This was my son’s first time to the fair. It was mine as well. I will definitely be returning. Kids love the storyline of the faire. The rides are perfect for the 2-12 year old range. The cast of knights and serfs are always in character. There’s axe throwing, pony rides, a human powered ferris wheel, tigers, comedy shows, jousting, sword fighting, jewelry, clothing, and more….
They have several food courts that cover a variety of tastes. Beer and wine is also plentiful. There are new events in the village of Carvershire for the 2010 season including Daniel Duke of Danger, The Whiskey Boys, The Mysticals, Gypsy Dancers and more.
The faire can be as much a day out for mom and dad as it is for the kids. Make sure to check their website for specific specials and events, as they vary greatly.
Adult Tickets are $26, Children’s Tickets (5-11) are $15, and children 4 and under are free. Plan on purchasing additional tickets for special rides and events. They also have a link on their website for a $2 off coupon. Stay tuned for additional CK discounts.
You’ll gasp as the King’s mounted knight’s battle on horseback, and laugh as bawdy beggars compete in mud. Strolling performers will engage you all day long as you frolic in our forest and try your skill at our Gaming Glen.
Epicurean pleasures will tantalize your taste buds with the Faire’s unbelievable choices of truly scrumptious treats. Satiate your palate with spit-roasted giant turkey legs, boules of chowder and stew, ringlets of fryes, champagne, wine and brew!
Discover over 100 talented artisans who journey from all over the country to display and hawk their magnificent wares. You will be delighted and intrigued by the fantastic glass blowing, portrait painting, hand-spun pottery, sword making, fabulous jewelry, leather and armor, period clothing, moccasins, perfumes and scented oils, face painting, and physic readings.
I certainly don’t know of another place near Boston, on the South Shore, or in Massachusetts for that matter that offers a similar venue. Definitely worth the trip!
We had no idea where Mendon was, but had heard great things about the Southwick Zoo and decided to try it out. With our kid and some grandparents in tow, we navigated our way down Southwick Street and were blown away by this hidden jewel. Bring your camera, some quarters (we’ll explain that), walking shoes, and love for animals to this zoo!
Planning Your Visit
Southwick Zoo is pretty big and has many different paths throughout the facility. We’d recommend either mapping out your plan before you get there using on their online map or spending some time when you first get in to plan the day. There are live shows throughout the day, so keep that in mind when planning your route. The times for these are posted on a board when you first enter (we used our digital camera to take a picture to remind us of the times throughout the day). We saw the elephant show and the live animal show and would recommend both; if you only have time for one, the elephant show would be at the top of our list. Wanderers will find it easy to walk about with no plan as well, but some of us need to be more orderly than that!
The terrain is very hilly, so wear good walking shoes and bring a stroller or wagon if you have bags, coolers, or younger kids. We were happy with the amount of natural shade provided by the trees throughout the entire zoo. We always try to get to zoos early in the day to avoid the large crowds and would recommend the same with Southwick. We arrived at 10:20 (they open at 10:00 am) and the parking lot was already half full. Despite the expected crowd, we found very few exhibits to be overcrowded, mainly due to the size of this zoo, and we hardly had to wait in line anywhere.
If you head into Deer Forest, where you can walk with the deer and feed them out of your hand, you will want to bring some quarters to buy the deer food ($0.50 for half a handful of corn). You may want to bring a bag or cup to carry it if putting corn in your pocket isn’t appealing to you. Some of the deer are skittish and may not want to come close. Be patient and you should be able to find one that does not mind eating out of your or your child’s hand.
The Animals
The animals are why we visit zoos, and Southwick does not disappoint with its variety of animals and the quality of its exhibits. Most of the exhibits provide close-up, unobstructed views of the animals, and there are opportunities to feed and play with some of them. Highlights for us were the humungous Aldabra Tortoise, leopard, rhinos, elephant, monkeys, giraffes, lemurs, and camels, to name just a few.
The Petting Zoo area is full of goats, turkeys, and sheep and lets you and your kids walk around with these animals, feeding them and petting them. This area was a little hectic, but armed with some quarters to buy food, we headed into the fenced-in area to play with the goats. Some were more aggressive than others, so if you have little ones, keep a close eye on them. Hand sanitizer was provided outside the door of the petting area.
