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Winter Animal Encounters in Kansas City

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Crown Center’s newest FREE hands-on exhibit is Animal Tails and Trails, Feb. 6-May 1 (CrownCenter.com/event-list/animal-tales-and-trails). Enter an interactive habitat where children learn about the most interesting creatures. Join the polar bear in his cave and help him ice fish, slide down the penguin iceberg slide, jump with the kangaroo on a small trampoline and much more. A reading area will feature many animal storybooks.

The Kansas City Zoo (6700 Zoo Dr., Kansas City, MO, 816.513.5700, KansasCityZoo.org) is open year-round, and favorite stops are polar bear Berlin’s habitat, the Helzberg Penguin Plaza, the Tropics and the animals of Australia and Africa. This Feburary, our feathered friends are venturing outside the Helzberg Penguin Plaza! Stop by on Saturdays and Sundays in February to see the Penguin March. The cold weather birds will parade around the Helzberg Penguin Plaza, enjoying the fresh outdoor air. Get an up close encounter with king and gentoo penguins as they strut their stuff for all Zoo guests to see. Check kansascityzoo.org for times.

Cedar Cove Exotic Feline Sanctuary (3783 Hwy. K68, Louisburg, KS, 913.837.5515, SaveOurSiberians.org) protects and cares for endangered big cats. You can visit a Siberian tiger, African spotted leopard, mountain lion, Bengal tiger and cougar. Winter hours are Saturday, 11:00-3:00 (feeding at 2:00) and Sunday, 11:00-3:00. This attraction is open weather permitting; please call ahead if questionable, 913.837.5515. This is general public admission with guided tours at regular intervals. $7/adults, $5/children 4-12 years & seniors, FREE/children 3 and under!

Have you ever wanted to look a bison in the eye? Visit the Native Hoofed Animal Enclosure at Fleming Park (8010 E. Park Rd., Lee's Summit, MO, 816.229.8980), where you can watch white-tailed deer, elk and bison eat and play. 

Watch fish in the giant aquariums at Bass Pro (18001 Bass Pro Dr., Independence, MO, and 12051 Bass Pro Dr., Olathe, KS, BassPro.com) or Cabela’s (10300 Cabela Dr., Kansas City, KS, Cabelas.com). Or take little ones to see fish and animals at your neighborhood pet store.

Missouri and Kansas both are home to many nature centers with terrific animal exhibits, nature trails and hands-on activities for young children. Our nature centers are free, and several of them offer special programs all year long:

Plan Ahead: Powell Gardens (PowellGardens.org) will have butterflies to visit during their special Spring Butterfly Exhibit, March 12-April 3. Blue Morpho butterflies and—for the first time at Powell Gardens—paper kite butterflies will flutter about the conservatory. Open 10:00-4:00 daily!

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