Family Safari within 90 minutes of Dallas? You bet. Forget Disney - Fossil Rim Wildlife Center can be the adventure your family is waiting for.
Would you like to on a safari? If you live in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex or anywhere within 100-250 miles from Glen Rose, Texas, then you’re in luck. Fossil Rim Wildlife Center takes you on safari in one day, close to home and on a budget.
Balancing working in a start-up company and leisure time isn’t easy. Add in two children under four years of age and it really gets challenging. The solution? Get creative and start Google-ing.
I have heard of Glen Rose for a few years, but for one reason or the other, did not take the time to investigate its possibilities. So when my wife said to me: “I want to do something fun with the kids that we can do in one day”, my response was “Honey, we live in Texas! Unless you want to ‘teleport us’ to the tropical beach somewhere, I am not sure how far we can go and what we can see.” Undeterred, she got online and before I knew it, we were driving to Glen Rose.
I would not call a drive from Dallas-Fort Worth to Glen Rose a “must-see” scenic driving experience, but if you appreciate Texas charm, it’s quite enjoyable. Spring is by far the best time to do it, because everything is green, the flowers are blooming and the temperature is a very nice (almost chilly by Texas standards) 75 degrees.
When we drove through Glen Rose, I was surprised to see quite a few modern hotels and RV park signs. So if you want to make a weekend or even a week out of it, you definitely can. Our goal was to see the animals at the Fossil Rim, but as we drove there, we saw plenty of other interesting activities such as:
Getting to the wildlife center is a snap. The signs are easy to follow and parking is generous at the entrance. Check the center’s website for the latest fees, offers and discounts as these may vary from time to time.
The park is HUGE. Huge even by Texas standards. This is no trip to the zoo. This is you being part of the zoo. Plan to spend a minimum of two hours driving in the park. When we were buying our tickets, we overheard someone say: “oh, you can see everything in 30 minutes.” Mmmmm, not true and for a good reason.
There is so much to see at the Fossil Rim, that it is best to drive out early and bring a picnic basket. Although we stopped at a city park for lunch (with swings for the kids) before going inside Fossil Rim, there are facilities inside the park that are isolated from the animals where you can pull out all of your plunder and set up in comfort and enjoy the views, the animals and your grub. There is a small restaurant in the park as well. Check the site for the menu and other details.
Two things are a must to bring: good digital camera and good set of compact binoculars. You will have so many opportunities to take pictures of the animals that you normally see in Africa that you will feel like you are on a safari and if you bring your camera, you will have pictures to prove it. Depending on the time of day and the weather conditions, not all animals will be throwing themselves at your vehicle for some food. Many will be lying under the trees.
A good pair of roof prism binoculars will come in handy when trying to spot that elusive cheetah.
There is a great observation point in the middle of the park (it’s the same spot as where the restaurant and a gift shop are) and if you bring a spotting scope, you may have a unique opportunity to observe the life of the animals from a distance while sipping your soft drink and munching a burger (granted, that may not be your traditional safari, but hey, it’s better than sitting at home watching reruns of Dora the Explorer).
Fossil Rim is awesome for kids. We have a 3.5 year-old son and a 20 month-old daughter and they were ready to jump out of the vehicle at the sight of the first antelope. They also loved the zebras and giraffes! You can purchase a small bag of feed at the entrance to the park, but please follow the feeding rules.
The rhino exhibit towards the exit of the park is a magnificent sight. These animals are bigger than your Suburban and yet they are gentle with each other and graceful as they move.
Bottom line: get off the couch, pack your kids in the car, bring a picnic and go exploring in your own back yard.
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