Want to test this theory?  Let’s try it now. Take a moment to think of your top three favorite animals in order. Write them down so you don’t forget.

Your Number One Favorite Animal

Once you’ve picked your first animal, try to describe it. What are some of the qualities that you associate with your favorite animal?  Basically, what is it about this animal that makes it your favorite animal?

Your favorite animal supposedly represents how you believe other people see you.  Take a moment and imagine what you hope or believe other people’s opinions are of you. Is there any kind of overlap in how you think other people see you and the words you used to describe your favorite animal? For example, if your favorite animal is a horse because they are strong and hardworking, this theory claims that you hope others think of you as are strong and hardworking as well.

Your Number Two Favorite Animal

Let’s try a similar exercise with your second favorite animal. Think of the characteristics you associate with it. Number two on your favorite animal list is supposed to represent what you think about yourself. Usually, your favorite animals are just that because you see good characteristics in them. Hopefully, these characteristics represent the good qualities you see in the mirror.

Your Number Three Favorite Animal

Understanding your own identity is not easy. It is supposedly for this reason that people have a hard time coming up with their third favorite animal. The third favorite animal is speculated to represent who you actually are.

Perhaps your top three favorite animals say a lot about you, perhaps not. Either way, our team at Southwick Zoo wants to hear about which animals are your favorites. Contacts us to share what you’ve discovered, or come visit your favorite animals at our Zoo!

Did this test prove to be accurate? Why do you love your favorite animal?

Cheetahs have come to Southwick’s Zoo

Our African Cheetha Kate and Logan are now in their permanent exhibit!  Today is the first day they are outside and exploring their new home.  They have explored, run and played in their new hone while checking out their neighbors the Watusi, Camel and Sika Deer!  They are doing great and we are so excited to share them with you!

Save the Date!

Summer Solstice After-Hours.* Southwick’s Zoo will host this event to support Earth Limited from 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. This fundraiser supports the work of Earth and zoo education and includes an evening adventure at Southwick’s Zoo. For an added fee the skyfari ride, train ride, food, and drinks will be available. Tickets available at the zoo and at Earth.

Earth Members are free and nonmembers are $35.00 for an adult and $25.00 for a child.

Cheetahs have come to Southwick’s Zoo

Cheetahs have come to Southwick’s Zoo!  Soon you will be able to meet Kate and Logan who are 1 1/2 yr old cheetahs who have come to us from another facility.  We are very excited to have them here and we are in the process of building an exhibit for them to be ready soon.  Cheetahs are amazing creatures and they are already here off exhibit waiting for their new home to be ready.  They are very even tempered animals and they are built for strength, speed and agility….and are incredibly beautiful!  We are so happy to have them as a new addition to the zoo!

A staycation is just what it sounds like—a vacation where you are able to participate in fun leisure activities but not travel far from your home. Choosing to plan a staycation is the perfect way to make spending time with loves ones and relaxing an affordable option. The following lists explains the best methods to plan a staycation.

How to Plan a Staycation: Determine What You Want to Do

Get together with your staycation buddies and brainstorm how each of you would most like to spend a vacation. Some people may prefer to relax by the pool, while others want to spend all day in museums. Consider writing down a list of all of the sights and activities desired and then select the ones that are most feasible and include everyone’s unique tastes.

How to Plan a Staycation: Be Creative

So your teenage daughter wants to spend all weekend by your non-existent pool? See if you can instead visit a local lake or make your own sprinklers by attaching a hose into an empty two-liter bottle with holes in the bottom. Perhaps your adventurous spouse wants to climb mountains but there are none in your area—consider a rock gym or (even cheaper) a local state park, such as Purgatory Chasm. You may not be able to sip piña coladas in Maui, but you could make your own tropical drinks and sip them anywhere there is sand and water. The most important part of how to plan a staycation that is successful is getting a little bit creative.

How to Plan a Staycation: Look for Discounts

Unlike many tourists who are more willing to spend outrageous prices for things because of the mantra “it’s ok, we’re on vacation,” you have the advantage of knowing the area. Sign up for local deal websites, such as Groupon or LivingSocial. Visit your local library, because they often have free or discounted passes for local attractions. Always check the website of your destination before your plan your trip to check for any available coupons or special deal days.

How to Plan a Staycation: Think Like a Tourist

While you have the advantage of knowing the area, you may also have the disadvantage of knowing the area. Consider doing an online search of local tourist areas near your home. You may not even be aware of the all of the local destinations around you, or may not think of them because you are so used to being so near to them on a regular basis. For example, Mendon, Massachusetts may not sound like a prime tourist destination, but it contains one of the few drive-in movie theaters still left in the country and one of the biggest zoos in New England.

The best part about a planning a staycation is that all of that fun doesn’t have to be stuffed into a few days. Depending on your time constraints and how you want to spend it, your staycation could last all summer, on weekends and weeknights! As long as you are able to achieve all of the fun things you want to do in your area over the summer, it doesn’t really matter how quickly or slowly you do everything on the list.

If you live in the area, Southwick’s Zoo would love to be one of your staycation destinations. Visit our website to plan your trip, where you can find our Zoo map, coupons, and a list of other Zoo attractions.

How would you plan a staycation? Would you prefer to take time off and do everything at once, or spread out the fun over the entire summer?

Tanzie hanging on her MoM!

Since Mother’s Day is this weekend we wanted to say Happy Mother’s Day to our friends and family.  We are amazed each day by our animal moms and surrogate moms here at the zoo.  Tabitha is an amazing MOM to Tanzie….even when Tanzie does not leave her alone! Auntie Jingles is also a great mom to Tanzie.  On Mother’s Day, our moms will get a special treat!  We have a lot of new babies here at the zoo including monkeys, aoudads, goats, kangaroos, sheep and so many more to come too! We are asking for large cat boomer balls www.boomerballs.com for our lion cubs as a donation if anyone would like to make a donation to the animals!  Thank You!

Weekday Show Schedule

Note: Mondays , A Peacock Party  will take place at 3:00 pm

She needs a name!

We are looking for a meaningful name for the female lion cub.  When you visit the zoo, stop by Parakeet Landing before 4pm to submit a name.  She is a very intelligent, resourceful and playful alpha female.  We are looking for a name that has a great meaning and will fit her personality.  Her brother has been named L.J. after his father Leroy.  Help Us….the person who submits the winning name will receive 2 general admission tickets to the zoo and a lion plush animal.