032 Last night I was invited to the unveiling of the San Diego Zoo Elephant Odyssey.  It was a fantastic event.  

We opted to catch the Skyfari® aerial tram across to the event from the Zoo entrance instead of taking the shuttle buses provided.  I’d never been on this ride before and I’ll admit it, I was scared.  The 3 kids however LOVED it.  It was the first time the twins had ridden on anything like this. 

Look at what we spotted on our walk to the ride:

001

Once we arrived at the event, we were greeted by zoo handlers with these:

San Diego Zoo Elephant Odyssey

Marisol giving her sharp clawed friend a little pat 
San Diego Zoo Elephant Odyssey

Then after calling for the hand sanitizer guy (as he seemed to be referred to ha ha), it was off along a path where we were greeted by this gentleman:

San Diego Zoo Elephant Odyssey

and these:

Pink Elephant cocktails – non-alcoholic for the kids and alcoholic for mummy.  Woohoo.

San Diego Zoo Elephant Odyssey 

We passed this guy on our journey along the path to the entrance of the Elephant Odyssey:

San Diego Zoo Elephant Odyssey

Then it was into the Elephant Odyssey.  First point of call, the Fossil Portal, where fossils and other items were on display for us to look at and touch and a giant tar-pit in the middle of a walking path where bones of animals from the Pleistocene were revealed and then disappeared again. 

San Diego Zoo Elephant Odyssey

Flynn was absolutely fascinated by this.  It was as we were leaving this area that I lost him.  I freaked out and nearly cried.  Seriously.  The kid had ants in his pants all night.  We rarely use the stroller these days, but last night I wish I had a straight jacket for the kid.  I honestly don’t know what got into him, but possibly his cocktail had a little too much sugar in it ha ha.  He’d disappeared behind a wall and I was running around like a freak until Sugar Jones spotted him for me.  Phew. 

Anywho, after the Fossil Portal, we were greeted by these:

San Diego Zoo Elephant Odyssey 
San Diego Zoo Elephant Odyssey

(photograph courtesy of the zoo staff)


San Diego Zoo Elephant Odyssey 

San Diego Zoo Elephant Odyssey

and what we had all come to see:

San Diego Zoo Elephant Odyssey

 

After catching up with our amazing friends: San Diego Momma, Sugar Jones, Virtue IMC, Family Adventure Guidebooks, Happy Healthy Hip Parenting and Mel, A Dramatic Mommy and enjoying a few appetizers, we all headed off along the path in search of bathrooms and food to feed our now ravenous children.  Along our way, this is a little of what we saw:

San Diego Zoo Elephant Odyssey 
San Diego Zoo Elephant Odyssey 
San Diego Zoo Elephant Odyssey

The keeper was there, feeding the elephants pellets.  They’d reach their long trunks over the concrete platform separating us from them to collect them.
San Diego Zoo Elephant Odyssey
San Diego Zoo Elephant Odyssey

Unfortunately we missed seeing quite a few things along our fast walk to the Sabertooth Grill where the party, food and more importantly, bathrooms, awaited my now ‘holding on’ Jay & Marisol.

Once bathrooms were located, it was onto the party … and yes these are real people in costume inside the tables of food:

San Diego Zoo Elephant Odyssey 
San Diego Zoo Elephant Odyssey
San Diego Zoo Elephant Odyssey

This was the MOST delicious Pumpkin Jalapeno Bisque I’ve ever had in my entire life.  Jay had 12 of these shots, he loved it so much … and the best part, I now have the recipe to make it at home.
San Diego Zoo Elephant Odyssey

The amazing women (and their families) we were lucky enough to be there with:

l-r: Bridget of Family Adventures Guidebooks, Sondra of Happy Healthy Hip Parenting, moi, Sugar Jones, Deb of San Diego Momma, Mel of Mel, A Dramatic Mommy, Charity of Virtue IMC
San Diego Zoo Elephant Odyssey
San Diego Zoo Elephant Odyssey

Can you believe these cakes … yes they really are cakes and they were delicious.  The twins each had 2 slices they loved it so much.
San Diego Zoo Elephant Odyssey

 
San Diego Zoo Elephant Odyssey

We didn’t stay at the party for too long.  Marisol was great and quite happy to sit at our table eating cake, dancing on the chairs and playing with her big brother.  Flynn on the other hand, aside from stuffing his face with sliders and cake (at the same time) and trying to feed one of the dads cake off the ground, had ants in his pants still and would wander off into the crowd, turning around briefly to let me know he’d “be right back, mum” … yes that’s what this 2 year old was actually saying to me.  What makes him think he is old enough to wander off on his own.  So off I’d go following him through the crowds while he tried to out-maneuver me.  He had everyone laughing though, the funny little man.  He also stopped to listen and dance to the band for a while and check out the beautiful colored uplights in the ‘spooky forest’ as Marisol referred to it.

As we were heading toward the shuttle bus to leave, we picked up our photographs (see above with the mammoth) and then were pleasantly surprised by even more exhibits, a playground and a chance to touch this slippery guy, which the kids all eagerly did.

San Diego Zoo Elephant Odyssey
San Diego Zoo Elephant Odyssey 

Then we were lucky enough to get a ride back to the entrance of the Zoo on a double-decker bus.  The twins first ever ride on one.  We sat up the top and let the little ones sit right at the front.  They LOVED it.

I almost forgot to mention, that as we arrived at the Zoo, we were taken to the media waiting room where we were given our access pass and a bag.  I had briefly looked in the bag before we headed toward the Skyfari and had noticed there was a stuffed mammoth in there for the kids.  I knew fighting would ensue if they saw this, so planned to keep their paws out of the bag until we got home where I’d sneak it into their toy box.  However, while we were waiting in line for our photographs a lovely couple in front of us saw that I had 2 little ones and offered me theirs because they didn’t have children and had no need for it.  Yay.  The kids were over the moon when I handed them each their own toy and hugged it all the way home and even slept with it last night.

