For some reason, I have been more into finding interesting places to go with the kids during the past few weeks. We have plenty of fun at home, but Dylan always enjoys new experiences and so do I. As an added bonus, Blake seems to enjoy new experiences too. He is usually either watching whatever we are doing intently or sleeping soundly, all from the front carrier that I wear him in. Today, our big adventure was visiting a local raptor center to see the birds of prey and spend some time walking on different trails than the ones that are right near our house.
While not all states have raptor centers, some places do. Of course, if your toddler is terrified of large birds like hawks and eagles it may not be a good idea to visit one. If your little explorer thinks that owls are outstanding and eagles are excellent, you may want to see if there is one in your area.
The raptor center that we went to is called VINS, the Vermont Institute of Natural Science. It is located in Quechee, Vermont. Dylan likes owls, and he was very excited at the prospect of seeing one up close. Every night, we can hear the calls of Barred Owls in the woods by our house. Since they are nocturnal, we never see them. I did not know whether that particular type of owl would be at VINS, but I did know that there would be at least some owls as well as other large birds.
We had a great time seeing all of the birds in their enclosures and learning the stories of how they all came to call VINS their home. Each bird was rescued and has some type of disability which makes its survival in the wild unlikely. There is even a raptor rehab center on the premises but we did not take a tour since I thought that Dylan might not remain quiet through that and, more importantly that seeing the injured birds in the operating room could make him feel sad. Dylan loved the birds, and he also loved the nature trails that looped around the property. We spent a few hours out there, and I got some nice exercise as we soaked up the natural beauty of the woodlands. There was also a great exhibit hall with tanks of frogs, turtles, and other wetland wildlife. If your toddler likes the outdoors, a raptor center may be a fun place to visit.