2023 Fall Adventure Part 3: Wonders of Wildlife National Museum & Aquarium and Wild Animal Safari

On August 20, 2024August 20, 2024 By LToddIn Missouri, RV Travel, Travel1 Comment

It’s all about the animals in part 3 of our 2023 Fall Adventure as we visit the Wonders of Wildlife National Museum & Aquarium and Wild Animal Safari.

Johnny Morris’ Wonders of Wildlife National Museum & Aquarium

A popular outing in Springfield, Missouri, is the Wonders of Wildlife National Museum & Aquarium. Johnny Morris is the man behind the museum and aquarium. As majority owner of Great American Outdoors Group, he owns Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s sporting goods and outdoor stores.

Located adjacent to the Bass Pro Shops National headquarters and store, Wonders of Wildlife operates as a not-for-profit educational conservation-themed attraction. It definitely should be at the top of any what-to-do-in-Springfield, Missouri list.

Wait a minute. Is that boat Ernest Hemingway’s Pilar? Can’t be. The original resides at the Museo Ernest Hemingway in Finca Vigia, Cuba. And I believe the Pilar sister boat is in the Bass Pro Shops in Islamorada, Florida. The boat in Springfield, Missouri, is a replica.

Massive murals throughout the facility depict various background scenery. It took six years and a dozen artists to paint all the murals.

One of the many hand-painted murals that add context to the displays

The current wildlife museum and aquarium opened to the public on September 22, 2017, after an $80 million expansion to 350,000 square foot facility. The project took a decade to complete.

The wildlife museum includes a Louisiana swamp, an Ozark forest, and an Amazon rainforest. The aquarium holds 1.5 million gallons (5.7 million liters) of water, and 35,000 individual fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals call the museum and aquarium home.

Throughout the aquarium are tunnels where kids and kids at heart can pop up and see what it’s like to have fish swimming around their heads.

For guests craving a safe way to have a shark encounter, they can opt for the shark dive or shark dive feeding frenzy for ages 10 and up. There’s also a penguin encounter for ages four and up.

Graceful movements of jellyfish mesmerize

The Shipwreck Reef exhibit depicts how artificial reefs protect coral and boost tourism for diving and fishing. The Johnny Morris Offshore Angler Reef off the coast of Florida is such a reef. It contains the Sucre, a 237-foot vessel. A placard discusses the benefits the reefs provide to marine life and research opportunities.

A sign outside the replica of the original Bass Pro Shops Store says the “original doors, cabinetry, lighting, fixtures, roof, ceiling, and aquarium” were used to create the replica. Morris began his bass fishing business at the back of his father’s liquor store in Springfield, Missouri.

Jackson imitates Uncle Buck, who made bass flies from sow bellies to sell in the original Bass Pros Store

I’d hate to meet up with one of these giants on a hike

*Glimpsing Freedom*: York’s Journey with the Corps of Discovery by Charles Fritz

One of many quotes throughout the museum

One section of the museum is dedicated to the various presidents who showed off their trout and bass fish catches.

Bass Pro Shops got its start within 8-square feet inside a liquor store for the first 13 years. For more history about Bass Pro Shops and Johnny Morris, visit https://about.basspro.com/our-founder. As of this writing, there are around 200 Bass Pro Shops in North America, each reflecting the community in which they were built, along with a commitment to community and conservation.

Taxidermy animals stand in for the live animals in the dioramas that depict their natural habitat.

Plan spending an hour or more to see the all the exhibits and displays. Our whole family enjoyed wandering around. And if hunger strikes, take a break and grab a bite to eat.

Wild Animal Safari Springfield/Strafford

Board a bus for a tour of the park and learn about the animals and their habits, or drive your vehicle through the park. Food is available for purchase to feed the animals. But watch out for the camels. They have no qualms about sticking their big heads in the window and stealing bags of food from the passengers. They are fast, as Jackson can attest to, as he was a victim of one of their attacks.

Our driver and guide regaled us with stories about the various animals

The safari contains sixty-five animal species along a five-mile trail within 350 acres of land. The animals have learned that food is on the way whenever the bus comes through. Some of them come running as if they hadn’t eaten for days, while others take their time ambling along to reach the bus. The bus driver always accommodated the slow pokes.