Another gift we received in our bag was this:

San Diego Zoo Elephant Odyssey

 

This is no ordinary picture frame.  This frame is made from poo.  I am NOT kidding.   It is 100% recycled, odorless and made from elephant poo.  Isn’t it fantastic.  I love it.

I had to investigate this company further.  After all, how often do
you see products made from elephant poo.  Personally, this was a first
for me and I was intrigued.

So if you are looking for a great Father’s Day gift this year, check out what else the Poo Poo Paper Company has to offer:

San Diego Zoo Elephant Odyssey   

Stationery sets, journals, greeting cards and noteboxes

Their products are 100% recycled and odorless and a portion of the profits goes to elephant welfare and conservation.

What I’ve shown you here, is really only a portion of what you can actually see at the new Elephant Odyssey at the San Diego Zoo.  There are just so many amazing things to see and do, including a new Lion and Jaguar Habitat, watching a film in a tunnel, the Elephant Care Center, California Condors, Rattlesnakes, Dung Beetles, a Streamside Habitat, the Secretary Bird and even more elephants.   Don’t forget to stop for a drink or snack at the Sabertooth Grill where you can watch the elephants as you are enjoying a break.

The San Diego Zoo Elephant Odyssey officially opened to the public today.  It’s definitely worth a visit.  In the meantime though, there is a fun on-line game for the kids to play where they can learn about mammoths and elephants so click here and get them playing.

Disclosure: My family and I were invited to attend the media preview of the Elephant Odyssey.

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18 comments

Jane May 23, 2009 - 5:00 pm

WOW! I am so jealous, this looked like an AWESOME event. I loved your pics and descriptions. Miss M’s outfit is freaking adorable, too. So great. I wish we lived there!!!

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AmersP May 23, 2009 - 5:00 pm

I love the Elephant Paper!!! I have quite a bit of it in my scrapping collection. People are always shocked when you tell them what it is LOL. Those pics are great fun!!! Jake LOVED the ducks (as he is fascinated by ducks) and now says we HAVE to go to that zoo and ours isn’t ok anymore LOL. I looks like you all had an awesome time!

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Peta May 23, 2009 - 5:00 pm

WOW, I love these pictures. It looks like you had an amazing time. I love the guy in the safari outfit. He looks cool. Jack saw the Elephant cakes, he wants them now.lol.

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Nat May 23, 2009 - 5:00 pm

Very cool! The elephant cakes kind of freak me out, though, once they are cut into… 😉

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Shannon May 23, 2009 - 5:00 pm

OMG I am so excited to go check it out for myself! Awesome photos and it looks like you had a great time! My kids would have freaked about the people in costumes in the tables of food, woah! LOL

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Tamara Mitchell May 23, 2009 - 5:00 pm

How fun!!! I love Flynn’s hat and hello…Mrs. Stylish! Love the outfit…

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mak'n Changes May 23, 2009 - 5:00 pm

I just loved this post! I felt as if I was reading a picture book. It was so colorful and animated and attention grabbing. Thanks for taking me on your really fun adventure!Cindie

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Barbara Manatee May 23, 2009 - 5:00 pm

That looks incredible! How awesome that you got to preview it!! I am pretty sure my two would be terrified by some of the statues and the people in the animal costumes though…! Just last night, we headed to the next town over for some hot air balloon viewing and as we drove into town, Sarah promptly said “I don’t wanna see the Easter Bunny!” Sure enough, the last time we visited the lil town was to see Mr. EB! I could hardly believe she remembered (ok…I CAN – she has the memory of an ELEPHANT! LOL!) but, still…she had flashbacks and wanted no part of a repeat visit! haha!

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San Diego Momma May 23, 2009 - 5:00 pm

Great recap Tonya! But I am with Nat on the elephant cake. The Rock and I thought it looked like poachers had got to the elephants.Anyway. (Why do I talk?)Thanks for taking all the pics!Your kids are super adorable as are you!

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familyadventureguidebooks May 24, 2009 - 5:00 pm

As usual your pictures are way better than mine! Great job summing up a wonderful night! Your gift bag person must have been quite clueless, ours made sure to put in three elephants! She declared she had kids and understood. My little ones loved them.

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I am Arizona; a person, not a place. May 24, 2009 - 5:00 pm

That looks like an awesome event! My kids would love that. Great photos, too!

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cat May 24, 2009 - 5:00 pm

Oh Tonya, this looks like a fantastic event! We get lots of elephant poo products over here for the tourists – writing pape, frames like yours, bookmarks, even whole photo albums.

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BenLand May 24, 2009 - 5:00 pm

looks like an amazing zoo!pictures are great!

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MelADramatic Mommy May 25, 2009 - 5:00 pm

Awesome recap! I’m going to link to all the recaps on San Diego Mommy Spot.

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Harris Boys May 26, 2009 - 5:00 pm

awesome, awesome, awesome event!! super jealous too! adore all the pics…love flynn’s hat 🙂

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Brooke May 26, 2009 - 5:00 pm

Wow! That looks like an awesome event. Love the cake and the pic of you guys all together. San Diego Zoo is one of my faves and that looks like a great addition.

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Lisa amp; Gerald May 27, 2009 - 5:00 pm

Cool looking zoo looks like you guy’s had lots of fun..

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Anonymous May 28, 2009 - 5:00 pm

Great recap. I’m sure we will be going there. M’s little purse, it cracked me up, she is so stylish and posh, just like her fab mama. So cute. I can’t get over her pose in the first one. Miss u.Nicole

Reply

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