A Day at the North Carolina Zoo

This past weekend, we roadtripped down to North Carolina to celebrate Rowan's 7th birthday (at the zoo, of course - that girl loves her zoos). This time we hit up the North Carolina Zoo, and it was pretty terrible. If the Metro Richmond Zoo is the best zoo I've ever been to, then the North Carolina Zoo is definitely the worst.

The animal exhibits are spread out along a cement path that winds its way through a wooded area, which is nice - except that it feels like you have to walk a mile to see one exhibit and then walk a mile to see another. I felt like we walked all day long and barely saw any animals. 

It didn't help that there were bees everywhere - trying to get our food, trying to get Wren's baby food, trying to get in my hair. I hate bees. 

Carter Mountain Orchard Visit

We headed up north on Sunday to Carter Mountain Orchard for some Fall fun. The orchard is set high up on a mountain, and the view is so pretty. The place was packed and it was HOT (and didn't feel very much like Fall), but we ate apple cider donuts, sipped cold apple cider, played in the pumpkins and walked in the orchards until the heat started making me grumpy (90 degrees in October will do that to ya). I would love to go back (or check out some other local orchards) when the weather is a bit cooler.

Chesterfield County Fair

The Chesterfield County Fair might be the best fair I've ever been to - and that's saying a lot since I like to think of myself as a fair connoisseur. ;) But seriously, it was small enough to have that little town fair feel, but it was full of things to do. We watched a tiger show, and Rowan got to feed one of the tigers meat from a stick (!!). We watched a couple circus shows - one with dogs doing tricks, one with a man who rode a motorcycle inside a metal ball. Rowan and Jon rode a ton of rides (that little girl is a dare devil!). We watched a puppet show, pet an Ox, ate the most delicious Hawaiian shaved ice, took home the most gigantic bag of cotton candy I've ever seen, and we even saw a Liger (I didn't think they were real!). I'm already looking forward to next year (because I'm five years old - and fairs are my favorite).