Ever wonder how much fun your Santa Ana Zoo membership can get you even when you travel? Look no further than “Dale’s Tales,” our monthly reciprocal blog where you can learn about great places to visit and save with your membership! Hello everyone! My name is Dale Frink, you’ve probably seen me bustling around the zoo doing a variety of jobs such as driving the train, running the carousel, and taking care of all the neat things in Treetop Toys. While I really enjoy spending time working hard to support the animals here in Santa Ana, I do occasionally take time off and when I do I enjoy traveling. I take my love of animals with me though, and I’ve been to lots of great zoos all across the country. I hope that you’ll enjoy reading about the places I have visited, and maybe you’ll get to have your own fantastic experiences as well! February 2, 2012: Blank Park Zoo, Des Moines, IOWA This Zoo holds special significance to me because I grew up just an hour north and it was the first Zoo I ever visited. It’s a smaller place that does not take long to visit, and you will be very satisfied with the diverse collection. Like its other Midwestern counterparts, the Blank Park Zoo exhibits animals year round in incredibly varying climates. From hot humid summers to bitterly cold winters the Zoo offers a year round experience that has entertained me in all seasons. The warmer months are the best time to attend because the Zoo’s popular African boardwalk is open, offering an elevated view of large African animals including giraffes, zebras, and ostriches. During the warmer months, you can ride the Camels also (just like here in Santa Ana!). There is a very elaborate farm area where you can interact up close with a number of different animals including Goats, Llamas, Ducks, and Koi. The Zoo’s discovery center offers a smaller version of the indoor rainforest experience offered at zoos in Minnesota and Nebraska, but I find that it is very family friendly and easy to get around. The Discovery Center begins with a look at the Zoo’s Red Pandas, who have a neat tunnel leading to an outdoor enclosure also, and continues through a rainforest where guests can experience many monkeys, birds, and reptiles in a great climate controlled setting. The end of the path leads to the Aquarium area, where Tropical and Freshwater animals await, including a large coral reef! My personal favorite though is the big cats, who not long ago received major upgrades to their living areas. You can get up close with some very photogenic lions, tigers, and snow leopards! Dale’s Favorite Exhibits: Big Cats, Red Pandas, African Boardwalk Admission (Summer Price) is $10.95 for adults and $5.95 for children ages 3 to 11. Zoo members are free year round! Learn more about your reciprocal benefits by clicking here. Happy Tails! Dale Frink January 6, 2012: Henry Doorly Zoo, Omaha, NE For Southern Californians used to living in a beautiful place that attracts an uncounted number of vacationers every year and arguably among the most favorable climates in the world it begs the question, “Why go to Omaha?” Well for starters its home to the College Baseball World Series, and our local teams and fans from UC Irvine and Cal State Fullerton could tell you that it’s a great city to visit. It also has a world class Zoo that is only rivaled in size by massive Zoos in San Diego and the Bronx Zoo in New York City. The Zoo itself is located across the street from the former site of the College World Series, Rosenblatt Stadium. Henry Doorly Zoo is home to the world’s largest indoor rainforest (the Lied Jungle), the Scott Aquarium (included with Zoo admission) and boasts an amazingly diverse collection of animals from around the world. They are also uniquely suited for extreme temperatures with a number of exhibits that have both indoor and outdoor viewing. There are also many improvements being made in various parts of the park, so your experience will change as time goes on. While updates are being soon made to the big cat complex, you can see almost every major species of large cat in one place. The large population of Gorillas and Orangutans are sure to excite any fan of great apes. For a neat preview of what you might see, stop by the Discovery Pavilion at the front of the zoo and learn a little bit about the whole world in one setting. The Zoo’s iconic geodesic dome hosts a number of warm climate and nocturnal species. Dale’s Favorite Exhibits: Lied Jungle, Desert Dome, Scott Aquarium Admission is $13.50 for adults and $9 for children ages 3 to 11. Santa Ana Zoo members pay just $6.75 for adults and $4.50 for children! Learn more about your reciprocal benefits by clicking here. Happy Tails! Dale Frink November 30, 2011: Minnesota Zoo, Apple Valley, MN Warming up in a Minnesota winter is as easy as driving to the Minnesota Zoo and walking into a tropical