So last week we had a glimpse of what it is like to be “cool” parents by letting Jett skip school and taking a family trip to the zoo. We had a great day hanging out at the Nashville Zoo at Grassmere. These are a few of the memories that stood out from our family day.
Brewer and Gage pretending to be trees in Lorikeet Landing. Jett wouldn’t come in… he seems to have an aversion to birds!
Brewer flipped out when he saw this….
Because it reminded him of this….
His precious lovey!
The Flip Video Camera has become the 6th member of our family. We LOVE that thing!
Gage lagged behind most of the time…. mainly because he had a map obsession. If we stopped for a second he unfolded his zoo map and started taking in the information. He was so obsessed with his map he wouldn’t realize when we were moving on.
Jett exhibits more compassion to the goats than he does with his brothers! 
Here are all my charming boys together… oh, and a giraffe!
The final element that allowed us to realize it really was full, eventful, and entertaining day!
Also the success of a zoo trip with boys is also measured by how many animals they “catch in the potty act”. And boys are way more impressed if it is “number 2″. We saw the elephant, giraffe, lorikeet, goat, eland and snake (Pete found the most amusement from the snake, since he’d never seen snake poo).
I have a few zoos on my list to visit in the new few years… St. Louis, Toledo, Memphis, Cincinnati. What zoo do you all mark as your favorite?
My favorite zoo is my house….
By: Jason on October 10, 2008
at 7:56 am
We really enjoy the St. Louis Zoo!
By: Katie Gordon on October 10, 2008
at 7:59 am
It’s a long ways from where you live – but the San Diego Zoo and Wild Animal Park are the best!!!
If you come to Florida – Bush Gardens & Sea World are way col too
By: julienorthphotography on October 10, 2008
at 8:12 am
If you’re doing “Midwestern Zoos”, check out Brookfield Zoo in the Chicago suburbs, and Milwaukee County Zoo. Okay, that’s about all of the zoos I’ve ever been to, but I think they’re both pretty good : )
By: Denise on October 10, 2008
at 8:13 am
San Diego is a great zoo, Callie and I have been there twice. They also have a Wild Animal Park that is just gigantic. It tries to simulate the environment for the animals and is quite impressive.
Growing up in Ohio, I spent time at the Cincinnati Zoo and the Columbus Zoo. Both are great and in cities that have other fun things to do.
If you go to Cincinnati, I recommend taking in the Natural History Museum at the Union Terminal. Of course there is also Kings Island just north of town and for Jett I am sure tickets are easy to go and see the Bengals.
By: Giant Idiot on October 10, 2008
at 8:19 am
Philadelphia Zoo. (its the only one i’ve been to, and its the closest to me)
By: missy from PA on October 10, 2008
at 8:20 am
I have a similar photo of Asher, Shawn, Spencer, and even Joe asleep in the car when we wrapped up our visit to Dollywood. ~ boys ~
By: melissa1970 on October 10, 2008
at 8:37 am
Oh – I love these photos! I think we have some like it
Glad to see you all had a family day together! How fun!
I have lots on my list too! Can’t wait to see what everyone else says!
By: fullofboys on October 10, 2008
at 8:53 am
We’re going to the St. Louis zoo today – you are welcome to join us ANYTIME. Unfortunately, I’m not the cool parent – Alex just doesn’t have school today!
By: holly on October 10, 2008
at 9:02 am
Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago – they have amazing zoo lights and a great carousel. The best thing is, the zoo is completely free and really close to Lake Michigan! That’s my vote. I recently went to the memphis zoo – it was a lot bigger than i remembered as a kid and i definitely would recommend the polar bears!!
By: Sarah on October 10, 2008
at 9:06 am
Excellent photos. Gage with the map is too much.
The nicest zoo I have been to is Memphis…but then I have only been to a few zoos. I lived in San Diego and never went to the zoo, so I hope to one day set that right.
By: Anita on October 10, 2008
at 9:07 am
Memphis, hands down. I grew up in Jackson, TN so it was the closest zoo to us. But, I have been to Memphis, Nashville, San Diego, and Cincinnati and Memphis still remains the best one I have ever been too!! They have a huge area called Cat Country which is my favorite!!
By: Brittany Speight on October 10, 2008
at 9:13 am
You should definitely plan a trip to the Omaha Zoo sometime. It’s pretty great!
