Getting close-up to your favorite creatures is a fantastic family vacation idea!
People are fascinated by wild animals: Shark Week, Planet Earth, Crocodile Hunter, and the list of popular animal shows goes on and on. It seems like we’re just born with a natural curiosity about the animal kingdom – and kids are the biggest fans.
There’s nothing that sparks joy for animal lovers more than coming face-to-face with their favorite wild thing. So the next time you’re looking for family vacation ideas, consider building a trip around a special animal encounter. You’ll practically guarantee a good time for your entire gang.
Amazing Animal Adventures
The great thing about animal encounters is that you can have them almost anywhere – you don’t need to spend your life savings going to the Galapagos Islands or even pony up for an Alaskan cruise. Here are my favorite budget-friendly family vacation ideas for animal lovers, all within the USA:
#1: Feed kangaroos in Kentucky.
We did a bunch of fun things on a family road trip through Kentucky last spring break. But we all agree that the highlight of the trip was hanging out with kangaroos. Kentucky and kangaroos? Yeah, it was unexpected, which made it that much more delightful.
We arrived at the Kentucky Down Under Adventure Zoo (a 20-minute drive from Mammoth Cave National Park) when it first opened, which turned out to be the best decision of the day. The park was empty, the air was cool and the kangaroos were hungry.
We were the only ones in the kangaroo fields (right out there in the open fields with them!) and they bounced up to us, gently touching us with their hand-like paws. We stroked their super-soft fur, watched joeys crawl into their mothers’ pouches and just laughed in amazement at being so close to kangaroos.
#2: Pet seahorses in Hawaii.
Take a break from checking out bubbling lava at the Big Island’s Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park (now reopened) and head over to Oceanrider Seahorse Farm in Kona. It’s the only captive breeding spot for these fragile fish in the U.S.
You’ll learn how environmental changes threaten seahorses. Observe them at every stage of their lifecycle from pregnant males (yes, the dads carry the babies!) to newborns to adults. There are more than 30 different kinds of seahorses and sea dragons on display.
Kids can feed seahorses tiny shrimp and poke around a small tide pool. But the best part of the tour? When a seahorse wraps around your fingers.
#3: Learn falconry in Pennsylvania.
Take a break from making your own candy bar, getting a s’mores facial and all the other chocolatey things to do in Hershey, Pennsylvania, to learn about the ancient art of hunting with trained birds of prey.
The sport dates back to 2,000 B.C. Mesopotamia (aka “the cradle of civilization” that you learned about in social studies). See what it’s all about – and command a hawk! – with The Falconry Experience offered by The Hotel Hershey.
Master Falconer Jack Hubley will share the fascinating history of falconry with you. Then you get close-up experiences with a golden eagle, falcon and hawks. Have your camera handy because everyone gets at least one turn having a bird of prey land on them (hello: bigtime Instagram hit!).
#4: Handfeed manta rays in Orlando.
Before Discovery Cove opens for the day, the island-themed animal park ushers in visitors who have come to commune with the manta rays. This was one of many amazing things the kids and I got to do on our day at Discovery Cove.
First, you’ll squeeze into wetsuits and walk through the quiet park until you reach the Grand Reef – a large, outdoor swimming area that simulates a coral reef habitat and is home to thousands of beautiful tropical fish and multiple types of rays.
Then the park guide will lead you into the shallow water as a small group and give you bits of fish to hold in your hand. The rays immediately swim over and swoop up the fish, sometimes flopping their silky “wings” over you as they go by. But watch out, there are some pretty aggressive fish that will try to steal the chum right out of your hands too!
#5: Share a beach with wild horses in Maryland.
OMG, wild horses! The ones that roam the banks of the Assateague Island National Seashore are said to have descended from those that escaped a 17th-century shipwreck here.
Wherever they came from, there’s no denying that watching them graze on seagrasses along the sandy beach is pure joy. Keep your distance though – these beautiful herds are wild. Let’s leave them that way.
Just a 15-minute drive north is Ocean City, where you can spend the rest of the weekend enjoying good, old-fashioned fun at two boardwalk amusement parks.
#6: See swarms of Monarch butterflies take flight in California.
Every year Monarch butterflies migrate to Mexico. But along the way, they winter in California where they rest and mate before moving on. Sounds like a pretty good gig, right?
There are several places you can see them between Santa Barbara and Santa Cruz. But I recommend heading to Monarch Butterfly Grove in Pismo Beach where thousands of butterflies cluster on trees between October and February.
Located along the gorgeous Pacific Coast Highway – a must-drive for anyone who likes road trips – Pismo Beach is a quiet oceanside town where you can also go sea kayaking and refuel with a steaming bowl of clam chowder. Head 15 minutes north to pop into boutiques and stroll the adorable downtown streets of San Luis Obispo, too.
#7: Witness baby sea turtles hatching in Alabama.
From May through October, baby sea turtles hatch from eggs laid along the beaches in Gulf Shores. Then, under the cover of darkness, they make the risky journey from sand to sea.
These days, they get help from volunteers since artificial light can often confuse the newborns who rely on the moonlight to guide them to the water. Last year, there were 114 turtle nests along Alabama’s Gulf Coast!
Getting to see these shelled cuties is just one of many reasons why every family should visit Gulf Shores.
#8: Swim with manatees in Florida.
You’ve already swum with dolphins? How about manatees? From November through March you can find these gentle giants spending their winters in warm, 72-degree Florida rivers (they’re naturally heated by hot springs).
Swim alongside them at the Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge (but no touching!) or just observe them by boat through the clear water as they make their annual migration up the river.
Nearby is a plantation turned hotel situated on 232 acres of preserve land. You can take advantage of their nine-hole golf course or rent a pontoon boat to explore Kings Bay.
International Family Vacation Ideas for Animal Lovers
If you’re planning a trip to one of these international destinations, consider one of these excursions:
#9: Snorkel with sea lions in Mexico.
Snorkeling is such a blast, but it’s infinitely better when you’re side-by-side with seals. In La Paz, you can book a snorkeling tour out to Espiritu Santo Island where up to 300 sea lions live.
Curious seal pups come swimming over as you snorkel in the water off their home island. Read about this traveler’s experience swimming with sea lions.
#10: Swim with pigs in the Bahamas.
Talk about quirky: In the Bahamas, you can swim with pigs in the ocean. Book a boat tour over to Big Major Cay or No Name Cay, where a herd of these nimble-legged porkers swims out to greet people in hopes of getting a snack. Check out the video and get more information at this Bahamas visitor site.
Happy travels,
P.S. Looking for more family vacation ideas? In the winter, you should definitely go hunting for the Northern Lights or check out one of the best U.S. cities to visit at Christmastime.
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