You don鈥檛 have to fly all the way to the African听Serengeti听to see wildlife听roam freely听or risk life and limb trekking solo in Montana or Alaska to catch a glimpse of mountain lions, buffalo, elk, or grizzly bears. There are places where you can experience these majestic and wild听animals听in a way that鈥檚 responsible for both you and the creatures in settings that听are also safe and family friendly.
Montana
Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center,听West Yellowstone
Located听near the west entrance of听Yellowstone National Park, the nonprofit ($15 for admission)听is open year-round for those who want a guaranteed look at听the animals听in their natural habitat. It has a听museum that examines the role of the two species in the park鈥檚 history,听a cabin听where you can safely watch wolves, and habitats for raptors and rescued grizzly bears. The facility also听offers safety听seminars, like听how to use bear spray, and naturalist-led programs for children,听such as Keeper Kids, which covers feeding habits.
California 听
Safari West,听Santa Rosa
Want to spot buffalos, cheetahs, and rhinos听an hour north of San Francisco? Head to听, a 400-acre privately owned wildlife preserve nicknamed the Sonoma Serengeti听due to its location in the middle of California听wine country. By day, walk the grounds with a naturalist, or take guided driving tours in vintage听open-air Dodge Power Wagons, to see some 90 species of animals. By night, sleep in high-end safari tents imported from Botswana (from $375). The on-site Savannah Caf茅 serves South African鈥搃nspired BBQ on a wood-fired grill.
Alaska
Park Creek Bear Tours, Juneau
The 75-mile-long Chichagof Island, west of听Juneau, has one of the highest populations of bears per square mile in the world. Book a tour with听 (from $739) and join a small group (up to five people) for a half- or full-day tour that begins with a bush-plane flight听from the Juneau airport. Half-day tours head听to the island鈥檚 Waterfall Creek, where bears feast in late summer during the salmon run, while the full-day option takes you to Pack Creek on听Admiralty Island, with a possible interpretive hike through the听wilderness. Back in the capital city, stay at the low-key听 (from $129), where staff can recommend other adventure tours.
Virginia
Breaks Interstate Park,听Breaks
Called the Grand Canyon of the South,听, on the border of Kentucky and Virginia, is home to a five-mile-long gorge that drops 1,650 feet to the Russell Fork River. A few years ago, elk were released in the area as part of a reintroduction program sponsored by the local chapter of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. Shortly after,听the park began offering听 ($35 for adults, $12 for children) from March through May and August through October. Spend the day touring the 5,000-acre plot of land where the animals graze. Then听pitch a tent, stay in one of听the park鈥檚 many cabins, or book a night at听the听81-room lodge and enjoy听the park鈥檚 25 miles of trails, including a 12-mile mountain-bike loop.
Colorado
Wild Animal Sanctuary,听Keenesburg
You can find wolves, grizzly bears, tigers, and lions听among听some 500 large animals that have been rescued from inhumane living situations and are now being rehabilitated at this听10,473-acre , an hour north of Denver.听For the first 20 years of the property鈥檚 existence, the public wasn鈥檛 allowed, but starting in 2002, it opened听to visitors ($30 for adults, $15 for children). Unlike most refuges that involve driving tours, visitors spot the animals by strolling along an elevated听mile-and-a-half-long walkway over the grounds. Show up at sundown in the summertime to observe听the most animal听activity.
South Dakota
Custer State Park,听Black Hills
The 71,000-acre听, in western South Dakota, is home to some 1,300 free-roaming bison. To get up-close views at a still-safe distance, opt for the听, where bison and other wildlife can be seen from within an off-road听open-air vehicle. Or drive the park鈥檚 18-mile Wildlife Loop Road on your own. Stay in one of 67 hotel rooms听or cabins at听the historic听 (from $165), which has floor-to-ceiling windows and a stone veranda overlooking the water.
Wyoming
Amangani,听Jackson Hole
(from $800), a luxury resort 20 minutes from the slopes of Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, recently听launched an听 expedition. Join听a wildlife guide and take听a sunrise or sunset tour in Grand Teton National Park in a BMW X5. For the best chance of seeing bears resurfacing from winter hibernation, or mother elk, moose, or bison with their newborn calves, come early in the season, in May.听If you鈥檙e lucky, you鈥檒l catch sight of听the valley鈥檚 most famous matriarch, an oft-photographed bear called Grizzly 399.
British Columbia
The Chilko Experience,听Chilko Lake
When the salmon spawn on the Chilko River, the grizzlies congregate. Watch the action by boat with guides from , a collection of six听full-service log- and timber-frame homes in the remote interior of British Columbia. Get there via a one-hour flight听or a ten-hour drive from Vancouver. The wilderness resort features outdoor hot tubs, chef-prepared meals, and guided adventures like kayaking on Chilko Lake or horseback riding into the surrounding mountains, all of which are included.听Four-day trips from听$2,950