The Food
We brought food for our son and planned to buy lunch at the zoo for our adult contingent. There are seven different food locations throughout the zoo, ranging from the Pizza & Snack Shack and the Jungle Hut (popcorn, pretzels, candy) to the more healthy Clarice’s Cupboard (fresh sandwiches, wraps, and salads). We opted for the healthy option and enjoyed our freshly made wraps along with some homemade oatmeal and chocolate chip cookies (so much for healthy!).
The Rides
There are mechanical kiddie rides, animal rides, a Sky Ride and a tire train ride. For the older kids (42” and taller) we recommend the Sky Ride, which is a 15-minute aerial tour of the zoo in a 2-person ski lift chair. This ride costs $5.00 per person, but we think it’s worth it as you get a nice break from the hilly paths and a great view of the animals and much of the zoo from above.
The Woodland Express is a tire train ride that takes you through a wooded area outside the main zoo area, giving you a view of North American animals in their natural setting. We missed this one by a couple minutes and didn’t feel like waiting the 15 minutes for the next train, but would hop on this train during our next visit.
With five circle mechanical rides, a moonbounce, and camel, pony, and elephant rides, there are plenty of options to choose from. If your kids are going to want to go on multiple rides, or if you have several kids, you will want to look into the ride ticket packages to save some money.
Final Thoughts
Southwick Zoo is one of the best zoos in Massachusetts! As a privately run zoo (no government funding), it’s more expensive than others at $18.75 for adults and $12.75 for kids 3-12 and seniors. We came across a coupon that got us four adult passes for $30.00, so look for deals before heading to this one. They also have a coupon posted on their website for $2 off per person. Even at full price this place is worth the admission, especially if you can pack a lunch. This will be a place we go year after year with our family.
Mom Says: There are tons of picnic tables, so it’s very easy to find a spot for your family to sit and eat. Even with the big crowd and eating at high noon we had no problem finding a table. If you are cold easily then bring a pullover; I was cold on an 80 degree day due to the shade throughout the zoo!
Dad Says: This place just kept going and going and rivals some of the country’s top big-city zoos. Do not worry about having to sit through a show with your kid – they are short programs designed to keep their attention.
We finally drove out to Sterling, MA, to visit Davis Farmland, a children’s discovery farm. Sounds like a simple idea, but the Davis family has taken farm fun to a whole new level by mixing the old in with the new. This place is a MUST-SEE. Be prepared with bathing suits and towels as you will want to get wet! During the summer they are open 7 days a week from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., and admission is $16.95 per person (children under 2 are free). Discounts and memberships are available, so check the website.
Let’s start with a little history, which makes the farm very intriguing. Seven generations of the Davis family have run the farm from the beginning. Their mission is to ensure that rare breeds of farm animals live and repopulate for years to come. You may not recognize some of the animals on the farm, but they have posted very detailed signs so you can identify them. Their website boasts that “Davis Farmland is the largest private sanctuary of endangered livestock in North America.” They have even teamed up with San Diego Zoo to preserve DNA of endangered farm animals. Yes, the admission is pricey, but think of it as helping to save some of these animals for your future grandchildren to see!
Upon paying this admission your group is given wristbands for security. Your group must leave together and no one can take your child home. Many venues have similar security measures, but a staffed and locked gate to exit made this a bit more secure than some play places we have been to. In addition to your entry fee, you can purchase cups of feed for the animals for $2.00 each. This is highly recommended by our son. A few short steps past the ticket counter and you are smack in the middle of the action. Watch out! The first animals you see are kittens, and they are up for adoption. We were able to walk away easily, but if you are a sucker for fuzzy paws that attack your fingers through the wire, then you have been forewarned. Don’t worry – there are tons of other animals to pet. Rabbits are in the cages across from the kittens. You can touch them if they are close to the edge of the cage, but also listen to the staff’s shout-outs throughout the day. At one point they took out some rabbits with angora hair and put them on a picnic table to be brushed and petted by the children (and adults that want to act like children, like us). Some of the farm animals are in cages, and others are roaming free in an open area that you can stroll through. Our son loved to chase the chickens around, though I don’t think they liked it as much… Beware of the younger goats as we found that they liked to chew on our clothes.
