The Louisville Zoo is in the process of opening the last part of their Glacier Run exhibit. Last year they opened a Seal and Sea Lion exhibit and now they are opening a Polar Bear and Grizzly Bear exhibit. We were able to go to a pre-preview because we are members and also made an additional donation to the opening of the exhibit. It was really nice to be able to visit it before it opens to the public and is crazy busy! I was also super fun to go with Aunt Arla who was visiting us for Reagan's 4th birthday party!
As we entered the zoo a couple of different people were holding different birds you could look at up close. The girls loved this little screech owl. I have to admit he was super cute!
We went to take a picture by these Azalea's because I've never seen them anywhere near this big and beautiful when Reagan realized the statue was named "Jackson's Chameleon." 
The new bear exhibit is based on the town of Churchill, Canada, the "Polar Bear capital of the world." One of the neatest parts of the exhibit is being able to climb into the cab of this truck and watch the grizzly bears climb in the back. It's especially fun right now because they have two cubs who were so cute playing together. 
If you look carefully, you can see one of the grizzly cubs Aunt Arla and Kennedy were watching in the back of the truck in the bottom right hand part of the glass below the reflection of the polar bear. Reagan was too busy trying to drive away from the bears everytime they got in the truck to ever actually see them while they were in the truck. 
Kennedy watching one of the cubs from the cab of the truck 
Jackson enjoyed his turn driving the truck
Kennedy taking her driving responsibilities very seriously lol :) 
The cubs were so playful while we were watching them. At one point one of them looked right at Kennedy and came charging towards her stopping just short of the glass. It scared Kennedy half to death! It was hilarious! lol :) She went shooting backwards and then ran back to our stroller saying "Buckle myself up! Buckle myself up!" She got over the shock pretty quickly and hopped back out to watch the cubs again. It was too funny, as the same cub followed her to where she was standing. Even some of the othe visitors commented saying "Look, that cub is following that little girl." As such Kennedy decided she was safer in the stroller. lol :) Here's Kennedy mid running backwards after being surprised by the cub the first time. :)
Reagan thoroughly appreciated Kennedy's unintended efforts of getting the cubs right to the edge of the enclosure. Here you can see them both playing right where Kennedy had previously been standing. 
While we were there they started a feeding/training session for the bears which we enjoyed watching 
The girls enjoyed checking out the greatly anticipated Polar Bear!!! It turns out this exhibit was actually designed with the assistance of the government. Apparently it is not unusual for cubs to be found every year in the Artic and there are limited places where they can go when they are too young and unable to survive on their own in the wild. As such, the Louisville Zoo is going to be a place where those cubs can essentially be rescued. I guess somewhat unexpectedly, no cubs were needing to be rescued at the time this exhibit was opening so they currently have an older Polar Bear from Chicago's zoo. As much fun as the Grizzly cubs were to watch we can't wait to see some Polar Bear cubs too! :) 
Next we headed to the seal and sea lion exhibit. I can't remember which these are but the girls always love them! 
I'm not sure why but the week before we went to the zoo Kennedy started talking about seeing tigers. The entire time we were there she kept saying we needed to go and see the tigers next. So even though the skies were looking somewhat threatening we made a mad dash to see the tiger. Our timing couldn't have been more perfect as the tiger came walking up to nearly the exact spot Kennedy was standing before lying down where it was difficult to see it. I was dissapointed not to get a better pic than this one but you win some and you lose some. I guess Kennedy was Miss Popular with the animals that day! :) 
Reagan thought she was pretty funny posing with these tigers 
We barely made it back to the gift shop before it began to rain. By the time we were ready to leave the gift shop it was pouring. I got the kids bundled up and then ran to get the van while Aunt Arla waited with them. I somehow misplaced a rain jacket so Reagan wore mine. We thought they were pretty cute waiting for me to return while they had an apple snack. 
Thank you Aunt Arla for coming to the zoo with us and also for the super cool stuffed animals!
We went to take a picture by these Azalea's because I've never seen them anywhere near this big and beautiful when Reagan realized the statue was named "Jackson's Chameleon." 
The new bear exhibit is based on the town of Churchill, Canada, the "Polar Bear capital of the world." One of the neatest parts of the exhibit is being able to climb into the cab of this truck and watch the grizzly bears climb in the back. It's especially fun right now because they have two cubs who were so cute playing together. 
If you look carefully, you can see one of the grizzly cubs Aunt Arla and Kennedy were watching in the back of the truck in the bottom right hand part of the glass below the reflection of the polar bear. Reagan was too busy trying to drive away from the bears everytime they got in the truck to ever actually see them while they were in the truck. 
Kennedy watching one of the cubs from the cab of the truck 
Jackson enjoyed his turn driving the truck
Kennedy taking her driving responsibilities very seriously lol :) 
The cubs were so playful while we were watching them. At one point one of them looked right at Kennedy and came charging towards her stopping just short of the glass. It scared Kennedy half to death! It was hilarious! lol :) She went shooting backwards and then ran back to our stroller saying "Buckle myself up! Buckle myself up!" She got over the shock pretty quickly and hopped back out to watch the cubs again. It was too funny, as the same cub followed her to where she was standing. Even some of the othe visitors commented saying "Look, that cub is following that little girl." As such Kennedy decided she was safer in the stroller. lol :) Here's Kennedy mid running backwards after being surprised by the cub the first time. :)
Reagan thoroughly appreciated Kennedy's unintended efforts of getting the cubs right to the edge of the enclosure. Here you can see them both playing right where Kennedy had previously been standing. 
While we were there they started a feeding/training session for the bears which we enjoyed watching 
The girls enjoyed checking out the greatly anticipated Polar Bear!!! It turns out this exhibit was actually designed with the assistance of the government. Apparently it is not unusual for cubs to be found every year in the Artic and there are limited places where they can go when they are too young and unable to survive on their own in the wild. As such, the Louisville Zoo is going to be a place where those cubs can essentially be rescued. I guess somewhat unexpectedly, no cubs were needing to be rescued at the time this exhibit was opening so they currently have an older Polar Bear from Chicago's zoo. As much fun as the Grizzly cubs were to watch we can't wait to see some Polar Bear cubs too! :) 
Next we headed to the seal and sea lion exhibit. I can't remember which these are but the girls always love them! 
I'm not sure why but the week before we went to the zoo Kennedy started talking about seeing tigers. The entire time we were there she kept saying we needed to go and see the tigers next. So even though the skies were looking somewhat threatening we made a mad dash to see the tiger. Our timing couldn't have been more perfect as the tiger came walking up to nearly the exact spot Kennedy was standing before lying down where it was difficult to see it. I was dissapointed not to get a better pic than this one but you win some and you lose some. I guess Kennedy was Miss Popular with the animals that day! :) 
Reagan thought she was pretty funny posing with these tigers 
We barely made it back to the gift shop before it began to rain. By the time we were ready to leave the gift shop it was pouring. I got the kids bundled up and then ran to get the van while Aunt Arla waited with them. I somehow misplaced a rain jacket so Reagan wore mine. We thought they were pretty cute waiting for me to return while they had an apple snack. 
Thank you Aunt Arla for coming to the zoo with us and also for the super cool stuffed animals!
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