Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom Protecting the Wild Co-Host Peter Gros is back with some of his top places to explore nature and see wildlife. Check out Peter’s picks, including family vacation spots, childhood favorites and Protecting the Wild filming locations you can visit.
Peter Gros’ family favorite spots
One thing about having a wildlife host for a dad, you’re probably going to spend a lot of time outside. At least that was the case for Peter’s kids. The Gros family spent many vacations camping, hiking, rafting and spending time together outdoors. Their trips ranged from well-known destinations to smaller sites with fewer crowds, giving them greater opportunities to see native species. Here are some of their favorite spots.
1. Rogue River, Oregon
Southern Oregon is home to the Rogue River, where snow runoff from the Cascade mountains heads to the Pacific Ocean. Peter suggests heading out to the river near the town of Grants Pass. The area is full of pine trees and boasts a rocky-shored river.
To really experience the river, go through a river rafting outfitter. Peter suggests spending three days on your adventure. The company will pack your food, bring it to your campsite and help you set up each night. You’ll be able to focus on the fun of the rapids and the good conversations around the campfire each night.
“We did that trip once and everybody just loved it,” Peter said.
Along the way, look for a variety of fish including salmon, trout and green sturgeon. Other animals you may encounter include black bears, bald eagles, ospreys, green herons and mallards.
“You’ll see eagles up there when the salmon are spawning and are sure to catch lots of deer around the raft site as well as raccoons,” Peter said.
Check out Peter’s tips to for safe camping around wildlife.
2. Sly Park, California
In between Lake Tahoe and Sacramento is Sly Park, California. It’s a great place to introduce people to comfortable camping or for young families, Peter said, because of access to toilets and water. Use your campsite as base camp and spend time kayaking and hiking.
“The alpine lake is surrounded by manzanita trees, a red hardwood with a pungent aroma,” Peter said. “When we used to drive up there, we’d be five miles from the lake and our black lab in the backseat would start racing around because he could smell it and know we were there!”
Peter’s family enjoyed mountain biking the 8-mile trail around the lake where they’d see bald eagles and deer. His kids went there from a young age. They explored the area first in a front pack before they could walk! Later, they’d go in small rafts and eventually up to kayaking, canoeing and waterskiing.
Get Peter’s outdoor packing guide.
3. Adirondack Mountains, New York
Growing up in upstate New York, Peter was surrounded by ponds, streams and access to beautiful wilderness. As a child, he’d visit towns in the Adirondack Mountains, such as Elizabethtown, Lake George and Lake Placid.
“We’d take day trips hiking along the Lake Placid area, where the Olympics were held in 1932 and 1980,” Peter said. A big tip for visitors — pack your mosquito repellant! The pesky bugs can be abundant in the area.
Around the Adirondacks, you may see black bears, Adirondack moose, white-tailed deer, foxes, bobcats and beavers.
4. New York countryside
Throughout the New York countryside, look out for wild turkeys — a conservation success story! This native bird used to have a large population south of the Adirondacks, but its population dwindled when early European settlers arrived. By the 1840s, wild turkeys disappeared from the state.
A century later, New York state’s conservation department established a healthy breeding program to reintroduce the species to the state. Today, around 180,000 turkeys once again live in New York.
You can find wild turkeys in the forest as well as farmland. Look for their tracks in snow or listen to their gobbles, yelps and clucks!
5. Mount Katahdin, Maine
For hikers, a must-see destination is Katahdin, Maine — the northern end of the Appalachian Trail. Most thru-hikers (those who hike the entire 2,198 miles of the trail) end their journey here after starting in Georgia to follow the best weather conditions.
Even if you’re just going for the day, Mount Katahdin isn’t for beginners. At 5,259 feet, it’s the highest mountain in the state. But everyone can enjoy the surrounding rivers, wetlands and forests on lower ground.
“I recommend people go there in the fall when all the colors are turning,” Peter said. “It’s full of both hardwood and deciduous trees.” Visitors may also see moose, black bears, Canada lynx and river otters in the area.