Don’t those eyes say, “please, feed me.”

For an additional fee, guests can arrange for an up close encounter with the animals, under the watchful supervision of a zookeeper, of course. These encounters allow small groups to learn about the animal’s habitat, feeding, and conservation efforts.

Animals taking their time to reach the bus. Note the drive-through vehicles. We thought it best to leave the driving to the bus driver.

Be sure to read the safety considerations listed on the website to avoid any situations that might put the animals or people in danger.

Move along. I don’t want any of those little pellets.

Don’t mind me. I’ll just nibble on this fine grass here.

We’ll take a pass and enjoy this here grass.

Those are some long horns you’ve got there.

The safari also included a walkabout zoo. It was hard to take photos through the cages.

Jackson and Maya say hello to the giraffe.

As we compared our experience at Wild Animal Safari to Safari West in Santa Rosa, California (see the Safari West post), we much preferred the one in California. Safari West comes out on top for its larger acreage, safari-like vehicles, and knowledgeable guides. They also had a better walk-around portion with more animals, birds, and vegetation. Although we still had fun at Wild Animal Safari.

Up Next: From Marshfield, Missouri, we take a side trip to Little Rock, Arkansas, and check out the Clinton Museum.

Safe Travels

2023 Fall Adventure Part 2: Around the Homestead and Local Area

On August 8, 2024August 6, 2024 By LToddIn Missouri, RV Travel, Travel5 Comments

Continuing with our travels in the fall of 2023, we shine a spotlight on Laura, our daughter, her family, and their homestead.

Jackson, Laura, Chris, Maya, and the chicks

Around the homestead

Their land is home to a variety of animals, from deer to frogs, mountain lions to turtles, various snakes, and other critters too many to mention. Other than hearing the frogs at night and seeing armadillo roadkill on the roadside, we saw a turtle outside our kitchen window one morning and waking up to chirping birds was also a treat.

During our visit, we could find Laura making bread, driving the tractor, shoveling dirt in her garden, tending to the chicks, or engaged in other household chores. She even removed a tick from my neck. I guess the beauty and the benefits of living off the land have chased away her fear of spiders, which once induced blood-curdling screams when she was a child. We’re proud of what she’s accomplished and how she’s carved out her space in the world.

The baby chicks not only fascinated us, they entertained us. We laughed as the baby chicks scratched around in the dirt, climbed over each other, ate their meals, and flicked dirt on themselves when taking dust baths.

Chris was under pressure to complete the chicken coop on wheels in time for the brood to move in. Fortunately, he made it on time.

Jackson and Maya taking a break in the shade

We also enjoyed goofing around while grabbing a meal at Cafe Cusco on C-Street in Springfield, Missouri.

Great lunch at The Little Clay House Tea Room

Although there was plenty of work to do around the house, we managed to take time to explore a few sights while there.

Hidden Waters Nature Park

Nearby is Hidden Waters Nature Park, a segment of the Trail of Tears. Through journals, it was determined that in 1837 the B. B. Cannon group, composed of Cherokee Nation people, passed through the Hidden Waters acreage and used the spring to replenish their water supply.

The 11.3-acre park includes walking trails, ponds, gardens, and plenty more. The Callaway Cabin survived the devastating 1880 tornado and 170 years of development. The cabin stands as a reminder of the modest living pioneers carved out for themselves as they settled in Missouri.

The park is where fourteen springs provide a constant flow of water to the headwaters of the West Fork of the Niangua. After combining with several rivers and tributaries, the water flows into the Gulf of Mexico.

Planning for the park began in 1998 when Dan and Zoann Beckner purchased three acres of land in the center of Marshfield. The couple had something besides a planned housing development in mind for the property. They added a trail, built three bridges to cross the streams, and enlarged three of the natural ponds. Jack Watters, a city alderman, persuaded the city to establish the acreage as a park in 2003.

Come armed to repel mosquitoes. I was not prepared, and the pesky mosquitoes feasted on my legs and arms.

