Lions and Tigers and Bears, Oh My!

The last day of pre-school was celebrated with a trip to the Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Garden with best buddies. As the pre-school buds searched for their favorite animals -- lions & tigers & bears (no joke!) -- they also took in a bird show, stretched their necks for the giraffes, and played like monkeys on the kids playground. The zoo's big features are the Elephants of Asia exhibit and the Campo Gorilla Reserve. Elephants are the world's largest land mammals and gorillas are the largest & strongest of the great apes.

Americana: Shopping in the U.S.A.

The Americana in Glendale, CA describes itself as the ultimate shopping experience. It combines sophisticated shopping, movie theaters, fine dining, elegant tram rides and dancing fountains creating fun for everyone from infants to adolescents to octogenarians. The Americana is more like Disneyland than your average shopping mall. It is both perfect for date night and an afternoon walk with the stroller to the playground. In the afternoon and evening, an old fashioned trolley car makes laps around. The free five minute ride can be walked in the same amount of time, but its much more fun to take the ride.