemed to like it and I thought it was pretty good.  I more enjoyed the 2 for 1 margaritas. 

Until tomorrow...