Get inspired where the wild things are. Here are five places to consider.
Birds of southern Arizona
Are you amazed by the might of the tiny hummingbird? If their unique beauty intrigues you, you’ll want to find your way to Patagonia in southern Arizona. The destination sits along a prime avian migratory path and is part of the Sky Islands — multiple mountain ranges that rise from 6,000 feet to nearly 10,000 feet. Patagonia is home to the Tucson Audubon Society’s Paton Center for Hummingbirds, which is dedicated to the celebration and observation of the small creatures. With native plants and feeders throughout the property, you can expect to spot a sampling of the more than 200 species that wing their way to the center. While in the area make time to visit The Nature Conservancy Patagonia-Sonoita Creek Preserve, Patagonia Lake State Park and the Sonoita Creek State Natural Area for guided bird walks and 20 miles of hiking trails.
For more: www.visitskyislands.com
Bison in South Dakota
It’s one of the last of the Old West’s great traditions. Each year the public has been invited to hear the thunder of hooves and photograph the moment as experienced riders round up a herd of some 1,300 buffalo during the state’s Buffalo Round Up and Arts Festival. The event, a critical management tool in maintaining a healthy herd, corrals the buffalo, and they are then tested, branded and sorted. The fall event typically includes a pancake feed, Western and Native American entertainment and the chance to peruse the fine arts and crafts offered by more than 150 vendors. Weather permitting, you can snag top-notch views of wildlife via the 18-mile Wildlife Loop State Scenic Byway. Possible sightings include elk, pronghorn, bighorn sheep and the resident bison roaming the park.
For more: www.travelsouthdakota.com
Manta rays in the Maldives
You’ve likely waited for an important call before. But when the manta rays call comes in, its time to observe the graceful sea creatures in their natural habitat. The Four Seasons Resort’s “Manta on call” experience will let you know that a speedboat is at the ready to whisk you and your family to the designated area, at which point snorkelers can swim along as the rays feed in the current.
With the largest brain to body ratio of any living fish, these gentle giants are reported to be among the most intelligent creatures on the planet. Large, flat and oddly shaped, they take their name from the Spanish for word blanket or cloak. Adventurers can learn more about these iconic creatures in their natural playground — the Maldives. Between May and early December, the Maldives Baa Atoll UNESCO Biosphere Reserve draws hundreds of reef manta rays to its plankton-rich currents. Guests at Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Landaa Giraavaru enjoy access thanks to two decades of pioneering on-site work with the Manta Trust.
