the 'zoo'

Since it's the end of August, I find it a completely appropriate time to talk about what we did at the beginning of July. {But I also find it completely appropriate to change from yoga pants that served as pajamas into yoga pants that serve as pants for the the rest of the day. So I may not be a good judge of 'appropriate.' }

After checking out of the hotel in Charleston following our aquarium visit, we had a few hours to kill before meeting Paul's family for a week in Tybee Island. We drove through Savannah as I looked up family-friendly things to do around the area. We've visited Charleston quite a bit but I had never been to Savannah. Such a sweet little place. As I was searching the good ol' web, I stumbled on a blog talking about the Oatland Island Wildlife Center. The person writing the blog said it was great and that the board of the wildlife preserve had even met to discuss changing the name to the Oatland Island Zoo.

 

Ultimately, the board decided against renaming the center. The blogger viewed this as a big mistake as she believed calling it a zoo would bring a lot more visitors.

I, however, think it was smart of the board to not change the name because, otherwise, they would have had a lot of unhappy campers thinking they were going to a zoo when they were really going to a nice wooded path with a few animals and a neat birds of prey exhibit. I could tell that this wouldn't be anything like a 'zoo' from the description on their website but I figured the girls would like to see any animals so we went ahead.

Oh but actually seeing the animals was the tricky part. First stop...the elusive mountain lion who was snoozing in the exact spot where you could barely see him. We saw a paw. And the girls thought we were just stopped in the woods for a snack break. Which suited them just fine because they pretty much live for snacks. {Definitely my offspring.}

Next stop, the fox...

Who was also sleeping.  He's in one of those sunspots way out yonder in the forest. We debated getting the girls out to see him but there's no way they would have noticed him. And once they're out of the stroller, it's really hard to convince them it's a good place to be.

The girls could actually see the deer but they thought they were dogs. Which is fun anyways. 

Another middle of the wood snack break...

This was, by far, the most interesting exhibit we happened upon. A daddy in a tree.

 

The wolves were also a huge hit. The girls could see them no problem and there was also an air conditioned viewing hut where the wolves would occasionally trot by and mark their territory, if you know what I mean. {Nothing more entertaining than a wolf peeing on the window you're standing behind.}

The turtles, though, were the real stars of the day.

Overall, it was a really fun afternoon. {Minus the part at the beginning where I was super pregnant-cranky because we hadn't eaten a proper lunch and peanut butter and crackers with a banana would just NOT cut it. Which it did. I just ate a lot of it.}  I'm glad we started at the disappointing end of the loop. If you ever go, start with the mountain lion and end with the bison. Because at least then you know you will end your walk seeing something. Bison don't hide very well. It's definitely worth the $3 you'll spend but under no circumstances should you try to fool yourself that you are going to a 'zoo.'

From there, we headed to the beach house and waited for Paul's family in a wonderfully bright downpour. Charleigh danced in the rain while Lolly slept in the car. It's a truly splendid thing that toddlers are fascinated and thrilled by turtles and rainstorms.