Roos-n-More Zoo

Mommy Vegas Idea #12

Camels, and Monkeys, and Wallabies, OH MY!

Ever wish you could have a pet monkey, or maybe a few kangaroos in the backyard? I sure have, and then I think about the mess... and being that my child labor force is small, both in numbers, and stature, I realize it would be ME... or rather, some anonymous gnome who would get saddled with keep things inhabitable... and think better of it! 

But seriously, wouldn't it be great to have all sorts of awesome critters in the backyard? Well, if it doesn't have to be YOUR backyard, you could!

Roos...

...n-More... Roos!

This isn't your typical backyard, and these aren't your typical pet owners. The Holt Family of Moapa Valley has collected over 150 beautiful animals to share with us, the general public, at their non-profit Roos-N-More Zoo.  The best part, you can feed them, observe them, and even snuggle a few, for only around $10 a person (at the time of posting)!  Ok, maybe that's not the best part... you can do all those things, AND not have to clean up after them, for only around $10 a person! If you DO want to clean up after them, that's free; ask about volunteering! :)

The habitats are well kept, the people and animals are ever so pleasant (those that are allowed to mingle any way... this could apply to the people too, but we're of no authority on that! :), and the experience is unobtainable anywhere else in Southern Nevada.  In fact, on the heels of the Las Vegas Zoo's closure a few weeks ago, you'd have to travel about 300 miles just to smell another binturong, hold a lemur, follow an African spurred tortoise, stare down an eagle owl, hold hands with a capuchin monkey, chat with a cotton-top tamarind, see a cavy, feed a kangaroo or watch a sleeping fennec fox (just to name a few).

shhh.... don't wake him....

My what big ears you have!

The Details
For some time, this warm-hearted family of veterinarians has opened their home to critters of all sorts, but they also welcome private tours by reservation, special events and parties (also by appointment) and public visitations a few times a month.   As they are only open to the public 2 to 3 times a month, we highly recommend checking... and double checking... their website for "Open Zoo Days," and plan your trip accordingly.  Plan to arrive around 9:45 am, as the gates open at 10 am (at the time of posting, so check their website for current hours) and there is quite a line. Also keep in mind that some add-on activities are limited on space, so the earlier the better. 

"Why aren't we ever open on Hump Day?"

The zoo is not huge (which we like for the little guys), but fairly diverse and there are not many places you can get so close and "personal" with so many exotic creatures. There isn't quite as much posted information as I usually like, but it looks like more signage may be in the works. What they lack in printed materials, they make up for in quality manpower. They do a beautiful job keeping plenty of knowledgeable people roving the grounds with critters in hand, answering questions, disseminating knowledge, and guiding animal interactions. If given the choice, I would take the people over signs any day!  If you too like the written word, they have a fun little email newsletter you can signup for on their website!

Don't worry... they don't bite... ;) hard.

The next opportunity to visit on a public zoo day is Sunday, October 20th, but if you're looking for a fun Halloween activity, they will be open on October 27th, from 1 - 5 pm, for a special Halloween themed party of sorts, complete with candy, games (rumored to include the animals!), and even a creepy crawly booth featuring some choice arthropoda! In accordance with all the added festivities, the entrance fee will be $15/person for the afternoon. 

If you'd rather a more intimate experience with the animals and their handlers, you can reserve the zoo for private parties and educational tours for a very reasonable fee! Visit their website for more information!

Getting the Most Out of Your Visit

• Get there early - They recommend getting there prior to 11:30 am, you'd be hard pressed to see it all before closing time.
• Splurge on the food - There is no outside food, but you can buy some small food packages for the critters at the gates. The animals aren't slow, they know the difference between and empty hand and a full one. You'll get the most "love" and better pictures if you don't come empty handed!
• Bring the Camera :)
• Pack a lunch - While you can't bring food into the park, you'll likely be hungry either mid-visit, or when when you're done, and there isn't a whole lot near by. 
• Visit the little house in the center of the property, you'll not only meet a gorgeous little sloth, but you could hold a monkey or a wallaby joey, or who know what else! There is also a gift shop, and restrooms too!
• Have your money ready at the gate. They do a great job announcing pricing and available add-ons before opening. Figure out how much your admission will be while in line and have your money ready!  The line can be quite long, and while they are fairly efficient and keep the line moving, you can help by making your turn to pay a speedy one! The sooner you get in the sooner you can play!

Add-On Experiences: There are several add-on experiences you can purchase at the gate and space is limited, so if you think you may want to try one, be sure to purchase them at the gate.  

Walking with the otters is going on right now. There is plenty to see and do without this add-on. But if you have some diehard otter fans, you may want to splurge, otherwise, you're not likely to see otters at all. 

