Portland Zoo and science center (OMSI)

The Portland Zoo is the only zoo we know. There's something really special about it. It's mostly outdoors (duh!) and there is just so much to see in it. It feels clean, friendly and safe. I feel like the animals are well looked after and the people who work there like their jobs. Here are lots of pictures of the girls, Dan's parents and Dan and I spending a morning at the zoo.

Above and right: looking at the kelp forest
Below: hanging out in front of the dinosaur exhibit. Last year Dan and the girls paid the extra $8 to go in and see the dinosaurs but the girls were a little afraid. This year they begged us to go in but we just didn't want to spend that money again to have them rush through it. We promised gift store stuff instead.

There's a little statue garden the girls love climbing on. Here's Cassidy (below) with the hippo.

They have a whole section of the zoo on African animals. Here are Dan and the girls (right) playing with the drums.


Check out these lions (below) !!! It's kinda a little creepy having lions staring at you. There's a ravine all around their exhibit and then a glass wall. Down below is a viewing area where you're looking up the little hill to them. Not just a little creepy but ALOT creepy. It feels like you're in there with them. I was constantly checking things out and making escape plans.

The girls are checking out meerkats. Does anyone remember Meerkat Manor? I LOVE that show. These little creatures are super cute and so smart. Telus had meerkats in their commercial once and we have a Telus meerkat from Uncle Mike.

Check out these giraffes wrapping their necks around each other and nuzzling!

Pa and Avo checking out giraffes, gazelles, zebras and other animals whose names escape me. But trust me they're really cool!

I love how Jose and Madalena really enjoyed themselves at the zoo!

These penguins were so fast but here's one just chillin' out. I'd love to know what's going on in his mind. Something like "Man those things are slow and colorful. wouldn't last a second out where I'm from."

We always stop and pose at this bench. There are little statue squirrels.

Dan took Olivia and Alexis to the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry. As Science World members we get to go for free. Cassidy and I stayed at the hotel and went swimming and then she went for a nap. When she was napping I packed all our stuff for our trip home the next day.