Stay and play
These four wildlife-focused destinations will help bring out the planet protector in your child.
Galápagos Islands
Meet endangered Galápagos giant tortoises, join National Geographic photographers on nature walks, and explore via kayak and paddleboard on this cruise from National Geographic Expeditions. Bonus: Through the Nat Geo Global Explorers program, kids can get the scoop on storytelling and exploring from the pros.
Buffalo Gap, South Dakota
Descendants of horses brought to North America by Spanish explorers in the late 1400s and early 1500s, Spanish mustangs are called by some “America’s heritage horse. Families can take a historical walking tour with the Windcross Conservancy and learn about these horse’s history and protection efforts. Help care for the animals, assist trainers, or just sit back and observe.
Newfoundland, Canada
The Puffin and Petrel Patrol, an all-ages group of local volunteers, ensures that the largest puffin colony in North America continues to grow. Registered guests are trained to rescue juvenile puffins and petrels at night—when they can be confused by artificial light—then release them in the right direction in the morning.
Mytle Beach, South Carolina
Female loggerhead turtles lay their eggs on the South Carolina coast each year between May and August. Kids can join public walks between June and August to help keep the beach clear for the hatchlings to scurry to the water. (Everything from litter to sandcastles can impede their routes.) For a peek at turtle nesting sites or hatchlings, check in for ranger-led nighttime beach walks at Edisto Beach State Park in June and July.
