TIGERS COME FROM BEHIND W IN ANAHEIM

The Detroit Tigers secured a thrilling 2-1 comeback victory against the Los Angeles Angels in the teams July 17 matchup. Down to their final out in the ninth inning, Hao-Yu Lee blasted a clutch two-run double to put the Tigers ahead on the scoreboard. 

How Detroit Stole One in Anaheim: 

Tigers Win in the 9th! Whew, did anyone else's heart almost stop last night? If you stayed up late to watch the Tigers kick off the second half of the season against the Angels at Angel Stadium, you were treated to a masterclass in never giving up.

Pitching Kept Tigers Alive:

First of all, shoutout to Troy Melton. The 25-year-old righty was pitching right in his own backyard, and he absolutely brought it. He grinded through 5.2 innings, allowed just one run, and racked up an impressive 9 strikeouts. He got into a little bit of trouble with walks early, but he settled down like an absolute pro.

But the real MVP of the night might just be Keider Montero. When he came in, our bullpen absolutely locked it down. Montero went 3.1 innings and gave up just one hit while striking out five! When the Angels threatened in the bottom of the ninth, he stayed cool as ice to secure the final out.

Ninth-Inning Magic:

Let's talk about the drama in the top of the ninth. Things looked bleak. Tigers were down 1-0 and down to their final out against Angels reliever Kirby Yates. But this team just doesn't quit.

After some gritty baserunning, Detroit had guys on the bases. Then, Hao-Yu Lee stepped up to the plate and delivered the absolute dagger! He lined a two-out, two-run double into right-center field. Seeing Riley Greene and James Outman come crossing home plate to take the 2-1 lead was a shot of pure adrenaline.

Defensive Jewels:

The Tigers couldn't have pulled this off without some serious leather work in the bottom of the frame. With two runners on, third baseman Kevin McGonigle made an unbelievable, leaping grab on a high chopper and fired a rocket to first! That play saved the game and gave Montero the breathing room to shut the door on an Angels comeback. 

A win like this—scrappy, pitching-heavy, and decided by late-inning heroics—is exactly the kind of momentum the team needs heading into the rest of this grueling 13-games-in-13-days stretch of their schedule. Having stumbled through a disastrous May, the remainder of the month of July really is a make it or break time if the team has hopes for a postseason appearance.

FUN PLUSH CREATURES MAKE GREAT HOLIDAY GIFTS

Looking for a magical holiday gift for a fantasy lover in your life? Check out the World's Softest Plush Midnight Dragon from Beverly Hills Teddy Bear Company! Crafted with an exceptional high-density 'Lush-Tec' plush material, Midnight Dragon and other World's Softest Plush creations are designed to be the most softest, most lushee-est, most squishee-est plushies you can get your hands on. Combining the Lush-Tec fabric with weighted hands, feet and rumps make these plushies perfect for hugging. 

Don’t let the dark and mysterious décor fool you, Midnight Dragon is a sweetheart ready to usher companions into a fantasy world. Purple accents adorn its horns, wings and tail, providing a rich and complementary color pop against the rich black fur, dark as the night sky. Who said dragon's are fierce? Endearing dome eyes show this dragon has a friendly personality. Midnight Dragon and other World's Softest Plush from Beverly Hills Teddy Bear Company are available in three different sizes: Medium (10") / Large (16") / X-Large (20"). 

Know a Detroit Tigers fan? Tad the Tiger could be a real comfort to hold onto while watching a tense baseball game. A know a number of fans in my house that would have been hugging Tad tight during that 15-inning Game 5 playoff game against Seattle last season. Let's go Tigers!

People who would love these plush come in all stripes, which is something that has Tad Tiger stand out! The tiger's fur is a beautiful russet hue and covered in iconic stripes, a look that makes a bold statement. Blissfully lush & loppy & floppy & squishy, Tad Tiger is ready for millions of hugs and memories!

The judges at Mom’s Choice Awards recognize these plushies are the best of the best. World’s Softest Plush just won the Gold Award for excellence in design, feel and value. The plushies were also recognized by the PAL Awards, which said The World’s Softest Plush provide "an irresistibly cuddly companion and a comforting tool for sensory exploration, language development, and emotional growth.” Check out all the creatures available from Beverly Hills Teddy Bear Company at worldssoftestplush.com

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WINTER IS A GREAT TIME FOR A VISIT TO THE ZOO

When you think of a trip to the zoo probably a school year field trip or summer family outing is the first thing that comes to mind.  Most zoos are open throughout the entire year though and winter can be a great time for a visit.  While you might be in for a chilly time, some of my family's best trips to the zoo have been during the winter time.

