Choose you own adventure with Special Journeys this summer. This vacation is all about what YOU want to do, so make sure you choose wisely to have the most exciting trip ever! At each location you’ll have to be the one to make the decision of which activity you would like to do. Maybe you really love animals, and you want to see and learn about animals at both destinations, or maybe you’re a thrill seeker and want to ride roller coasters at both destinations. OR maybe you’re a little bit of both, and animal lover AND thrill seeker so you switch it up. Whatever you choose, you choose your own adventure!

Toledo Zoo OR Cedar Pointe Amusement Park in Ohio
Cedar Pointe Amusement Park
If you’re ready to seek some thrills there’s no other place to do that than the iconic Cedar Pointe Amusement Park, and boy, do we have the perfect ride for you. Take your seat at the world-famous Millennium Force coaster. This coaster was designed for the sole purpose of proving that bigger is better. This is the tallest roller coaster and the first to top 300 feet AND it debuted having the longest drop and fastest speed topping out at 93 miles per hour. If you’re looking for more thrills, step onto the Corkscrew, which was the first coaster in the world that featured three inversions! Strap in and brace yourself because it’ll turn you up, down, around, inside out and back again. There are so many amazing roller coasters at Cedar Pointe it will literally take all day to ride them! Besides coasters there are some unique stores and attractions to explore all around the 324-acre park which might even include some of the Peanuts characters. What an amazing day it will be if you choose this adventure!

Toledo Zoo
Now, if you’re here for the animals, we’ve got you. You’ll choose the Toledo Zoo for your adventure. With over 10,000 individual animals representing over 720 species, The Toledo Zoo is one of the world’s most complete zoos. We will see Tasmanian devils…. No, we’re not talking about the cartoon character! You may even get a chance to hear their loud screams which is how they earned their ‘devil’ nickname. If you like monkeys, you’ll have to take some time to see the Colobus exhibit. These monkeys are completely white when born, then their fur starts to turn black as they age. They’re also probably the messiest eaters you’ve ever seen! We will also get a chance to see their spectacular aquarium. At this newly renovated venue you’ll see fish that glow in the dark, sea turtles, sea nettles, and many more exotic animals.

Our next destination brings us to Kansas City where you’ll choose your next adventure!

Kansas City Zoo OR Worlds of Fun in Kansas
Worlds of Fun
On this adventure we head to Worlds of Fun in Kansas City. When they say ‘World’ they mean it.. it holds ‘world-record attractions, world-famous food and world-class events. It spans 325 acres which means it holds lots of fun! Step onto the Mamba, the tallest and most iconic roller coaster at Worlds of Fun, and when you’re at the top, you’ll have stunning views of the park and downtown Kansas City, that is, if you’re brave enough to keep your eyes open! If roller coasters aren’t something you’ll enjoy, there are plenty of other fun activities and rides for you like the Mustang Runner, a classic ride that features 3 arms that join at a central column which rotates clockwise and counterclockwise. Or step onto the Skyliner, a fun gently moving Ferris wheel. When you’re done on the rides take your taste buds for a ride by trying some of the delicious foods offered at the park like pretzels, cinnamon rolls, fries, and ice cream.

Kansas City Zoo
If you choose the zoo for this adventure, you’re in for a fun and interactive day. At the Kansas City Zoo, you can dip your hand into a shallow pool to discover the unique texture and movement of two species of stingrays. Don’t worry, they won’t sting! Or slide through to the Penguin Plaza where you’ll see all kinds of penguins from Humboldt penguins to the fast-swimming gentoo penguins and an amazing flock of king penguins. When we have explored the water animals, we’ll step on over to see some spectacular land animals. Like the bat-eared fox, yes, it’s a funny name for a fox, but once you see them, you’ll know why. These foxes have oversized ears that play a crucial role in its ability to communicate and hunt. They’re so great a hearing they can locate insects at night, and they’re so good at catching them they can eat over a million termites in a single year! And an animal that needs more than a couple bugs to eat would be the African Elephants. You’ll get to say hello to Lea, Lois, Lady and more at the Kansas City Zoo. These sweet, social, and intelligent animals are the largest living land mammal in the world.

Our final activity of this CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE trip will take everyone to Grant’s Farm.

The next day travel just 13 miles south of the city to Grant’s Farm. Here we will have time to experience wildlife one-on-one! Named Grant’s Farm because Ulysses S. Grant used to work a portion of the land, it is now a 281-acre attraction. This wonderful attraction provides a unique experience of history, heritage and wildlife. The Farm offers a wide range of animals to see and is refuge for more than 900 animals which represent more than 100 species. We will be able to see domestic animals, such as goats and donkeys, to exotic animals like wallabies, elephants, and peacocks. While at the Farm we can also ride a camel, though we’re not sure if it’ll have one hump or two! But many visitors’ favorite animal that they see while on the Farm are the Budweiser Clydesdale horses. These mighty and majestic horses are typically brown in color with silky feathering on their legs. While they can weigh up to 2,400 pounds, they’re typically very gentle and easygoing horses. At Grant’s Farm, there are over 50 Clydesdales that vary in age from 6 months to 15 years old, while we may not be able to see all 50, it will certainly be a treat to see these spectacular horses in their impressive stables. We’ll have the opportunity to feed animals too, just make sure you stay away from the goats, they’ll try almost anything to see if it’s good to eat, even the shirt off your back!

Signup Deadline: Wednesday, May 31, 2023