The Tracy Aviary is a perfect place for visitors to get up close and learn about birds from the USA and around the world. Patricia Lawrence and Douglas Roycroft are exploring this world class private aviary, open to the public since 1938, with knowledgeable aviary staff.
Wildthings and Vision Quest Ranch is home to elephants, tigers, and other wild animals from around the world. Guests can getup close and interact with and care for some of the animals. Patricia Lawrence is exploring Wildthings with foundering president Charlie Sammut.
Audio Journeys explore Yosemite National Park, California via a tram. Spring is a great time to visit Yosemite; when birds and wildflowers flowers abound. Our tour guide tells us about rock climbers, Miwok natives, the swift flowing Merced River and other superlatives of Yosemite. One of the oldest parks in the nation, Yosemite was make a national park in 1890, and designated a World Heritate Site in 1984.
Audio Journeys explore the (disputed) headwaters of the Mississippi River with park rangers. A trail takes us to a spring coming out of the ground in the Minnesota mountains. The spring forms a pool before gliding from the rocks to become the mighty Mississippi River, most people believe. Itasca is a derivative of two Greek words, true and source.
Audio Journeys explore the Tamastslikt Cultural Institute in Pendleton Oregon. This 35,000 square foot cultural center is a working monument to the past, present and future of three native tribes of south eastern Oregon. Tamstslikt celebrates the traditions of Cayuse, Umatilla and Walla Walla Tribes. It means turning something over. The Center's Education Manager is our guide.
Oglala Sioux elder, Johnson Holy Rock speaks with Patricia Lawrence about the Black Hills of South Dakota and why the tribe will not cash the check the US Federal Government gave them to pay for their sacred mountains. And we speak with Chief Oliver Red Cloud, 85 year old grandson of Chief Red Cloud, one of the signers of the Fort Laramie Treaty that granted the Black Hills to the Sioux Nation.
A few hours drive from most major USA cities, there is a National Wildlife Refuge. Wildlife Refuges are artificial habitats ment to entice wildlife away from farms and cities. Our tour brings us very close to nature.
The Mammoth Site of Hot Springs South Dakota announced in 2011 it now has discoverd 60 specimens of prehistoric animals in this unique paleontological site, where more than 26,000 years ago, large Columbian and woolly mammoths were trapped and died in a spring-fed pond: now the in-situ Mammoth Site in Hot Springs, South Dakota. Dr. Larry Agenbroad, founder of the site is our guide.
Patricia Lawrence is riding in the back of a Photo Safari truck at San Diego Zoo's Wild Animal Park. These trucks are one of several ways visitors can get up close to some of the most endangered animals in the world. Most of the animals that live in San Diego Zoo's Wild Animal Park represent the last individuals of their species any where on Earth
Lassen Volcanic National Park is a year round wonderland. The 13th park in the system, Lassen VNP has all four types of volcanoes within its boundary. In winter vehicles giveway to snow shoes and cross country skiis. Patricia Lawrence is on a snowshoe walk down the middle of the snow covered park road with naturalist Ranger Steve Zachary.
Over 100 years of automobile history are celebrated at Murphy's Car Museum in Oxnard California. There are over 50 cars in the indoor museum that visitors can get close to and sometimes sit in.
