| All aboard as we travel to the Antelope Valley in search of nature’s beauty…in the form of wildflowers and big cats! Each spring, the Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve comes alive with wildflowers creating a mosaic of color that changes daily. It’s common this time of year to see poppies, owl's clover, lupine, goldfield, cream cups and coreopsis, to name a few. Enjoy an included boxed lunch along with time at leisure to explore this State Natural Reserve. Accessible trails (including a paved section) through the gentle rolling hills make the park a wonderful place to stroll regardless of the bloom. Benches along the trails make good places to relax in the quietude of the countryside while watching for wildlife such as meadow larks, lizards, gophers and hawks gliding silently overhead. This afternoon, enjoy a docent-guided tour of the Feline Conservation Center, better known as “The Cat House” – dedicated to the protection and preservation of the world’s most endangered felines. This breeding zoo and research facility is home to 18 different species including tiger, leopard, jaguar, bobcat, snow leopard, fishing cat, serval, ocelot, Eurasian lynx, Canada lynx and others. You’ll see many of these cats and learn about the efforts made here to preserve these species. This tour involves moderate walking. The duration and intensity of all wildflower blooms varies from year to year and blooms are never guaranteed. |