Don’t like animals? The farm has plenty of other activities. The face painting station is equipped with all the paint and mirrors your child needs to create a masterpiece on their body, including sketches for them to use as guides. A sink is nearby for easy cleanup. There were several play areas for kids of different ages and interests. The toddler area (under 3) had some plastic treehouse-type (think Berenstain Bears) buildings to play in, a wooden train, some sandboxes, and swings. The best feature in this section was the speedway. This road course was adjacent to the play area and had lots of coupe-style cars for the kids to drive around or be pushed by adults. This area also has a play market, campground, farm, sand area, maze, and water tables. At the other end of the farm is a play area for the next oldest age group. Along with the usual playground buildings, they have a sand area, Peek-a-boo huts, dinosaur bone dig, pedal track, and scooter bugs. We’ll leave it to you to find out what those are on your visit! Sufficed it to say, Davis Farmland has enough to keep a family busy for a complete day if you plan your visit right.
The Adventure Play & Spray is a definite for those hot New England summer days, so pack the bathing suits and towels. It’s a zero-depth spray ground where your child can run through the sprinkler all they want! Prepare to get wet – you know you won’t be able to resist running through it a little as well!! The toddler area is separate from the main play & spray and has a rubber floor and only a few sprayers. Locker rooms and changing areas are available, and swimmy diapers are a must for the little ones.
Davis Farmland opens their well-known attraction, Davis’ Mega-Maze, on July 30. This year’s theme is ‘The Lost Tomb.’ Keep an eye out for our review later in the summer.
Mom Says: The Davis family really thinks like parents and keeps a stash of safety items on hand everywhere you look: wipes, sunblock, bug spray, and ‘Boo-Boo Stations.’ The food choices they offer are good (they even have baby food!), but they also have an abundance of picnic tables so you can pack food for the family and bring it in with you.
Dad Says: It’s hard to summarize Davis Farmland as there was so much to do, see, touch, feel, and experience. We caught a special exhibit called ‘Birds of Prey.’ Check the website as there are many more special events throughout the year. I was impressed with the staffing levels (OK, sounds like my day job) at Davis as every time you turned around, there was a friendly employee asking if you needed help or telling you about one of the animals.
Davis Farmland & Davis Mega Maze
145 Redstone Hill
Sterling, MA 01564 www.davisfarmland.com
Given the craziness around the Swine Flu, we decided to stay away from the crowded playplaces and headed to the South Shore Natural Science Center (SSNSC) in Norwell, MA. This nonprofit organization is dedicated to educating the public about the natural and cultural environments of the South Shore. The entry fee for adults is $5 ($4 with AAA card) and $3 for children 2 and over.
Situated on 30 acres, with 200 surrounding acres of conservation and recreation land, the SSNCS offers hours of nature education and fun for kids. There are three main areas to check out at the SSNCS: the EcoZone, Coes Greenhouse, and nature trails and conservation land.
The EcoZone is the main thing to check out inside the SSNCS, featuring displays and interactive exhibits about the habitat of southeastern Massachusetts, including wetlands, woodlands and meadows. While this area appeared small at first, there were quite a few areas of interest to us and the little guy and you could easily take up 30 to 45 minutes exploring the various animals and environments.
Walking into the exhibit, there are several different displays on the walls featuring ecosystems of southeastern Massachusetts. This area leads into the EcoZone, where we were immediately drawn to the Creature Corner, with cages of various reptiles set into the wall allowing for close up views through Plexiglas. Snakes, turtles, salamanders, and frogs make the Creature Corner their home and were quite fun to view. My son enjoyed trying to get the attention of the snakes and turtles in this exhibit.
In the middle of this room is a large pool with turtles swimming around and basking in the heat of a sun lamp. This area provides for some great close-up views of the turtles. If your kids aren’t tall enough, you’ll have to pick them up to see into this pool. On the other side of this pool is a smaller frog pond inhabited by a large bullfrog. In between the turtle and frog ponds is a hollow log big enough for kids and adults to crawl through. There are peepholes in this log letting your kids see an underwater view of the ponds. Depending on your kids’ interest level, you could spend an hour or more viewing and discussing the exhibits. Make sure you pay a visit to the large iguana near the exit.
After checking out the indoor stuff, we headed outside for a short hike and to view the owl exhibit. There are six different trails you can explore, which take you through the wooded land and feature signs along the way explaining some of the sites on the path. We read about maple syrup spigots and different reasons why trees were damaged. We were running short on time, so we took a short trail, but you could combine trails for a longer hike if you so desired. The owl exhibit is outside and features Hedwig, a barred owl who is native to the area. This exhibit lets you view Hedwig from about 10-15 feet away.
We visited on a Saturday, but due to some time constraints missed the two programs they offer on Saturdays. At 10AM there is a “Feed the Animals” program, and at 2pm there is a “Meet an Animal” program. If you are visiting on a Saturday it would be good to time your visit to coincide with one if these.
