Few things beat a day at the zoo. Seriously. I love zoos. Animals and small children are too cute. The combination is irresistible. The Albuquerque combo ticket fee is a good value and includes the botanical garden, the zoo, and the aquarium. As a St. Louis girl I am used to the world class zoo being free, so bargain admission is great. (Free would be better.)

I love that zoos think about the health and well being of animals. I also hate it when you visit a zoo and all the animals are hiding in their enormous enclosures. The Albuquerque zoo had a nice balance. While we didn’t see all the animals, we got a good representation.

It is a relief to find the keepers working with the elephants for enrichment. The keepers give them a carrot for each lap they walk. The teenagers love the game. The oldest female isn’t having any of it. I can relate, walking a mile for a dry carrot doesn’t seem like a bargain worth making. You go girl, have a carrot strike, I will give up raw carrots in solidarity.

We actually opt to eat in town instead of having a dry, overpriced zoo cheeseburger. I am convinced there is a warehouse for zoo cafeterias where they package cardboard and label it as “food”. I have been in zoos all over the world and the food choices are never varied. The quality is never good and the prices are always high. But the profits help feed the animals so I usually eat my sawdust with a smile.

We have to drive across town to the aquarium. It is next to the botanical garden. For a small space, the aquarium is loaded with sea creatures. Otters nap and frolic in the sun. Jellyfish float in a mesmerizing ballet. Sharks circle overhead. It is easy to lose myself in the underwater world.

Because it is close to Halloween, the fish get enrichment toys of floating candles, pumpkins, and ghosts. The sea turtle is unimpressed. The eel seems relieved that he is already scary looking (no costume required).

We watch the diver clean the rocks while sharks swing by. Both the diver and the sharks seem unconcerned by the encounter. It is a lazy day in Atlantis. I love the relaxed vibe. I can’t help but smile. Zoos and aquariums have that effect.