It's really a zoo.

Last week we visited the Cougar Mountain Zoo with Auntie Chelsea. The zoo didn't feel and look much like your traditional zoo (or at least like the Woodland Park Zoo) - it was a bit perplexing. Here's a few other reasons that make you scratch your head as you experience the CMZ.

It's embedded in the middle of a neighborhood. While looking at the animals, you also have a nice view of homes and their backyards. There's even a gigantic "castle" home that overlooks the zoo and is the first thing you see when driving up. (This picture makes it look like a big house, but it's really built like a castle. It also has spotlights on the patio and a large iron house in the backyard - a bit tacky according to my taste)The only typical zoo animal were tigers. There were lemurs, emus, llamas, cranes, parrots, deer and wallabies.

And reindeer. Not just any reindeer, but supposedly Santa's reindeer. The zoo decorates the premises during XMAS and visitors can take photos with Santa and his reindeer.

It's super clean, landscaping is well manicured, and you don't feel dusty when leaving.

While it's very small (small enough that they only have about 20 parking spots), Dylan had a good time. He especially enjoyed the close up encounter with 3 month old baby tigers.