Downtown Marshfield

Our visit coincided with Marshfield’s Harvest Festival, which gave us a chance to check out the town square surrounding the Webster County courthouse. The town of approximately 7,600 had a good turnout, with vendors lining the sidewalk selling their wares, along with food and drink trucks offering refreshments. The music and singing added a lively energy to the atmosphere.

Memorials for those who lost lives during war times are a common site in any town, and Marshfield is not an exception.

What’s that? The Hubble Space Telescope? How is it related to Marshfield, Missouri? A quick search revealed the telescope was named after Edwin Hubble who was born in Marshfield, Missouri, in 1889. It was his discovery and study of the Andromeda Nebula that led to the knowledge that the galaxy in which we live is but one galaxy among millions in the universe. Hubble also has a road named after him in Marshfield.

This Replica of the Hubble Telescope honors Edwin Hubble who was born in Marshfield, Missouri and is 1/4 the size of the actual Hubble still in space

And here are a couple shots of the downtown buildings.

Round Hay Bales

On our way back from the harvest festival, I saw something I’ve waited years to learn more about: round hay bales. I know, it’s silly, but all I ever saw were the cylinder-shaped boulders of hay in fields. I wanted to know how the farmers created those huge round bales. So we drove back to the farm where we saw the men and equipment working.

This piece of equipment rakes the cut hay into a long row.

Then another piece of equipment comes by and vacuums up the hay until it’s full. The equipment wraps a netting around the bale and . . .

Voila! Out pops a round hay bale.

The bales can range from 1.2 to 1.8 meters wide and weigh up to 2,200 pounds (1,000 kg). One large round bale is equivalent to 10 – 15 square bales. Finally, my curiosity satisfied.

Beyond Marshfield

Fair Grove Heritage Reunion

A trip to Fair Grove Heritage Days sounded like a fun outing. The exhibits featured a demonstration of a McCormick threshing machine, a lineup of historic tractors, and another tractor with a pulley that might be a log splitter. I’m not sure.

As with most community celebrations, vendors displayed their items for sale under canopies while others sold food or drinks. And the few stores that occupied the buildings had their doors open for business.

The Duke School is named after the first teacher, Chatham Duke, who was known to use the rod a time or two during his tenure. The original schoolhouse was built in 1846.

The replica school building was reconstructed in 1979 from a log building once owned by Mr. Duke.

I think the antique tractor with the pulley in the photo below had something to do with wood, perhaps log splitting? I noticed a bunch of split wood piled up in stacks.

The heat finally got the best of us, so we didn’t stay too long. A few days later, Laura and I returned to Fair Grove to pick up a dresser she saw, and I spent a few minutes taking photos of the place without the crowds.

I wish the museum would have been open. I can only imagine what treasures hide behind the barn doors.

Askinosie Chocolate Candy Factory

It doesn’t matter how large or small a factory is; we are suckers for a tour of the facilities. The Askinosie Chocolate micro factory did not disappoint. They’re on the famous Commercial Street (also known as C Street) in Springfield, Missouri.

Our guide led the way to where the cocoa beans arrive from around the world. They only use beans from small cocoa farmers who prioritize sustainability, following a Direct Trade approach.

Our guide explained the different types of chocolate and beans

We donned our hair nets before entering the processing section, where our guide detailed the purpose of each machine’s role.

On to the lab, where all the magic happens.

Although I had fun during the tour and found the information interesting, I don’t remember much about the process and that’s okay. I do remember how the chocolate felt on my tongue as it melted in my mouth. Oh, no. Now I have a craving. I better take a break from typing and order a supply of Askinosie chocolate bars.

After our tour, we checked out a couple of buildings nearby on C Street where visitors will find galleries, shops, dining, and regular events to explore.

Up Next: Wonders of Wildlife Museum & Aquarium, Wild Animal Safari, then a trip to the Clinton Presidential Library in Little Rock, Arkansas

Safe Travels

2023 Fall Adventure Part I: Travel to Marshfield, Missouri

On June 13, 2024June 12, 2024 By LToddIn Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Nevada, RV Travel, States, Travel, Utah7 Comments

The first destination on our 2023 Fall Adventure was Marshfield, Missouri, where our daughter, Laura, and her family had settled into their new home. Her hope chest didn’t fit in their moving pod when her husband, Chris, loaded up their belongings, so we volunteered to deliver it. We’d figure out where to go and what to see after the delivery once we made the 7-day trek.

