National Zoo

After Daddy woke up this morning we got ready and headed to the zoo. Ava fell asleep for about 30 minutes of the trip down Connecticut Ave to a parking spot right near the Marriott. Ava woke up ready to go see the animals. We stopped at Starbucks for an iced coffee and a potty break before heading in. Our first stop was the sea otters, which were playing in a log above the water. We headed over to the bridge to see the elephants. We moved closer to the building because 2 of the elephants were having lunch. Ava blew them a kiss and we headed inside to see the panda.




The littler panda was having an bamboo feast. Ava was very interested in watching him eat. We stood there for about 10 minutes watching him pull the leaves off of the stems and eat them.


Next it was the Ape House. The whole family was in the one room playing. The baby was leaping around and swinging from the ropes. The Mamma was perched at the top watching and Daddy crawled up in the nest with a pile of hay making a bed. Ava was trying very hard to be just like all the big girls standing up against the glass.




After a trip to the potty we stopped to see the turtles.


As we walked up the hill to the Big Cats a group of people was stopped talking a picture in front of this Tiger cut-out. Ava crawled up behind them and popper her head through. Just like the girls at Hershey this group taking pictures thought she was the most adorable thing they had ever seen and after I snapped a picture the young guy in the group said "Oh that's facebook worthy!". All of the Cats were out. Both tigers and the 8 female lions.





As we headed out we got a special treat. The orangutan was crossing the wires. With all of the times we have been to the zoo this was the first time we saw the monkeys up on the wires.



We walked down to Open City for lunch. Delicious and such a great end to a wonderful day.