Zoos are for adults, too.

There was a period of time in my life when I was "between families". I was neither someone's child still living at home, nor someone's parent. During that time I visited the Columbus Zoo, St. Louis Zoo, the Boston Zoo, the Bronx Zoo, and the Philadelphia Zoo. There was even a three-month period during which I visited the Philadelphia Zoo every day.

Why, you ask? Well, here are the reasons, and coincidentally, they are the reasons you should visit a zoo often, even if you are an adult with no children.

Zaboomafoo is a sifaka.

• Walking around a zoo is good exercise. But that won't spoil your enjoyment. You will be looking at fascinating animals so you won't even notice that you are exercising. Click here for more about walking around a zoo for exercise.)
• Walking around a zoo is good outdoor exercise. Walking around a zoo every morning makes much more sense than walking around a mall with artificial light beaming down on you instead of sunlight.
• Walking around a zoo is much less expensive than walking around a mall or along city streets. If you purchase a zoo membership every year, you won't have to pay any extra, even if you visit the zoo every day of the year. (You also won't be tempted to go back to a store when it opens to purchase something you saw in the window.)
• Walking around a zoo is safer than walking around a park. Have you ever heard of anyone being mugged in a zoo?
• Walking around a zoo is educational, even for adults. You may think you know a lot about animals, but do you know what a babirusa looks like? Do you know what kind of animal Zaboomafoo, the popular children's show character, is? Do you know why some doves are called "bleeding heart doves". If you already know the answers, let me know, and I'll tell you something else you can learn at a zoo.
• You can meet people and make friends at a zoo. You can talk to the keepers. You can talk to other visitors.
• You can relax at a zoo. You can sit on a bench and animal-watch.
• Visiting a zoo is fun, even if you are an adult with no children accompanying you.

  When you see one, you understand why it is called a bleeding heart dove.

  
  
  NOTE: If you are an adult who would like to communicate with other adults who love zoos, click here!
  
  If you have any comments or questions, please contact me!
  
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