Migrating South: Houston

American Alligator - Houston Zoo

With the bitter cold of February in Chicago, we decided to do as the birds do and migrate south to a city we have never been to, Houston. Of course we had to do a few animal things while there so we spent part of the first day at the Houston Zoo! It was honestly a really solid zoo, small enough to not need a full day to visit, but still plenty of exhibits. Some major highlights were the country's only major Galapagos themed exhibit, a stunning South American savanna habitat and one of the best Gorilla habitats I've ever seen. While the center of the zoo still had a lot of outdated exhibits, most of the zoo is really modern including a habitat for Asian Elephants and a big vulture aviary. I can definitely recommend this place if you've got some time to spare in the Houston area.

While we only spent two days in Houston, we managed to sneak in a visit to the incredible Brazos Bend State Park! This amazing site was a massive flat wetland with stunning views. With only a few landmarks here, it was great to see an area allowed to be truly wild. The highlights of the trip were of course the American Alligators, with some being only a few feet away from us, it is amazing to be within such close proximity of these ancient predators with no barriers! Additionally, the bird life here was outstanding which allowed me to see some species I never had before. Rounding it all off with an great little visitor center showcasing some adorable baby gators and other critters, it's always a great time getting to see some wildlife in their natural habitat!