If you are like me and don't care for being in crowds, a zoo during the winter months is a great place to be because they are fairly deserted places to stroll around.  While us humans don't want to be out in the cold, this time of year is when many of the animals are the most active, even ones that you wouldn't think would like being in the snow like lions from the African savanna and kangaroos from the Australian outback.   Some of our best close up views of wildlife running and playing in front of us have been during winter outings to the zoo. There have been plenty of times where it has felt like it was our family's own private park to enjoy because we practically had the place to ourselves.  It is a nice time to linger and view all the informational displays when there aren't a lot of other people getting in the way.  Plus while there may not be a lot of visitors, you'll still often find plenty of knowledgeable animal keepers, docents, and volunteers who will be excited to share with someone their insights about the animals that live there during this time when things aren't that busy.

 

Here are few tips on having an enjoyable trip to the zoo when it is cold outside:

+ Annual Memberships & Winter Discounts -- purchase an annual membership to your local zoo which often  provides unlimited visits to the zoo throughout the entire year for the same price as family admission would be for one or two trips without it.  Having one of these annual zoo passes will encourage your family to visit throughout the year to get the most out of your investment in it rather than just visiting during the peak attendance summer months. Some zoological parks will provide a discounted admission if you have an annual pass with another zoo so always remember to bring your membership card with you when traveling.  If you don't live close enough for an annual membership to be economical, check to see if a zoo you'd like to visit has discounted admission rates during the off-season to encourage attendance and utilize the deal as part of a fun winter road trip.

+ Check the Weather  -- A brisk stroll through outdoor exhibits is a great way to get kids who have been cooped up inside during the winter some exercise and release pent up energy. Be careful though because if it is too frigid out the experience will just be unpleasant and could even be dangerous as you risk hypothermia or frost bite if exposed to really low temperatures for too long.  Winter days when the animals are most active and you'll be the most comfortable to walk around bundled up are sunny ones with temperatures in the mid-30's or higher that have no wind chill to turn your nose and cheeks red.  Always dress appropriately for the weather conditions and check your local weather reports before you head out both for comfort and safety.

+ Online Zoo Maps -- most zoos have maps of their facilities online now.  Plot out routes between outdoor and indoor exhibits so you are giving yourself a chance to regularly warm up inside as you are exploring the zoo grounds.  It is nice to have your path planned out ahead of time instead of trying to figure out where you want to go while you are out in the cold.  Often time these online maps will highlight which exhibits are open and closed during the winter months to help you plan your visit in advance.  Also while visiting a zoo's website make sure to check out their hours as while most are open all year long they often have reduced operating hours during the winter season.  If they have an app add it to your phone or a mobile device to have access to the information as you are walking about.

+ Enjoy Indoor Exhibits -- when it is cold outside it is often possible to spend most of your time enjoying areas that are inside at many zoos.  My daughter's favorite animals are giraffes and there is a nice space where you can observe them inside so we go to see them a lot during the winter with our annual Detroit Zoo family pass.  We've had winter visits to our local zoo where we just went to the indoor butterfly and tropical bird garden, penguin exhibit, and reptile house staying inside almost the whole time.  Just because it may be frigid outside don't forget there may be interesting, warm spaces indoors at a zoo to enjoy.

Going stir crazy in your house? Maybe a winter road trip to a zoo is just the ticket to get out and about. A trip to the zoo is always an entertaining and educational experience that also provides some nice exercise.  While cold weather may be a detraction for some, my family has always found our winter visits to be enhanced by better visibility of the animals and accessibility around the exhibits.  Take advantage of the off-peak season and enjoy a family outing to a zoo.

TOMS & National Geographic Big Cats Collection

** A Geek Daddy received the featured product for free to review **

 
My kids have an affinity for"Big Cats" probably resulting from a combination of their dad being a passionate sports fan for two teams that have them for mascots (Detroit Tigers & Lions) and one of our favorite family activities is taking a walk through our local zoo to go see the lion exhibit.  So my daughter was pretty excited when a package from TOMS arrived the other day containing a sample of their new Nat Geo Big Cats Collection.  This collection includes sun glasses, a backpack, and of course what TOMS is known for, shoes that include design elements representing big cats and incorporate iconic photography from National Geographic's image library into their style.

