Bucket List Adventure

 For Christmas Stacy got us  REI. (Reach Interntional Outfitters). It’s a box with 50 cards in it all with adventure getaways. She chose Illinois for us.    

Our first choice

We chose a low cost, active, outdoors, spring, all day, card. The place was Hanna City. It is a very small town just west of Peoria. (2 hours and 40 minutes away). When we scratch it off we found a QR code for a wildlife Adventure Park. We checked out their website and saw that they had cabins to rent, so we booked one for 2 nights.

I texted Stacy to let her know we were both very excited to set out on our first trip.

When we finally found the park my first thought was OMG this is gonna be fun. 

Park closed at 4

We got maps and brochures with trails  and walks thru the animals  pins so we could plan our 1st day.

Our cabin was right next to the buffalo and elk pin. Walk out to the patio and have lunch with the elk. Still mad at myself for not getting a picture of the albino buffalos.

Mike sitting on the patio

The cabin was new with 2 bedrooms a full kitchen and a fireplace, which we did not need. The temp was 80. I brought our meals with us because when Mike researched the area there were no restaurants near by and we really didn’t want to spend time driving. The only concern was that there was no Wi-Fi so no TV. We both brought books to read, but with the weather so perfect we really wanted to be outside.

The next morning we spent walking around the animal park. It was NOT crowded.I learned that the skunk smell that Sharen and  I were smelling a lot lately when walking in the mornings was from foxes (mating) not actual skunks.

Animal park start

We were definitely getting our steps in. 

After Taking a break for lunch we had more to see - so we hopped on the train that ran thru the park. It was not built for adults. 

We got a ticket to ride 🎶

We passed by a guy fishing from a kayak in a hidden lake.

Mike spotted the lake on one of the maps so with map in hand we go off looking for the hidden lake trail. 

Sure this is the trail we want

We walked 4 miles and never found the damn lake. I was pretty proud of myself I made it without sitting down once. They left tempting spots along the trail too.

It was such a great few days. This may be  Do over.

By Buffalo Park

We can’t wait to go on our next adventure. 

49 more cards to choose from.

Thank You Stacy for thinking of us with this gift. Perfect!