A Saturday at Como Zoo

As a Realtor, I am often asked and need to know about all of the things that make Minnesota and the Twin Cities metro area such a great place to live. Jessi and I have lived in the southwestern suburbs for the past six years and I still haven't come close to seeing all the metro area has to offer.

Two Saturdays ago I found myself with a day alone with the kids so I thought what better way to educate myself on the areas attractions than to get out and see one of them first hand. I loaded up the kids and headed to the St. Paul side of the TC to check out the Como Zoo. I hadn't been there since my parents took me when I was young so I didn't really know what to expect.

Wow was I pleasantly surprised! I had recently heard positive reviews about Como but thought the opinions might be a little hyped up. Well I was wrong, the hype was completely justified. Even with no leaves on the trees and the grass still having a tint of brown, the grounds were clean and beautiful.

I was not the only one with the idea of visiting the como park area that day. Vehicles packed the parking lots and streets and took up almost every parking spot available. We ended up parking at a nearby picnic area within the park. The parking situation wasn't even annoying as it was a beautiful day which was great for a short walk to the zoo. The only regret that I had that day was that I didn't pack a picnic to enjoy outdoors.

We hiked to the nearby zoo and encountered families, walkers, runners, bikers, and couples strolling the many paths around the park, zoo, and conservatory. Before we even entered the zoo, we stopped to see Tate's favorite exhibit of the day. "The lady with the spiders!" The staff (which I believe consists of many volunteers) were numerous and very knowledgeable. We stopped to make our donation and headed into the zoo.

Not only is this a wonderful place to spend a day but it is completely free if you choose. They ask for a $2 donation for each adult and $1 for each child but they make it very clear on the signage that everyone is welcome regardless of whether you donate or not. By the way, the donation is well worth it!

Tate and Avery loved the animals including the baby giraffe, gorillas, lions, tigers, zebras, fish, and much much more. They were all easy to see even from the stroller. We stopped to listen to a zoo keeper talk about a barn owl that has lived at the zoo for I believe 16 or 17 years when these owls, which are not native to Minnesota, typically live only about 2 or 3 years at the most in the wild. It was educational and all around a wonderful day. And we didn't even make it into the new tropical rain forest exhibit or the conservatory!

For more information on the zoo, park, and conservatory, I encourage you to explore their website at http://www.comozooconservatory.org/.

I have decided that I can read all I want about local attractions but the best way for me to gain knowledge and to be able to recommend things to see and do is to actually experience them first hand. Minnesota has so many assets and we live in one of the best areas of the country with one of the largest selections of activities, destinations, and events. From the various museums such as the Science Museum of Minnesota and Walker Art Center to the theatrical venues, culture, and arts, I am geared up to take the family to as many places as possible. Look out Minnesota, we are coming to explore!