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12 Great Places Where The Wild Things Are

By Nancy Schretter, Editor

With the release of the new movie adaptation of Maurice Sendak's classic children's book, Where the Wild Things Are, families are seeking out wildlife-rich destinations to be the setting for their next family vacation adventure.

Here are 12 spectacular places where 'the wild things' still run free:

1. Tanzania: With 25% of its land set aside for conservation, Tanzania has one of the highest concentrations of wildlife in the world. Tanzania is home to the "Big Five" (lions, leopards, elephants, cape buffalo and rhinoceros) and the Great Migration for nine months of the year. Here, your family can see lions, leopards, elephants, cape buffalo, rhinos, cheetahs, hippos, ostrich, hyenas, warthogs, zebras, giraffes, monkeys, crocodiles, topi, impalas, and hundreds of thousands of migrating wildebeest. To maximize your family's wildlife viewing and enjoyment, book your Tanzania safari with a family-friendly tour operator who knows Africa well. Denver-based Africa Adventure Consultants specializes in safaris and founder Kent Redding has first-hand experience taking his children to Africa. Kent's intimate knowledge of Tanzania and the Great Migration put us in the right places at the perfect time, allowing us to see over 700,000 animals roaming the Northern Serengeti plains and more than 200,000 wildebeest crossing the Mara River near Asilia's Sayari Camp. For the ultimate adrenaline rush, leave the safari vehicles behind and take a walking safari at Oliver's Camp in Tarangire. Kids must be 16 and older to participate.

2. Galapagos Islands: Where can your children swim with sea lions, snorkel with penguins, kayak with manta rays, lounge with strange looking lizards, watch male frigate birds puff their throats into red balloons, and talk to giant tortoises - all in one vacation? Only in the Galapagos Islands, a remote and beautiful chain of islands located 600 miles off the coast of Ecuador. A trip to the Galapagos Islands is the ultimate family eco-adventure. Each day spent here is a living science lesson and a chance to make memories that will last a lifetime. Charles Darwin created a legacy during his five-week stay here, and it is likely that your visit will do the same for your children. Ecoventura offers seven-night cruises aboard their intimate 20-person motor yachts and has achieved an excellent reputation for family-friendly travel. The company offers designated family departures, sailings for families with teens, and new family graduation celebration trips.

3. Alaska: Alaska is like the U.S. equivalent of Kenya or Tanzania. There are so many fabulous places to see wildlife in Alaska that it's impossible to pick just one. In Southcentral Alaska, for example, one can journey to Denali and the Kenai Peninsula for abundant wildlife, as well as Katmai National Park for bear viewing. Families have many choices when planning an Alaska vacation and the variety of choices can be overwhelming. If you design a trip combining both land and water adventures, however, you're likely to maximize your wildlife viewing options. See this article on The Family Travel Network for details and ideas.

4. Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks, Wyoming: Visits to U.S. National Parks were up 5% over last year and the beautiful scenery showcased in Ken Burns' PBS series is expected to spark even more National Park vacations in 2010. Great Teton and Yellowstone National Parks are two areas of the country with some of the most spectacular vistas and wildlife. The Teton Mountain Range is home to the largest, most diverse population of wildlife in North America. Amid the soaring mountains and mighty forests, you'll find moose, bison, elk, wolves, bears, mule deer, mountain lions, bighorn sheep, river otters, and bald eagles - just to name a few. For an insider's view of these areas, go with a family-friendly tour company like Austin-Lehman Adventures to visit off-the-map places most tourists never see.

5. Costa Rica: The lush jungles of Tortuguero on Costa Rica's Caribbean coast offer incredible opportunities for viewing wildlife. Summer months are active here as thousands of Atlantic Green Sea Turtles come to lay their eggs along the area's beaches. Daily boat tours along winding rivers and canals offer excellent opportunities to see monkeys, macaws, toucans, iguanas, sloths, and other wildlife. Tortuga Lodge is a good choice for families in Tortuguero. Along Costa Rica's Pacific Coast, over 120 species of mammals, including monkeys, anteaters, sloths, raccoons, otters, peccaries and tapir can be found in Corcovado National Park. Families visiting Manuel Antonio National Park are likely to see monkeys, sloths, iguanas, toucans and scarlet macaws. In addition, hundreds of thousands Olive Ridley sea turtles and endangered Leatherbacks nest in protected areas along the Pacific Coast.

