Chester Zoo & Blue Planet with Midi & Isobel

 Chester Zoo & Blue Planet 

We're all going to the Zoo....today! The infamous Chester Zoo, home to over 27,000 animals was first on our agenda! Watching the elephants up close was truly magical. Their sheer size, gentle movements, and playful interactions made it a perfect start to our adventure. Next was the Rhino's which are critically endangered, and it was incredible to see them.

We headed to the Penguin house where we listened to a penguin talk which was a brilliant bonus. We learned some fun facts — for example, penguins can "fly" underwater at speeds of up to 22 miles per hour! 

The zebra, giraffes, and ostriches in their expansive enclosure gave us a real taste of Africa. The giraffes towered gracefully above us, nibbling at the treetops, while the zebras looked striking with their iconic black-and-white stripes. The ostriches strutted confidently by, looking curious about their visitors

Our underwater adventure took us to the Blue Planet Aquarium near Chester, where we were wowed by the water world from the moment we walked through the doors. We loved getting a closer look at all the sea mammals and marine creatures up close. The shark talk was a particular highlight.

We were lucky to catch the divers feeding the fish in the main tank—a mesmerising experience! The walk-through of the aquarium continued to delight us with vivid coral reefs, stingrays, piranhas, poison dart frogs, and even crocodiles. The highlight for many of us was definitely walking through the 180-degree underwater tunnel, with sharks and other sea life swimming just above our heads

 A fabulous first day was spent at Knowsley Safari Park, just outside Liverpool. As we drove along, we spotted a variety of species including mighty rhinos, elegant deer, curious camels, wild donkeys, and towering ostriches. The wildebeest added to the wild savannah vibe, and we were all amazed by the size and beauty of the dozen or so white rhinos. Up close, they looked truly majestic with their long horns and thick, armour-like skin. But the absolute highlight? The baboon enclosure! We were in stitches as the baboons clambered onto our minibus—swinging around, sitting on the bonnet, and even trying to inspect our mirrors. Next up was the Sea Lion Display—what a treat! The two Californian Sea Lions were brilliant performers, showing off their intelligence, agility, and loud barks. 

It was time for our boat trip down the River Dee with Chester Boat River Cruises. The River Dee is steeped in history, stretching over 70 miles through Wales and England. As we floated along, we passed the picturesque Meadows, historic Grosvenor Park, and saw elegant Georgian townhouses lining the riverside. We learnt that the Dee once served as an important trading route and that Chester’s medieval weir (which we passed) was originally built to help ships navigate the river. 

We hopped aboard a sightseeing open-top bus for a grand tour around Chester. As we rode through the city, we learnt so much about its fascinating history. Chester is famous for its Roman walls, the most complete in Britain, and its stunning medieval architecture, like the iconic Eastgate Clock — said to be the second most photographed clock in the UK after Big Ben! 

The sun was already shining, and it looked like we were in for the warmest day of the year — perfect weather for our day trip to the iconic Snowdon Mountain! Soon, our train arrived — the mighty “Yeti 10,” a powerful Hunslet diesel engine, specially built to climb the steep gradients of Snowdon.

We climbed aboard and began the hour-long journey to the summit. As we slowly ascended, the views became more and more spectacular: sparkling lakes, vast green valleys, and tiny villages far below. Once we reached the top, we took in the most beautiful scenery.

An ice cream treat is always a must on one of our holidays.