Tigers and Bears: Fun at the Indy Zoo

Last weekend, following Easter and a work obligation I had Monday, we headed down to the Indianapolis area on Tuesday.  The plan - meet up with Jackie's brother and sister-in-law, Jeff and Hannah, stay the night, and then go to the Indianapolis Zoo the following day.  We had been to the Indy Zoo last year in June.  But as I had arguments scheduled in the morning, we went in the afternoon on what turned out to be the first 90 degree day of the year.  The heat, coupled with the afternoon crowd, made the experience, while still fun, a tad uncomfortable at times.

Due to timing our drive down with an appropriate nap time for Maia, we arrived in Fishers before Jeff was home from work.  So, prior to going to their apartment, we found a local park via smartphones and Google (ah, the wonders of technology) to burn some time, and to burn some of Maia's energy.  Maia, of course, had a blast; and while swings usually tend to be her favorite, this day it was the slides.

[caption id="attachment_956" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Digging the slides on this day.[/caption]

Following the play time at the park, we headed to the apartment to await Jeff's arrival.  As he left us a key, we entered, and immediately set Josie and Paco, Jeff's and Hannah's two dogs, into a stir.  Poor Paco, an older, more crotchety dog, was unable to calm himself down at all until Jeff arrived.  Following a fun evening where Maia attempted to assist Jeff in his ordering for his store (he manages a restaurant in the area) and she stayed up too late (a somewhat recurring problem right now), Maia was treated to Mickey waffles (usually reserved when at Papa's and Grandma's in Fort Wayne) for breakfast.  At this point however, the weather, which had several storms that morning, called into question our plans of going to the zoo.  So as we decided to head out, we called an audible and started towards the Indianapolis Children's Museum.

[caption id="attachment_955" align="aligncenter" width="224"] "I'm excited wherever we're going!"[/caption]

As we weaved through Indianapolis traffic on our way to the museum, the rain dissipated and we saw that there were clear skies to the west, the direction of the zoo.  So we called another audible back to our original plan, and headed to the zoo.  The decision worked out perfectly.  While damp, it was a comfortable 60 or so degrees.  Most of the animals were out and active in the morning with the more comfortable weather.  And, with the prior rain, it wasn't busy at all.

One of our first animal areas we visited was for the tigers, and we were treated to a close up view, as they were pacing back and forth to a glass "window" where we could stand.  It's the closest I've ever been to a Tiger.

[caption id="attachment_953" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Up close and personal.[/caption]

Maia was so excited that after the Tigers walked away (pacing in the other direction) she turned and told us, "I want them to come back."  We suggested to her that she try "roaring" to get them to come back.  Maia didn't miss a beat, immediately letting out her little "roar."  Naturally, the tigers came back and met Maia face to face.

[caption id="attachment_952" align="aligncenter" width="300"] "Hello, I'm Maia. What's your name?"[/caption]

Convinced that her roaring was the reason for the Tigers return, Maia wasted no time informing the girls next to her in the above picture that if they "roar, it will come back!"  In Maia's defense, the Tiger did follow her to another side of the enclosure.

[caption id="attachment_960" align="aligncenter" width="204"] Giddy about tigers.[/caption]

A very cool experience and not one I'm likely to forget anytime soon.

Later, we were visiting the Alaskan Brown Bear enclosure and encountered a bear in quite the predicament.  We joked when we left that we weren't sure if the bear ever made it down from the tree.

[caption id="attachment_948" align="aligncenter" width="300"] "Hey you, I'm stuck."[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_949" align="aligncenter" width="300"] "Seriously, give me a hand, will you?"[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_950" align="aligncenter" width="300"] "Move a little to the left."[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_951" align="aligncenter" width="300"] "Grrr, you're other left!!!"[/caption]

One of the things the Indy Zoo is known for is the recent upgrades they've done to create a world class orangutan center.  We saw more of it the last time we visited, but this time Maia got to spend some time seeing eye to eye with one.

[caption id="attachment_959" align="aligncenter" width="169"] "Hello, I'm Maia. What's your name."[/caption]

All in all, it was a great time at the Zoo and an overall great visit with Jeff and Hannah.  Following the zoo we headed back towards their place and stopped in Carmel to eat lunch at their new Giordano's (can't beat that deep dish!).  Afterwards, we eventually loaded up and started the trip back home.  Sometimes these trips are too short, but I'm glad we make time for them, and glad they always seem to be so memorable.

[caption id="attachment_946" align="aligncenter" width="224"] The zoo might have won.[/caption]