Big Cat Rescue in Tampa, FL is a sanctuary for rescued exotic (big) cats, like, lions, cheetahs, and leopards, etc. You will feel good about spending your money on this hidden gem. It is a more humane option than visiting a zoo, AND it still allows you to get close up to the cats.

All of the cats at Big Cat Rescue are in enclosures outdoors. The enclosures are huge with lots of room for the cats to roam and play. They even have two ‘vacation’ zones for the cats that are much larger enclosed fields for them to run free. Each week they alternate which cats get to go on a ‘staycation’. How fun?!

On my recent trip to Tampa, I paid a visit to this lovely sanctuary and took my Refillable Traveler’s Notebook with me to catch any inspiration along the way. The outdoors are always a huge inspiration. Not only becuase there is so much organic beauty, but there is something about being in nature that helps reset my creativity when I find myself in a rut. That’s why travel journaling is one of my favorite things to do when on a trip. Some people love to take pictures (I do that too) but I really love to doodle, write and just day dream in my journal!

I usually finish the journal page later on and not in the moment. In this case, one of the workers asked me to put it away when standing so close to the cats.  It was enough time for me to doodle somthing real quick though, and I finished the page once I was home.

It’s always fun for me to look back through my travel journals. I have the pictures I took to remember the trip from, but using a travel journal helps me remember it in a different way. Mainly, it reminds me of how I felt on my trip.

Taking pictures now in days, to me, is a passive activity. We snap pictures everyday on our phone and never print, post or do anything with them. Travel journaling is more of an active activity. It engages me more fully, and requires more effort and thought. Most importantly, it is a totally unique and meaningful way to perserve my memories.

I mean, look how close I am to this cat! How crazy?! None of the cats seemed aggressive or unhappy at all. Some would come up to the fence and walk around, play or show off. While other cats wanted nothing todo with us and minded their own buisness.

Going to the zoo, or other animal attractions where they force animals to perform is so sad. You wont see any of that at Big Cat Rescue. Just the cats in their natural as can be (as these cats are rescued from domestic situations and can never be released into the wild again) enviroments roaming and playing at their own free will.

It’s FL, so the greenery was lush and plentiful and I just wish I could bring it all home with me!

One moreBIG cat picture and a shot of the Burnt Sienna Refillable Traveler’s Notebook!

If you want to plan a trip to Big Cat Rescue check out their site for tickets and more info, or if its too far away, they have a live stream for you to veiw the cats on! And if you’d like, you can make a donation to help keep this place up and running  for the cats.

That’s it for this edition of #BlueSkyintheWILD check back for more wild adventures soon!

Are you going on a trip? Take your Blue Sky Paper’s journal along, snap a pic, upload it on instagram tagging it #BlueSkyintheWild so we can see!