Long a favorite of the elementary-school party set, petting zoos fell out of favor in recent years after the industry was beset by bad press (a 2005 e-Coli outbreak was linked to a zoo at the Strawberry Festival) and skyrocketing insurance premiums. That’s a shame. When done right, as is the case with Noah’s Ark on Wheels, the petting zoo is still a classic. In March, Odessa-based Noah’s Ark brought a petting zoo to the Loaf offices, where we found that hanging out with billy goats, a turtle, bunny rabbits and one aggressive swan is as much fun for adults as it is for kids. Just be sure to hit up the hand sanitizer on the way out of the pen. noahsarkonwheels.com.
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