…and we’ll be there!
My mom-in-law, operator of “Camp Grandma,” has generously purchased memberships in the Zoological Society of San Diego for us all for the last couple of years. She has also donated – again, very generously – to the Society, and was recently thanked with passes for one of their sleepover events. This weekend, Tall Paul, the Tall Kids, and the Short Stepmom (that’s me) will be spending the night overlooking the Africa Field Exhibit at the San Diego Wild Animal Park‘s “Family Roar & Snore.”
It looks like it will be a busy evening:
- Explore campground, meet staff, Camp Store is open.
- Dinner (cookout fare including burgers, hot dogs, chicken, corn and salad)
- Guided Dusk Discovery Hike to Heart of Africa and Lion Camp — or — animal presentation in Tembo Stadium, followed by a tour of Lion Camp — or — African Classroom activity for children under age 8
- Evening snack at Kilima Point (s’mores and hot chocolate – mmm!)
- Condor Ridge walk — or — campfire program
- Nairobi Village walk — or — first lights out, quiet at camp
- Breakfast served at Kilima Point (pancakes, eggs, sausages, fruit)
- Primate walk tour — or — tour to elephants and tigers
- Return to retrieve your gear and then enjoy the Wild Animal Park at your leisure.
The Boy is a little nervous about sleeping out near the animals, but Tall Girl, who harbors ambitions of attending this program and becoming a zookeeper, is very excited. I’ve worked in a zoo, but never stayed overnight in one, and the Wild Animal Park isn’t just any old zoo, so I’m pretty psyched myself. And the temperatures have dropped wonderfully this week, so the campfire and the tents should be very pleasant experiences.
(And in other travel news, we’ve just made the reservations to celebrate our first wedding anniversary on Catalina Island at the end of October! There is a bison herd living there, so mentioning it here isn’t totally unrelated to wild animals.)
i’ve been so busy this week that i’ve only peripherially kept up on your posts … but as (if?) i have time i’ll go back and make some comments. you write good stuff that i always find interesting to read!
anyway, great travel news! my Sugar Plum, who wants to be a veterinarian, would be very envious of the “Roar & Snore”. (she insisted that we enjoy a day at the San Diego Zoo earlier this summer during our vacation, but we didn’t make it to the Wild Animal Park.)
i’m envious of the Catalina Island trip. i’ve only been there once, but it was one of the best days of my life. such a gorgeous place! i’m definitely going back one day.
alison – I will probably post some pictures from Roar & Snore next week. I think it will be lots of fun.
I’ve never been to Catalina before, and I’m very much looking forward to it. My husband is a SoCal native and he’s been there a couple of times, but it’s been years.
I’ve noticed you haven’t had too many additions to your own blog this week, so I figured you were busy. Hope things settle down before too long.
Happy anniversary!
Wow, a whole year! You sound happy. Meanwhile, don’t feed the animals!
WG – We fed some ducks, but that was all. The Wild Animal Park people fed us pretty well, and Roar & Snore was a lot of fun. We’d love to go it again.
Yep, we’re coming up on the first anniversary of the second marriage (October 21), and it’s been a good year.