Dad Says: Big doesn’t always mean better! This place offers some cool close up views of reptiles and amphibians and the trails were easy to walk and the signs were good conversation starters about various natural happenings.
Uncle Says: The SSNSC is one of those “hidden gems.” It was cool to see some of the local animals and learn about the local trees and plants. I can’t wait to go back again with my nephew to see a “Meet an Animal” show.
The Butterfly Place is an indoor living environment designed specifically for butterflies and was a fun place to spend an hour of our weekend. If your kids enjoy butterflies or nature in general, this is a must-see. Make sure you plan your clothing accordingly as the atrium is 80 degrees and humid, the ideal environment for butterflies.
The Butterfly Place is open from Valentine’s Day (February 14th) through Halloween (October 31st) from 10:00 AM until 4:00 PM (5:00 in the summer), and costs $10 for adults, $8 for seniors, and $7 for kids 3 to 12 years old. For $1 you can purchase a double-sided color butterfly identification chart to help name each type of butterfly you see. Some kids had a butterfly scavenger hunt worksheet, which we assumed was part of a birthday party happening in the large tent in the rear of the facility. This seemed to keep the kids quite busy and interested in the different species of butterflies. One item on the list was to find an animal resting, which sparked a great conversation between a child and parent on the hunt.
There were three main parts to The Butterfly Place: the gift shop, the observation area, and the butterfly atrium. The gift shop is the entrance and exit, as well as where you purchase tickets. It sells butterfly books, feeders, ornaments, jewelry, and some small toys. The featured item was the Butterfly Hatching Kit, which includes two caterpillars and the food to hatch your own butterflies. Any kid that is really into butterflies would appreciate being able to witness the life cycle of the butterfly first-hand.
You enter the observation area directly from the gift shop and are presented with three main areas to explore: display cases, a video presentation, and the atrium viewing area. The display cases offer close-up views of various stages of a butterfly’s life, from caterpillar to flying butterfly. Each case is well labeled with descriptive signs. In the corner is a room with a 15-minute video presentation detailing the life cycle of butterflies. The last part of the observation area is a large window looking into the atrium where you can get a glimpse of the butterflies flying around. This would be a good place to get out of the 80 degree heat and still keep an eye on the kids (unless they go off the path and into the trees, but that is against the rules).
The atrium is a semi-circle shape with large ceilings and a multitude of dirt and pebble paths weaving throughout. The space is smaller than we expected, but does provide an intimate viewing of many butterflies in their natural habitat. Signs clearly warn visitors that attempting to capture butterflies or lure them into your hand is prohibited and could result in your removal from the facility. It is impossible to miss the butterflies as they whiz by your head or maybe land on your shoulder. One landed on our son and he didn’t even know until we told him. There are several benches along the path to take a break and view the butterflies from a different angle. A koi pond filled with large orange and white fish is stashed near the exit of the atrium area, and there were several finches flying around.
Dad Says: I’m always up for some nature education, and the Butterfly Place didn’t disappoint. I thought $10 was a bit pricey given the size and amount of time you could spend here, but it was some good learning for us and the little one. The huge Atlas Moth was something to be seen!
Mom Says: Between the warmth, flowers, and butterflies, there was no way I wouldn’t like this place. Don’t forget your camera, and stay close to each other – you never know when you can get a shot of a butterfly catching a ride on one of you!
Check out a slideshow of the rest of our pictures from this trip or view them on Flickr
The Capron Park Zoo in Attleboro is one of the smaller zoos we have been to, but it packs quite a punch for its size with a variety of animals and exhibits. The 8 acre property has a few indoor exhibits as well as the outdoor ones.
Situated adjacent to the large Capron Park and playground, the zoo is open year round and costs $5.50 for adults and $3.75 for children (kids under 2 get in for free). Attleboro residents and seniors get a discount. Entry and exit to the zoo is through the gift shop, so there are two opportunities to entice the kids for toys and animal gear. Maps are located throughout the zoo for easy reference to the 18 exhibits. We asked for a map to take with us, but the zoo keeper told us that they stopped making them because too many people were leaving them throughout the park, which made sense, but it would have been nice to have with us.
Kangaroos and Emus were the first animals you see when you enter the park. We were a little disappointed that the Kangaroos were not hopping around, but did get to see some hopping action on the way out. A splash park is under construction and set to open in June and will surely be a hit for kids on hot summer days.