6. Kenya: ABC's Good Morning America recently named Kenya's Maasai Mara Reserve as one of the new Seven Wonders of the World - and for good reason. The Great Migration of over 1.5 million wildebeest, zebras and gazelles from Tanzania's Serengeti plains to the Mara is one of the most spectacular wildlife shows on earth. CBS News' 60 Minutes recently aired a program on the Great Migration recently, suggesting that the future of this amazing spectacle may be endangered and wildlife lovers should come to this amazing circle of life soon. Kenya has so much more to offer than just the migration, however. In addition to having all of the "Big Five," families can see cheetahs, hippos, ostrich, hyenas, warthogs, zebras, giraffes, monkeys, crocodiles, topi, impalas, and endangered wildlife found nowhere else on earth. Visit Samburu and Maasai villages for memorable cultural exchange experiences and play in the Indian Ocean at resorts along the coast. Heritage Hotels serves up a wide variety of family friendly options for families on a Kenya safari. The hotel group provides extensive programs for families at their Intrepid and Voyager properties, with an Adventurers Club for children ages 4-12 as well as a Young Rangers Club for teens at selected locations.

7. Georgia's Coastal Islands: Little St. Simons Island, a 10,000 acre unspoiled private island resort with seven miles of deserted beaches, is home to a rich variety of wildlife - and only 30 guests. European fallow deer, armadillos, American alligators, wild turkey and over 280 species of birds can be found here, along with nesting Loggerhead sea turtles during the summer months. Nearby Cumberland Island is America's largest wilderness island, home to nesting sea turtles as well as manatees, wild horses, white tail deer, bobcats, armadillos, raccoons, otters and over 300 species of birds. This island was originally home to the Carnegies as well as other prominent families, and mansions and ruins are located throughout the island. Come over for the day, camp overnight, or stay at the historic Greyfield Inn.

8. Moose Alley, Maine: Route 3 running from Pittsburg north to the Canadian border, affectionately dubbed "Moose Alley," is a great place to take a moose safari. The best times to see these huge majestic creatures are in the early morning and at dusk. A nationally designated "Watchable Wildlife Corridor" is also located nearby on Route 26 from Errol to Colebrook, with viewing stations positioned along the way. This is the only "Watchable Wildlife Corridor" highway east of the Mississippi. Stay at The Balsams, NH, a lovely historic resort offering moose safari tours, wildlife hikes, and a variety of nature-oriented activities. Journey across the state line into northern Maine, where moose are also plentiful, and take a safari by water or land in the Moosehead Lake region to see moose, bobcat, black bear, beaver, otter, and other wildlife.

9. Glacier Country, Montana: Take a trip to the National Bison Range where about 300-500 buffalo roam approximately 18,500 acres along with elk, bighorn sheep, black bear, white-tailed and mule deer, pronghorn antelope, coyote, and Rocky Mountain goats. Over 200 species of birds can also be found in this area. The best time to visit is mid-May through mid-September. More wildlife viewing is available at Glacier National Park. The park area is home to 272 species of birds and 63 types of native mammals, including grizzly bears, mountain goats, deer, and marmots.

10. The Amazon: Pink and gray river dolphins call the Amazon home, along with sloths, giant otters and nocturnal animals such as caimans and capybaras. In addition, more than 100 species of birds can be found in the region including scarlet macaws, black-collared hawks, jabiru storks, horned screamers and colorful Amazon parrots. Kids, of course, are always fascinated by the region's resident piranha. International Expeditions' family-friendly voyages cover 600 miles along the Amazon, Ucayali and Marañón Rivers of Peru aboard their 28-passenger ship. Sometimes referred to as a “classroom without walls,” the jungles International Expeditions explores are home to extraordinary wildlife and biodiversity. Families also get acquainted with ribereño (river people) culture when they visit a local village and its school.

11. Everglades National Park, Florida. Everglades National Park, the country's third largest park consisting of 1.4 million acres, is teeming with wildlife. Take a safari through a lush sea of grass to see manatees, crocodiles, deer, water buffalo, bison, wild hogs, alligators, roseate spoonbills, herons, hawks, eagles, and a wide variety of other birds. The Seminole Tribe of Florida leads daily Billie Swamp Safaris through Big Cypress Reservation, while the National Park provides guided boat tours by boat narrated by Park-trained naturalists. Naturalist-led tram tours are also available.

12. Fraser Island, Australia: If your family loves nature and adventure, consider visiting the largest sand island in the world - Fraser Island. Rent a 4WD and drive along the beach, or drive through the spectacular rain forest and bush to see wild dingos, wild horses, and lots of other creatures. Drives along the beach will yield multi-colored sand cliffs, shipwrecks, and tons of bird life. If you go to Fraser from August through October, you can take a cruise out to see the humpback whales. If you'd like to stay on Fraser overnight, check out the Kingfisher Bay Resort. It features upscale accommodations, restaurants, pools, a beach, watersports, bush walks, ranger-guided 4WD eco-tours, and their own whale watching cruises in-season. If Australia's Barrier Reef sounds more inviting, don't miss Heron Island. In addition to fantastic snorkeling and scuba diving, an amazing array of wildlife can be found here. Located in a World Heritage area, Heron Island is a major nesting site for both Green and Loggerhead turtles and a breeding and nesting sanctuary for a variety of birds.