Tag Archive


activity architecture art artist building Canada children city CostSaver downtown drive i-95 entertainment Europe event exhibit family festival Florida food fun historic History landmark local Museum music Nature New Zealand Ontario roadtrip sculpture Seattle show sights sightseeing tour tourist Trafalgar travel travelblogger view Washington Washington State water world

US: Jacksonville, FL – Hear the Big Cats Roar at Caddy Shack Ranch Wildlife Sanctuary

You’ll find lions and tigers at the Catty Shack Ranch Wildlife Sanctuary. This amazing  non-profit facility is dedicated to the rescue and care of  endangered big cats, providing them a safe, loving, forever home.

Run completely by volunteers, this sanctuary allows you to get an up close and personal with the rescued big cats: lions, tigers, leopards, cougars and bobcats. Learn about their habitat, their personalities and the stories behind why they have found refuge at the sanctuary. catty-shack2

Since their inhabitants are mostly nocturnal (big cats can sleep up to 20 hours a day), you will most likely appreciate the nighttime tour the most.  The resident cats wake up after dark and this is when they are fed.  At 7:30 PM, you will get to watch over 600 pounds of meat distributed throughout the sanctuary. During these tours, be prepared to hear the big cats roar “loudly” – lions can be heard up to five miles away.

Daytime tours and nighttime feeding tours of Catty Shack Ranch are available but only on select days, so you’ll need to check the website for the most recent schedule. These tours are the primary source of raising funds with 100% of proceeds going to their residents.

Treat your family to a very unique, informative, exciting experience. Animal lover’s will appreciate how well these residents are loved and cared for at this very special retirement home.

Location: The Catty Shack Ranch, 1860 Starratt Rd, Jacksonville, Florida 32226 USA
Dates: open only on select days, please check website
Hours: Daytime Tours 1 – 4 pm, Night Feeding Tours 6 – 8 pm
Tel: 904- 757-3606
cattyshack.org
For Regional Accommodations, Restaurants & Attractions:
visitjacksonville.com

US: St. Marys, GA – Wild Horses Graze on Georgia’s Cumberland Island

A short ferry ride (passengers only) transports you to the treasured, pristine Cumberland Island National Seashore, the largest and southernmost barrier island in Georgia, offering visitors over 17 miles of secluded, white, sandy beaches.

Preserved and protected for future generations, Cumberland Island National Seashore includes a designated wilderness area, undeveloped beaches, historic sites, cultural ruins, critical habitat and nesting areas. Walk on the footsteps of early natives, explorers, and wealthy industrialists.

You can’t explain Cumberland, you experience it. Time moves to the rhythm of nature. On this National Seashore, it is the animals that are the inhabitants and people are only visitors. The majestic sweep of deserted sandy beach is dotted with shells and usually deserted, except for the wild horses roaming at will. The dramatic slope of the dunes is a constant work in progress, sculptured by the wind and sea. The inland’s, majestic live oak and palmetto forests provide shelter for the horses, deer, turkey, alligator, armadillo, mink and a tremendous variety of coastal birds.

You’ll find campsites, hiking trails and first-come-first-serve bike rentals on the island. There are no amenities on the island beyond the restrooms and water fountains. You should bring lunch and water bottles to refill.

The visitor’s center in St. Mary’s, Georgia is the gateway to Cumberland Island. Here you can get tickets for the ferry over to the Island, as well as information about camping permits on the Island. Wild Horses - Cumberland Island

Location:Mainland Visitor Center, 113 Saint Marys St, GA 31558
Hours: Visitor Center  8 – 4 pm
Tel: 912-882-4335
nps.gov/cuis/index.htm
For Regional Accommodations, Restaurants & Attractions:
visitkingsland.com

US: Newburgh, New York – Historic New York

A historic plaque in the Newburgh, NY service plaza on I-87.

Historic New York

US: Whitestone, New York – Support Small Business, Shop Local!

Words to live by, especially these days. Shop Small Buisness

 

US: Banner Elk, North Carolina – Daniel Boone Replica

Daniel Boone first came to the mountains of NC in 1752, and he roamed around the area of Grandfather Mountain, which is today one of NC’s top scenic attractions. This is a replica of his famous carving on a Beech tree that reads “D. Boon killed a bar o this tree 1775” which you will find in The Grandfather Mountain Nature Museum. The tree was actually in Kingsport, TN.

Daniel Boone

USA: Banner Elk, North Carolina – Grandfather Mountain

At the Nature Museum, you can find this scale model of Grandfather Mountain, which is one of NC’s top scenic attractions. The museum houses more than 2 dozen exhibits about the natural history of the area, and there is a nature conservancy on the grounds.

Grandfather Mountain

US: Ft Lauderdale, Florida – Strange Little Car

Here is Sandra riding one of the many strange cars we find along the road. This one was in Fort Lauderdale, FL at the Outdoor World shop.

Strange Little Car

 

 

US: Hickory, North Carolina – 80,000 sq ft of Showrooms

The Hickory Furniture Mart in NC is not to be missed if you’re into outlet shopping and furniture. With 4 floors of marts and 80,000 sq ft of showrooms, you can easily spend 3 days roaming through here.

80,000 sq ft of Showrooms

US: Hickory, North Carolina – Furniture Mart

The Hickory Furniture Mart in NC is not to be missed if you’re into outlet shopping and furniture. With 4 floors of marts and 80,000 sq ft of showrooms, you can easily spend 3 days roaming through here.

Hickory Furniture Mart

US: Boca Raton Sports Memorabilia Museum, Florida – Shaq O’Neal

It’s really hard to beat Shaq O’Neal at his own game, especially since he’s so tall (7 ft, 1 in). I tried this at the Sports Memorabilia Museum in Boca.

Sahaq O'Neal