Halloween happenings part 2: Go 'Boo at the Zoo'

'Halloween Family' photo by Petr Kratochvil

This time of year, zoos nationwide open their gates to children and families for extra doses of fun and entertainment, along with the opportunity to see animals great and small.

Many zoos have activities that range from costume contests to pumpkin carving and crafts, and even hayrides or mazes.

Most have trick-or-treating on the premises and some zoos offer a haunted house, discounted admission and even live musical entertainment.

The following is a list of this year's top picks around the country for “Boo at the Zoo” or as some call it, “Zoo Boo” and even "Zoo Howl." Just click on the zoo’s link for further information.

You and your child will have a frightening good time.

Atlanta Zoo, Atlanta, Georgia

Baton Rouge Zoo, Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Binghamton Zoo at Ross Park, Binghamton, New York

Bronx Zoo, Bronx, New York

Brookfield Zoo, Chicago, Illinois

Detroit Zoo, Detroit, Michigan

Franklin Park Zoo, Boston, Massachusetts (Scroll down page for "Zoo Howl" information)

Houston Zoo, Houston, Texas

Knoxville Zoo, Knoxville, Tennessee

Lake Superior Zoo, Duluth, Minnesota

Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Garden, Los Angeles, California

National Zoo, Washington, D.C.

Philadelphia Zoo, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Pittsburgh Zoo, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Potter Park Zoo, Lansing, Michigan

Sacramento Zoo, Sacramento, California

Saint Louis Zoo, St. Louis, Missouri  (See video below of last year's festivities.)

Santa Barbara Zoo, Santa Barbara, California (Scroll down for "Boo at the Zoo" information)

Stone Zoo, Stoneham, Massachusetts


For more fun Halloween entertainment ideas you may want to see:
Halloween happenings part 1: Pumpkin picking

New Unlikely Animal Friends special on Nat Geo TV

Polar Bear and husky play

© courtesy of National Geographic Channel

Charles Darwin would be amazed to see predators becoming friends, but that’s just what happened and was captured on film for tonight’s hour-long special presentation of Nat Geo’s UNLIKELY ANIMAL FRIENDS 2 that features some of the most astounding pairings of animals living peacefully together.

You’ll see Eskimo dogs frolicking with polar bears; a hippopotamus that makes daily visits to the human home of a South African couple; a golden retriever and leopard growing up together; “Themba” the orphaned baby elephant who forms friendship bonds with “Albert” the sheep; two dogs and a goat become traveling companions, and a lion, tiger and bear that became inseparable playmates.

This hour-long television special, rated TV-G for all-family viewing, airs Friday, January 7, 2011 at 9:00 p.m. with encore presentations on Saturday, January 8 at 12:00 a.m. and Friday January 14 at 5:00 p.m.

Immediately following UNLIKELY ANIMAL FRIENDS 2, is a repeat of the original hour-long special, UNLIKELY ANIMAL FRIENDS, which is also rated TV-G.

For your viewing pleasure below, a video preview of tonight’s program, and once you see the “Lion and Tiger and Bear Oh My!” you’ll be amazed at the transformative bond of friendship between these cross-species, which literally defies the laws of nature.

Halloween fun nationwide: "Go Boo at the Zoo"

This time of year, zoos nationwide open their gates to children and families for extra doses of fun and entertainment, along with the opportunity to see animals great and small.

Many zoos have activities that range from costume contests to pumpkin carving and crafts, and even hayrides or mazes.

Most have trick-or-treating on the premises and some zoos offer a haunted house, discounted admission and even live musical entertainment.

The following is a list of top picks around the country for “Boo at the Zoo” or as some call it, “Zoo Boo” and even "Zoo Howl." Just click on the zoo’s link for further information.

You and your child will have a frightening good time.

Atlanta Zoo, Atlanta, Georgia

Baton Rouge Zoo, Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Binghamton Zoo at Ross Park, Binghamton, New York

Bronx Zoo, Bronx, New York

Brookfield Zoo, Chicago, Illinois

Detroit Zoo, Detroit, Michigan

Franklin Park Zoo, Boston, Massachusetts

Houston Zoo, Houston, Texas

Knoxville Zoo, Knoxville, Tennessee

Lake Superior Zoo, Duluth, Minnesota

Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Garden, Los Angeles, California

National Zoo, Washington, D.C.

Philadelphia Zoo, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Pittsburgh Zoo, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Potter Park Zoo, Lansing, Michigan

Sacramento Zoo, Sacramento, California

Santa Barbara Zoo, Santa Barbara, California

Stone Zoo, Stoneham, Massachusetts



For more fun seasonal offerings, be sure to visit my other website: Paula Slade: In My Humble Opinion - "Autumn Fun: Pick-your-own-pumpkins a definitive guide" and "It's apple pickin' time: The definitive Guide to pick-your-own-apples nationwide" Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4

NAT GEO's EXPEDITION WILD new season premiere tonight

Casey Anderson takes families on a springtime trip to view some of the cutest baby animals in their habitats for the premiere episode of Expedition Wild: Yellowstone Spring on NAT GEO WILD-TV, Monday, September 27, 2010, 9 PM ET/PT.

It’s a suspenseful world in the wild as animals protect their young from predators and babies learn new survival skills.

Below are two sneak peek videos from tonight’s episode as Casey witnesses a newborn bighorn sheep traversing treacherous cliffs under its mother’s watchful eyes, and then turns his attention to help relocate an orphaned baby owl.

Future episodes of Expedition Wild will feature more animal drama with “Inside the Wolf Pack” on Monday, October 4 and “Inside a Grizzly Attack” on Monday October 11 at 9 PM ET/PT.

“Yellowstone’s Baby Animals”

“Orphaned Owls”