While it is nice to be able to see lions, tigers, and other big cats at zoos wouldn't it be a shame if these creatures became extinct from the wild.  These animals have become symbols of adventurism and ferociousness for all of us so what would become of our own human nature if one day we find ourselves living on a planet where there aren't exotic natural spaces where majestic beasts roam in the wild.  Would some of our own instincts for imagination and exploration die off in a world with no wild animals and places?  Unfortunately this is a very real scenario.  Big cats in the wild are disappearing at an alarming rate.  In fact some zoologists are warning that within a generation wild lion and tiger populations may be extinct.

Fortunately there are efforts to try and avoid this scenario.  Since 2009, National Geographic’s Big Cats Initiative has worked to reverse the decline of big cats through on-the-ground conservation and education projects in Africa, Asia, and North and South America. These projects include instituting patrols to prevent lion snaring and poaching and building livestock enclosures to protect endangered cats from retaliatory killing.  TOMS is joining in the effort to save these wild animals and their natural habitats by partnering with National Geographic to support its critical nonprofit work through the Big Cats Collection. National Geographic and TOMS hope that this special collection draws attention to the critical need to protect and preserve big cats in the wild.

Heather Mycoskie, the wife of the TOMS founder and "Chief Shoe Giver" Blake Mycoskie,  became inspired to start the TOMS Animal Initiative when she learned that wild lions are at risk of being extinct.  As TOMS "Chief Animal Lover", Heather reached out to National Geographic to partner with the nonprofit in creating the Big Cats Collection.  Through the TOMS Animal Initiative, TOMS is working with various nonprofit animal conservation organizations to drive awareness and funding for global animal protection.

My daughter received a pair of Nat Geo Tiny Jaguar Classics from the TOMS Big Cats Collection to wear on our next trek to the zoo, camping trip, or nature trail hike.  These shoes feature a jaguar-inspired paw print pattern on the outside and the inside is lined with Jaguar pictures from National Geographic's image library.  In addition to be stylish there are also useful components to these shoes that include an elastic V-notch for a secure fit; a latex arch insert for added support; and TOMS classic microfiber with cushion for comfort.  My little girl adores the style of these Nat Geo Tiny Jaguar Classics and can't wait to wear them out on our next big family adventure.

In addition to a pair of TOMS, my daughter also received some goodies from Opposite of Far which included a unique bobcat mask. Opposite of Far specializes in creating unique animal-inspired masks for kids that are made in the United States. Opposite of Far masks are made from layers of premium Merino wool blend felt and Eco-fi Felt sewn together to ensure a safe, durable high quality product that inspires children to enjoy hours of imaginative play. Opposite of Far has a line of endangered animal masks to help promote awareness for conservation and preservation efforts.

Some of the other items in the TOMS Nat Geo Big Cats Collection include Nat Geo Men's Lion Paseos, Nat Geo Women's Jaguar Classics, Nat Geo Leopard Sunglasses, and the Nat Geo Big Cats backpack.  CLICK HERE to view the entire TOMS Nat Geo Big Cats Collection.

National Geographic’s Big Cats Initiative was founded in 2009 with Dereck and Beverly Joubert—filmmakers, conservationists, and Nat Geo explorers-in-residence—as a long-term effort to halt the decline of big cats in the wild. The Big Cats Initiative supports efforts to save big cats through assessment, on-the-ground conservation, education, and its "Cause an Uproar" global public-awareness campaign. Since its inception the Big Cats Initiative has funded over 80 grants across more than 25 countries to help save big cats in the wild. CLICK HERE if you would like to make a direct financial contribution to assist the Big Cats Initiative. For more information about its mission and accomplishments, visit animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/big-cats-initiative

A Geek Daddy is a member of the National Geographic Kids Insider blogger program.  Insiders get a behind-the-scenes look at National Geographic’s resources, activities, content and projects for kids and families. They also review copies of books, magazines and toys, and other Nat Geo products plus are offered interviews with authors, explorers and editors. 

#NGKinsider

World Lion Day - Cause an Uproar

Detroit has an affinity for big cats.  They're tied to the heart and soul of Motown as the mascots of two of the city's long time premiere sports franchises The Detroit Lions & Tigers.  The wild characteristics of these big cats portray the ferocity in which our sports teams strive to compete.  Will the meaning of these mascots remain the same for my kids and future generations though if these great animals no longer live in the wild or even worse become extinct?  Big cats in the wild are disappearing at an alarming rate! On World Lion Day ( August 10 ) please join my friends at National Geographic in creating an uproar about the plight of the planet's big cats in the wild.