I loved the pictures of your zoo trip. Your boys are so cute! I’m hoping to get one of the Flip cameras for Christmas. I need to be doing more video of the kids.
By: Jenny on October 10, 2008
at 9:21 am
I was just going to say, talk to Holly about the StL Zoo…and I see she already blogged to you about it…
It’s is AWESOME and it’s FREE FREE FREE!!!
By: OCD-ism/Obsessive Christian Disorder on October 10, 2008
at 9:28 am
I love these photos. Thanks for sharing your precious and wonderful day!! You guys are the “cool fun parents” for sure!
The Philly zoo is my all time fav! Let me know if that ever makes your list and I’ll make it happen!!!
By: Eve Annunziato on October 10, 2008
at 9:43 am
I’m from Memphis, so I’m partial to that zoo. The St. Louis zoo is awesome, especially because it’s FREE! The Cincinatti zoo is also really good.
By: pbjinabowl on October 10, 2008
at 9:44 am
Oh, boy! You know this post makes me drool!! We love Zoo Poo too!!
I think my fave is our hometown Columbus Zoo, and I’ve been to 11 others in the past 2 months…
Louisville
Akron
Cleveland
Erie
Pittsburgh
Indy
Ft. Wayne
Detroit
Toledo
Evansville
Cincinnati
NC and Columbia, SC next weekend! You rock, Brandi!!
By: Marla Taviano on October 10, 2008
at 9:52 am
Have you seen Gabe’s new website?
http://www.52zoos.com
By: Marla Taviano on October 10, 2008
at 9:52 am
We went to the Franlin Park Zoo in Boston this summer, check out my blog for our pictures. It was a blast! By the way, LOVE the pictures of all the boys sleeping! Can you say neck crink!?
By: Rebekah Walker on October 10, 2008
at 10:02 am
We were at the zoo last Tuesday and all Ashlyn wanted to see where the zebras and the elephants (due to the cougar and the tigers taking naps). It was our first visit, and while we did find the zebras, I completely missed the elephants which resulted in very unhappy child. Where in the world are they?
By: Rebekah on October 10, 2008
at 10:17 am
I wanna come! We have a pass to Toledo..it’s fun!! I love Columbus zoo as well!
By: godzgaljen on October 10, 2008
at 10:20 am
Audubon Zoo…
Fort Worth Zoo…
Both are fabulous…although it’s been quite awhile since we’ve been to the Audubon Zoo.
Fort Worth Zoo…Barney’s Zoo Adventure Video was filmed there….fun little fact, huh?
By: Bonky's Mama on October 10, 2008
at 10:29 am
I haven’t been in about a zillion years, but San Diego zoo is the best. The National Zoo in DC was really cool too.
By: Jen on October 10, 2008
at 10:32 am
Growing up in West TN, we made it to the Memphis so quite often. Now that the pandas are there it’s even cooler. I have been to the San Diego Zoo as well, and it’s amazing, but Memphis definitely holds #1 spot!
By: Whitney on October 10, 2008
at 11:34 am
This is crazy, but I had never been to the zoo until I was in my 20’s. My entire family (my parents, six of us kids, spouses and 10 nieces and nephews) went to the Omaha Zoo and it was SO much fun… I was the only adult who had never been to the zoo before (being the youngest means you get left with grandparents a lot because you can’t “keep up”… I encourage you not to do that with Brewer!) so I literally was just as excited as the little ones. I’m so glad I got to experience it with them… through their eyes and mine
Thanks for sharing… I love getting to be there vicariously and those boys of yours are too much cool for one blog. Love them!
By: sara on October 10, 2008
at 12:21 pm
ST Louis ZOO….. I miss that zoo and trust me I have been to numerous World wide zoos. If you are going to visit St Louis also hit up Grants Farm.
*KC Zoo
*Rotterdam Zoo(Holland)
*THuringer Zoo (Germany)
*Karlsruhe Zoo (germany)
*Potzberg Wild Park (germany)
*Zurich Zoo (Switzerland)
*Animal Kingdom (Disney World)
*San Diego Zoo
*Some zoos in Japan
*National Zoo in DC
My next zoo trips are Zoos wherever we go as it is a kid friendly adventure compared to the historical stuff
By: Barbara on October 10, 2008
at 12:55 pm
As sad as it is..the only zoo I know is the Memphis zoo. I think its great though. And just like Nashville…timing with the weather is CRITICAL….or you’ll melt right there.