6. Costa Rica
A great destination for wildlife lovers is Costa Rica, known for its ecotourism. With rainforests in every corner of the country, visitors can enjoy a wide range of wildlife species. Native species include scarlet macaws, jaguars, ocelots, red-eyed tree frogs, mantled howler monkeys and sloths.
“I would definitely put Costa Rica on your list of affordable, beautiful places,” Peter said. “Go if you want to see rainforest animals, monkeys and sloths and copious amounts of butterflies and birds.”
For a really unique experience, Peter suggests visiting Tortuguero National Park. The area is famous for its turtles. Green sea turtles, leatherback and hawksbill species all nest along the beaches.
“The kind of tourists that are coming to Costa Rica are going there to not do harm. They’re going there not to leave a footprint but take pictures of wildlife and enjoy what it’s like to be able to spend time in an active rainforest at a very high comfort level,” Peter said. The perfect destination for a Wild Kingdom fan!
Travel to places featured on Protecting the Wild
For the ultimate Wild Kingdom summer, check out these spots featured on Season 1 of Protecting the Wild!
7. Channel Islands, California
Featured in “Lost Fox of the Channel Islands”
Travel to California’s Channel Islands National Park for a wild adventure. Comprised of five islands — Santa Cruz, Anacapa, Santa Rosa, Santa Barbara and San Miguel — this national park can be reached by boat from the visitor’s center on mainland Ventura. After a one-to-three-hour boat ride, enjoy each island’s unique wildlife.
Peter and Co-Host Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant traveled to Santa Cruz Island to film the Channel Island fox, an animal once listed on the endangered species list. Read about the Channel Island fox’s road to recovery.
But it wasn’t Peter’s first time to the islands. His family actually visited Santa Cruz before the foxes were reintroduced!
“This is when there was still a working ranch there and there were still invasive species,” Peter said. “There was wild boar, there were golden eagles. One of the eagles’ favorite foods were foxes.”
Today the island is a protected site and invasive species have been removed so native species like the fox can once again enjoy the island.
Visitors can enjoy camping, sail boating and hiking without crowds.
“Oftentimes we were in our little dingy and we’d be the only people on the beach,” Peter said.
8. Coastal Maine
Featured in “Puffin Island”
To spot one of the most iconic stars of Protecting the Wild, head to the coastal Maine towns of Boothbay Harbor and New Harbor. Head on an Audubon Seabird Institute cruise to see the Atlantic puffins thriving colony on Easter Egg Rock Island. Though you can’t go on the island, you’ll take a tour around it and see this incredible wildlife conservation story in action.
9. Point Reyes, California
Featured in “Mysteries of the Great White”
Point Reyes National Seashore in northern California is a great for a coastal hike and to see wildlife. You’ll have the opportunity to see harbor seals featured on Protecting the Wild, as well as northern elephant seals. You may even catch a glimpse of a great white in the ocean!
10. Bracken Cave and Austin, Texas
Featured in “The Bats of Texas”
If you want to see wildlife but aren’t too keen on camping, consider heading to Texas. There, you can view the wonders of the Mexican free-tail bat in downtown Austin and nearby Bracken Cave.
The cave is home to the largest known bat maternity colony in the world where millions of young bats are born each year. Visitors can hear from a bat expert before seeing the bats emerge at dusk.
“Literally millions of bats come flying out there — probably as many bats as you want to see at a time!” Peter said.
While you’re in the area, be sure to check out Congress Avenue Bridge in downtown Austin, the world’s largest urban bat colony. Bats emerge nightly from March to October, a spectacle any nature lover must see!
Whether you visit one of Peter’s picks, venture off on your own or simply enjoy the nature in your backyard, take time to see wildlife this summer.
“With our busy jobs, it’s nice to allow time each year to go spend time in the natural world. You’re able to keep this balance that I think we all need, Peter said.
Check out more tips from Peter, such as how to have a safe summer vacation and his guide to visiting national parks.
Plus, see Dr. Rae’s favorite spots to view wildlife.
