THINGS 26

PUBLISHER Suzanne Steiner suz@simplykcmag.com

MANAGING EDITOR Brennan Hallock of Hallock Writing & Design editor@simplykcmag.com

PHOTOGRAPHY Jami Bowman of Electric Imagez, Jenny Wheat of Wheat Photography, Melanie McDowell, Matt Meier Photography, Courtney Zeigenhorn, Zac Grimaldo, Diana Pearl Photography, Yoga with Adriene, Molly Kuplen

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Julie Burton, Rebecca Fischer, Madison Obermeyer, Shannon E. Roesgen, Sophie Oswald, T.E. Cunningham, Judy Goppert, Gina Reardon, AdventHealth, Tiffany Killoren

ART DIRECTOR Julie Faerman, Whoo Design

ADVERTISING Gretchen McGraw, Sales 620.474.5859 gretchen@simplykcmag.com

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SPRING BREAK

WITH GIRAFFES

WRITTEN BY JULIE BURTON

There is one week in March where there seems to be no rules. You can turn off your email, dig your feet in the sand, and listen to the roar of the ocean. Or you can take a few ski runs before relaxing in a hot tub in the mountains. Spring break is the time you can get away from work, school, and what’s left of Old Man Winter. But 2021 brings its own set of rules.

Planning a vacation during a pandemic can be done, but it’s not easy. Domestic travel is more appealing when you can travel by car, stay outdoors, and have enough room to avoid crowds.

Visiting a zoo is one way to accomplish this. You can see zebras, chimpanzees, and even pet a camel while it sticks its head in your car window. Dive in with the penguins—we’re bringing you the best zoos in the Midwest.

To the North Omaha, Nebraska

Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium omahazoo.com

Drive time: 2 hours 45 minutes It’s consistently ranked one of the best zoos in the world, and it’s less than three hours away. This 130-acre biological park, home to over 900 species, offers plenty of space for families to run wild while keeping a safe distance from others.

Omaha’s climate has temperatures that vary from summer to winter, but inside the zoo is a different story. Walk through the wet tropics of the Amazon, the largest indoor rainforest in North America. Then warm up in the dry heat of the desert inside the world’s largest indoor desert.

When you’re done viewing the animals on land, take a dive into the ocean inside the aquarium. Walk along the bottom of the ocean, watch sharks circle above you in the shark tunnel, and get a feel for a penguin’s life in Antarctica.

Also check out: Want one last winter hurrah while you’re in Omaha? Check out the always snowy Mt. Crescent Ski Area, a mountainous terrain built by gold medalist skier Stein Eriksen.

To the South Goddard, Kansas

Tanganyika Wildlife Park twpark.com

Drive time: 3 hours 10 minutes If your kids like to get more hands-on with animals, head to Goddard, Kansas, a quick 20-minute drive from Wichita. Tanganyika Wildlife Park is the only park in the U.S. with 10 interactive encounters where you can touch, feed, and even ride unique animal species.

Tanganyika opens March 13, and you can arrange a private “meet and greet” with animals such as otters, penguins, cats, porcupines, and lemurs where touching, feeding, and playing is permitted. Or choose a behind-thescenes experience with a zookeeper. Want to be adventurous on your own? No problem. Many of Tanganyika’s exhibits allow guests to feed a wide variety of animals.

Also check out: The animals don’t all live at Tanganyika. Head to Sedgwick County Zoo in Wichita, Kansas. It has the largest elephant pool in the country.

To the East Strafford, Missouri

Wild Animal Safari animalsafari.com

Drive time: 2 hours 40 minutes If the unpredictable Midwest weather makes you nervous, you don’t even have to leave your car at Wild Animal Safari in Strafford, Missouri. This five-mile drive-thru is spread over 350 acres where animals run free. The animals are not limited to the native deer, turkey, and birds. Tell the kids to watch for elk, water buffalo, and wildebeest. You may even have a camel stick its head in your window! Tigers, hyenas, and zebras can also be spotted from the comfort of your car.

Also check out: Wild Animal Safari is in between Lake of the Ozarks (to the north) and Table Rock Lake (to the south). Both lakes offer many outdoor adventures for the family.

To the West Manhattan, Kansas

Sunset Zoo sunsetzoo.com

Drive time: 1 hour 50 minutes Manhattan, Kansas, is not only home to Kansas State University, it’s also home to over 200 animals at the Sunset Zoo, one of the most affordable zoos in the state. This 26-acre zoo puts kids up close to tigers, leopards, and flamingos. And if you have a child curious about what it’s like to work with animals, Sunset Zoo offers a behind-the-scenes with a zookeeper.

Also check out: The K-State Insect Zoo is owned and operated by the university. It includes a flooded Amazonian rainforest, a tropical night house (cave), a beehive, and a mock kitchen filled with bugs.

All zoos ask that you bring your masks and plan ahead by reserving a day and time to keep the crowds to a minimum. Be sure to check the websites for updated COVID-19 information.