Athens. Paris. Rome. Maybe next year. Okay, how about a jaunt to the coast, or the lakeside cabin owned by the friend of a friend?
Nature is a fine alternative to culture. And amid the water and rocks and trees dwell venues where one can soak up local color and learn the “language” faster than Berlitz on steroids.
Following is a short list of oft overlooked vacay options for those yearning to commune with a foreign species:
Best Friends Animal Sanctuary (BFAS), Kanab, Utah — Ringed by red rock buttes and bathed in scents of sagebrush, BFAS is a place to spend the day, or the week. Tour and/or help tend to one or more of seven separate havens for dogs, cats, horses, pigs, bunnies, birds, or other orphaned wildlife: sixteen hundred residents in all. Stay at a cabin or cottage tucked near the sweeping horse pastures and cliffs of Angel Canyon. Or, hook up your RV for a spell. There’s no sweeter way to roll up your sleeves and go nose-to-snout with the locals. And, who knows? You may leave with a larger family than you arrived with.
Catskill Animal Sanctuary (CAS), Saugerties, New York — “Love Spoken Here” is the waking and walking mantra of every intern and volunteer at CAS. Nestled in the Hudson Valley, the 150-acre ranch is home to an array of farm animals rescued from cruelty, neglect and abuse. Cuddle up to pigs, goats, and horses. The turkeys and geese may be a harder sell, but they’ll surely accept your greeting from a safe distance. More than 5,000 animals have benefitted over the past 22 years. Public tours of the pastoral grounds begin the first Saturday in April and run through November. A charming farmhouse is available to rent. Pre-booking is a must!
Kindness Ranch Animal Sanctuary (KRAS), Hartville, Wyoming — Research is fundamental to advances in medicine, technology and hosts of other disciplines striving to improve our lives. Too often, though, innocent animals suffer as a result. With patience and compassion, KRAS rehabilitates laboratory dogs, cats and bunnies within the breathtaking environs of Guernsey State Park. Animals receive specialized care in hopes they they can one day be adopted. Fully-furnished guest yurts are available on-site, but sell out quickly. KRAS is pet-friendly, so your entire family is welcome to stay!
Society for Animal Rescue and Adoption (SARA) Sanctuary, Sequin, Texas — At this former ranch about an hour outside San Antonio, more than 700 rescued cows, horses, dogs and cats roam with the promise of “Unconditional Life.” SARA is devoted to saving “as many animals as possible regardless of species, special health needs, or temperament,” per their website. Animals unable to be adopted live the rest of their lives swaddled in love and understanding. Euthanasia is reserved for animals suffering with no chance of recovery. If wide open spaces are your jam, book a stay at the barn loft.
An animal sanctuary odyssey may be the ticket to the wide open spaces in your heart.