Zoo Lights---- Seasons Greetings!

             This post was supposed to be all about the Christmas light parade in wonderful Benson, Arizona.  Last year was our first experience of this, and the whole family loved it!  In fact here is my blog post from 2013 in case you are one of the many that missed it:   http://exarizonagobensonbobcats.blogspot.com/2013/12/christmas-light-parade-benson-at-its.html
   This year night was meet with a light drizzle of rain.  We left the house early to get a great view of the parade route.   Cliff notes:  if you did not make it you certainly did not miss much!  The parade started about thirty minutes late and lasted about 12 whole minutes.  Compared to about an hour last year.  In fact when the last float went by, with Santa and his lovely wife, no one thought the parade was actually over.   Lame sauce for sure.    So please enjoy my pictures and such from last year.   I will provide a few pictures from this year  just because I can.   And than go on to talk about our great night at the amazing Reid Park Zoo and zoo lights.  And as always for more Exploring  please check out my first blog page at  www.wyomingjack.blogspot.com    

                                                               Benson light parade 2014----booo!

This horse never got to play any reindeer games.

The power company of course always has a great light display.

                                                            O Christmas tree....!

Last but not least  Santa & Mrs. Clause!!

Viewing these pictures took about as long as the total parade.

Our attempt at putting up lights!

I work at this little casino

and love my job!

This is in no way a publicity shot, or endorsed by the casino

I just thought it was a good shot of the building I got one fine day.

AND the casino let us workers and family enjoy the zoo lights before anyone else, for free.

We visited Reid Park Zoo for the first time a

few months ago  and I must say it was amazing!

Check it out:

http://exarizonagobensonbobcats.blogspot.com/2014/08/reid-park-zoo-tucson.html

They put all the animals up to sleep, but I still highly recommend zoo lights!

A truly great mixture of familiar characters, zoo life, lights, and wonder!

They even had a section of snow falling.

A true wonder in the heart of the desert.

We soon indulged on some hot coco.

And of course Santa was there to visit the young and young at heart.

                                                               Live music
                                                    And of course lots of lights!

My wife loves dolphins so we thought this picture was perfect. 

Still enjoying the hot chocolate.

Even the cactus were lit up.

Not Christmas lights   but a very lit up entrance for sure!

Not lights  but I thought this stare down was a good picture.

Not sure what the caution tape was for.

Possibly the best part of the night.

This whole light section was also set to music.

Our amazing daughter paused to sing with the music and lights.

With an amazing now duo to a Frozen song.

Many paused to listen to her sing. 

                                             This was a truly great night  a huge thank you to Casino Del Sol
                                                         and of course Reid Park Zoo  and all of it's workers!

Much more Exploring and pictures on my Washington state blog page

http://exploreb-ham.blogspot.com/

And my first blog page  www.wyomingjack.blogspot.com

Please check them out.

And as always

**HAPPY TRAILS!!**

Reid Park Zoo Tucson

              A few weeks back -I realize the date stamp on these pictures says a few years back, but we did not live in Arizona at that time.  The date stamp is now removed from all pictures for future posts.  On this day all of us took off for an adventure to the Reid Park Zoo in Tucson.  It is very rare that we all can go Explore at the same time, AND ever more rare that we all enjoy the day!  We have been to a lot of zoo's including the amazing one in Phoenix.   One of the few things I actually enjoy in Phoenix.  But that zoo is to huge--by far.  And after paying to get in, you feel like you should see everything.  All of this while battling the heat of the desert.  Tucson zoo is the perfect size--not to big not to small.  With amazing landscaping and some areas to cool off and get wet in.  Although they are built for little kids.  As in many of our adventures I would strongly recommend eating before going or taking a lunch as we did and enjoying it in the huge park beside the zoo.  On the zoo ground a fountain soda rang it at over $3 a piece.  Several stores including a large Fry's are nearby if you did not think about packing a lunch--and than saw the food court prices.   In the same area is a golf course, water park, and the huge park.  Everything is right off of 22nd Street.  I had before drove past here many times, and did not know a large zoo was in the area.  A large elephant greets visitors near the front entrance.

 

Peacocks can be found roaming free through the whole zoo.

I recall living near peacocks several times while growing up and they were amazingly noisy birds all of the time.  But they make up for it in there beauty.  Although above is the only tail feathers we saw rise on this trip.

 

 

 

 

This one almost blends into it's surroundings.

 

 

Another large bird that wanted to visit.

 

 

Just outside the zoo entrance.

Just to the right is the water park.

And just past is the huge park.

 

 

 

Patiently waiting for zoo tickets.

 

 

One of the first exhibits you pass is home of the great tiger. 

He was passing all over his cage on this morning.

Most of the animals were out and awake because we went in the morning.

Although they had to entice the bears to come out --with food.  Lots of food.

 

 

 

 

 

The mighty giraffes have a huge pen in the middle of the park.  The almost open pens allow for

some great pictures and almost make you a part of the exhibit. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Again please ignore the date stamps on these pictures.

I snapped lots of pictures of these amazing creatures.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Landscaping through out the zoo is amazing.

 

 

Near some water fountains.

These are supposed to be for little kiddos, but I have to say the water felt great on me.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Massive Rhino enjoying the shade.

 

 

His droppings  for

your enjoyment.

 

 

This large fellow lays in wait near the elephants.

I was more than happy to realize it was not real.

 

 

Near this area is also lots of hands on exhibits.
Including this one were you can feel an elephants butt.

Do I look like a real tourist in this picture or what?

 

 

The "stone" walls here also feed the animals.

 

 

 

 

Someone older than me.

 

 

Near the birds is another hands on building.

With a baby hedge hog to meet. 

On this day they were also giving free face painting.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Flowering beauty above the walk ways.

 

 

Monkeys!

 

 

 

Plotting bird

 

 

 

Stopping to pose for the camera.

 

 

When we came back through they were also resting.

 

 

This open pen allows you to be the exhibit!

 

 

Than it was time to enjoy the park and cool off a little bit.

 

And devour some well earned lunch of course.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Time for a quick rest. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Another pond in the park.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This one is full of happy turtles.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Extra kudos to these people 

that can keep all of these roses alive in the middle of the desert!

Let alone all of the green grass surrounding this massive park.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Near the parks ampathetre

Bring your walking shoes--this is a huge park.

 

 

 

Thank you for Exploring with us!

Many new posts and pictures are slowly coming.

Please also check out all of our Exploring in my first

and longest running blog page

at www.wyomingjack.blogspot.com

 

 

As always

 

**Happy Exploring!!**