Best vacation for animal lovers
For animal lovers, a journey to India is a must. It is the best vacation where you can witness the rich wildlife of India. Here are some ideas as to where you can stay and what animals will you be able to encounter
If you love animals, you should take a trip to Walt Disney World in Orlando. This hotel-sprawl is one of the most popular travel destinations on the East Coast specializing in fun, family entertainment and resort accommodations.
Although animal-friendly travel is on the rise, there are a lot of travellers who are still unconvinced that there can be a good time for animals to enjoy. And most of them, including me for starters, think that vacations and animals don’t go hand in hand. This is a mistake and I’m going to prove it to you…
If you’re an animal lover, you’ve probably had your heartbroken by the idea of leaving your pets behind on vacation. But don’t worry: there are plenty of places around the world where you can enjoy a trip with your furry friend!
Here are our top five picks for best vacations for animal lovers:
- The Grand Canyon
The Grand Canyon is one of the most beautiful places in the world—and it’s also home to some of the most majestic wildlife you’ll ever see. You can visit the canyon on horseback or muleback, or take a guided tour if you want to learn more about its history. Either way, you’ll be able to get up close and personal with bison, bears, wolves and foxes while enjoying some breathtaking views of nature’s greatest wonder.
- Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone National Park has over 2 million acres of pristine wilderness—and within those acres live hundreds of different species of animals like bears, elk, wolves and coyotes (just to name a few). Visitors who want to see these creatures in their natural habitat can take advantage of hiking trails that wind through forests and meadows where the animals roam freely—or they can just stay at their cabin or hotel room and watch them from
If you’re a die-hard animal lover, then you definitely need to head to the Great Barrier Reef. The reef is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to more than 1,500 species of fish and other marine life.
The reef is home to some of the most beautiful corals in the world, and it’s also an important habitat for endangered species like the dugong (a type of marine mammal) and green turtles.
You can even snorkel or scuba dive among all the fish!
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Best Friends Animal Sanctuary (Kanab, Utah)
Best Friends Animal Society/Yelp
If you’re a lover of dogs, cats, rabbits, pigs or horses, you’ll be in heaven when you visit the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Kanab, Utah. The largest sanctuary for companion animals in the United States, you can take hikes with stops in “neighborhoods” with fun names like Old Dogtown and Cat World. For a more rewarding visit, you can also volunteer to help the animals. If you can’t make the trek to Utah, Best Friends also has regional locations in Los Angeles, New York City, Atlanta and Houston. It’s always a good decision to adopt a rescue animal — and we all know rescue dogs make the best pets.
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Churchill (Manitoba, Canada)
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There are some animals that you see at the zoo that seem like completely different beasts when observed in their natural habitat, and polar bears are definitely one of those animals. In October and November of every year, the town of Churchill in Manitoba, Canada, is along the polar bear migration path, so you can literally look out your window and see these majestic creatures ambling by. Stay at the Tundra Lodge, a half-bus, half-hotel that rolls right up to the polar bears. It’s best to plan your trip sooner rather than later, though, as you may not be able to see polar bears in their natural habitat for much longer due to climate change.
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Elephant Nature Park (Chiang Mai, Thailand)
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Since the 1990s, the Elephant Nature Park in the Chiang Mai province of northern Thailand has been a place of refuge for rescued elephants. There are numerous ways to experience this place, from stopping by for a short visit to observe the elephants (as well as the dogs, cats, buffalo, birds and more that live at the sanctuary) to volunteering and caring for the elephants for a week.
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Galapagos Islands (Ecuador)
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Perhaps one of the most famous animal-centric trips in the world, the Galapagos Islands in Ecuador really are a unique travel experience — you’re not likely to see more diverse and fascinating wildlife anywhere else in the world. Here, you can observe Darwin’s finches, Galapagos giant tortoises, sea lions, marine iguanas and Galapagos penguins as well as the local flora and ecosystems that helped to inspire Darwin’s theory of evolution. If the striking beauty of this place isn’t enough for you, consider visiting more of the world’s most stunning remote islands.
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Great Barrier Reef (Queensland, Australia)
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Stretching over 1,250 miles along 900 islands, the Great Barrier Reef is not just one reef, but a group of roughly 3,000 individual reefs. Learn to scuba dive or snorkel to see the bright colors and remarkable activities of roughly 2,000 different kinds of fish, 4,000 mollusk species and 400 different types of coral. Just make sure not to touch anything. Human contact can easily kill the coral and disturb this delicate ecosystem, which is already endangered by rising water temperatures. If that’s not quite your speed, you can take an overhead helicopter tour for a bird’s eye view. The Great Barrier Reef really needs to be seen to be believed, making it one of the 50 places every traveler should visit before turning 50.
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Kangaroo Sanctuary (Alice Springs, Australia)
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Australia offers a lot of unique animal life, but perhaps no creature is more famous Down Under than the kangaroo. To see as many of these hoppy marsupials as possible, head to Alice Springs in the Northern Territory and stop by the Kangaroo Sanctuary. Because ‘roos mostly sleep during the day, guided tours start here in the late afternoon. The best way to experience the sanctuary is with a sunset tour, which has not only great views of the kangaroos but also of the beautiful 90-acre property.
