Ways to go Wild with Your Family in Nature this Fall

by Michele Cheplic | More from this Blogger

03 Oct 2008 07:38 PM

It's fall... which means most of us only have a few more weeks before Mother Nature's bitter joke that is winter has us hibernating in our homes until spring. Don't let autumn's natural beauty pass you by. Dads, forget about football for one day, and moms, consider running errands during the week so you can use one of fall's fleeting weekends to take the entire family outdoors for an adventure in nature.

One idea: Head to your local wildlife refuge.

Hundreds of wildlife refuges around the nation are using Halloween as a way to showcase creatures that are nocturnal or have other spooky associations. For example, the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge in eastern North Carolina is planning a free "Howl-O-Ween" safari the weekend before Halloween. Your entire family is invited to participate in a howl-a-thon in an effort to get the park's red wolves to howl back.

Meanwhile, at the Wallkill River National Wildlife Refuge, bordering New Jersey and New York in Vernon Township, New Jersey, your clan can learn about their favorite night owls (and other creatures) during "Nocturnal Creature Night," October 25th. Tour guides will be decked out in animal costumes teaching kids about the curious critters who sleep all day and work all night.

If you live in the western part of the country consider heading to Montana's Bitterroot Valley, on Halloween night. That's when the visitor center plans to host a campfire gathering called "Get Wild at Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge." Participants will learn about nocturnal creatures and hear a few spooky tales about animals and their caretakers.

If your kids are more interested in sea adventures than ones that involve land animals head to North Carolina's Southern Outer Banks. The region (which earned the nickname the "Graveyard of the Atlantic" because some 2,000 ships sank off its coast) is promoting "Ghosts on the Coast" this fall, highlighting local haunted houses, pirate tales and maritime heritage.

Michele Cheplic writes about red-hot celebrities in POP CULTURE, fiery topics in PARENTS, sizzling recipes in FOOD, calorie burning exercises in FITNESS, and hot new kid-friendly crafts in FUN. Check out all of her articles here.

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Learn more about Michele Cheplic

Michele Cheplic was born and raised in Hilo, Hawaii, but now lives in Wisconsin. Michele graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in Journalism.

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