On a side note, the Zoo in St. Louis, MO is FREE to get in. I was spoiled by that, and actually didn't go as often as I should have. Probably because the parking was insane to try to find around Forrest Park (free parking) close enough to the Zoo. I sometimes ended up parking in the Zoo parking for $11 to go in for free to the Zoo grounds. Now that we are in Omaha it is back to paying admission, but with free parking. The Zoo in Omaha is also not in the middle of a giant park area so it isn't as busy, which was nice. I can go all day with an whole other blog entry comparing the two Zoos.
Back to our Adventurous day. When we arrive there, we pay admission to get in. Omaha Zoo Rates For Adults it is $13.50 and for kids (3 y/o and older) $9.00! Eek! For today, since it was our 1st time there and Kara just recently turned 3 y/o, I wanted to save myself $9 and blurted out, "She turns 3 in October...how much is her fee?" (I just said it and totally lied to get in free for her!) WHAT!? It sucks being at the boarder line age where a few months ago she was free and then BAM! NINE DOLLARS! The lady behind the plexiglass replied, "She is free, and $13.50 for you." The other option is to pay for an Annual membership for the family, of $99 which after today's visit I am doing. This Zoo is Awesome, and worth $99 to be a member and get in free the rest of the year. It will pay for itself after 4 visits if it were just Kara and I going, and just 2 visits of Andrew, Me, and Kara all paying to get in...covering the entire year of going to the Zoo-Aquarium. Only additional fees are the $5 train rides and lunch if you purchase from the cafes` (free lunch to pack your own).
First exhibit to see is the Butterfly Pavillion! (photos)
Butterflies all around, and some landed on peoples heads, hand, purses...it was fun to see the butterflies up close. It gets humid in there to walk around for too long, and we step out to cool off. Following into this section for the insects. We have to get through the insects area in order to go back into the butterfly area. We could not bypass the bugs, it wasn't an option. So we get back inside the butterfly area and ooh and ahh over the pretty butterflies, and we notice two birds in there. One bird was black with what looked like a red mohawk on its head, and the other bird an apple green color all over. One bird was the male and the other the female of the same type. Not sure what kind of birds these were, but they were hoping around the ground inside the butterfly exhibit.
Then upon exiting we had to walk through the bug section again for the second time...Kara says, "I don't want to see the bugs again!" and she wants to turn around and head towards the butterfly area. I had to pick her up and scurry on out of there and find our way through the bug section, with her whining about the bugs. I escaped the building all together and went outside; back to the parked stroller and moved onto the next exhibit.
Next door is the Aquarium! SO COOL! This was recently remodeled and has new additions to the Aquarium, so it is all revamped and fabulous! I haven't seen an Aquarium quite like this since the Newport Aquarium in KY. The Omaha Aquarium has the room to walk through surrounding you with sharks, turtles, giant fish, rays, all sorts swimming around us and above head. (PHOTOS) Then we walk into the Jellyfish room. There's one tank lit up in a beautiful blue color contrasting with the orange glow of the Jellyfish. Absolutely beautiful! (PHOTOS) Another round tang in clear water displaying small Jellyfish all in a clearish pink color. Then on the wall were other versions Jellyfish.
There was a fun floor display of fish projected on there to have kids walk over and move the display around of the "Fish" these weren't real fish, but an animation. Same as the ones we have seen in the malls. Kids are over there "Splashing the animated water" Moving around the "fishies"...(Kara and the little shy boy)
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