Issue link: https://imageup.uberflip.com/i/1462234
SULLIVAN'S TRAVELS By Kathy Sullivan I have been staying in my little camping van for most of February at Fountain of Youth Spa and RV Resort by the Salton Sea, by far my favorite desert campground. I met a cool lady from Utah, who wanted to see some of the California desert attractions. I immediately thought of the Living Desert in Palm Desert. The Living Desert is celebrating its 50th anniversary, and every time I have driven down the 10 freeway and have seen the sign for the Living Desert I would think "next time." Well, it's taken 50 years, but I finally took a day and visited the park. I thought it was a botanical garden, which it is, but it is also a zoo with animals from America, Africa and Australia. My friend, a whole month older than me, convinced me to rent an electric mobile cart, like you see at Costco. Wow, did we have fun zipping around people, and we were able to see the whole park. It probably wouldn't have happened if we were walking the 2 ½ -mile path through all the enclosures. The $25 we spent to rent the cart was so worth it. I do suggest that you bring a picnic lunch and something to drink, as food and drinks are outrageously priced. What you save on food will pay for the electric cart. Also, if you buy your tickets online you save a few dollars. Living Desert has made enclosures for the animals that are similar to their natural habitat in their home country. Many of the animals that they house have been injured and can't go back into the wild or are old zoo/circus animals that never were in the wild. I enjoyed watching people feed the giraffes lettuce leaves. The giraffes have long tongues that wrap around the lettuce leaf and sometimes the hand. It was entertaining to hear the kids scream or watch older people pull back their hands as soon as the tongue touched their skin. I so enjoyed this day at the zoo/botanical gardens, and I hope not to wait another 50 years before I visit it again. the Living Desert 20 | THE COLONY NEWS | APRIL 2022 | COMMUNITY BULLETIN BOARD