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We love heading out to the zoo for an adventure. We are fortunate to have two beautiful zoos within a half hour of us. But no matter which zoo we decide to head out to there are 5 things that I always bring with us. I find that bringing these little gems with me make our day much more enjoyable.
Here’s a freebie tip that I won’t include in the 5 – A comfortable bag. I prefer to use a backpack but a nice size tote does well too. Just be sure you are comfortable lugging it around for 4-8 hours in the heat. If your kids are old enough I suggest making them each have a little backpack too. You’ll see why in a minute.
Sunscreen
No matter what time of year it is I always have sunscreen on hand. My favorite is Blue Lizard® Australian Sunscreen. It’s unlike any sunscreen I have ever used. A few years ago I won a bottle in a contest. It was perfect timing because we were just heading off to a sunny Florida vacation and it was fall in Minnesota. So sunscreen was not readily available. It was my first time using Blue Lizard® Australian Sunscreen and I had some reservations. I had never heard of it before. But, my concerns quickly faded after our first day in Florida.
Did you know Blue Lizard® Australian Sunscreen bottles turn blue when exposed to UV light?? I remember standing in the SHADE and our bottle was blue! It was a real eye opener to how often we are exposed to harmful rays without even realizing it. With the bottle turning blue it’s a great reminder of how often I need to apply sunscreen when we are out and about.
Peyton has sensitive skin and so do my nephews so I was thrilled to see Blue Lizard® Australian Sunscreen has a sensitive formula that is paraben-free, chemical-free and fragrance-free.
I always have a bottle or two on hand for when we are at the zoo. Every Blue Lizard® product has a unique zinc oxide formulation which provides broad spectrum UVA/UVB protection (SPF30+). And with several varieties of Blue Lizard® to choose from you can protect your whole family while enjoying time outside.
Reusable Water Bottles
We bring a water bottle for every person on the trip. I like to fill our water bottles with ice and then water. That way it stays cool for the majority of the time we are out. Plus, if we run out of water there is always a drinking fountain nearby that we can refill at. I like to put this in each child’s backpack so they can carry their own.
Snacks
Bring plenty of snacks. Peyton loves to graze while we are looking at all the animals so I like to back a variety of shelf stable snacks to take with us. Pretzels are a great one to take because they don’t need to stay cool and can withstand the heat. I’m also a big fan of trail mix, just make sure you buy the kind with candy coated chocolates or you are going to have one gooey mess by mid afternoon.
Spare Socks and Shoes
It never fails that there is a puddle somewhere at the zoo. And the kids ALWAYS find that one puddle. I even tell them to not walk, jump or play in the water while we are at the zoo but it doesn’t matter. They still do. So I have found a quick change of footwear is a must otherwise there will be whiny kids with blisters by the end of the day. You could also take along a pair of water shoes. We do this at the zoo that has a splash pad area. Then I just make sure the kids switch shoes before they head in. Another item to keep in each child’s backpack!
Lunch
Going to the zoo can be a few hours or an all-day event. I like to pack individualized lunches for each child. I also make sure that they travel well and can be eaten either in the car (sometimes travel time is eating time!) or at a picnic table. And to make them a little more fun I like to cut the sandwiches into different shapes with cookie cutters.
It’s Spring time at the zoos and that means there are baby animals everywhere! At least, here in Minnesota, we have several babies at both our zoos. It’s a great time to get out and spend the day with your family. But, remember, even if it’s cloudy or overcast outside the sun’s harmful rays are out. Be sure to grab a bottle of Blue Lizard® Sensitive Sunscreen from Walmart to bring with you. Also, be sure to download the IBOTTA app and get $4.00 cash back on up to 2 bottles!
So the next time you are at Walmart picking up a few items, remember to swing by the sunscreen display and pick up a few bottles of Blue Lizard®. Moms, Dermatologist, and Pediatricians trust Blue Lizard® to protect us against the sun’s harmful rays while we are out enjoying the summer fun.
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