Where Have We Been #4: Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular

 *I am not posting any photos of this year's pumpkins.*

 

Another one of our favorite Halloween traditions is going to see all the carved pumpkins at the Roger Williams Zoo's Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular. It truly is an amazing sight!  It does get crowded, and the wait can be long, which is why we typically pay extra to do the meal including no wait entry to the pumpkins. Last year, we loved the harvest buffet which was available all week long.  This year, the weekday meal is zoo food and the buffet is only on weekends. Next year, if the week day meal is the same, we'll definitely skip it.  Get there early enough on a week day and the wait isn't bad.  A note to those who go every year, the main lot is no longer free parking.  It's now their "premier" parking for $10.  We parked in the second lot for free and were out of the parking area in about 3 minutes tops.  Might be worth it for the weekend but not during the week.  I have to say that this year is not as good as past years, mostly due to the theme for us, but partially due to the lack of kid's pumpkins and middle section of huge pumpkins. Still impressive and amazing, especially if you haven't been.   

The staff is very friendly, there are restrooms and port-a-potties all along the wait area and lots of snacks and gifts. They do an amazing job of controlling the amount of people on the trail at any given time so you can thoroughly enjoy the experience without feeling like a herd of cattle. There were times when we were the only people at a group of pumpkins with no one even walking by.  Please note there is No flash photography on the trail. It's blinding when flashes go off around you.  

Taken when we spent the day at the zoo first.  Pumpkins are much more impressive when you can't see the carving marks.

Every year has a main theme, this year's is the 50 states, and one or two little themes like zombie zoo.  Last year's main theme was All the World's a Stage...theatre and movies...it was amazing!  And they have a kid's section at the end which this year only consisted of 3 pumpkins.  Pretty disappointing especially considering the theme was not too exciting for kids. Past years had more kid friendly themes and more kids pumpkins.   Mr. No still had a fantastic time, though!

*The photos do not look like this on my computer and even if I completely adjust settings (make them significantly darker or lighter or adjust color) they still upload the exact same way.  No idea why.*

Mr. No loves all the faces, though, rather than the intricately carved ones.  And they are everywhere!  Remember to look on both sides of the path or you may miss a cute one!

Usually there is a place in the middle of the trail with a bunch of jack-o-lanterns and some absolutely huge ones.  I didn't post a photo of one but the largest ones have pumpkins next to them carved with their weight. This guy with the eyeballs on top is still one of my favorites!

The end of the trail is the "Laughing Tree".  Be warned that the music is a super loud and annoying laughing over music.  Mr. No covers his ears every time (and I usually want to).  The pumpkins are seriously spectacular though!  Jack-O-Lanterns up as high as you can see and everywhere on the ground.  It's unbelievable! 

We'll definitely go again next year! It's affordable, non-scary, Halloween fun that impresses everyone!  I've noticed a few other local places doing jack-o-lantern trails, too.  Not sure how they are but they're much smaller, I know.  We may have to check one out next year.

Roger Williams Zoo Pt. 2

On to Part 2 of our Zoo trip!   I cannot for the life of me remember the name of the other building there. This one had tortoises, birds and fish...hmmmm.  The tortoises were my 2nd favorite of the day even though only 2 were awake and only 1 of them was on the move.  Look at that cute little face!

It seems weird to me but I've never actually seem a tortoise drink before.  Eat, yes.  Drink, no.  I don't know why I found it fascinating but it's the little things, you know?

H loved this bird so I had to make sure I got a good photo of him/her.  It's colors are gorgeous.  Mr. No was even impressed.

And now for a whole lot of Mr. No!  He was getting a little impatient waiting for H so he agreed to silly face photos.  I love them!  We took a couple together but I will not post them.  I would like to retain a little dignity.

he wants everyone to note the star wars band aid on his thumb

We did manage to get a photo of us together because Mr. No wanted one. Apparently, animals put him in a good mood for picture taking.

The camels were not in a good mood.  One was hiding, the other was pacing and we swear at one point we thought it was going to spit at the other family there.  It got right in their faces when they were shouting at it.

I love the snow leopard!  Mr. No insists that it's Tai Lung from Kung Fu Panda. This one didn't look that much like him but the one at the Stone Zoo could truly be his real life double.  I'm just happy I had my sister's lens so I could get his (?) handsome face.  Usually he's up so high that it's not worth it for me to even try. 