Send a virtual high five to your friends and connections through social media on August 10th with the hashtag #5forBigCats with a message encouraging them to donate $5 to support National Geographic's Big Cat Initiative.  Donations can be made online via visiting donate.ngs.org/5forbigcats or by texting FIVE to 50555 to donate $5. Texting T&C: mgv.cc/t

The National Geographic Big Cats Initiative provides on-the-ground support to projects that preserve big cat populations worldwide.  Examples include building livestock enclosures to save snow leopards in Nepal and combating lion snaring and poaching in Zambia.  Build a Boma has been one of the Big Cats Initiative's most successful efforts at saving the lives of  Lions and other big cats in the wild.  Building and maintaining livestock enclosures called "bomas" in Kenya and Tanzania keeps the lions from preying on those animals which then protects the big cats from retaliatory killings by humans.  A boma costs $500 to build and $25 a year to maintain.  It's a proven way to decrease the killings of lions and your donation to National Geographic Big Cats Initiative can make sure these structures are being effectively built and utilized.  Examples like this show how even a small donation can help towards making a big difference.

Another way to contribute to the cause is to purchase the National Geographic Kids MISSION: LION RESCUE book which teaches children about these magnificent animals and its proceeds are used to support The National Geographic Big Cats Initiative. This softcover book is 128 pages and features 250 incredible color photographs of the kings and queens of beasts.   MISSION: LION RESCUE is meant to inspire young animal lovers to get up close to roaring lions and the real-life challenges they face. With fun and amazing adventure stories, gorgeous photography, hands-on activities, fascinating information, and more, this book taps into kids' interest in animals and hopefully will stir a passion for saving them. Meet real-life lions and learn about their habitats, challenges, and successes, plus learn how kids can take action and help save these amazing endangered creatures.

Please make a contribution on this World Lions Day to help restore their roar in the wild whether it is financially or by helping spread the word about #5forBigCats.  Hit Twitter, Facebook, Instagram in support of National Geographic's Big Cat Initiative! Let's go save the Lions!

#NGKinsider

An Autumn Road Trip to the Potter Park Zoo

We decided to get out of town and take a family road trip to someplace we hadn't visited before on the last weekend in September traveling to our state capital to visit the Potter Park Zoo.  Lansing is centrally located in Michigan's lower peninsula about an hour and a half drive from our home in Metro Detroit on the state's east side and 1.5 hours from Grand Rapids on the state's west coast.  It was a nice sunny 75 degree fall afternoon when we arrive to take a 2 hour leisurely stroll through the zoo. Sunday's in autumn must be a nice time for a visit as we essentially had the place to ourselves as my family wandered around the exhibits and gardens that make up the zoo.

While the Potter Park Zoo doesn't have an extensive list of creatures to view or expansive grounds to wander, it does have a quaint scenic layout with enough animals to keep your attention for a few hours.  For a smaller zoo it also has an impressive array of larger creatures to view and admire including lions, tigers and rhinos.  While it may not have as many animals and amenities as larger urban zoos, I found that it provided a more intimate opportunity to observe those creatures by allowing people to get closer to the exhibits than they normally can get at larger zoological parks.  My kids and I were able to get much closer to many of the animals than we ever can at the Detroit Zoo which is just down the street from our house.

While I was impressed by the visual vantage points for watching the animals at the Potter Zoo, it wasn't the most ideal location for taking photos.  While glass walls and metallic cages allow for great views with your naked eyes they don't work as well for capturing the images you are enjoying with a camera.  In comparison, at the Detroit Zoo you can't get as close up of views to the animals but they have more displays that are buffered with trenches rather than fences to give unobstructed viewpoints for taking photographs.  As this was a special trip, we appreciated the differentiation and the chance to observe animals from a different perspective.

The Potter Park Zoo also differentiated itself from the Detroit Zoo, where we have an annual membership and visit frequently throughout the year, with some different animals on display.  Potter Park has a rare snow leopard, spider monkeys, ravens, and a moose which we can't see at our local zoo. In addition to the exotic animals, Potter Park Zoo also has many local animals for people to enjoy including a petting farm with goats, llamas, pigs and chickens and a duck pond where you can feed the birds.

The grounds of the zoo are filled with nice artwork that was fun to check out.  Plus they had numerous cutout photo ops for taking some zany pictures.

