Deanne on 
Paul Dicken on 
Madeleine Boivin on 
Brian on 
Naomi Wilton on 
Michael on 
Ameena Sethi on 
Sh Saqi on 
The Calgary Zoo is a pretty fun place to visit on a sunny day. I like the South America section where you can see anteaters — which I swear is the world’s strangest looking animal — and check out what the Andean condor’s been having for lunch. There are usually bits and pieces of animal carcasses lying around its outdoor enclosure.
In the warmer months, peacocks strut around the zoo grounds. I guess they’re pretty used to people by now, because this guy just stood there for several minutes while I took pictures. Now, if only that stupid Pepsi machine would get out of the way.
I admire the families with the forethought to pack some healthy, good-looking lunches with fresh fruit, sandwiches and snacks. Us, we end up at the Kitamba Café and eat crap.
The cafeteria-style stop has your standard burgers, hot dogs, soups, sandwiches and coffee. On this day, we grabbed chili dogs, overflowing with so much chili and goopy, orange processed cheese that we had to eat them with plastic forks and knives.
I can’t lie. They were pretty gross — but in that “I’m still going to eat it all” kind of way.
Two chili dogs, fries and two large drinks came out to about $20. Also not a bargain, but that’s the price one pays for not bringing a healthy lunch.
Calgary Zoo, 1300 Zoo Rd. NE, Calgary, (403) 232-9300. Open every day except Christmas, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. (zoo closes at 6 p.m.). Check here for admission discount coupon.
Whenever I eat a bad hot dog, it’s usually because I’m super hungry and there are no other alternatives. Or… the only alternative is a slightly more expensive but equally gross hamburger.
Whenever this happens, I find that it’s best not to think about what the hot dog is composed of. Because the second that you do, it’s just impossible to finish the thing.
The Calgary Zoo is cool place. Us native Edmontonians are secretly jealous of it… the butterfly garden scares me tho
Lucky for you Eddie, they are redoing the butterfly garden. As a native Edmontonian myself I am not so secret with my jealousy of the zoo. Thankfully I live in Calgary now.
And although that particular hotdog looks gross, it does make me want to hit Le Chien Chaud.
Zoo Chili Dogs *shudder* Next time try getting a Spolumbo’s sandwich (if they aren’t sold out) they’ll be in the middle of the cafe rather than along the perimeter, where you’ll also find veggie and fruit trays and yogurt.
BTW Kitamba is worlds better than the cafe at the Science Centre. I always pack a lunch when we go there
Nice shot of the peacock! We see them a lot where I live as the Arboretum there has many peacocks. Peacocks seem to get used to people easily- sometimes they will open up their feathers just for you at times!
Even though the chili dog didn’t taste good it looks good from here
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The hot dogs may be nasty, but I swear upon all that is good and holy that the Calgary Zoo has the best soft serve ice cream in the world. I don’t know what’s in it. Maybe I don’t want to know, but my sister and I time our Zoo visits to days when we know the soft serve will be a-flowing, because no zoo trip would be complete without.