In yet another event of The Great Summer of Traveling Because We’re So Sick of This House of 2020, my mama and I went out for an animal sights / weekender’s girl trip in the great backwoods of Southern Idaho.

I admit, I just had to google what “backwoods” meant. Apparently a girls’ weekend in an air conditioned hotel and driving on paved roads through fields of contained exotic animals is quite literally the opposite of what “backwoods” means. But I’m leaving it.

For our weekend trip, we decided to see what animals Southern Idaho had to offer. My mom especially LOVES animals. Even the annoying ones like birds. My mom was raised by her mother who had a heart for all the strays, and by her father who had a heart for hunting wildlife. Basically: my mom has been surrounded by the animal kingdom for almost all of her life, which is probably how she survived 4 daughters born in a 5 year span just fine.

We reached our first destination at “Bear World”, which is exactly as terrifying as it sounds.

Do you realize that there is no other creature that even somewhat resembles a bear? Wolves are militarized police dogs. Zebras are diva horses. Spotted leopards are really nothing but shortened, hornless giraffes. But bears? Huge nope. Just a thousand pounds of steel infused fur, retractable teeth, and a hunger for fish, bees, and humans.

Obviously, Bear World is exactly what the doctor ordered for a woman who jumps when the school dismissal bell dings a little too loudly.

FORTUNATELY, we were able to escape the Bear World tour with our lives. All the animals, including the non-bears, really put the “close” in close encounters as we drove 1.8 MPH through their backwood, paved habitat.

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Just as I thought the tour was ending, this group of bear mothers caused my mom and I to both scream while simultaneously suck in a sharp breath.

Once we scraped out of that, courage hanging by a string, we moseyed through the rest of the park, which was really quite charming, including this exhibit feeding butterflies.

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Now. Hear me out. Butterflies are also scary. I’m not exaggerating on this one.

Sure their colors are pretty and Sure they’re probably good for the environment. But. Have you seen their actual body? I refuse to google a photo to include here. You’ll have to do that dirty work yourself. Nastiness.

The rest of our evening was really quite relaxing, getting dinner, looking at the Rexburg temple grounds, swimming at the pool, and watching a movie before bed. I really enjoyed sitting with my mom in the hot tub daydreaming aloud about everything and nothing.

My mother did some lovely yoga while I attacked my hair.

I called my dad in a panic about doing away with my one beauty. His compassionate response was a deep belly laugh and a bribe for cash if I completely cut off the rest of my hair. Months later he still bemoans that I could be $25 richer if I’d taken him up on the deal.

The next morning Mama and I stopped by yet another zoo, this time at the Idaho Falls Zoo. This one felt much safer, quieter, and was a lovely way to spend a Sunday morning. ALSO: I used a groupon to buy the tickets for like $4 a piece. That’s a deal!

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This part of Idaho advertised “huckleberry flavored anything” as THE culinary craft to try. We were tempted senseless and gave into the huckleberry ice cream. Let me tell you. It was worth sinning for.

Then it was time to head back home.

Thanks for taking the animal tour with me, Mom!