Everyone knows I am an animal lover. And by now you know what that means: a visit to the zoo.
At the Indianapolis Zoo I experienced just what makes the facility one of the country's top 10 zoos.
Right after arrival we caught the Magnificent Macaws show. Despite my flights into Indy, these birds had no problem arriving on time. They fly in from across the zoo to entertain the crowds during shows throughout the day.
Elsewhere, there are lions and tigers and bears -- oh my (had to, sorry!). Animals, creatures and critters from all over the world are housed at the zoo. The exhibits feature tons of educational components, some with interactive displays to give you a glimpse into the lives of the inhabitants.
After visiting with some outdoor animals, we headed inside to the International Orangutan Center. The place has acted as a rescue of sorts, with animals taken out of the entertainment industry now having a home away from the stress of showbiz.
One of the hairy guys responded with a big hello to a man with tattoos. I was told he remembers people by their tattoos and will stare at them and touch his own arm.
We checked out dozens, if not hundreds, of land animals so we had to visit the water-loving friends at Indianapolis Zoo. Some of them also like ice and snow. I'll get to that in a second.
Since I have always loved aquariums, it was great to see Nemo up close. Plus, I got to touch sharks as they swam by in a giant enclosure.
You really can spend the entire day at the zoo. Bring some good walking shoes because there is a lot to see and do.
It wasn't just the sharks I got to touch. I was asked, "Have you ever been up close with a penguin?" I had not, actually. So the crew at Indy Zoo took it one step further during our visit. I got to go behind the scenes and do some crafting with a couple penguins.
Though camera shy at times, the unnamed male and female (they are known by numbers at the zoo), strolled along the canvas to create a really cool painting. This is one of the many artsy encounters visitors to the zoo can explore. And I have to say, it was pretty damn cool.
The zoo also has meeting rooms and facilities for private functions. One lucky little girl was having a birthday party when we visited. I wasn't invited in for cake despite my attempts but she seemed like she was having a good time.