By: Fran on October 10, 2008
at 2:11 pm
The zoo in Asheboro, NC is really good, I went several times while I lived down there. And I stopped at the Knoxville Zoo one year and while they had ongoing construction it looked like it would be really cool once they got it all done.
By: Tonya on October 10, 2008
at 2:19 pm
A zoo you MUST go to is the Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha, Nebraska! Here is the website: http://www.omahazoo.com/
It’s truly incredible!
Best part of that trip….you would have a free place to stay at my house
By: Heather on October 10, 2008
at 3:12 pm
LOL….I love the way Pete and Brewer seem to have the same hair “do” going on in that pic. of all the boys together. What a fun time!
Ashboro Zoo would have to be my fav. so far. That could very well be because I haven’t been to very many at all in my life.
By: Rachel Rowell on October 10, 2008
at 4:36 pm
@ Jason LOL…I LOVE your response.. Yeah, I feel that way most days too.
By: Rachel Rowell on October 10, 2008
at 4:37 pm
First, let me say congratulations. I think you captured a picture of the only male on the planet that has ever bothered to look at a map.
Best zoo, hands down is the San Diego zoo. There’s also a wild animal park and safari on the outskirts of San Diego. It was unbelievable! Definitely worth the trip!
By: annie on October 10, 2008
at 5:36 pm
Philadelphia zoo is close and fun. Elmwood park zoo in pa is one i went to alot as a kid-then it was free and great for a family on a budget. if you ever go to nyc the central park zoo is kinda fun. the usual animals are there, but being from the country, seeing a cow and bunny rabbits in a zoo just seemed silly. the kids didn’t get why there were cows in the zoo. was a neat place though
By: carrie-anne on October 10, 2008
at 8:49 pm
San Diego Zoo
Santa Barbara Zoo
By: 3 Newport Beach Girls on October 10, 2008
at 10:07 pm
i havent been to a zoo in years! but living in a zoo makes up for that
By: tam on October 11, 2008
at 6:04 pm
hi, i’m a friend of the goulds from missouri now in dallas.
anyways if you are ever travelling north and west. by far the BEST zoo in the midwest is OMAHA!!! all other zoos seem like animal prisons to me compared to OMAHA.
By: Cecilia on October 11, 2008
at 8:32 pm
what the flip is a “lorikeet”???
p.s….i hope i win cool mom points like this someday!
By: cathi stegall on October 12, 2008
at 6:50 am
Hands down the San Diego Zoo and Wild Animal Park. They are a must for zoo-goers.
One of my little ones is really into the maps too. Isn’t it a cute thing?
By: Tracey on October 12, 2008
at 7:05 am
Being from St. Louis, I suppose I’m partial to that zoo, and the best part about it is that it’s free to get in! It really is a great zoo.
By: Heather on October 12, 2008
at 8:02 am
We have a pretty good Zoo here in Jacksonville, FL with new Jaguar exhibits (maybe they play better than our NFL team). We will be driving through your neck of the woods when we head to MO. We will wave! Also – we love FLIP! Took it to China.
Celebrating 24 days as Mommy to Alyzabeth!
By: Alyson on October 12, 2008
at 7:31 pm
Brookfield Zoo, just outside of Chicago. It’s huge and has an excellent children’s zoo.
By: Patty V. on October 12, 2008
at 7:46 pm
You MUST check out the St Louis Zoo. It is free. You can pay to park, but you can also find free parking along the streets. Also, the zoo is located in Forrest Park, which has several other attractions. The STL science center is located on the other side of I-40/64 from the zoo. The boys (and you and Pete) would love it. STL is a great town. You could also take a ride up into the arch as well. Only 5 hour drive….OH!! the STL zoo has an amazing penguin exhibit. It’s just a great zoo. You will not be disappointed.
By: Heather Silver on October 13, 2008
at 10:07 am
Seriously, you’re not going to believe this but the COOLEST ZOO I’ve ever been to was in Nebraska. the Henry Doorly Zoo, in Omaha….if you EVER get up that way you MUST go. It is so stinking cool…and in Nebraska, who would’ve thought?
By: jess on October 19, 2008
at 3:58 pm
I don’t think anyone has mentioned the Atlanta Zoo. We really enjoyed it a lot and there’s a ton of other fun stuff to do in Atlanta like the Aquarium and World of Coke, Stone Mountain, AND SHOPPPING!!
By: loridknerr on October 20, 2008
at 8:18 pm