And now for my favorite of the day, the red pandas!  I was so busy admiring how cute they were that I didn't get the cute photos I wanted.  They look like little teddy bears to me.  So cute and cuddly!

Mr. No barely even noticed the last few animals as we were rushing toward the exit. Apparently 3 hours isn't enough time for us at the zoo while being too much time for Mr. No.  He was excited, however, that the elephants (and the zebras) came out to say goodbye to him. 

My favorite Mr. No quote was when we got home, "Mommy, carry me (to the door)!  I had a long day of walking and I'm too tired to walk any more!".  Seriously?  The kid rode in the wagon all day.  Though he was very nice and shared one of the stretchy snakes he got with a little girl who was at the zoo with her Grandma.  He gave her the purple one because it was her favorite color.  He's such a sweet kid...lazy but sweet.

Roger Williams Zoo Pt. 1

We truly lucked out this week.  I had a Wednesday off, the weather was fairly decent and the zoo was half priced!  Since the ice, snow and cold came the following morning, I'm so glad we were able to get out and enjoy the day!  Mr. No had been begging to see some animals and really wanted to go to the Franklin Park Zoo to see the gorillas but since we could all get into RWZ for the price of 1 adult admission to the other, our frugal nature won out.  Happily Mr. No was so excited to see animals, he didn't care. 

First stop was the zebras.  Mr. No thought it was hilarious that they were in the same habitat as the wildebeast.  H thought it was horrible that they put the wild dogs right next to them since they are the wild dogs' prey.

I know the colors are a little blue but I liked the way it looked.

I was actually able to get a lot of pictures of Mr. No.  He's so anti-photos right now it's tricky.  He was in such a good mood that he allowed it and even, at times, encouraged it.

I don't even remember what they were looking up at but it wasn't whatever animal was in the habitat

watching the African Wild Dogs

H!

Mr. No loved the West African Crowned Crane, especially with the little folklore story posted there.  H asked if they really had gold crowns that were turned to feathers.  I'm still not certain if he was joking when he asked that...

The harbor seals were a bigger hit with me and H than they were with Mr. No.  Part of it was that he really wanted to see the elephants. He looked for a moment and then wanted to move on.

seal in my reflection

I do have to admit that I got a little crabby in the elephant and giraffe house.  Mr. No wanted nothing more than to get a photo standing near the elephant.  It didn't happen.  The elephant was right at the ropes.  Mr. No was willing.  The two "photographers" wouldn't move so that Mr. No could get his photo.  I'm so sorry that you might miss your perfect shot, but if you're at a zoo or other place that excited children might want a photo, have the decency to move out of the way when asked.  Don't pretend you didn't hear people ask you.  Thank you selfish "photographers" for disappointing a 4 year old.  It's not as if the elephant was only there for a minute.  I'm talking about 15 minutes and refusing to move until the elephants were gone.  Sorry, rant over.

see how close!  I only got a few shots from afar before the view was blocked

Mr. No actually asked me to take this photo. Unfortunately it's not that great since I was still fuming and not really paying attention.  He doesn't care and thinks it's great so I guess that's all that matters

We met a wonderful zoo employee over by the flamingos.  She told Mr. No all about them and what they eat. He's most interested in what animals eat which is pretty funny considering he can't be bothered to eat most of the time.  He thought it was so cool that they eat shrimp just like he does and that's the reason why they're pink.

I didn't get a good shot of Mr. No's favorite animal, the giant anteater.  That was the one he was the most excited to see.  Luckily we have a good one from a previous trip for the animal book we're going to make.  H loved the tropical house, especially the sloth.  The birds and sloth are free roaming in there.  The sloth was so close to use you could practically touch it!  Mr. No was excited and nervous.  H was beyond thrilled.

This was for H since he wanted a photo of his cute face so badly!

This bird was so lucky to be up in the tree.  Mr. No was sneaking around trying to touch any bird that landed on the ground.  I wasn't to concerned since they weren't going to let him anywhere near them.  They tolerated him and kept a safe distance without flying away.  At least he wasn't trying to chase them down like he did to that poor chicken when we went here last year!

I love this little face!

I truly took way too many photos that day.  Part 2 will have about 8 or 9 of Mr. No being silly.  I had to take advantage of his willingness to have his picture taken and I promised him I'd post them.  This was my first time using a telephoto lens that I borrowed from my sister.  It was a pain switching lenses to get some photos of Mr. No but I loved being able to get close ups of the animals' faces!  I'm going to have to borrow it again sometime!