Zoos and Aquariums

In my life, I have been to several zoos and Aquariums. I've been to the ones in Baltimore, Washington DCf and Cleveland Ohio. 

There's always a lesson to be learned from seeing creatures and someone natural habitats outside of their natural habitat. We can learn so much about ourselves just from watching others.

most zoos and Aquariums are generally fairly expensive. The Baltimore aquarium is no exception, but aside from parking, the zoo in Washington DC is free. the zoo in DC is one of four in the United States to have pandas. I really enjoy pandas and other exotic creatures, so aside from going out into the wild and checking through the brush, this is about as close as I will get to them for a while.

When I was a kid, I went to the aquarium at the age of 7 and fell in love with marine life. In fact, up until I was 12 years old, I wanted to pursue an advanced education in marine biology and study sea creatures and marine wildlife.

The only thing that really changed this was the fact that I didn't want to get swallowed by animals in the ocean. I studied everything that I could about these creatures when I was younger, and I'm so glad I did. I had a wealth of information to offer others around me at the aquarium, from a young age onward.

And then, I found pandas.

Although I am no longer as strong and biology as I once was, it is still a fascination of mine. Admittedly, I wish that the animals kept in zoos and Aquariums had better lives there that were more naturalistic, but at the same time, then I wouldn't be able to know the beauty that is their life. What is most important to remember regardless of circumstance every time we go to, is that these creatures are not pets or toys, but that they are living and sentient creatures who are trying to make their ends meet just as well as our own. Their environment has become as accommodating as possible, but it will still never replicate home. We must always respect the creatures that we see, and enjoy them and appreciate them for what and where they are.

And so I ask you, what will you do to make life better for all living creatures?

Big Schloss

Spring breaks are normally used for drinking and partying. Instead, I used mine to go hiking. Big Schloss means big castle in German, and with a summit of 2164 feet, it definitely lives up to its expectation. The hike itself isn't all that challenging, with most of the switchbacks being incredibly minor and early on in and the adventure. Around every single turn, however, lies a beautiful photo opportunity of the Appalachian Mountain Valley and the Shenandoah River Valley. Since the mountain itself lies in the greater Appalachian Mountain section and borders the Shenandoah, there are lots of Scenic views to be shared between Virginia and West Virginia throughout the entire hike.

Here is one of many beautiful panoramas of the area.

For a total difficulty of this like, I would put it at about a 3 out of 10. There was a hefty section in the beginning the required some walking straight uphill, but once you got to the switchbacks, they were actually very mild compared to other trails and both the Appalachian and Shenandoah ranges. There are no rock scrambles, and most of the hike is over flat ground that does not flood very easily. There is some optional rock climbing, which gets you a couple of cool pictures, but nothing too severe or major.

You'll start your day near a small town in West Virginia, supplying up on trail mix, energy bars, and whatever lunch or dinner you intend to eat on the trail. The sun will be directly overhead for most of the hike, but there is just enough tree coverage to prevent you from overheating. Pack your containers full of water and your typical hiking supplies though, and all will be okay. It is very hard to overexert yourself on this mountain, as it is meant to be enjoyed at a leisurely pace.

During my hike, I encountered no wildlife besides a couple of birds chirping in the trees. I did, however, enjoy crossing a footbridge to the summit and enjoying the silent beautiful realm of nature. Being one of the tallest mountains in West Virginia, with its Summit itself being in Virginia, it was quite an incredible Adventure to see the mountainside in all of his glory. My shadow was cast over the entire valley because of the way the sun hit the cliff face.

And I felt magnificent.

Once you're done hiking, Harpers Ferry is about 20 minutes away for another fun and fancy stop on your travels. There are also another couple of towns nearby that I'll provide their own cute little charm. The biggest reason I would say to hike this mountain is because it is a fun and enjoyable hike for anybody in the family. So if you need a weekend activity, this is how to do it.