We hit the road on Friday, September 8, 2023. After our awful experience with Interstate 40 during the spring, we opted for highways 50 and 70, also referred to as the Loneliest Road in America.

First stop Fallon Nevada. Thank goodness we missed the deluge that disrupted the Burning Man event 120 miles to the north of us. Then on to Ely Nevada. The wide shoulder outside Austin, Nevada, was a perfect place to take a break. I would have preferred to walk over and explore the gravesites and monuments at the nearby Austin Cemetery. Instead, I snapped a shot from afar. The cemetery earned distinction on the National Register of Historic Places in 2003.

Jon bundled the hope chest inside blankets, covered it with a tarp,
and secured it to the rear hitch rack.

We stopped in Eureka, Nevada, and ate delicious giant burgers at the Owl Club Bar and Steakhouse for lunch. I noticed a recurring theme of red paint with white trim on buildings around town. I imagined a group of people with ladders, brushes, and rollers roaming around, painting the town red.

Closed sign on the tourist information door.

The beautiful canyon we drove through from Ely to Green River nearly made me cry. The painted cliffs in rust and orange and yellow were every bit as majestic from the passenger seat as it would have been up close.

On the way to our next stop, we encountered a contrast to the terrain from what we saw in Utah. The Utah rock gave way to cliffs clothed in grasses, bushes, and trees.

And then we gawked at the architectural genius that skirted the cliff like a tutu. Was it really westbound Interstate 70 up there?

On paper, Denver West/City Center KOA seemed an easy side trip to avoid afternoon traffic in the big city. If I’d only known about the altitude, I might have chosen another location. While Denver sits at an elevation of 5,280 feet, the KOA is nearly 8,500 feet. Although we both had trouble navigating the hill from and to the fifth wheel and the store, it was the hot steamy shower that did me in. The combination of the steam and altitude had me gasping for breath. Note to self, don’t take a steamy hot shower in high altitude.

The hill to the store was steeper than it looks here

On September 12, 2023, we selected Wakeeney, Kansas, for our next stop, halfway between Denver and Kansas City.

We cut it close—I was driving, so I should say I cut it close—the next day when we (I) pulled into the fuel station with only 1.12 gallons of diesel left in the tank. Yikes!

While eating a late breakfast, at Cracker Barrel of course, we discussed finding a spot to stay the night or continue on to Marshfield, Missouri. The back-to-back long drives had worn me down, so I voted to press forward and make our trip six days instead of seven. Jon preferred to park and start off early in the morning. Trading off driving duty made it possible for us to make it all the way through. We won’t do that again soon. Seven hours on the map usually means eight or nine hours after stopping for food and fuel.

As the sun dropped below the horizon, we pulled into C&L Homestead and placed the trailer beside Chris’ workshop. I was so thankful we pushed through because we had two weeks ahead of us without packing and moving down the highway.

Up Next: A look around the homestead and the local area.

Safe Travels

Safari West in Santa Rosa, California

On April 3, 2024April 3, 2024 By LToddIn California, Travel3 Comments

A safari in the Bay Area? Let’s go. I learned of Safari West shortly after we moved to the Bay Area in 1994. Yet, we had never gone because the weather was either too cold or too hot, we were too busy working, or later, we were too busy traveling to other states.

On May 30, 2023, all that busyness and all that travel finally cleared a path for experiencing something closer to home. We packed our bags, loaded up the car, and drove north to Sonoma, California, and Safari West.

We’re used to towing our living quarters behind us wherever we go. So, when I saw the tent cabin on stilts, I wondered what sort of accommodations we’d find behind the door.

A cozy bed, electricity, and a heater was going to work out just fine. A private bath with a sink, toilet, and shower hid behind the African mask door. Unfortunately, no heater in there.

Dinner was a few hours away, so we walked around the grounds, marveling at the flowers, trees, and shrubs that graced the little valley and the surrounding hills. Birds. So many birds. Sweet-tuned birds, chatty-irritating birds. Birds that soared in the sky and birds contained in the aviary. And one bird in particular that sounded like a primate baby with colic.

