Courtlin Had the Best Zoo Trip of Her Life Last Week [GALLERY]

Have you ever been to the zoo on a cold, rainy, fall day? If you haven't, I can't recommend it enough! On November 25th, I braved the inclement Midwest weather to visit one of my favorite places: the Detroit Zoo in Royal Oak, Michigan.

My November 2025 Visit to the Detroit Zoo

As an Southeast Michigan native, I've been going to the Detroit Zoo since before I could walk. It's impossible to know how many visits I've had over the last 34 years, but it's definitely a lot (photos below are courtesy of the 1990s).

Let me tell you, my visit last week ahead of Thanksgiving might have been the best ever. Seriously. I don't think I've ever seen the animals so active! The penguins were diving, the chimps were swinging around on their jungle gym, the otters were playing in the water, the lemurs were chasing each other, and there was a polar bear just sitting outside, in perfect view, enjoying the weather. It was AMAZING. I'm so glad I didn't let the rain deter me from going.

My only complaint was that I didn't get to visit with the giraffes, which are my absolute favorite. It was for good reason, though... one of them just had a baby just a few days before I went! I'm planning another zoo visit when I'm back in Michigan over Christmas break, so stay tuned!

The Photos

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