Other things to do, for an extra fee of course, are taking pony rides (or if you want to be more adventurous camel rides), feeding a room full of parakeets with a seed covered stick in "Wings Down Under" or taking an electronic train ride around the zoo's picnic area.  Prices for these extra activities aren't bad ranging from $1 to $3.  In fact, admission into the zoo was very reasonable costing us $5 for parking and $2 per kid and $10 per adult for entry.

The zoo is essentially a loop to follow that starts off going past river otters, bald eagles and a wolf leading up to the farmyard.  After passing the farmyard there is the impressive feline and primate exhibit area followed by rhinos, mongoose, meerkats and a display building filled with small mammals, birds, and reptiles.  The final lap takes you past magellanic penguins, the duck pond and some tufted deer.  Of course there are a few other animals filling in the gaps as the zoo is home to 160 species.

 

Now they warn people not to pester the animals, but it appears no one instructs the animals to be nice to us humans as the funniest part of our trip was watching a mandrill approach my daughter as she was quietly looking at it through the glass and start imitating and taunting her in a friendly way.

If you are going to be in the Lansing area, I give A Geek Daddy nod of approval to making an effort to stop by the Potter Park Zoo for an enjoyable family outing.  My family had a great time on what will be a memorable road trip to check out this very nice zoological park.

The Potter Park Zoo is accredited by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums and operated by the Ingham County Parks & Recreation Commission.  For more information, visit www.potterparkzoo.org

Winter is a great time to visit the Zoo

If you are willing to brave the cold and snow, winter can be a great time for a roadtrip to a zoo providing for closeup views of animals without the summer crowds.  Many zoos are open to the public all year long, but have limited attendance during the winter months.  Often there are multiple indoor exhibits to enjoy along with the chance to see animals outdoors who don't mind frigid temps.  Our family uses our annual pass to go on several winter visits each year to our local zoo.  Just remember to pick a somewhat mild day, dress warmly, and if you are taking children along play it safe by being observant to how they are handling to weather conditions.  Have some fun and go on an arctic expedition to the zoo.

At our local zoo, the DETROIT ZOO, the polar bears are active when there is snow on the ground.  The zoo provides multiple heated indoor locations where you can view the bears, as well as an assortment of seals that are also native to the arctic climates, and while these areas are often crowded when the weather is warmer my kids normally have the run of the place.  This exhibit always has docents staffing it who LOVE the chance to talk with people and it is a great opportunity to have some nice conversations with these volunteers who have received training on educating the public about the animals on display.

There are plenty of animals on display outdoors even when snow is on the ground.  We have seen our best views of the tiger at the Detroit Zoo on winter visits.  You wouldn't think that Lions from Africa or Kangaroos from Australia would be out in the cold, but we've seen them outside during winter trips as well.

If standing outdoors when the temps are low isn't your thing as long as you're willing to do a brisk walk between buildings there are often plenty of things to occupy your time and attention indoors at zoos.  Here are a few things to do inside at the Detroit Zoo:

The Giraffe House is heated, open and has benches to sit on.  You can get up close to these gigantic creatures with a much better view than what you can see outdoors during the warmer months.  You really don't understand how tall these animals are until you stand up right next to one.

I don't believe many people realize their is an indoor Rhino Exhibit at the Detroit Zoo as it is always empty when we visit.  It provides nice views of the animals from a heated gallery, plus some cool benches to sit down and take the load off.

The Reptile House is in the middle of the grounds and a nice break to get out of the cold between the long walk between the indoor exhibits at the rear of the zoo and those at the front.  It is normally empty of people when we have visited in the winter and kept at a tropical humid temperature making it a very comfortable place to be on a cold day.  The real bonus though is that the snakes are always very active when we've stopped in on our snow day visits compared to the summer months when the crowd noise tends to send them hiding in their exhibits.

Other warn and comfy nooks you can visit during a winter trip to the Detroit Zoo include the exotic butterfly and bird house, otter exhibit, amphibian center, chimpanzee/gorilla display, meerkat and leemur building, and the penguin display.

Going stir crazy in your house, maybe a winter roadtrip to a zoo is just the ticket to get out and about.  Make sure you contact the zoo before you go to confirm their winter hours (which normally are normally different than during the peak months) and that they are actually open the day you want to go.  Check to see if the zoo has any special events going on during the winter too as part of your trip planning.  For example the Detroit Zoo has several WILD WINTER WEEKENDS with special themed activities going on during those events.  

