Polar Bear Enjoying Her Kelp, San Diego Zoo Every time I visit the San Diego Zoo, I am amazed at how the Zoo expertly shares their message of conservation with their visitors in an engaging way. My visit to the preview of the new Polar Bear Plunge exhibit did not disappoint. The San Diego Zoo has revamped this already popular exhibit to givevisitors plenty of hands on opportunities to learn about polar bears and global warming. Here are some interesting additions to the new exhibit: Giant Story Books Polar Bear Orphan Story San Diego Zoo Families can read giant story books about polar bears together. The stories featured include the true story of two orphaned polar bear clubs and their journey to the San Diego Zoo as well as the profile of a real life Arctic researcher. Explore an Arctic Helicopter Kids Can Pretend to Fly a Real Arctic Helicopter, Polar Bear Plunge, San Diego Zoo How many times do kids have a chance to climb into a real research helicopter?...[more »]

Penguins at Roosevelt Park Zoo, Minot When you think of North Dakota, you may think of wide open spaces, flat land, and long stretches of straight roads. You may think of fishing or hunting in the Devils Lake area. You may think of Medora and the Badlands and Theodore Roosevelt National Park. You may not think of going to the zoo. Yes, folks, it’s true–there are zoos in North Dakota. And while they may not be as sprawling as the Minnesota Zoo or the Columbus Zoo, they still have lots to offer. Zoo animals? Check. Pleasant pathways through the zoo? Check. Zoo memberships? Check. Special events? Check. Affordable admission? Check. Crowds to fight? Sorry, you’ll have to go somewhere else for those. Since the climate in North Dakota is on the cool side in the winter, zoos operate on limited hours, or are closed, during the winter months. The summer season starts this weekend, however, so your opportunity to visit a zoo in North Dakota is ...[more »]

Como Zoo Polar Bear A zoo can be a child’s delight, and an affordable zoo a parent’s best friend. Como Zoo in St. Paul, Minnesota, fits the bill for both. Como Zoo, in St. Paul’s Como Park, is not as large as the Minnesota Zoo a few miles down the road, but its smaller size and history in the community make it the favorite of many Twin Cities families. At the zoo, children can see traditional zoo animals such as zebras, giraffes, lions, and tigers. My kids’ favorite is watching the polar bears swim. A recently-added indoor tropical encounters exhibit expanded the range of animals at the zoo. Adjacent to the zoo visitor center is the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory, a place to view beautiful plants and flowers year-round. For summertime fun at the zoo, there’s an antique carousel and the Comotown children’s amusement park. Playground and picnic areas can be found outside the zoo in Como Park. Como Zoo charges no admission, but does reque...[more »]