Because the Zoo is the Best

Can we talk about how every time I look up, someone is getting engaged. Or buying a house. Or getting married. Or celebrating an anniversary. Or announcing that they're expecting. Or sharing pictures of their precious little newborn.

& then there's me sitting over here trying to figure out how to have my 27th birthday party at the zoo.

Priorities, people. Mine are clearly in a different place.

Y'all know that Riverbanks Zoo is one of my favorite places to go to in Columbia. I've been here less than four weeks and I've already gone three times, if that tells you anything. I headed over there yesterday during my lunch break {because yes, that's completely possible! This is going to be trouble...} to check out the two new exhibits that opened up on Wednesday: Grizzly Bears & River Otters.

The bears {Sundance and Butch} and I have had an up close and personal encounter before at one of the Zoofari nights we've been to.

While their new home was being built, they were visiting another zoo {Tulsa Zoo in Oklahoma}. Now they're back and happily digging holes in their new habitat.

This is Butch:

& Sundance. The one who just chills and hangs out.

I love the bears but y'all, the otters were the highlight of my lunchtime visit.

Those otters are fast.

Like, really fast.

I could barely get pictures of them because of all of their darting in and out of the water, back and forth across their habitat. Divya, Savannah, and Sophia are super active, playful sisters who could have kept me entertained for hours if I didn't have to go back to work.

On the way out, I had a little extra time, so I popped into the Koala Encouter to see whether or not the koalas were awake. Surprise! Neither one of them was awake. Both were taking nice long afternoon naps up in the trees and were sleeping through all of the noise being made by the rambunctious children {who definitely needed naps of their own}

The quick little trip makes me ready to go back ASAP! It's a good thing that they have some more fun events coming up this summer, like this one:

I went to Brew at the Zoo back in 2009 when I had just turned 21 and didn't like beer. I've tried to go in the five years since but something has always come up {weddings, beach trips, etc} and I haven't been able to go back since. I have my fingers crossed for this year though!

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Happy Friday! Hope y'all have a great weekend!