That time I went to the Zoo but the bears were missing....

So with a few hours in Massachusetts not dedicated to roller coasters, I had this plan to visit the Stone Zoo just a mile from where I grew up. All I really wanted to do was see the Bears.

So after flying into Boston from Orlando and taking the subway to Oak Grove my Mom picked me up and off to the Zoo we went! She had been telling me how all summer they hadn't had any real rain and stuff.... As soon as we got to the Stone Zoo... it started to pour. (Remind me again how it hadn't rained all year?) Well.. since we were already here... We ventured in, all I wanted to do was see the bears quickly anyways, and the bear viewing area is under a cover.. So yeah... uh... 

the Stone Zoo.. and stuff.

 And extremely wet and semi-deserted Stone Zoo

 I quickly made my way down the path to the Bears...

Where they were nowhere to be found. We hung around for 5 or 6 minutes waiting to see if they'd come back out now that the rain had stopped but, nothing. I made a quick lap around most of the rest of the Zoo before checking back at the bears (and my Mom, who was staying dry at the Bear enclosure)

 Surprisingly, an animal that tends to be a no-show when I'm here.. was very visible today, the Coyote.

 The Gila Monster staying near its heat lamp

(and warm rock)

 The Caribbean Flamingo didn't see to care about the rain

 Oh man!!

There were *two* Rock Hyrax in the Windows to the Wild exhibit being adorable.

 Aww, and a Matschie’s Tree Kangaroo

(Although slightly less cute than the one I saw with a teddy bear in ABQ!)

 Now replacing the Duck Pond

(sadly, but still.. yay?)

 I was pretty conflicted with this.. While I do enjoy me some Sandhill Crane... At the loss of the duck pond is hard to handle.

(can't they just... coexist?)

 The American Alligator is also new here, I think.

(it kinda amused me seeing two animals at the zoo back home that I have in my backyard at home)

 Mmmhm, Mr. Reindeer bringing the.. uh.. Rein.

 Clearly, from a Jeepers....

I wonder if they came from the one that was in Methuen

 Uh... also, this Hippo... thing... is pretty horrifying.

 Hmm.. and at some point they've replaced their kiddie train with a newer Zamp Rio Grande Train

 Oh, and some flowers.

:'(

Before leaving to get some super yummy Thai food (and get my glasses fixed) we checked on the bears for a fourth time... and still nothing. I was absolutely devastated.

BOOOOO :(

Bears at the Stone Zoo!.... Uh, again!

Yaayyy!

No trip home for me to visit my family would be complete without a quick stop at the Stone Zoo to check on the bears!! :3

Yaayyy!!! Bears doing bear like things!

Uh, like being a bear! 

This one is sitting... um.. with his foot up

This one is, uh, looking over there.... for some reason.

This one.... He's playing with a rope!

And this last one, he's looking over there... instead.

Yaaayyyyyy!!!!!!

Also...

Bonus Sandhill Crane!

(That thinks its a flamingo)

Lions, and Hippos, and Bears..... Oh my?

Ah, taking a trip back home..... That could only mean more Zoo's and an Aquarium visit!
So I took a weekend trip back to Melrose to visit my family for the holidays... and made sure to make some time to visit Franklin Park Zoo,  New England Aquarium, and Stone Zoo. Woo, ANIMALS! I hadn't been to Franklin since the year before I moved, and NEAQ I hadn't been since the year I did (Stone was in fact the last blog post I made :X)

So... onto the photos! yaayyy.

Day 1?

 Franklin Park Zoo, Boston's Zoo, wooooo

Over the summer of 2009 the move Zookeeper was filmed here, although it wasn't released until 2011.

And as most Zoo's should.... there are animals here :O... 

Like this Wildebeest

And this Lion!!

And this crazy-ass-Vulture! (Ka-Kawwww)

The Capybararara was not amused. Moving on.

!!!

(((Sleeeeeeepy Hippo!!!!!!)))

And we'll leave the zoo with this photo of the beautiful Wood Duck!

quack quack quack

Uh... Day 2.

Ok, next stop on my whirlwind Boston Adventure!.... NEAQ!

Woo, the New England Aquarium!

So much had changed here in the past few years since my last visit. I had no idea about two of the biggest changes.... The first being this.

They now have a Ray and Shark touch pool where the Jellyfish wing had been.

Its pretty big and seemed popular.

Although down stairs where the rest of the Jellies had been is now kinda depressed.

Not much going down here anymore, they even removed the color changing light tank. my favorite part down there... Oh well.

Back upstairs the Penguins were doing their things... Like swimming, squawking, being majestic on the rocks... You know, Penguin things.

EPIC BLUE LOBSTER!

Out back is where I found the other new expansions/revamp

The Sea Lions now have a pretty big area, although it seems the River/Sea Otters have been removed? The area still looks great, much like the new Touch Tank area. So I guess Way to go NEAQ.... 

(although you should bring back the color changing jellyfish tank)

So yeah... Now its the last day of my trip and I have an afternoon flight some.. So once again I find myself taking a short trip to the Stone Zoo before heading back to Homelando

Day....three

Wasn't I just here like... 3 months ago? Well, whatever.. Its all good, they have bears here!!! :D :D :D

Don't harass the animals?

:3 Rawwrrrr :3

(When you type "Rawwrrrr" Firefox spellchecker asks if you meant "Strawberry")

<3 bears <3

Hey look!

It's a Puma, I mean.. Mountain Lion, I mean... Cougar.

(Eh, same animal, different regional name)

Although...........

This one is named Zeus :)

And with that it was time to head over to the airport and head Ho-Ho-Home... But first we have time for just two more......

BONUS DUCKS!!

So yeah, fun little trip home.. Got to see my friends and family, and some bears, ducks, a hippo...Woo.

(At some point I'll get around to posting my "Car Tribute", started over a month ago... And at some other point I'll toss up my year-end-review....thing. And coming in late January there may be an Atlanta post (or two, we'll see) )

quack quack.

Bears at the Zoo! :D

See, I'm still updating this... WITH BEAR PHOTOS!

(here's a few photos of the Black Bears at the Stone Zoo from back in August when I went home for the weekend but there was a hurricane so I couldn't go to Six Flags or Lake Compounce or Luna Park or Scream Zone or.......... Well, at least Quassy was open!)

BONUS DUCK

Quack quack quack

(((I'll have a real update again soon... From Atlanta, or Legoland, or something.. I don't know)))