The roo experience add-on is cute, but may not be worth it for most families (particularly bigger familes). You get rather close to the kangaroos, wallabies and cavies just by observing them through the fence, and there are even opportunities to feed and pet them. But if you really want the chance to sit next to a wallaby or really get close, you can pay a few more bucks to enter the enclosure with a guide. 

Want to see even more?! Schedule a party or tour! This is truly an unbeatable value!
 
Getting There

Address

746 Snowden Ranch Road
Moapa Town, NV 89025

See it on the Mommy Vegas Map

WHOOO wants to visit the Roos-N-More Zoo?

Estimated Drive Time: About 40 minutes from the edge of town.

Don't let the address spook you, the drive goes pretty fast, but it is a great idea to carpool!  We had a wonderful time with our friends the Midnight Gnome and her hubby the Photo Gnome (great place to snap some pics by they way! I can see the Christmas cards now...*Mom, Dad, the little ones and a Joey... *-Caption: Merry Christmas to Roo and a Hoppy New Year! Too corny? ;)

General Directions:

Follow me! We'll be there in no time!

To get there from Vegas:

• Take I-15 Northbound, head out of town towards Mesquite/St. George, Utah. 
• Take Exit 90, SR168/Moapa Valley
• Merge onto 168W you'll soon see "ZOO" signs marking the way. 
• Turn right on N Henrie Rd (just after the school). 
• Turn right on Isola Dr.
• Then your first left onto Sandy D., continue onto Snowden Ranch Rd. and you're in the parking area!

The parking lot fills up pretty quick, so don't dilly dally too long getting up there!

Have a great time and let us know about your visit!

Happy zooing!
-Candice

Can you believe they feed zonkey's live goat? Good, don't believe that... he just climbed in. I can't decide which is cooler, the fact that they have a zonkey, or that they have a goat cleaver enough to camp out in the feed trough!

Wetlands Park - Nearly 3,000 Acres of AMAZING!

Mommy Vegas Idea #11

Come and Play a World Away!

Can you identify this city? At first glance, this picture looks like it could have been taken somewhere around Seattle, maybe even the Midwest, but look close! That's not the Space Needle... wait a minute... WHERE IS THIS? Is that the Wynn... and the Stratosphere?!

So where were these photos taken? If you're struggling to answer, without reading the post heading ;), you need to get out more... to the Wetlands Park!  This beautiful little garden spot at the business end of the Las Vegas Wash has long been a gem in the Mojave Desert, but the recent additions of more trails and the truly breathtaking Nature Center have made this pretty little place to hike and jog a standalone destination.

I remember jogging around on dusty trails thinking it was fantastic.  A beautiful little nature sanctuary amid the hustle and bustle.  The tranquility is still front and center (of course we will always have to listen past the aircraft buzzing by, unfortunately it lies in the flight path of more than just a few dozen types of migratory birds!), but now the jogging stroller glides smoothly along hardscape (worry not, there are still oodles of dirt and gravel trails about), and the little visitors' center has blossomed from a porta-potty alongside a tiny modular, into a 45,000 sqft. multi-purpose LEED (Leader in Energy and Environmental  Design) Gold Standard (that's architect speak for uber, uber, uber "green" - there's only one more available "uber") complex. It's a whole lot more than you would expect from a completely free venue.

I don't even know where to begin to describe this fantastic place, we should just stop here. GO, hop in your car, drive down there and check it out! Ok, you win, that's not terribly practical, who knows what you could be wearing! While I'm inclined to jump right into the core of the experience, THE TRAILS, I really think there is some great benefit to starting and ending your adventure (at least your first visit) with a trip to the NEW Nature Center.

The Nature Center
The new 45,000 sqft. visitors' complex is open from 9 am - 3 pm and includes a beautiful 8,333 sqft. exhibit hall, an auditorium that seats 85, state of the art restrooms (oooh, aaaah), and rumor has it there will also be a cafe AND a nature store in the not too distant future! Possibly the best part: at this point, it's all FREE!

This gorgeous new command center is simply amazing! You could spend hours just exploring the interactive exhibits... in fact we have, but most families could probably budget about 30 min to an hour to get their fill.

At first glance, the exhibit hall does not appear to be terribly large, in fact we observed several families, come in, look around the lobby for a moment, and turn to leave as if there was not enough to occupy them.  But don't be fooled, just around the bend there are so many flaps to flip, facts to read, animals to meet, videos to watch, demonstrations to explore, scents to smell, pelts to pet... well you get the idea... that you really should take a spin through the entire exhibition, at least once, if not again and again.

