Lone Elk Park and
World Bird Sanctuary
Lone Elk Park is a fabulous place to see unusual animals interacting with their natural environment in a way that people rarely get to experience. These bison, elk, deer, and other animals are used to the park visitors and aren't shy about posing for pictures! It offers opportunities for hiking and picnicking as well, but this unique park has a lot to offer, just by driving through, too.
Near to the Elk Park, the World Bird Sanctuary offers a similar chance to see both native and non-native birds up close! This outreach group is known for providing educational information to their visitors and for rehabilitating injured birds brought to their site. The caretakers here have a Wildlife Hospital which they use to treat sick or injured animals, as well as occasionally caring for endangered young. Birds they cannot rehabilitate fully or who cannot return to their natural wild habitats are given refuge and positions as the face of the educational conservation movement. The Bald Eagle pictured below was born into captivity, and as I was told, has become quite the liaison for birds in the classrooms of Missouri schools.
Castlewood Park
Castlewood Park is a hidden local wonder! It’s a great place to go hiking, biking, horseback riding, fishing, boating, and swimming or simply picnicking! Lone Wolf Trail, one of its many walking trails, is a peaceful 1.5 mile trek through the forest with peeks of the adjacent Meramec River along the way. The photos captured its natural beauty at the end of winter, and I can only imagine how lush and fabulous it will look when spring is in full bloom! It is a great place to get out and enjoy nature to the fullest!
The Jewel Box
The Jewel Box, in Forest Park, is known for its amazing, one-of-a-kind architecture. But if you’re like me, you've driven past it dozens of times, without ever taking the time to see the tropical oasis hidden inside. Though it was early in the spring when I finally made my first trip into the greenhouse, many of the plants had already begun to bloom and flower in the warm interior. It houses many plants that are not native to the Midwest, and without it, St. Louisans wouldn't have the opportunity to see these exquisite flowers. In a few more weeks, the outdoor plants will rival their indoor counterparts in both colorful summer cheer and beauty!
St. Louis Zoo
I've been to the zoo more times than I can count, but I couldn't wait to go again! Usually, the giraffes and penguins are my favorite exhibits to visit, but this time I went with a mission. In December, two of the zoo’s orangutans became proud new parents! Baby Ginger was born December 14, 2014 to parents Merah (45 years old) and Cinta (10 years old). She was only recently allowed in the public orangutan viewing area and she always attracts a crowd! This particular day, she and her parents as well as two other orangutans, Robert B. and Rubih, were putting on quite a show for the onlookers! Ginger and all of her orangutan family worldwide have become highly endangered due to an excessive loss of habitat as a result of deforestation to meet the demands of global usages of palm oil. Efforts are being made to stop this gross misuse of the orangutans’ homeland, but these efforts are struggling to fight against the ever increasing demands of first world luxuries.
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