We went to the National Zoo in Washington D.C. for the first time over my kids spring break. And now Jonah, 4, has National Zoo fever.
He loved it. He did not want to leave until we had seen every last animal in the place. And there was no fooling him, because he had the map. And that place is BIG. His little legs were not intimidated by the hills or the sheer amount of walking involved. The only time he sat down and insisted on being carried was when I said we were leaving. If I’d said we were heading back up the hill to see the few animals we had missed, I’m sure he would have been leading the way.
And since we’ve been home — he’s talked about nothing else. His favorite animal by far was the giant hippo (who, unfortunately, is being shipped out soon to another zoo). He also liked the giant lobster, the giant turtles, the huge anaconda snake, and the bald eagle. He explained to his dad — who was unable to make the trip — that the giant octopus really wasn’t very giant and that we also saw a “spectacular” bear like the one on Diego (really a Spectacle bear).
He’s been playing “National Zoo” in the tub, where he sets up all the animals we have in “exhibits,” and he even took the torn map of the zoo to show all his friends at school.
Now all he wants to know is when we are going back. Yikes. Do you think the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore will do? That zoo is more my size — one we can do in a morning and still be home in time for lunch and a nap (for me, I mean).