 

 

Don't forget to talk to the helpful staff, many of whom are volunteers. They are, in our experience, quite knowledgeable, exceedingly friendly, and eager to share in your experiences and their own (SO REFRESHING!).  So be sure to unload all your questions before, and after, you experience the trails.

*AMAZING IDEA ALERT* One of my favorite amenities at the park has absolutely nothing to do with the structures, except that it can be found in one! Before you leave the Visitor's Center, be sure to check out this fantastic little number! The "Family Backpack" is simply chuck FULL of fun little items to explore and aid in your exploration!

In exchange for some meager collateral, you can borrow this FANTASTIC(!) and AMAZING(!) exploration pack which includes binoculars, a thermometer, a magnifying glass, all sorts of reference materials, activities and scavenger hunts, and the list goes on!  You provide the sun-screen, water, hat and sturdy shoes, and you're set for your grand adventure on the trails!

Just be back in time to retrieve your driver's license and return the pack before the 3 PM closing time! :) I can only imagine the shear elation this explorer pack would elicit from a Dora the Explorer fanatic!

Once you've wet your palate in the Nature Center, make sure you have plenty of time budgeted for the main course! 
 
The Trails

Map of the trails in the Exhibit Hall of the Nature Center... conveniently located under Little Bear's Finger.

You could truly spend days exploring the extensive trails amid this nearly 3,000 acre wonderland, both in the preserve portion and adjacent, across the Las Vegas Wash (accessible via Weir Bridge), but you'll have to take a break, as the park is only open between dawn and dusk.

The Wetlands is one of the few places in our desert where you (and your kiddlets) can weave through tall reeds, mesquite groves, and broad-leaf plants. As you wander along the winding paths, be sure to really take it all in. You will see, hear, and smell many amazing organisms that tend to congregate near water. You're likely to see all sorts of critters.  Birds are especially prevalent, from water fowl to road runners; the park is particularly popular, among the migratory bunch, in Fall and Spring. There are also plenty of amphibians, reptiles, mammals, and invertebrates to keep the little ones busy "hunting."

On the other side of the bridge spanning the Las Vegas Wash (Weir Bridge), you'll find even more trails - great for jogging and biking, some are even open to horseback riding.

Be cognizant of the signage, you will see various indications of intended use and other important postings meant to keep the park at its best and your family safe. These fancy little numbers (below) are some of my favorites.  If you come across any, see if your little ones can guess what the symbols represent.

Activities and Programming
If the place wasn't wonderful enough, the amazing people that make it all happen have gone and made if even better with plenty of programs and classes, many of which are free to the public! Space is often limited though, so be sure to RSVP.  I already have a Nature Tykes post in the hopper, so stay tuned to learn more about this and other fun events scheduled at the park, but in the mean time, here are a few programs worth checking out:

Call or visit http://tykes.eventbrite.com to register!

For more information and to register for these fun themed, family friendly hikes, go to http://hikes.eventbrite.com

Cafe Coming Soon
Threats of a Cafe are clearly posted on the premises! I can assure you there will be a post the moment I hear of its opening!  I've never fancied myself a food critic, but I will jubilantly rise to the occasion for this one, assuming the food is good.  My parents always taught me to keep my negative comments to myself, but with the standard set at the rest of the park, I have no reason to doubt you will have a glowing report to read!

Play Area
The children's play area on the edge of the park is great, but not what I would consider a standalone draw. This is a cute little park, particularly if you live close enough to walk.

The traversing climbing wall is fun, and there are some fun photo opportunities with the larger than life critters and gargantuan Apache/Moqui Marble and other faux formations.

Getting There and Other Details

Address and Contact

7050 Wetlands Park Ln, Las Vegas, NV

www.clarkcountynv.gov

(702) 455-7522

HOURS: Trails - Dawn until Dusk
Nature Center - 9 am - 3 pm
 

Visit the MOMMY VEGAS MAP

The Wetlands Park is located on Wetlands Park Ln., just off Tropicana, approximately 1 mile East of Boulder Highway.  Simply follow Trop until you see a fairly severe bend in the road a few blocks past the Boulder Highway Intersection.  Turn on the left turn signal, and hop on to this little side street (Wetlands Park Ln.). It can be a bit easy to miss, but thankfully there's a pretty good size sign.

There are two parking options: you can either park near the play area on the left (the old parking lot for the park, near the original visitor's center), or you can continue on down the road to the gorgeous new visitor's center which has oodles of parking comparatively.

 

Happy Exploring!

