Last week we took a trip out to Henry's Ark in Prospect, Kentucky. Henry's Ark was once owned by Henry Wallace who was a friend of my Dad's. My Dad and Henry used to canoe and kayak together in the Louisville Viking Canoe Club back in the 70's and 80's. I heard lots of stories about him growing up. He was a farmer, an environmentalist, and a journalist for Time Magazine and other newspapers. I remember driving out to his farm when we were kids with some little animal we had rescued...and I remember Dad calling Henry when we found a baby rabbit and he instructed us on how to care for it. However, although we had driven by it many times, we'd never stopped in with our kids for a visit.
It really is an amazing place to visit. First we drove out on a Monday. They were closed. The kids were really disappointed because you could see the animals from the parking lot. Vincent kept shouting "horse...neeeee!", but we had to go home. So, we came back on Tuesday with bags full of carrots and a head of cabbage to feed the animals. We were immediately greeted by the goats and very large geese at the fence. Soon unfenced animals were running up to us from behind...sticking their heads under our stroller, discovering the bag of pretzels and few mints that I had in my diaper bag.
We had a lot of fun feeding and petting the animals..both barnyard and exotic. Vincent was a little scared of the goats because they were a bit taller than him and they were after his carrots which he also enjoyed snacking on. I got bitten by an ostrich. How many people can say that? But really he was just after the carrot and my hand happened to be an extension of that. Isabella loved feeding the guinea pigs and we practically had to drag her away from the cages. Kyle's favorite animal was the Capybara, the worldest largest rodent. Zachary's favorite animals were the goats and the peacocks. The kids found a couple of peacock feathers on the ground and enjoyed carrying them around.
It was a very fun morning. Afterwards we ate at a fantastic Mediterranean Restaurant called the Burning Bush, which is only about a mile from Henry's Ark out in Prospect. It was the first meal I had eaten in over a month that didn't make me feel sick afterwards (morning sickness)...so that made the day even better. They also had a great kids menu which was very affordable...less than $3. That always makes me a happy customer.
Feeding the Goats
Even the ducks and chickens ate the carrots and cabbage.
The guy who bit me.
The zebra even lets you pet him!
Isabella feeding the Guineas...her favorite animals.
Kyle and his giant rat friend.
A deer and a dear.
