corner view: away

Corner View is a weekly appointment - each Wednesday - created by Jane and curated by Francesca, where bloggers from all corners of the world share their view on a pre-arranged theme. This week’s theme is "away."

Typically a time when people get "away", Summertime is a time for a change in routine and warm weather fun. Though we didn't travel far this summer, Dave & I are lucky enough to be able to take advantage of some really fun and lovely areas nearby. This week, it included a trip to the NC Zoo in Asheboro, ranked in the top ten best zoos in the world! This is not your typical confined in a cage type zoo. The majority of the animals have wide open spaces and environments that mimic their home countries. The NC Zoo has a North America zone and an Africa zone and on this day we were there when the gates opened and left when the park closed. It was really hard to pick from the 250+ photos I shot that day, but below are the ones I've chosen to share for corner view.

 Wide open plains for the ostriches, rhinos, elephants, gazelles and other deer-like animals.

 Mom & Dad giraffe eat high off the trees,

while baby does a bit of giraffe yoga to reach the food on the ground.

 Park visitors enjoying one of the "misting stations" set up to help us keep cool. 
It was a big draw on the day we visited.

 I do believe the Polar Bear was greeting me.

Either that or he was taunting me because he was refreshing himself in the cool water while I was "bearing up" in the southern summer heat.

 Critters of all kinds enjoy climbing around in their spaces!

 Iguanas and desert tortoises hanging out together in the Sonora Desert pavilion.

The aviary is a huge, multi-level dome, filled with exotic flowering plants and trees and even a creek runs through the center. The birds fly free within the dome.