The next major exhibit we spent time at was the White Lion cage where Ramses, the male lion, and Kayla and Nyala, two 4-year-old lionesses, spend their time. A zoo employee came along and tossed what looked like chicken legs into the large cage; we saw the lions eating away at these, which made it a bit more interesting.
Other highlights for us were the River Otters, who deftly swim about their tank doing back flips when they hit the wall, much like an Olympic swimmer. The glass viewing area is at one end of their pond and gets you really close to the action, so our kid really enjoyed watching them swim around. He also enjoyed the Llamas and goats, which were fenced in and ready to eat. We purchased some food for 25 cents and were able to distract them with it so our son could pet them. Don’t worry about germs – the zoo has sanitizer right there for everyone.
There are several indoor exhibits. In the Nocturnal building, day and night have been reversed, allowing you to view the night creatures in their natural habitat. The indoor rainforest exhibit was one of our favorites; we spent 20 minutes in that building and could have stayed longer! It provides an open view to an artificial rainforest, so we were able to get close to many different animals, including a Porcupine, Fruit Bats, 3 toed Sloth, and various birds; there were too many animals to name. It was a bit chilly outside so the warm, tropical rainforest was a welcome change for us and our kid.
Capron offers several interesting programs:
Zoo Snooze Programs – for almost any size group the zoo will let you stay overnight to see what happens at the zoo in the dark. There are indoor and outdoor (tent) options for sleeping with pricing starting at $250 for groups of 12 people.
Zoo Party Program – Offering 3 different programs (Snow Leopard, Sloth Bear, and Kangaroo) this is a cool option for a birthday party. Each program provides for admission of 25 people to the zoo and the program as well as use of the party room, a kids meal, cake, ice cream, and a goody bag. With prices ranging from $225 to $325 depending on the animal theme, this seems like a pretty good deal.
Mom Says: If we lived closer we would be members in a heartbeat. Like the three bears, the size wasn’t too big or too small, it was just right. I wasn’t worried about losing our little one or letting him run around. I’m not sure if they run things differently in the summer, but we were able to bring snacks in our bag.
Dad Says: I love zoos so was excited to visit one I had not been to, especially to see the White Lion. I was kind of bummed that Lemur Island is not open yet, but that will be a reason to visit Capron again. The snack bar was not open, but we did notice there was plenty of outdoor seating and a play area for the kids. We’d also build in some time to play or picnic in Capron Park and hit up the fantastic playground right next to the zoo entrance.
Check out a slideshow of the rest of our pictures from this trip or view them on Flickr
If you told us that a Bald Eagle, a Polar Bear, a Boa Constrictor, and a Great Horned Owl all lived within 15 minutes from our home in Central Mass, we probably would have called you crazy. That is, until we visited the EcoTarium in Worcester, MA, with a weekend guest and his 4-year-old twins. The EcoTarium is an indoor and outdoor science and nature museum with a wide variety of activities, including a digital planetarium, wildlife, nature trails, a working railroad, and many other hands-on exhibits. The EcoTarium costs $10 for adults and $8 for kids (children under 3 are free) and is open 10am-5pm Tuesday-Saturday and noon-5pm on Sunday.
Driving into the facility you arrive at a guard booth, where you are greeted and pay for the vehicle full of kids. We thought this was good as you can park and get right to the action without having to wait in line for tickets. Walking from the parking lot to the main building you are immediately greeted by a cage of owls on one side of the path and a cage of Bald Eagles on the other side. Both have good signage with details about the birds and got our group pretty enthused about what was to come.
With a map in hand we plotted out our day, deciding to tackle the outdoor activities first by hitting the Wildlife Path. The first exhibit was Kenda, the 600 pound Polar Bear. The kids and adults were quite impressed with the balancing act this enormous animal exhibited as she walked back and forth on a high ledge within her concrete play area. Unfortunately, we did not get to see Kenda take a swim in her large pool. The museum offers a glass viewing area on one side of the pool so you can see her swimming under water. Hopefully we can catch that next time. The rest of the path was not quite as exciting, but we did hit the playground along the route. This trail brings you right to the Explorer Express Train which was a must for our crew. The 12-minute train ride takes you around the entire museum grounds. The highlights included the fox cage and a tunnel where the kids are encouraged to scream out loud. The train does cost an extra $2.50 per person.
