We kicked off the first day of summer vacation with a trip to the Jacksonville Zoo. It was a hot day but as we had hoped there weren't any crowds to fight to get up close to see the animals.
Each year the Zoo seems to be adding new animals and this year it was the penguins. Obviously not the kind that need cold water and ice to swim with here in Florida, but they were awfully cute none the less. There were a bunch swimming around having fun but there were three that stayed up against the glass the entire time we were watching them and really looked as if they wanted to be petted. Ellie would have been more than happy to jump right in there with them if she could have!
My favorite animal is definitely the giraffe and the Zoo has a great viewing area for them. It is a huge raised platform and the giraffes walk right up to it and you are really eye to eye with them. There is even an opportunity to feed them for a couple of dollars which is really a neat experience.
Ellie was able to do this in kindergarten when we went there for a field trip with her class. She loves it and giggles the whole time.
This was Emory's first time feeding them but he really liked it too. He is usually a little more cautious about doing things like this but he was up for it on this day. This giraffe couldn't get enough of the romaine lettuce!
Emory and Ellie enjoyed posing with and hanging on the life size elephant statues too.
