National Zoo and Aquarium Month

I must admit that living in Atlanta is a boon for those of us who are happy to celebrate June as National Zoo and Aquarium Month. 

Not only do we have a world-class zoo, one of just a handful in the U.S. fortunate to have a panda exhibit, 

we are also home to the world’s largest aquarium. 

Our family has visited both of these city treasures countless times: on school field trips, for birthday parties, with out of town guests and even on our own, just for fun.  

It doesn't hurt that one particular member of our family, particularly at a young age, was an aquatic and zoological zealot.  I'll let you guess which one.  

In Kindergarten, doing his Willie B. imitation

Too cool for school (get it?)

In fact, when he was about 8, he maintained a running list of his favorite animals, which he was happy to recite.  They included (in abbreviated David Letterman fashion):

6.  anaconda

5. American bison

4. Thorny Devil

3. cheetah

2. Komodo dragon

1. hedgehog (always and forever at the top of the list)

but which also included at various times, the tiger, the Great White Shark as well as the white rhino.  

On the Atlanta Zoo train

All this talk of wildlife has me thinking another trip (to both places) may be in order.