In Deserts Biome we learned about a snake’s unique sense of smell. Different galleries like “What a Snake Does” explore myths and life of these unique creatures. Strolling through Plains area we spotted baby Baboons who’d rather play than be groomed by their mother. Giraffe’s ate a leisurely meal and tiger kept a close eye on a squirrel. It didn’t take long before squirrel realized his mistake and make a leap for high ground when tiger started to climb tree. Spontaneous moments like these make visiting zoo exciting because you never know what to expect next.

Everywhere we looked we caught a glimpse of preparations for one of our favorite events of holiday season; Kroger Christmas at Zoo. Each evening throughout December beginning at 5pm a million twinkling lights transform zoo into a magical winter wonderland filled with over 150 larger-than-life light sculptures. Inside Kroger Party Pavilion Santa and Mrs. Claus are on hand to greet children and take photos when children are finished having a ball in bounce house. These are just a sampling of exhibits and activities available year around at Indianapolis Zoo.

For more information about Indianapolis Zoo call (317) 630 –2001. Ask about special accommodation packages available for visitors to Indianapolis area which include tickets to Indianapolis Zoo, White River Gardens, and Children's Museum. These special packages are perfect for families and include an overnight hotel stay and admission to three attractions. The Indianapolis Zoo is located at 1200 West Washington Street in Indianapolis, IN. The White River Gardens are located adjacent to zoo.

In Indianapolis it’s so easy to do so much. For other great discounts and exciting things to do in Indy go to www.Indy.org. For more information on Indiana attractions visit: http://www.usatravelmagazine.com/gpage14.html.

Most of hotels and resorts are south of San Miguel and are not within walking distance. However, there are numerous white taxicabs that are readily available. The larger and more luxurious resorts tend to be even further south of town along southwestern shores. This is actually not surprising since most of best scuba diving sites are southwest of island. An easy way to see 33 mile (53 km) by 9 mile (14 km) island is by renting a scooter or a 4x4. I once rented a scooter and zigzagged along most of San Miguel's streets to see neighborhoods. Then I went on main road leaving town and went south. After passing by larger resorts and going around southern tip of island, I found beaches along southeastern shores. The shores near San Miguel along crowded west coast are not known for beaches but southeast part here have some really spectacular ones. Even better is that there is very little traffic here so beaches are pretty quiet. Sometimes people can park their scooters and enjoy a beach all for themselves. There are a few stops with refreshments and more souvenirs at prices even better than in San Miguel. After traveling north again, there is a road about halfway up island that goes across and takes you back to San Miguel entering town's east side. My scooter tour of island took just over 2 hours and cost $25 US for rental. Cozumel has several ancient Mayan ruins but they are not nearly as large or spectacular as ones on mainland. After seeing some photos of them in advance of my trip, I didn't even bother to see ruins.

Cozumel is a nice port of call for cruise ships as there are many shopping opportunities. Passengers who scuba dive or snorkel can easily book directly with many dive shops in San Miguel without going through their cruise ships which will cost much more. For cruise ship tourists who do not intend to do any water sports and have some time after shopping, it is highly recommended to rent a scooter or 4x4 to tour island. This is also a nice way to spend last day of a scuba dive vacation in Cozumel.