A Visit to the Niabi Zoo

Today we headed to a familiar place -- the Niabi Zoo out in the Quad Cities. The overcast, cool day became an unexpected blessing as it ensured the animals would all be out and active instead of ducking inside to stay within the cool of the shade.


Here you are checking out a toy snake in the gift shop -- which is conveniently located at the very entrance to the zoo.


Grrrr -- who is this ferocious tiger?


We bought our tickets for a ride 'round the park on the choo-choo train and hopped on first thing.


Waving to a couple of wild bipedal primates out hunting and gathering with their young. Oh, and there were a couple wolves in the background, too.


Next stop after the train: the petting zoo... to visit an unusual breed of cattle...


...and feed some very grateful goats...


...who would've been just fine with you hanging around the rest of the day with them!


You enjoyed a pony ride after the arduous process of selecting the pony you wanted -- Brownie? Sylvester? In the end, you chose Henry the Pony.


Elephants? We like elephants.


Checking out a couple of bald eagles...
...which, for some reason, kind of freaked you out. So we moved on quickly elsewhere: monkeys, ostriches, lizards, snakes, parrots, toucans, giraffes (including the zoo's prized new baby giraffe), lions, bobcats, bears and many more animals of all shapes and sizes.


Exhausted and fast asleep on the way home... no doubt dreaming of lions, tigers, and bears.

Daddy