OrganicBunny.com

OrganicBunny.com Travel

Are you looking for something interesting to do?
by Laura

Something that doesn't involve going to the mall and/or watching movies? Well, what about a little trek into nature? I bet you’d be surprised what remarkable places lie just beyond your own front door.

For example, did you know that you could participate in a Christmas Bird Count? Or how about an annual spring amphibian count? Or - ever want to visit a carnivorous plant preserve? Observe salmon returning to spawn, or butterflies emerging, or bald eagles nesting? Ever want to hear coyotes howling during the peak of their mating season? Or sandhill cranes raising a ruckus? How about watching 6 million Mexican free-tailed bats take flight at dusk?

You really can do this cool stuff - just by visiting one of The Nature Conservancy’s nature preserves. They’ve got ‘em in every state in the nation, and their website can provide you with all kinds of great info before you go.

http://nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states

When you click on the link to your local preserve, they tell you its location, size, what to see there (notable plants or animals to look for), and why the Conservancy picked the site as a preserve (the environmental significance of the site). They also tell you how to prepare for your visit: if there’s an admission fee; what the operating hours are; if there are special guided walks, programs, workshops, or field trips; if there are any hazards you should know about, like steep cliffs or poison oak in the area; info on parking, whether picnicking & pets are allowed, etc.

And while you may be thinking that there’s nothing to do in the cold months of winter, you could be wrong. For example, according to the site, the last 2 weeks of January are “the peak of wintering bald eagle concentration” and the best time to see the birds at all southern Illinois preserves.

Even if events don’t heat up in your area until the spring, you can still surf the site to learn about local flora & fauna, and/or plan the cool day trips you’ll take when the weather warms up! (Some parks even offer canoeing and overnight stays).

Other reasons why this site gets a Bunny seal of approval:

Really gorgeous pictures. You can enjoy them yourself, or send free e-cards to your friends.

Nothing good on TV? Watch videos and slideshows from exotic locations around the globe.

Got a science project? They have a list of recent science publications & studies, some of which are available online via links, as well as a link to an online public library maintained by conservation organizations.

Think you know it all? Test your knowledge with nature quizzes.

Gift ideas including donations, memorial gifts, and store that has stuff from shirts to travel bags to books.

If you’re feeling really adventurous, check out the Travel section of the site, where they have information about customized nature travel tours from hiking Mt. St. Helens to kayaking in Alaska to exploring the rainforests of Brazil!

http://nature.org/aboutus/travel/

So, whether you’re curious or just plain bored, I’d encourage you to check out The Nature Conservancy. You could end up getting outside for a little exercise and fresh air, and maybe learning something new about the world around you.