Two Wildlife Family Getaways

August 26, 2021

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Autumn is one of our favorite times to enjoy weekend getaways with the family. Tourist traffic is down, and it’s nice to take a break from work and school. Animal experiences are a favorite for visitors of all ages, and these getaways are great for all generations to enjoy making memories together.

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Matt Suess https://MattSuess.com

Wonders of Wildlife National Museum and Aquarium in Springfield, Missouri

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Kristina Light, photos of Wonders of Wildlife in Springfield, MO

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Kristina Light, photos of Wonders of Wildlife in Springfield, MO

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Kristina Light, photos of Wonders of Wildlife in Springfield, MO

Wonders of Wildlife National Museum and Aquarium

500 W. Sunshine St., Springfield, MO, 888.222.6060. Admission charged.

Weekend getaways to Springfield, MO, are an easy family overnight or even day trip for the ambitious. We love visiting Wonders of Wildlife. This fantastic natural history museum and aquarium is a phenomenal attraction and requires most of a day to visit and enjoy thoroughly.

Wonders of Wildlife bills itself as the "largest, most immersive fish and wildlife attraction in the world!" The attraction was created by Bass Pro founder Johnny Morris. His love for nature is contagious, and his passion comes across in every aspect of this attraction.

The museum includes first, a natural history museum, with breathtaking exhibits showcasing the history of the Ozark region, Native American heritage, the Lewis and Clark Expedition and wildlife from around the world. From sheep to bears, deer to antelope ... we saw thousands of animals. The centerpiece of this half of the museum is the Great African Hall with beautiful displays showcasing African animals. The lighting and sounds of the hall transform from day to night while you are there, creating the feeling that you are among the elephants, zebras and giraffes on the African tundra.

I recommend spending the morning in the natural history portion, then taking a lunch break at Fish Tales, a lunch spot for the museum, or heading to a restaurant within Bass Pro shops or in the neighborhood. After a midday meal, return to visit the aquarium. We ate at Fish Tales on our visit, enjoying pizza and sandwiches.

The aquarium is truly spectacular. This is unlike any aquarium we have ever visited. The displays include not only aquariums, but swamp exhibits, fishing exhibits and history exhibits celebrating the history of fishing, the sport of fishing and even the passion America's presidents have held for the sport.

The 1.5-million-gallon aquarium adventure features 35,000 live fish, mammals, reptiles, amphibians and birds. We loved the shark exhibit, we were transported to the bayou in the swamp exhibit, and the stingray exhibit is the best we have ever experienced. My girls enjoyed seeing sloths, bears, alligators, flamingoes, otters and countless sea creatures, including octopus, sharks, clown fish, rays, jellyfish and other fish from around the world. The stingray touch pool, the finale of the attraction, is truly world-class.

Tip: For more inspiration for this getaway, search “Adventures for the Family in the Ozarks” on KCParent.com.

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Kristina Light, photos of Timbavati Wildlife Park

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Kristina Light, photos of Timbavati Wildlife Park

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Timbavati Wildlife Park Wisconsin Dells

2220 Wisconsin Dells Pkwy., Wisconsin Dells, WI, 608.253.2391

Timbavati Wildlife Park is a truly one-of-a-kind animal park. Visitors may explore the park May through November or participate in a behind-the-scenes VIP tour for families (VIP tours available year-round). When the park is open to visitors during the regular season, guests may watch educational wildlife presentations throughout the day. We took at VIP tour and experienced all the park has to offer, including many hands-on experiences with animals. For future zookeepers and animal lovers, this is an unbeatable experience.

Our tour began with a visit to the lemurs. The park is home to two black and white ruff lemurs from Madagascar. They were playful animals, climbing and playing on all four paws. We also saw the howler monkeys from Central and South America. These active animals were a delight to watch.