Off in the distance, antelope grazed on the grass and giraffes nibbled on hay. The giraffes curiously looked at the guests who stared back at the spotted creatures with long legs and long necks.

And flamingos. What would a wildlife preserve be without plenty of flamingos dipping into a pond to find life-sustaining food?

Time for dinner, we headed to the Savannah Cafe where plates of fruit awaited our arrival and we ordered drinks. Someone lit the fire pit while cooks arranged the buffet food in chafing dishes and bowls.

I selected a bit of salad, mac and cheese, roast potatoes, asparagus sprigs and chicken and ribs. The food tasted as good as it looked. Isn’t that always the case when eating outdoors?

If campfires didn’t set me to coughing, it would have been fun to stay and roast marshmallows. Instead, we found a trail and walked around a bit more before heading back to our tent cabin.

With our bellies full and our legs tired, we settled in for the night, and the colicky primate-bird serenaded us all night long.

The next morning, we woke to May-Gray-June-Gloom foggy skies that roll over the hills into the valleys this time of year. Thank goodness the continental breakfast was served inside the Elephant Room, saving us from shivers as we ate our meal.

Typical Bay Area morning during May and June

Even the flamingos huddled together to keep themselves warm.

We explored more of the preserve while waiting for our tour to begin. We found this little lake or pond, colorful flowers, and sculptures I thought were real from afar.

These metal sculptures tricked me into thinking they were real.

Our safari began with a walk through the Amani Oasis Aviary as our guide pointed out the different birds and animals sequestered—as much for their own protection as ours—behind heavy-duty chain wire fencing.

Then we boarded our truck and rocked and rolled across the grounds up and down hills and all around. Our driver stopped at various places for us to snap photos as long as we all stayed inside the vehicle.

Hey, Mom. Look at those funny people in the truck.

Otto, the baby rhino, was born April 2, 2023. He was named after founder Peter Lang’s father. Yes, that Otto Lang who was a famous ski instructor inducted into the U.S. National Ski Hall of Fame in 1978. He also produced and/or directed several movies and TV shows, including four episodes of Daktari in 1966, which I thought fit in nicely with Otto’s name and the preserve.

For several minutes we watched the hawk in the photo below drag his prey away from potential robbers intent on stealing the hawk’s prize.

We missed seeing the birth of the Wildebeest on the left side of the photo below by only a few minutes. The birth was the talk of the preserve over the radio as the news traveled through the airwaves.

Uni-horned Simitar-oryx, not a unicorn. The other horn broke off.

Safari West is a private wildlife preserve founded by Peter and Nancy Lang in the 1990s. They converted 400 rolling acres in the foothills of the Mayacamas Mountains into a world-class wildlife preserve. As the preserve actively promotes conservation and environmental education, they believe the knowledge that guests acquire on the tours will help them make better choices regarding the environment and wildlife conservation.

A quote from their mission statement: “At Safari West it’s all about the animals, always has been, always will be.”

Besides the standard safari, they also offer private tours, photo workshops, behind the scenes and wild adventures, and other programs. Meeting and retreat accommodations are available for businesses, groups, and celebrations.

Although the prices for overnight stays and the safari may seem steep, after learning about the nearly 1,000 animals that share the 400-acre preserve and considering the care and feeding required, the cost seems just about right.

We would have spent much more for the privilege to fight crowds and stand in hour-long lines at Disneyland, and I doubt we will ever travel to Africa to go on safari. So, I’ll be content to have experienced this one in Santa Rosa, California. We may even come back some day for another tour.

Next up: An impromptu trip to La Paz, Baja California Sur.

Safe Travels

The Traveling Todds

Category: States

2023 Fall Adventure Part 3: Wonders of Wildlife National Museum & Aquarium and Wild Animal Safari

Johnny Morris’ Wonders of Wildlife National Museum & Aquarium

Wild Animal Safari Springfield/Strafford

2023 Fall Adventure Part 2: Around the Homestead and Local Area

2023 Fall Adventure Part I: Travel to Marshfield, Missouri

Safari West in Santa Rosa, California

Johnny Morris’ Wonders of Wildlife National Museum & Aquarium

Wild Animal Safari Springfield/Strafford

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