Best time to go to the zoo: try a winter road trip!

It wasn't a busy work week for me following the Easter weekend so I took a day off and decided to enjoy a trip to the local zoo with my kids on one of the nice Spring days we were blessed with.  I was surprised as we pulled into the zoo driveway to see the parking lots closest to the entrance crammed full of cars and to find ourselves parking in one of the outer lots with a trek to the entry gates.  I shouldn't have been shocked because as the weather becomes warmer and it is more enjoyable to be outside the zoo is a great family day trip.  It's just that our family has become used to having the zoo as our own private place the last few months because we regularly go during the winter and during those colder months we practically have the place to ourselves.

Yes, it may be a little cold out but not only are there no crowds to bump up against for a good view but without the noise and distractions created by all the human visitors many of the animals are much more comfortable and are more active while you watch them during a winter visit compared to a trip in the spring or summer months.  Going to the zoo with my kids has actually become one of my favorite WINTER activities. Most zoos are open to the public all year long - check with your local zoo and see what they have to offer during the months of November - March.

Here's a video from a trip we took to the Detroit Zoo in February that shows some of my kids favorite animals to view: lions, rhinos, lemurs, and meerkats:

We have an annual pass to our local zoo and go throughout the year.  The Detroit Zoo is actually open 362 days per year.  There are fun things to do in the warmer months that you can't do in the winter like riding an animal themed carousel, hand-feeding giraffes or playing on the kids playscape but there are a lot ot fun things that you can do in the colder weather too!

 

 

The Detroit Zoo's Reptile House (aka Holden Reptiles Conservation Center) is kept a warm tropical 80 degrees all winter long to keep its 250 residents happy and comfortable.  During the summer when the place is crowed with visitors it often seems as if the snakes, lizards, turtles, and alligators who call the reptile home hide out in their exhibits.  If you can brave a frigid run or walk through the zoo's grounds in the winter months you'll find without all the motion and sound created by crowds these animals are very active slithering and swimming around their display areas.  My kids really enjoy racing the turtles along the window in their tank everytime we go ... they aren't as fond of the snakes though. 

 

 



A visit to the Giraffe Encounter during the colder months is always a treat for the kids, and parents, because you can get closer to the animals than when they are outside.  You can walk right up to a glass partition and see the giraffes up close and wow does that really let you get a feel for how tall these animals are!

 

If you're going during the cold weather than that is the perfect time to stop by the Artic Ring of Life where you can see foxes, seals and polar bears.  While it is a little bit of a trek through the outside of the exhibit you eventually will be able to observe the seals and polar bears from indoors either through an underwater tunnel or a mock up of a north pole scientific exploration station.  We've seen the polar bears from the underwater observation area more often during the winter months than during the spring, summer or fall and the only times we've seen the artic foxes out on the grounds of the Ring of Life where we could get a good view of them has been in the fall and winter months.

 

 

You can also get out of the winter air and explore the National Amphibian Conservation Center ( aka Amphibiville ) at the Detroit Zoo which my kids love to go and look at all the multi-colored varieties of frogs they have on display.

 

 

 



Like the Reptile House, the zoo also keeps the Matilda Wilson Free Flight Aviary & Butterfly Garden at a nice tropical 80 degrees all year long and we can't go for a visit without stopping by to see the butterflys and parrots.

 

 







Other animals with indoor buildings where you can get out of the cold and observe them include the chimpanzees and gorillas in the "monkey house", the meerkats have their own building as well as the lemurs, the otters may be outside all year long but you can view them from indoors in the heated Mardigian Otter Habitat building, and you can even go indoors to view the rhinos up close.

 

 

Depending on the temperature outside you never know what might be outside roaming around during the winter months and you could get an upclose unobstructed view of a lion, tiger, kangaroo, or grizzle bear.

 



 

You can't leave the zoo without one final stop which is a visit the the Penguinarium, this building was the first facility ever built in the United States to specifically house penguins and has been a highlight of a visit to the Detroit Zoo since 1968. It is located right before you get to the exit and is always the last stop we make before heading back to our car to head home so we can enjoy a nice mug of hot chocolate to warm up with and discuss our adventures at the zoo over.

 

If you haven't taken a trip to your local zoo when it's cold outside I urge you to give it a try!

 

For more information about planning a zoo roadtrip visit the Association of Zoos & Aquariums at www.aza.org