We’re going to the zoo

Could there be a better place for little kids then the zoo? 

All three of us adore our weekend visits to the Metro Toronto Zoo and have spent many a sunny day there with The Boy, putting our family pass to good use.

We always head out to the zoo really early in the morning.  The night before I pack his bag so all we have to do is feed him breakfast, change his clothes and throw him in the car.  If you arrive at the zoo by 9am, you are guaranteed a good parking spot near the entrance (so important for the ever looming meltdown) and a fantastic, unobstructed view of the animals (so important for little kids who can’t always see over the grown-ups).

The best thing about getting to the zoo early, though, is getting to see all the animals at their best- we have had some of the most amazing experiences seeing the animals up close.

One weekend, the giraffes, my personal favourite animal, took a long stroll right in front of The Boy and I.  He was like, “Whoa, WHOA, look at those necks.  How did they get so long? And those knees…mom, do you see those knees? Do people know how awesome these animals are?? SERIOUSLY, WHOA!”.

Suffice it to say he was thrilled.

For me, there are two things that make the zoo a fantastic trip for young kids:

1) Non-stop entertainment- there is not a single spot in the zoo that doesn’t have something to look at, crawl on, or explore.

2) Amazing learning experiences.  Everything we see gives us the chance to explain something new about nature- colours, sizes, sounds, and habitats.

But, truth be told, there is one thing about the zoo that makes it my favourite day trip destination: