Footsteps

 

 "In-Town Tourist": An "Island" Adventure at The Columbus Zoo [1:39m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

We didn’t have much wandering time, but The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium always has options for as many minutes as we have to spare.

The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium Visitor Information and Map

We opted for a stroll through the “Islands of Southeast Asia”.  Komodo dragons, orangutans, gibbons and Asian small-clawed otters captivated our attention -as did the hungry carp in the Scioto River at the western edge of the zoo’s park land!  The zoo has six such regions spread over 90 acres with another 10 acre exhibit, “Polar Frontier”, set to open in the near future and a 70 acre African Savannah in the planning stages.  Its 586 acre holdings also include Zoombezi Bay Waterpark and the Safari Golf Club.

We were surprised to learn that a Komodo dragon can consume 80% of its body weight in a single meal and that while they typically eat deer and pigs, smaller Komodo dragons are also on the menu!

The Asian small-clawed otter exhibit is one of my favorites and is popular with other zoo guests as well.  These animals are ultra-social and enjoy one of the better “playgrounds” that includes a waterfall perfect for long slides into the pool below.

Energetic gibbons, sedate but facially expressive orangutans…  we’ve visited the zoo so many times that we tend move in a focused manner now, passing by crowds in favor of familiar favorites.

I’ll be sharing more about the Columbus Zoo throughout the summer as we make periodic visits.  Next we hope to see Beco, an Asian elephant born on March 27th of this year, in “Asia Quest”!

The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium Visitor Information and Map

The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium (Powell, Ohio)
Acres and Acres of Animals!

Hours of Operation:

9AM -6PM (Memorial Day Weekend - Labor Day)
9AM - 5PM (Labor Day - Memorial Day Weekend)
Open until 8PM on Wednesdays (6/24 - 8/19)
Admission: $12 (ages 10 - 59); $7 (ages 2 - 9, 60+), Free (2 and under)
Parking Fee: $5
Group Discounts/Season Passes available, Admission Specials
Phone: 614-645-3550
Address: 4850 West Powell Rd, Powell OH 43065
Directions: From Interstate 71, travel west on 270 West to Exit 20 (Sawmill Rd). Turn right and travel north (Sawmill Rd becomes Sawmill Pkwy).  Turn left onto Powell Rd (SR 750); zoo entrance will be on the right after approximately one mile.

Zoo Website

View Columbus Zoo and Aquarium in a larger map

Tags: Midwest, The Columbus Zoo, Central Ohio, Ohio, Outdoor Adventures, USA, "In-Town Tourist" by Heather
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 In-Town Tourist: The "Other" Hoover Dam (Westerville, Ohio) [1:34m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

The Hoover Dam that brackets the Arizona/Nevada border may sell more postcards, but Ohio’s Hoover Dam is close enough to be a regular visit for us.  Matt and I rode bikes across the imposing cement structure just last week, and on Friday we took Lily to swim at a secluded beach along its shore.

Like Alum Creek Dam to our north, Hoover brims with outdoor options for the active.  Rollerbladers, cyclists and runners weave between those strolling or walking dogs along the paved pathway atop the dam. Sports fields, picnic and play spaces and a frisbee golf course are among the well-used amenities at the recreation area.

Less utilized is the canoe launch area below the dam and a delightful nature trail that leads to Lily’s swimming spot.  The nature trail entrance is located to the northeast of the walkway at the edge of a parking lot turn-around.  Blackberries abound in late summer (as does poison ivy, so pluck with care!) in a sunny stretch of brush near the trail head.  After a short stroll west through woods, the path swings north again.  We rarely continue the trail from here, however, opting instead to slip through one of the side paths that lead to the water.

A flat shoreline and an abundance of big sticks make this a great swimming spot for dogs.  Most often we have the beach to ourselves but occasionally, to Lily’s delight, she finds a playmate such as Otis (pictured with Lily).  There are always a few logs to climb over (or fall over if you’re me and having a less than graceful day), plenty of flat skip-worthy stones and some lovely views.

More on Lily the Lab

More “In-Town Tourist”:  Hoover Reservoir (scroll down for earlier posts)

More “In-Town Tourist”

Tags: Central Ohio, Big Walnut Creek, Midwest, Alum Creek State Park, Hoover Reservoir, Westerville, Snorkeling/Swimming, Outdoor Adventures, "In-Town Tourist", USA, Ohio, Hiking, 1 Adult/3 Children by Heather
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