I wake up with the keen awareness that it is our last day. We get ourselves put together, Cornelia playing hopscotch on the tile in the room, and pop down for a quick hotel breakfast. I watch Cornelia sitting on the green booth talking about her future in working as a veterinarian. Her big brown eyes shining.
“Do you know how beautiful you are?”
Shrugs. “I know, momma.”
The drive to Hogle Zoo from Farmington is easy. Cornelia ooohs and aaahs at the amusement park across the street from our Hampton Inn. “Maybe when you’re older.”
Once we enter Salt Lake City, I feel a sense of home that I haven’t felt since leaving Colorado. Driving around, it is some beautiful combination of Portland and Denver in my eyes. Cool shops, big parks… a place I would really like to come back to and give it a few days to explore all the little nooks.
Hogle Zoo entrance also reminds me of the Denver Zoo. It’s a more fortified zoo like we are used to back home, and quite a different feel from the very small and intimate ones we’ve seen so far.
We’re bummed they don’t give out maps – you can’t even buy one – because that’s what we are collecting for our scrap book. We snap a picture of the map instead, not a great substitution, and immediately our eyes are taken to something in the distance.
“Giraffes, momma!” They are cute, as is the zebra baby, and the little warthogs sniffing around add some flair.
Cornelia must be tired from our trip, because today she is mostly in the wagon, insisting on not walking. We move through the lions, who we see just before the disappear. Next are the elephants, one up close drinking water. Cornelia is amazed by them, and giggles watching one eat and one drink.
We head over to the apes, where we seem to be the only ones in a little nook watching the mom and baby gorillas. She corrals her baby like I do, and watches me intently like I’m the one on display.
We let some other folks know it’s a good spot, and leave as the crowds rush in. “Momma, why did you tell them to go down there?”
“Because we’re all here for the same thing, and there’s nothing wrong with working together.”
The meerkats are always sweet to see, and we get a quick peek of orangutans on our way to the next part. Tortoises, a crocodile, and a closed building with some seriously cute cats we need to come back to,
Around the corner we see little foxes running and playing, one licking himself. We admire their cuteness as the smell sinks in. “It smells like skunks.” We read the sign that says these foxes emit this odor not as a defense, but more a perfume. “I don’t like the smell,” she says. So we move on.
“They were cute though, right?”
“Yeah.”
We walk up right as the tiger, an old gal, walks up. She has arthritis and apparently isn’t out much, but goes on a slow stroll and we admire her beauty.
There are So. Many. Cats. Tigers, snow leopard, Amur leopard, Pallas cat, black footed cat, lynx, bobcat, and Cornelia’s favorite: Arabian Sand Cat. “That’s my kitty!”
As we leave the Asia exhibit, music wafts in from around the corner. “Momma! It’s open!!”
Sure enough. She’s so excited as we walk to the carousel, she keeps veering over in front of me and tripping me. We get our stuff settled, buy a ticket, and she climbs up onto a leopard.
Those moments as the carousel spin us are magical. Her face lights up, smiles for days. She watches the lights above and asks for it never to stop. I feel the same, being here with you, kid.
Our last stop brings us to a giant grizzly bear, just beyond her reach. And a viewing of the sea lions and a seal (her favorite) swimming in large circles, their size mesmerizing in the water. Their little whiskers are the absolute cutest. We spend a long time here, as watching otters, sea lions, and seals swim are always her favorite parts of zoos.
Cornelia spots the lovie she wants to bring home immediately, and I find a beautiful coffee mug for myself.
We decide not to end our SLC time just yet, and head over to city cakes, a vegan and gluten free bakery. We cheers with our cupcakes, pack some items for lunch, and head home, taking a detour to see temple square under construction.
On this trip, SLC has been my favorite town. Hands down.
Tomorrow, we head home.
daniellerene 