It's All Happening at the Zoo

Oh, the places you'll go.

By Julie Feinstein Adams

I've lived near and in Oakland for 21 years, and I've never been to the Oakland Zoo. Heck, I've only been to the big fancy San Francisco Zoo once (upon invitation from my cousin who has kids). But now, I'm a mom of an eleven month old who loves animals. I mean, this boy is beside himself whenever he sees an animal in person, or in one of his books. So, over the balmy weekend, Husband and I took the kiddo to the zoo.

The Tigers were first. Gigantic beasts. In our daily life, we often look at pictures of tigers. One tends to forget how utterly massive and impressive they are in real life, muscles rippling under vividly striped fur.

And then the primates. Tiny monkeys with frilly white ruffs around their delicate little heads, with features so sharply defined they really looked like miniature people in fur suits. The chimps were surprisingly huge, yet hard to see.

Maybe it's an artifact of not-so-long-ago living through a time when my son could barely see a few feet in front of his face, you know, during the newborn period... I kept wondering if he could see the animals through the mesh fences that separated us from them, and discern them from in and amongst all the foliage of the enclosures. When I checked, he did seem to be following the action. Frequently I'd crouch down to stroller level, just to make sure his view wasn't being obscured by a handrail.

The best animals were the giraffes because being so tall and high contrast and not dangerous nor climbers, they were pretty close to us and barely fenced in.

The most surprising animals were the moms in four-inch heels. How do they do it? I mean, you know you're going to be walking  A LOT if you go to the zoo with your kids...!?!

Overall, the day seemed to be a hit, judging by the amount of happy babbling throughout the visit. We decided to become members because a parent needs places that are filled with other kids and parents, and places where one can walk around and look at things, preferably things that one is not inclined (or allowed) to purchase, as impulse shopping while strollering a toddler can grab one unawares.

Unfortunately, the zoo does have a really cute gift shop -- from what I let myself see from the doorway on this first visit.

Must. Not. Buy. Furry. Monkey.