rainforest! Despite the freezing temperatures, Minnesota Zoo remains an amazing destination year round thanks to indoor facilities that educate and entertain featuring animals from around the world. The Minnesota Zoo has several different trails, including a built in aquarium complete with bottlenose dolphin habitat. The Northern Trail is the largest outdoor trail, and gets pretty cold in the winter, so you will be happy to know that it can also be enjoyed from the Zoo’s monorail. The Russia’s Grizzly Coast exhibit is an award winning series of animal displays from the coldest parts of the Far East and includes Amur Tigers, Leopards, and the namesake Grizzly Bears among its residents. Also be sure to see the herds of Musk Ox, Bison, and Bactrian Camels. Inside is the Tropics Trail, a year round indoor rainforest with an amazing diversity of animals from the world’s tropical regions including a brief walk underwater to view a majestic coral reef. A Minnesota Trail shows off the amazing local wildlife of the region, such as the beautiful Timber Wolf. During the summer, you can see the seasonal African Boardwalk with Giraffes and other animals of the African plains. The Discovery Aquarium has a family of Bottlenose Dolphins; you can visit these animals and attend daily training sessions at no extra cost! Dale’s Favorite Exhibits: Russia’s Grizzly Coast, Bottlenose Dolphins Admission is $18 for adults and $12 for children ages 3 to 12. Santa Ana Zoo members pay just $9.00 for adults and $6.00 for children! Learn more about your reciprocal benefits by clicking here. Happy Tails! Dale Frink October 31, 2011: Phoenix Zoo, Phoenix, AZ The Phoenix Zoo is a great opportunity to experience both exotic and native Arizona desert species, just remember to pack some sunscreen! To help avoid the desert sun, the Phoenix Zoo offers summertime hours of 7am to 2pm, allowing for a great visit before the temperature starts to really climb. One of my favorite parts was walking into the zoo and within a few steps of the entrance I could already start seeing some large and spectacular exhibits. The African Veldt is a multispecies exhibit featuring Giraffes, long horned Watusi Cattle, and Ostriches to name a few. I was really impressed with the landscape and diversity of this exhibit, as well as the shaded observatory tower you could climb up to get a better view. That would not be the end of my experience with African animals though; lions, cheetahs, rhinos, zebras and more flanked the African trail, as well as a pair of incredibly playful Spotted Necked Otters that really put on a show! Phoenix Zoo has also put in a lot of improvements recently. The new Land of the Dragon lets guests get up close and person with the Komodo Dragon, the world’s largest lizard! A new Orangutan exhibit features one of the Zoo’s original inhabitants, a 51 year old female named Lucy, and the Forest of Uco allows for a glimpse into the life of the elusive Spectacled Bear. The Zoo also has several ponds of endangered Desert Pupfish native to the area that offer a great lesson in conservation! Dale’s Favorite Exhibits: African Veldt, Spectacled Bear, Spotted Necked Otters Admission is $18 for adults and $9 for children ages 3 to 12. Santa Ana Zoo members pay just $9.00 for adults and $4.50 for children! Learn more about your reciprocal benefits by clicking here. Happy Tails! Dale Frink October 1, 2011: Exotic Feline Breeding Compound, Rosamond, CA In a state known for amazing Zoos from North to South it is an animal sanctuary in Rosamond that boasts the largest collection of Big Cats in the country. This is an animal sanctuary and not your typical zoo so expect a different, much calmer, experience. The “Cat House” as it is affectionately known only displays big cats with a handful of free roaming peafowl moving about. You have a great opportunity to see some of the rarest cats in the World, including very endangered Persian and Northern Chinese Leopards. Rare black Jaguars and Leopards can be seen, as well as a pair of very large Tigers named Cesar and Katmandu. Dale’s Favorite Exhibits: Persian Leopards, Northern Chinese Leopards, Jaguars Admission is $5 for adults and $4 for children. Santa Ana Zoo members are free! Learn more about your reciprocal benefits by clicking here. Happy Tails! Dale Frink September 2, 2011: Zoo Atlanta, Atlanta, GA While the city of Atlanta is renowned for many attractions including the World of Coca Cola, the Georgia Aquarium, and some of the best food in the country, they also posess an amazing zoo that is sure to please both children and adults. Located in historic Grant Park, Zoo Atlanta is an amazing attraction on its own. They boast a very diverse collection of animals and are one of only four zoos in the United States to exhibit Giant Pandas, which are on display in a beautiful enclosure where the