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Kruger National Park (Northeastern South Africa)
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Across the more than 7,500 square miles of South Africa’s Kruger National Park, you can see the “Big Five” game animals (lions, leopards, rhinos, elephants and cape buffalo) as well as impalas, zebra, Greater kudu, giraffes and spotted hyenas. Each season offers different views and animals at Kruger National Park. Visitors in the summer will see newborn animals and lush vegetation, but you’ll have an easier time spotting game during the dry winter months.
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Lewa Wildlife Conservancy (Northern Kenya)
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No matter what sort of animal experience you are looking for, you can have it at the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy in Kenya. With nine different lodges and houses, each one more luxurious than the last, you’ll sleep in style at night while spotting some truly extraordinary animals during the day, including rhinos, Grevy’s zebra, elephants, lions and possibly wild exotic dogs. Experiencing a trip like this is something everyone — not just animal lovers — should do in their lifetime.
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Parc Safari (Quebec, Canada)
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You don’t have to go all the way to Africa to go on a world-class safari. Just head to Parc Safari in Quebec, Canada. There are family-friendly experiences all throughout the park, including a 3-mile drive where you can pet and feed ostriches, great kudu, elk and dromedaries. One of the more interesting aspects of Parc Safari is the Feline Tunnel, a glass enclosure you can walk through and see lions from every angle above, beside and below you.
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Pig Beach (Exuma Cays, Bahamas)
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Perhaps one of the most famously Instagrammable spots in the world, you can swim with real pigs in the Exuma Cays of the Bahamas. No one knows exactly why there are swimming pigs in the Caribbean, but everyone does know they’re adorable.
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The Raptor Trust (Millington, New Jersey)
Photo Courtesy of The Raptor Trust
If owls, eagles and ravens are your thing, you can’t miss The Raptor Trust in Millington, New Jersey. Take a relaxing hike through the walking trails and aviaries, where you’ll see about 50 different birds, including bald eagles, turkey vultures, ravens, snowy owls, red-tailed hawks and more.
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San Diego Zoo (San Diego, California)
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One of the best zoos in America, the San Diego Zoo is a must-visit if you’re an animal lover. Like a trip around the world in one day, this expansive zoo boasts polar bears, giraffes, orangutans, penguins, gorillas, koalas and hundreds of other creatures. Travel about an hour away to the zoo’s Safari Park where you can take a tour and see rhinos, giraffes, kangaroos and more up close. The San Diego Zoo is far and away one of the best things to do in California.
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Torre Argentina Cat Sanctuary (Rome, Italy)
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If you’re a cat lover, then you will be in heaven at the Torre Argentina Cat Sanctuary in Rome, Italy. This Ancient Roman temple is now ruins that are home to over 150 feral cats that you can meet every day from noon to 6 p.m. Most of the cats that live here have special needs, whether they are blind, injured or come from abusive homes. This is also one of Rome’s most historic spots; among the ruins is part of the Theatre of Pompey, where Julius Caesar was assassinated in 44 B.C.
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Volcanoes National Park (Musanze, Rwanda)
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The very first national park in Africa, Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda is a truly remarkable place with 62 square miles of lush rainforest and five volcanoes. Here, you’ll spot golden monkeys as well as the critically endangered mountain gorilla, which can only be seen on safari in Rwanda, Congo and Uganda. For $1,500, you can get a gorilla trek permit and see these majestic creatures up close and personal.
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Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show (New York, New York)
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Madison Square Garden hosts the annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in New York City every February, and this event is a doggone dream. The show itself is a sight to behold and a friendly competition where pretty pups are judged against a breed standard until the Best in Show is found. There are events leading up to the show around the city, including the beloved Meet the Breeds event, where for $35, you can meet over 100 different breeds of dogs. It’s a must-do if you’re looking for your next pet. After all, having a dog does make you a better person.
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The Wild Animal Sanctuary (Keenesburg, Colorado)
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With more than 10,000 acres and more than 450 animals, the Wild Animal Sanctuary in Keenesburg, Colorado, is the largest nonprofit carnivore sanctuary in the world. This place truly is a sanctuary for animals, and its lions, tigers, wolves, bears, leopards and more roam freely. Thus, visiting is a wholly unique experience. The Wild Animal Sanctuary is famous for its Mile Into The Wild Walkway, an elevated 1.5-mile platform where you can truly see these animals in nature.
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Wolf Haven International (Tenino, Washington)
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Gray wolves, Mexican gray wolves, red wolves and even some wolfdogs call the Wolf Haven International sanctuary in Tenino, Washington, home. Their mission is simple: to rescue and provide sanctuary for displaced, captive-born wolves. Visitors here can expect a 50-minute guided walking tour through the public portion of the wolf sanctuary (a small portion of their total acreage) and see some of the residents.
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Woodstock Farm Sanctuary (High Falls, New York)
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Fun for the whole family, the Woodstock Farm Sanctuary in upstate New York is home to chickens, cows, ducks, goats, pigs, sheep and more farm animals that have been saved from the factory farming industry. A one-hour tour of this charming estate allows you to meet and greet some of these cuddly creatures. A word of warning, though: Because Woodstock Farm Sanctuary promotes veganism, they don’t tiptoe around where meat comes from, so be sure your kids are willing to hear some hard truths.