A few odd distractions beckon from the roadside of Highway 2 outside Seattle, from a pub named the "Booby Trap" (its claim to fame is chicken wings, not girls) to a diner that sells ostrich burgers out of an antique caboose.
On a recent snowboarding trip to Steven's Pass [0], I was lured into the most curious: the Reptile Zoo [0], located a mile east of Monroe. This serpentarium offers close encounters with the 10 deadliest snakes in the world, plus an albino alligator and a two-headed turtle.
At first, the little zoo gave me the creeps. A hefty-looking iguana stands guard by the front door, and to his left is Judith, an 11-year-old python who looks like a fire hose coiled up on the floor. No matter which way you turn, there's a slithering reptile just a few inches away. Sometimes they come out of their cages for visitors to hold.
Thankfully, what I'd thought would be a freak show turned out to be an educational and fun experience. Even during feeding time, when the entree was rats. Staff members, many who are volunteers, are sensitive and informative. They know the answer to most every question and are eager to let you know that reptiles "just get a bad rap."
Some of the 100-plus creatures are endearing, especially a snapping tortoise named Ben who acts like a puppy dog vying for attention. Fork out the $4 admittance charge next time you're driving by. Watching wide-eyed five-year-old girls giggling with pythons wrapped around their arms will put whatever snake phobias you may have to shame.
More links:
Washington Serpentarium (The Reptile Zoo) [0]
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