Pandas have indoor and outdoor access. Zoo Atlanta recently unveiled the new Complex Carnivores area which house rare predators, including South American Bush Dogs, Clouded Leopards, and the very rare Fossa, the largest predator on the island of Madagascar. It gets pretty hot and humid, but there are lots of trees and many of the exhibits include shaded viewing areas, including the Living Treehouse which includes a walkthrough aviary adjacent to one of the biggest Lemur habitats I have ever seen. The children’s zoo boasts fun for the whole family with great animal displays and fun activities like a rock climbing wall! Dale’s Favorite Exhibits: Giant Pandas, Complex Carnivores, Lemurs Admission is $20.99 for adults and $15.99 for children ages 3 to 11. Santa Ana Zoo members pay just 10.50 for adults and $8.00 for children! Learn more about your reciprocal benefits by clicking here. Happy Tails! Dale Frink August 1, 2011: Santa Barbara Zoo If you love animals and you love the ocean, Santa Barbara Zoo allows you to enjoy both. While there are many reasons to visit this alluring city the Santa Barbara Zoo is one of the best. It’s a good sized Zoo with plenty of big exhibits, but the smaller displays will capture just as much of your attention. If you want to save some time, you can ride one of the Zoo trains that circle the perimeter of the Zoo. Obviously the Giraffe Enclosure stands out as one of the most stunning Zoo displays you will ever see. Giraffes, Hornbills, and Tortoises share a large space that includes an observation deck where guests can feed the giraffes for $5 each (you get to take turns so it is a quality experience). Right next door is a Cats of Africa exhibit where Lions are afforded a view of their neighbors from high above. The California Condor exhibit gives a great look at one of the most endangered birds of prey in North America. A playful family of Asian Small Clawed Otters steals the show up towards the front of the zoo. Kids will love dragging parents through “Eeeww!” which serves as an insect and reptile house with some of the creepiest (and neatest!) bugs on the planet. Zoo staff there provides their animals with lots of enrichment, so keep your cameras ready because you might catch an Elephant, a Parrot, or a Monkey for the photo of a lifetime! Dale’s Favorite Exhibits: Lions, “Eeeww!”, Asian Small Clawed Otters Admission is $12.00 for adults and $10 for seniors and children aged 2 to 12. Santa Ana Zoo members receive FREE admission! Learn more about your reciprocal benefits by clicking here. Happy Tails! Dale Frink July 1, 2011: Charles Paddock Zoo Since my last visit the Charles Paddock Zoo in Atascadero has undergone some major improvements and I already can’t wait to return. While this is easily one of the smallest Zoos I have ever visited it boasts a unique animal collection and my camera batteries were running low in no time! The Zoo now boasts a completely renovated entrance with a brand new gift shop, and future improvements which will make each guest’s visit better than the last. This is one of the few places that have a Fossa on display. The Fossa is the largest predator on the island of Madagascar and while it looks like a cat it is actually a relative of the mongoose. Charles Paddock Zoo is also the current residence of a very playful Malayan Tiger who was not camera shy when I met him. There is lots of shade to relax in during the summer and the drive into Atascadero is very scenic. Being a smaller Zoo, it makes for a great family visit of 1-2 hours where a lot of fun can be had. Dale’s Favorite Exhibits: Malayan Tiger, Fossa, Patagonian Cavy Admission is $5.00 for adults and $4 for children aged 3 to 11. Santa Ana Zoo members receive FREE admission! Learn more about your reciprocal benefits by clicking here. Happy Tails! Dale Frink May 31, 2011: Fresno Chaffee Zoo The first thing that surprised me about this Zoo is the size. While not as large as some other Zoos such as Los Angeles I wholeheartedly recommend that families with kids budget at least three to four hours. Fresno Zoo has a wide variety of animals from around the world and has lots of plans for upgrades and expansion in the near future. Fresno Zoo has lots of ways for guests to get interactive with the animals. Check the schedule of events in advance to see what is available for the day. There are periodic giraffe feedings where guests can feed a handful of leaves for just $2 per person. These feedings are conducted one at a time which gives guests a personal interaction with the planet’s tallest animals, great for photos! There is also the Stingray Bay exhibit provides the opportunity to touch and learn about sharks and stingrays up close. Bring a towel because those rays can splash! You can also feed the stingrays for just one dollar. One of the highlights of my visit was the Tropical