Washington Roadie: Family Time at Tacoma's Point Defiance

Welcome back!  

Get ready for more fun and family at the Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium in Tacoma, Washington, one of the most beautiful and entertaining places in the Pacific Northwest!  In case you missed them, click HERE for Day 1 and HERE for Day 2 PART 1.

Let's just jump right in where we left off...with Rudbeckia Echinacea Purpurea.  Or Eastern Purple Coneflower. 

Coneflowers are just so damn photogenic. 

I guess most flowers are photogenic really. 

As I briefly mentioned in my last post, Point Defiance is involved in conservation of Red Wolves.  In the 1970s, only 14 pure Red Wolves existed in the wild.  Now there are 50 with nearly 200 spread among the 40 facilities that participate in the Species Survival Plan coordinated with the US Wildlife Service and the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. 

They are so beautiful.  It would be a shame if they had died out in the 70s.

One of the best exhibits of the day was the adorable baby Muskox, Hudson!

 I just want to take him home with me, he is so damn cute!

But of course I can't because he will soon be huge, like this lovely lady.  She weighs around 800 lbs, so definitely not house material. 

Next on the Arctic Tundra was an amazing Reindeer.  I mean, just look at the rack on this guy!

 He's sticking his tongue out at me.  ↑  How rude!

Here's something you've never seen before.  ↓  A Reindeer Contortionist.

Not all creatures on the Arctic Tundra were as big as these two behemoths.  The next little guys were about a 10th of their size.  But just as cute!  Possibly more so!

Arctic Fox

I caught a picture of this little guy floating around in the foxes' pond.  

Somewhere between a tadpole and a frog.

Next we moved on to the Rocky Shores. 

As you may have guessed, this exhibit features the beloved marine animals of the Pacific Northwest, including everyone's favorite, Sea Otters!

Next to the otters were Puffins and Murres which are so incredibly cute.    

Ya'll know how I love birds, so of course there are quite a few pictures of these. 

 Bath time!

 Oh. My Goodness.  This is TOO CUTE to be real, right?  It's totally fake. Except it's not.  lol

 Grandpa would like some food please.  I don't know why I think he's a grandpa.  maybe he is a punk rocker. I don't know what I'm even saying right now. 

These are the Murres, which I've seen at a long distance at the Point Reyes Lighthouse.  I was so excited to see them close up!  They are amazing in the water. 

  

Next we went inside and up top to watch the acrobatic Harbor Seals and their magnificent Walrus friends. I don't know if they're friends, but I'd like to think so. 

My beautiful niece Sabrina contemplates life under water. 

 Those whiskers tho!

And last but definitely not least on the Rocky Shores were the adorable tuxedo-wearing Penguins.

That seems like a good place to take a break.  This post was heavy on animals and flowers and short on the family, but we'll rectify that in the posts to come.  =D

xoxo

Nikon D3300

Washington Road Trip: Family Time & Tacoma's Point Defiance

It's a few days since my last post and my beloved brother is still in the hospital, still on a ventilator, and still not out of the woods.  But!  He has responded to my sister IL and niece and the doctors have said he is stable and given some hope, so I feel up to posting part number 2 of my trip.  To see the photos and story of my drive to Montesano, click this sentence.

I'm starting off with a perfectly hideous photo of myself with some of my family.  I think they all look freaking adorable though so I wanted to post it. Even the back of Ford's head and Angela's crazy face are adorable!  And Verna and Lincoln are the cutest.

While we were waiting for Sabrina, Lee, and the kids to arrive, Verna gave me a ride around the "back forty".  Which was amazing!  If I won the lottery, I would buy this entire lot. This is us on Trinity's infamous golf cart.  Which, again, we managed to have a tire problem on.  LOL!

The 'back forty' runs along the back of Ida's property and down to the Chehalis River.  We came around a corner by the horse paddocks and face to face with a gorgeous deer!

 We didn't have time to stop and walk around or take pictures, and I meant to go back during my time up there, but the weather didn't allow it.  Next time!

We got back to the house just as Lee, Sabrina, and the kids pulled up with their new, beautiful German Shepherd puppy, Elsa. Here is my beautiful grand-niece, Trinity, with her new furbaby.

 From left to right: Lincoln, Ford, Elsa, Trinity, and Logan

 Elsa with Sabrina.

After playing with the puppy for awhile and catching up, we all set out in a two-car caravan for the Point Defiance Zoo in Tacoma, about a 1.5 hour drive Northeast.

Originally opened in 1905, this zoo has been continuously updated to provide top-tier enclosures for the animals living there.  They also are involved in the conservation of red wolves and have a lot of educational programs.

I know that zoos are an 'iffy' subject for many, but I myself am torn.  I believe that they should be highly regulated and held to very high standards but I also believe that many good zoos provide a valuable role in conservation and education.  Some animals, like the Cheetah, are going to be gone from the wild soon, thanks to humans. Soon people will only know of this majestic creature in media if conservationists, including zoos, are not successful in their efforts.

But back to more happy topics...Logan!

It was such a brilliant day!  Who says it only rains in the Pacific Northwest?  :)  This zoo is not only full of gorgeous, amazing animals, but also with a variety of colorful, eye-catching plants and flowers.

We spent quite a bit of time watching the Meerkats.  And the Meerkats spent quite a bit of time watching a crow that was perched at the top of their exhibit.

This baby just couldn't take his eyes off of him!

 And the guy behind him couldn't take his eyes off of the baby.

Until two more babies began squabbling and play-fighting.

And then they hugged it out!

In the meantime, crow watch continued. The baby moved to a different spot to have a more comfortable view.

The crow was not particularly interested in the meerkats, but their instincts tell them to be wary of this possible predator.

Besides the allures of nature, the zoo was also having a special Pokemon Go event where they had dropped lures at all the pokestops around the zoo.  It added to the fun!  Just ask Logan! Sabrina wanted to take a picture of him in the Kids Zone, but it's a Cloyster!

 He finally gave in compromised.

I'm thinking Mom got a better picture, but I liked observing the Logan in his natural habitat. =D

I also loved this vista of a huge ship sailing by in the distance on Puget Sound.

But meanwhile, back inside the Kids Zone, there were GOATS!

No, not that guy actually, but I couldn't resist.  Haha.  These guys.

Yep, get ready for some flower photos.  There were some beautiful Rudbeckia Hirtas that I just couldn't resist. And neither could this hovering bee.

 Also known as a Brown- or Black-eyed Susan.

And it's amazing close relative, the Rudbeckia Laciniata.  Better known as Green-headed Coneflower.

I absolutely adore these next two photos.  There was a very busy bumble bee working on some truly lovely pink flowers.  The combination along with some amazing depth in the macro photography created a very artistic look, in my opinion.  Thanks bumblee!

We all met up by the park in the middle while we got some food and decided where to go next.  It was fun watching the kids play and roll down the steep hill. 

This statue is really nice from the top of the hill viewed from the front.  But from below?  Holy crap!!  And Logan gave into our pressuring him to take this photo.  Yes, I am the Worst. Aunt. Ever.  LOL!

I laugh every damn time I look at it!  I can't wait to get back up there and spend some more time with those crazy kids, and my wonderful family!  

I spoke with Angela a little bit ago.  Happy Birthday Angel!!  She gave the most wonderful update on my big brother and said he is now breathing on his own and is able to talk and be ornery like he likes to be!  Yay!!!

I love my big brother sooooooo much!!

xoxo

Nikon D3300