I've saved this one to be the perfect post holiday funk/cold outside/it's how many days until Spring Break post! Today's Far Away Friday is all the way from Colorado Springs, Colorado. Zu is a mama to three who used to live in Tidewater but moved out West. Neil and I actually LOVE Colorado. I love the skiing and snowboarding and Neil loves the baseball! Don't be afraid to contact me if you've got an idea for a post!
Toddling
around any city can be a daunting task wherever you venture off to. The Pikes
Peak region is full of beautiful landscapes and hiking trails, but if you’re
not the outdoorsy type there are several places that both you and your children
will enjoy. Our favorite go to spot is the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, in Colorado
Springs.
When
entering the zoo you are given tokens to donate to different animal
conservations. My children love seeing the tokens go through all of the gears.
This unique experience lets children voice their support on helping their
animal friends. We follow this with a family favorite, feeding the Giraffes!
You are able to feed the Giraffes all day. Visitors pay either $3 for one
bushel of lettuce or $5 for two. You also have the option to feed several other
animals, including the Goats and Rhinos. This year my older two children, ages
5 and 2, and I fed an Elephant to celebrate Summer Solstice. It is a bit more
pricy than the Giraffe exhibit, but it was worth every penny for the special
experience.
Though
focused on family fun, this zoo does a fabulous job at sharing their passion
for education and conservation. At various times you can learn more about the
animals, their environments and how each animal is specially suited for their
natural habitats. Before we fed the Elephant, the children learn all about
them. Fun fact, the elephants hind legs are shaped differently from their front
legs, they also only have molars in the very back of their mouths!
Located
near the main restaurants is a plant themed playground. My son loves climbing
the oversized mushroom, while my tiny two-year-old crawls under the snake.
There is also a wild animal themed carousel in the same area that is not for
the faint of heart. My kids beg for a ride every visit! If views are what you
seek, there is a sky ride that takes you above the mountainous zoo.
Speaking of
view, with every ticket purchase, you also get a free visit to Will Rogers
Memorial Shrine of the Sun, or as we call it, Rapunzel’s tower! Uniquely
located at the top of Cheyenne Mountain, one must drive through the zoo to
reach it. There are a few twists and turns up the mountain. Take your time and
enjoy the ride, once you reach the top you’ll be greeted with a magnificent
view of all of Colorado Springs.
Pricing
Prices to
the zoo vary by seasons, if you’re looking to save a bit, your best bet is to
go from December to February. It will be cold, but still a ton of fun. They
also have a Military discount for active duty families. Since we are locals, we
invested in the Family Membership, it is a one-time payment of $197 and it
includes admission for two adults and all of your children for an entire year!
This includes all of their extra events, like December Holiday lights
extravaganza and boo at the zoo. We have already gone at least ten times in the
past few months, so the membership has paid itself off, tenfold.