-Candice

For more information and to reference the source of the park specs discussed herein, please refer to the following Park Dedication :

http://www.clarkcountynv.gov/news/Pages/CommissionerGiunchiglianitoHostDedicationofWetlandsParkNatureCenter.aspx

The Farm - Farm Animals, Close to Home

Mommy Vegas Idea #9

A Little Farm Fun for City Kids

I grew up under the impression that a herd of horses, some pigs, a coop full of chickens, a couple cats, a dog and a gaggle of geese were my best friends (plus or minus a few reptiles, rodents and various rescued wilds over the years). So it seems a bit amiss to me that we are totally the stereotypical, "1 dog... 1 cat... city family." Luckily my brother and sister(-in-law) have a fun little hobby farm in Texas, where my kids can pet a live chicken (admittedly, awkwardly... one finger outstretched at arms reach), ride a pluggy old pony (again, awkwardly), and see all sorts of other fun, seemingly kid-proof, critters at nearer than arms reach, should they be so inclined! But not everyone has the privilege of mooching off their loved ones' livestock - that's where The Farm comes in!

For a few bucks, you can feel like you're visiting the family hobby farm to pet cows, pigs, horses (even the mini variety), ducks, chickens and various other fluffy or feathered faces. It's quite cute and a fun little weekend escape from city life. Admittedly, some may have to relax their standards a bit, this is not a working farm, but a fun little slice of country life a family has opened to the public. I noticed upon our last visit, some patrons had slightly higher expectations than can be delivered at The Farm. You have to go into it with the understanding that it really is, as the somewhat charmingly out-dated website attests, "[A] Time Capsule Since 1961," a bit of a blast from the past, much like an eccentric aunt's house.

The entrance may be a bit lack-luster, but wait...

...there is hidden beauty throughout... particularly for those that don't forget to look up!

While some of the property seems a bit weathered, the grounds are over-all clean and generally pretty cute! In our experience the people (mostly volunteers it appears) are extremely friendly, the animals are very well kept and noticeably well groomed, all those that are allowed to freely interact with guests are pleasant and friendly, and while the place is somewhat small, city kids will have no problem finding plenty to fill about an hour any Saturday or Sunday from 9 am to... well, I guess it depends on when they get tired! :) 

The Market
Many people stop by just for the farm fresh eggs, local honey, and other fresh treats, but if it's the eggs you're after, be sure to get there early.  Chicken eggs seem to last into late morning, or even early afternoon, but duck and quail eggs are gone soon after opening.  The chicken eggs are a bit pricey at $5 a dozen, but there's no arguing the appeal of farm fresh eggs!  If you enjoy quail and duck eggs, they are quite the deal, also around $5 a dozen (though obviously, all prices are subject to change at the discretion of the management). 

I LOVED the use of these antique cradles!

...and we all know I like chalkboards!

Produce is generally about $2 a pound, and comes mostly from the Gilcrease Orchard across the street. If you go in the month of October (Gilcrease is open both Saturday and Sunday in October) or on Saturday (during the rest of Fall, Spring, or Summer), you may want to pair the trip with a visit to the Orchard! 

 

The Animals on The Farm
All the critters were sweet, but we thoroughly enjoyed Violet, the resident pot-bellied pig. Little Bear noted she would have been keener to build her house of bricks... but we decided the property walls were proving fit to detour the Big Bad Wolf.

The chickens were plentiful, but we couldn't resist this little guy with the bad hair day. 

There are pony rides at an additional fee, but we enjoyed just petting the the horses, both big and small!

What would a farm be without a proper cow or two?!

Little Bear: "MOOOO are you looking at?!" Mommy: "Your cleverness is moosic to my ears!"

The bunny tent was popular with our Little Bug and several other little ladies, it took some patience to get a pic to post free of gawking girls.

"Excuse me, did someone lose a bunny slipper?"

I think this may be the peafowl version of begging.

Other Fun Details

The Bear was a HUGE fan of the enormous gumball machine. 

Bug couldn't get enough of the fish in a trough. We literally hauled her away whining.

Little Bear and I got a giggle out of this sign seemingly directed at the ichthyophile.

So while you will not get the experience of visiting a real working farm, you will get the opportunity to expose your little city slickers to a few farm friends and maybe even take home some farm-fresh treats.

 Getting There

Address

7222 W. Grand Teton Avenue
Las Vegas, NV 89131

The kiosk on Grand Teton

Take I-95 to Durango Exit and go East/North, towards Floyd Lamb State Park. Turn right (East) on Grand Teton. The Farm is located just before the corner of Tenaya and Grand Teton (Northwest corner).  Park along the wall and walk in through the gates.

See this location on the Mommy Vegas Map.

So what was the favorite animal available to love upon at The Farm? Seriously? Seriously.

 

Happy Farming!

-Candice