There were several other nature trails to check out, but the chilly day made us head inside after the train ride. There are 3 floors of science and nature exhibits inside the museum, some permanent and others that change seasonally. We would encourage you to check out the EcoTarium’s website before visiting to see the current list of exhibits and any live shows that might be coming up (we enjoyed a live talk about tortoises). All exhibits focus on natural history and New England’s environment. Older kids, who can read and enjoy science, will soak up the information in each exhibit while the younger kids will require some help from parents to explain things along the way.
None of the kids in our group were over 7, but the adults sure would have liked to try the Tree Canopy Walkway if the children were of age (7 years old or 50 pounds are the minimums on this 40 foot high walk and swing through the tree tops). Other events and exhibits the EcoTarium offers includes a sunset Jazz concert series, a digital planetarium, and the discovery room, which is a special room for preschool-aged kids to learn about nature and science.
Mom Says: The owl and Bald Eagle cages are pretty close to the path so you can get a great view of the birds. If your kid is like ours and loves to play with anything he can grab, this is a great place. I was amazed at all of the exhibits the kids were able to tinker with – upon entering the museum there was a microscope that the twins couldn’t take their hands off of.
Dad Says: I was surprised at the variety of exhibits and like the fact that exhibits change frequently. The facility is a little dated and could use some TLC, but the kids didn’t seem to mind that. The cool stuff is all extra, so plan on additional spending above the entry fee. We’d definately go back and would think about becoming members.
Weekend Guest Says: My son and daughter, both 4, finally understood a few tricks that I had never been able to explain, like how mosquitoes can spot your blood 3 miles away in the dark, how turtles reproduce, and how fish grow in a river eco-system. The staff was very nice and took time to explain things to the kids. Workshops are well organized around various schedules at convenient times (management must have kids too). If you visit, don’t miss a chance to lose your quarter in the “black hole”, but be careful as it’s addictive and, unlike slot machines, there is no cash payout.
What will I do with my Kids today is on the lips of every parent, every day. Once you get past breakfast, the grueling decisions start. Crazy Kids is the cure.
Mom Says: The Davis family really thinks like parents and keeps a stash of safety items on hand everywhere you look: wipes, sunblock, bug spray, and ‘Boo-Boo Stations.’ The food choices they offer are good (they even have baby food!), but they also have an abundance of picnic tables so you can pack food for the family and bring it in with you.
Dad Says: It’s hard to summarize Davis Farmland as there was so much to do, see, touch, feel, and experience. We caught a special exhibit called ‘Birds of Prey.’ Check the website as there are many more special events throughout the year. I was impressed with the staffing levels (OK, sounds like my day job) at Davis as every time you turned around, there was a friendly employee asking if you needed help or telling you about one of the animals.
Some kids had a butterfly scavenger hunt worksheet, which we assumed was part of a birthday party happening in the large tent in the rear of the facility. This seemed to keep the kids quite busy and interested in the different species of butterflies. One item on the list was to find an animal resting, which sparked a great conversation between a child and parent on the hunt.
In the corner is a room with a 15-minute video presentation detailing the life cycle of butterflies. The last part of the observation area is a large window looking into the atrium where you can get a glimpse of the butterflies flying around. This would be a good place to get out of the 80 degree heat and still keep an eye on the kids (unless they go off the path and into the trees, but that is against the rules).
and $3.75 for children (kids under 2 get in for free). Attleboro residents and seniors get a discount. Entry and exit to the zoo is through the gift shop, so there are two opportunities to entice the kids for toys and animal gear. Maps are located throughout the zoo for easy reference to the 18 exhibits. We asked for a map to take with us, but the zoo keeper told us that they stopped making them because too many people were leaving them throughout the park, which made sense, but it would have been nice to have with us.
and tossed what looked like chicken legs into the large cage; we saw the lions eating away at these, which made it a bit more interesting.
Driving into the facility you arrive at a guard booth, where you are greeted and pay for the vehicle full of kids. We thought this was good as you can park and get right to the action without having to wait in line for tickets. Walking from the parking lot to the main building you are immediately greeted by a cage of owls on one side of the path and a cage of Bald Eagles on the other side. Both have good signage with details about the birds and got our group pretty enthused about what was to come.
The rest of the path was not quite as exciting, but we did hit the playground along the route. This trail brings you right to the Explorer Express Train which was a must for our crew. The 12-minute train ride takes you around the entire museum grounds. The highlights included the fox cage and a tunnel where the kids are encouraged to scream out loud. The train does cost an extra $2.50 per person.