Next, we visited the three lioness sisters, all about 9 years old and weighing approximately 250 pounds. We saw a Carpathian lynx from Siberia, the largest of the lynx species, and a Canadian lynx known for its sharp hearing that can detect prey under the snow.

After that, we paid a visit to the giraffes, the stars of the show. The park is home to one reticulated giraffe and two Masai giraffes. We were able to feed carrots to these charming animals. Their 18-inch-long blue tongues (which protect them from sun blisters) lapped up the treats. These friendly giraffes won our hearts! My girls were begging to come visit them again.

We also saw red pandas, penguins, rhinos, prairie dogs and cougars. Of the big cats, the girls especially enjoyed watching two beautiful Bengal tigers.

After visiting the animals on exhibit, we headed to the nurseries, buildings that are home to many animals we were able to meet up close. We saw ball python, two blue and gold macaws, pygmy hedgehogs from Europe, flamingoes (who left quite an impression with their distinctive sounds), an African spurred tortoise, a blue duiker named Leif, and a red-breasted cockatoo. We also saw Egyptian fruit bats, straw-colored fruit bats, a Nile monitor, cotton top tamarins and a two-toed sloth named Lulu. Then, the girls were given the chance to pet the lesser tamandua anteater with a 15-inch-long tongue. The anteater eats 10,000-20,000 ants a day, so the park feeds her protein shakes to maintain her diet. The girls were also fascinated by the year-old North American porcupine named Quinn, and we learned that despite what cartoons always show, they do not shoot their quills for defense. We also saw a Fennec fox, North American skunk, kookaburra, owl monkeys, ringtail lemurs, marmosets, red-handed tamarins and alpacas. In the nursery, we were able to touch and pet the red-footed tortoise. Then, for the highlight of the visit to the nursery, we each had the opportunity to hold Poppy, a 7-month-old joey kangaroo!

The grand finale of the VIP tour was a chance to feed dozens of colorful parakeets!

The tour was informative and educational, and the hands-on experiences provided an unforgettable memory the entire family loved.

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Kristina Light, photos of Wisconsin Dells Upper Dells Boat Tour

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On our visit to Wisconsin Dells, we also made a point to see the Dells themselves. The Dells Boat Tours excursion of the Upper Dells was one of the most fun tourist boat rides we have ever experienced. The guides share the history of the area and take you to see Witches Gulch, Standing Rock and other beautiful sites along the river. The first shore landing, Witches Gulch, was my favorite. Visitors journey along a beautiful green walk through a narrow canyon carved by wind and water. The rocks are covered in ferns, and the narrow passages and chambers are naturally cool year-round. The second stop is Stand Rock, where we walked to the base of the area’s best-known pillar of sandstone. It was made famous as the site of the first stop-action photo, when photographer H. H. Bennett took a photo of his son jumping onto Stand Rock in 1886. Boat tour guests watch as a trained dog makes the famous leap from cliff face to Stand Rock and back again.

Tip: Wisconsin Dells is the “Waterpark Capital of the World” with many great waterparks to enjoy as a family, including indoor resorts that offer family lodging and are open year-round. Search “Wisconsin Dells” for waterpark tips and be sure to check Groupon for deals.

On our recent visit, we stayed at Wilderness Resort using a Groupon package for our stay. Here are some highlights of our stay:

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Kristina Light, photos of Wilderness Resort at Wisconsin Dells

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And, we visited House on the Rock en route to Wisconsin Dells. This tourist attraction is a truly eclectic site full of mystery, intrigue and whimsy. From the vast collection of giant music boxes, to collections of exotic and unusual artifacts, to the architectural feat itself... the site is easily a half-full day excursion. The Infinity Room (an in-person optical illusion), the giant carousels, and the endless array of artifacts are inspiring. The project began in 1945, when Alex Jordan began building his ideal retreat with a view of the rock on which he built his house (see photos). The house is really multiple buildings, all connected, now displaying a seemingly endless collection of collections as part of three separate self-guided tours.Here are some highlights of that visit:

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