Fort Worth, TX - The Fort Worth Zoo

We met up with my cousins Daniel and Alice here. This zoo is just 1/2 an hour from their home. I was a little apprehensive about this zoo at first. We looked into the membership program, hoping the reciprocating zoos would be close to us and other future travel destinations- and lo and behold they do not reciprocate with other zoos. Wow, never heard that one before. I guess this zoo is intent on holding its own. They're doing pretty well. Our kids were amazed at their herpetorium- lizards, snakes, salamanders, newts, etc. They loved strolling from box to box and trying to find the hiding captives. The kids love zoos and this one was no exception. The crowning glory of this zoo (for the kids anyway) could be achieved on a large patio in any home (in my opinion). They allowed the kids to purchase a stick with seeds on it to feed parakeets. All of the kids loved it. They went from bird to bird offering these treats. Carley would shake off any bird that perched her stick. While Billy coaxed every bird on. Ian needed some encouragement but did love it.

This zoo also has a special Texas section. It has a petting zoo. We got to pet a real armadillo and a calf. The goats were not interested in us because they were eating the biggest popsicles I've ever seen. After this Daniel insisted we have ice cream. I wasn't hard to convince. It was super hot. Carley got ice cream all over her! Billy finished his first- no surprise there. It was great! After ice cream we caught a glimpse of a few more Texas animals (bats, coyotes, mountain lions, etc.) and then we were off. The kids were pretty tired by this point and the layout of the zoo is not conducive for a quick getaway. We had to walk the line all the way back to the front, passing all the exhibits we had already seen. My biggest suggestion for this zoo is to create a circle or spoke-like pattern to house the exhibits around. Our trip out of there, in the heat of the day, was exhausting. Billy barely made it. It was a great trip and a nice visit with our cousins- which we have been long overdue in seeing. Hoping to do it again soon.