Rainforest, a multilevel walkthrough aviary featuring many species of animals surrounding by lush green vegetation. Dale’s Favorite Exhibits: Tropical Rainforest, Grizzly Bear, Orangutans Admission is $7.00 for adults and $3.50 for children ages 2 to 11. Santa Ana Zoo members pay just $3.50 for adults and $1.75 for children! Learn more about your reciprocal benefits by clicking here. Happy Tails! Dale Frink May 2, 2011: The Living Desert How many different animals live in the desert? The answer might surprise you at first, but after one trip around this beautiful Zoo and Botanical Garden you won’t be. Located east of Orange County in Palm Desert, the Living Desert is divided into two halves representing African and North American desert wildlife. It’s bigger than you might think, and the temperatures get so hot that the Zoo closes at 1:00 during the summer. You can beat the heat by travelling there during the winter, or by getting there early in the morning. Either way, you won’t be disappointed. At 10:00am every day the Zoo hosts free giraffe feeding for guests of all ages! Simply be at the giraffe exhibit on time and helpful volunteers and staff will set you up with some treats you can feed one at a time. The Wildlife Wonders show at 11:00am is outstanding as well and showcases a variety of animals. If you need a break from the sun just step on over to the Discovery Center and beat the heat with some fossils from the Ice Age, as well as some fun hands on activities for kids. Dale’s Favorite Living Desert Exhibits: Giraffe/Ostrich, Cheetah, Bighorn Sheep Admission to The Living Desert is $14.25 for adults and $7.75 for children aged 3-12. Santa Ana Zoo members pay only $7.13 for adults and $3.37 for children aged 3-12! Learn more about your reciprocal benefits by clicking here. Happy Tails! Dale Frink March 31, 2011: Cabrillo Marine Aquarium Noted for its Frank Gehry architecture and located right off the beach in beautiful San Pedro, the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium has some very unique animal displays featuring local marine life. The exhibits each have a very specific theme which makes this one of the most educational and informative aquariums I have ever been to. Not to be lost amongst the animal collections are the displays showcasing the ecology of Southern California’s marine habitats. Many people who go to aquariums like the sharks and rays the best, but in my time at Cabrilloan unsuspecting invertebrate stole the show. One small tank was filled with Lion Nudibranchs (think a transparent sea slug with a venus flytrap on top of the head) who were feeding on brine shrimp and reaching out with their tentacles to catch them. It’s really easy for kids to see the displays and the aquarium offers a lot of hands on activities that encourage children to explore. Dale’s Favorite Cabrillo Exhibits: Lion Nudibranchs, Moon Jellies, Lobsters Admission to Cabrillo Marine Aquarium is free. Santa Ana Zoo members receive a 10% discount in their gift shop! Learn more about your reciprocal benefits by clicking here. Happy Tails! Dale Frink March 18, 2011: Los Angeles Zoo It only seems appropriate that the first of my “tales” takes places right here in Southern California, where there are a lot of amazing animal experiences to be had! If you like animals and live in the area chances are you’ve been to this very large Zoo at least once, but if you haven’t been recently you might not even recognize the place! Most noticeable is the brand new Elephants of Asia exhibit that opened back in December of 2010. This sprawling and state of the art exhibit is incredibly spectator friendly with many different viewing angles and lots of great displays at each vantage point. The Campo Gorilla Reserve, Red Ape Rainforest, and Chimpanzees of the Mahale Mountains exhibits provide some of the most beautiful and accommodating views of great apes in any zoo in the United States. LA Zoo is also home to the celebrity alligator known as Reggie, who evaded capture for over a year after being spotted in an LA area lake. For the kids, there is a great children’s area that offers some playtime opportunities. Kids can climb through tunnels that go directly through a prairie dog habitat, and there is a petting area with brushes and animals eager to be groomed. If you have the time, I strongly recommend the World of Birds show, which not only showcases a wide variety of species, but also some incredible behaviors that make for an impressive performance. Dale’s Favorite LA Zoo Exhibits: Elephants, Great Apes, Tigers, Ibex General Admission is $14 for adults and $9 for children aged 2-12. Santa Ana Zoo members pay just $7 for adults and $4.50 for children aged 2-12! Learn more about your reciprocal benefits by clicking here. Happy Tails! Dale Frink

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