Daddy Days: Visiting the zoo

Due to a confluence of circumstances this year, instead of going away on a vacation, our family had a staycation. My wife and I tried to create some vacation energy around staying home and were by-and-large successful. It turns out, for our boys, buying special breakfast cereal is one simple way to do this.

We wanted to do some activities that we rarely do and decided one of the main features was going to be taking a trip to the zoo. And at almost two hours away it is a trip. If you don’t believe me, just ask the 4- and 6-year-olds how many times they asked, “are we there yet?” It was 27 times.

We went to the zoo in Waco since we had never been there before. Also since we had never been to Waco with the boys before, the 9-year-old thought Waco was pronounced like “taco” with a W. Which is definitely how I’m pronouncing it from now on.

When we pulled into the zoo parking lot a few minutes before they opened, there were only three cars in the parking lot. Like many other large, homeschooling families, we often plan events around avoiding crowds so this was a great sign. But it may have been a sign of another sort.

It was a sign that most people know the middle of August is not the time to visit the zoo. In my experience, it’s always 106 degrees when you go to the zoo (seriously, are they pumping heat and humidity into these places?) but when the high is actually 106 you can expect some animals just won’t be having it.

I guess. I don’t really understand it when it comes to the African animals section. Rhinos, lions and giraffes live in Africa. It’s a warm climate. It’s not Central Texas hot on the savannah, but when we got there it was 84 and overcast. How is that too hot for these animals to be out? Also, what environment are they in when they’re “in”?

Anyway, after paying to get in and then finding out several signature animals “wouldn't be out today,” a father could be excused for feeling we had driven 84 miles and paid 76 bucks to see a pack of buzzards and pictures of animals that weren't on exhibit. You know where else you can see buzzards? Everywhere.

It wasn’t as bleak as that, though. We got to see a bear, orangutan and cougar up close. The aquarium displays were a hit, and the gibbon monkeys were a hoot. Literally. They were cutting up like crazy when the boys went to look at them and I couldn’t tell who was imitating whom. There were all sorts of birds, a very old komodo dragon that the boys thought was a dragon, and a bunch of playful otters that you could see up close in an underwater slide.

There was also a treehouse and play area with a small splash pad that we stopped off at to cool down. My wife and I looked at each and both were thinking the same thing: they’re all going to say this was the best part of the zoo.

But later, when my wife asked them about their favorite parts, none of them even mentioned the play area. They each had a different animal they were thrilled to see in real life, and seemed thoroughly pleased with the trip.

I guess it’s easy to forget how big of an experience going to the zoo and seeing exotic animals is for a kid. Almost as easy as mispronouncing Waco.

Harris and his wife live in Pflugerville with their six sons. Please email comments or suggestions for future columns to thoughtsforcaleb@gmail.com.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Daddy Days: Visiting the zoo