On another really hot Friday, we loaded up for another road trip.  Actually, this one was an overnight trip.

We scored a really cheap 4-star hotel room and headed to Dallas on a Thursday night.  After dinner and shopping at IKEA, we camped out in the hotel and rested up for our hot, hot, hot day at the zoo.

If you go:

• Ride the monorail early!  There are lots of animals you can see only from the monorail.

• Eat at the cafe in the African Savannah (with the lions!).
• Scope out the gorillas from the air-conditioned observation/education center.

• Feed the giraffes!  The observation deck is at eye level with these beauties!
• Walk through the aviary!  The birds were up close and personal, building nests and calling out.

• Bring your own drinks.  (We saw lots of parents with wagons, waterbottles, and picnic spots.  You might call to double check the rules, but it looks like this was allowed.)