I can’t remember a specific point in time when my love for animals began, but I remember that a trip to the zoo made the best outing for me as a kid. I even enjoyed the smell that surrounded the animal cages (not particularly clean and well kept in our town).
Those wild beasts always stirred up my imagination about exotic, faraway lands. As an adult, my love for zoos came to a halt. The idea of seeing caged animals gave me more chills than pleasure: the mighty elephant –walker of the African savanna– confined to a cage! It just broke my heart.
But when I became a parent and wanted to show my son real-life wild and exotic animals, my view on the subject of caged animals was challenged again.
I realized that for most people watching animals in their own natural habitat is possible only in films and TV documentaries. Which brought me back to the argument of zoos, where you can witness extraordinary animals up close and appreciate their grandeur (be that even in a cage!)
Last week, while wandering through Palm Springs –the desert jewel of southern California– I came upon a Wow place: The Living Desert Zoo & Gardens.The small gardens are a wonderful mixture between a zoo and a botanical garden, focusing on plants and animals that thrive in the deserts of North America and Africa.
From giraffes, mountain lions, wolves and cheetahs to a beautiful enclosed aviary, hummingbirds and butterflies this place features a great array of wildlife. But besides that, its unique setting gives you the feeling of walking through a natural landscape.
The Living Desert Zoo & Gardens also features a couple of great attractions: the Camel Ride, which allows visitors to ride camels for a small fee ($5/person) and the Giraffe Feeding ($5/feeding).
There is a beautiful butterfly and hummingbird exhibit where you can watch butterflies hatch and hummingbirds eating nectar from the feeders.
There is also a great model train display, which I believe is the longest wooden scale LGB model in the world (3,000 feet of track). Great to see even if you are not into trains.
The gardens feature a wide variety of desert plants and native cacti and if you happen to visit the area in the spring, you’ll be delighted by a beautiful display of colorful flowers.
Also, there is an interactive Wildlife Hospital on the premises where you can observe medical procedures and examinations taking place in the small and large Animal Treatment Rooms. If you don’t want to walk (in summer it may get very hot!) they do have a tram shuttle for $6 and all day use.
The Living Desert Zoo & Garden is an excellent attraction for all, but particularly for families with young children. Watching the kids’ faces light up with joy when feeding the giraffe or riding the camels brought back some sweet memories of my own son’s childhood. This place is educational, it’s beautiful and it’s fun!
Hiking the Tahquitz Canyon Loop Trail
Michele {Malaysian Meanders}
I prefer seeing animals in sanctuaries in the natural habitat but also realize that not everyone is lucky enough to go to Thailand to see elephants or Borneo to visit orangutans. As a compromise, I like it so much better when the kept animals have lots of room to roam instead of being confined in a small cage. The Living Desert looks like a very pretty place with well cared for animals. My kids actually hate the smell of zoos, so we don’t visit them very often.
Angie (FeetDoTravel)
I love your honesty Anda and I applaud you for having to do a 180 turn when you became a parent! Like you, I used to love zoos, then when I started going on safari, seeing caged animals also appalled me and I have vowed to never visit a zoo again … but I am not a parent and I don’t intend to be so I don’t have to change my thought process for the education of a child. I am so glad you found joy in watching your children’s faces light up and that you were able to rekindle some of your own fond memories from when you were young 😀
Paula McInerney
Stunning photos, and The Living Desert Zoo & Garden looks very well done
Albom Adventures
It sounds like an interesting zoo. I like the idea of a desert garden along with the zoo.
Morgan
Wow, this place looks absolutely incredible! It’s really neat that they have such amazing scenery that includes both plants and animals. This would be a worthwhile experience and the perfect place to take your child. Very interesting post! Thanks so much for sharing!
Anda Galffy
I’m glad if you found out something new from my article, Morgan. Hope you’ll get to visit the Living Desert Zoo.
Ryan Biddulph
Hi Anda,
Looks wonderful to me.
I recall a local zoo and how it lit up my day. Small operation but they genuinely cared about the animals.
Thanks for the fun share.
Signing off from not at all sunny NJ.
Ryan
Blogging From Paradise
Anda Galffy
Thanks for the comment, Ryan. I bet you are missing the tropics if you are in NJ, but it’s good to come home once in a while, isn’t it?
Donna Janke
I love touring gardens when I travel. The setting for Living Desert Zoo and Gardens looks perfect for viewing the zoo animals. I will keep this in mind for any Palm Springs area visits.
Anda Galffy
Good to hear from you, Donna. I hope you’ll have a chance to visit California sometimes soon. Give me a sign if you decide to come down here.
Debbra Dunning Brouillette
Anda, I love this post and all your photos! I am such an animal lover like you and would love to visit this Living Desert Zoo and Gardens in Palm Desert!
Anda Galffy
Hope you will, Debbra.