Any Zoo Day is a Good Day!

LOTS OF FOLKS are always looking for something to do. This is especially true when there's a day ahead that looks free - with nothing already scheduled. Sometimes individuals or couples happen to see a day on the calendar that is blank. On occasion, parents and families discover this same sweet surprise. When this kind of situation presents itself, consider this: any zoo day is a good day!

Zoos are scattered across the nation. And, millions of us live within easy driving distance. Many leisure activity seekers have already discovered that going to the zoo is an excellent choice for a day-trip filled with fun. For others, who happen to live too far away in order to visit the zoo in a single day, the experience is still well worth a longer journey.

Animals from all over the world are, of course, the main attraction at any zoo. The total zoo package, however, offers benefits beyond just seeing the animals. Flowers, trees, shrubs, trails, places for snacks and refreshments, and habitats created for the wide variety of animals all combine to give each visitor a unique exposure to outdoor life and to a large number of God's wild creatures.

Visiting a zoo also has a valuable educational component - especially for children. Learning the correct names of animals, their country of origin, and other information about them can be good lessons for life.

Zookeepers work hard to deliver quality care for their animals and first-rate services for visitors. Among their many goals is to provide for the health and well-being of each animal in the most natural environment possible; and, to give each visitor safe and close-up views of all the animals. They hope to accomplish these and other goals in an atmosphere of friendliness and fun.

It has been my pleasure over the years to visit several zoos. The one that I have visited most often is the Dickerson Park Zoo in Springfield, Missouri. My home state's two largest cities, Kansas City and St. Louis, also have wonderful zoos. Both, as you might expect, are larger and attract huge crowds on a daily basis. The zoo in Tulsa, Oklahoma is also a great place to spend leisure hours. The Bronx Zoo in New York, and the San Diego Zoo in California, are the biggest and most prestigious zoological parks which I have visited. Both are world-renowned with millions of visitors each year. Big, small, near, or far; I've never visited a zoo that I didn't like!
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Going to the zoo creates opportunities for the enrichment of body, mind, and spirit. It's a chance to stretch your legs, take-in the sights, enjoy being with friends or family, and to just generally have a good time. In the words of a fan, "Want to have a good day?  Go to the zoo!"
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-- The zoo photos above were taken in Springfield (top), in San Diego (middle), and in New York (bottom).