International Cryptozoology Museum

So this is probably going to surprise you, but Lizzie and I actually had a bit of a plan for this adventure.  Well, Lizzie had a plan.  Our first stop was the International Cryptozoology Museum.  So I had no idea that Cryptozoology was a thing, but it is, according to the awesome map we got upon entering the museum: "the study of hidden or unknown animals.  These are usually larger zoological species that, to date, remain unverified by science, such as Yetis, Bigfoot, Lake Monsters, and Sea Serpents, as well as hundres of other yet to be found animals (cryptids) worldwide, but which compelling ethnoknown evidence has been collected for their possible existence." 

Okay, so it's a bunch of malarkey, but I at least expected it to be fun.  Instead it turned out to be a small building full of weird taxidermied animals, many of which were normal, run-of-the-mill animals like the cat and antelope you see chatting in the first picture, and  plastic toys in glass cases.  They had signs all over the building explaining why toys were compelling evidence/collectibles of cryptids, but for the love of God, as much as we all want the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles to be real, they're just not.  I'm sorry.  We poked around looking at the jackalopes, the furbearing trout, and your mothmen, and then explored the biggest mystery of all--the bathroom.  It smelled even worse outside the bathroom than it did inside.  EXPLAIN THAT, SCIENCE.

Anyway, it actually is pretty amusing, so if you're in Portland, you should stop by.  It was super crowded, and the kiddos seemed to love it, probably because they are not cynical and void of all magic like I am.

But I totally believe in Nessie...