I spent the Fourth of July this year in the Okoboji area in Iowa, as I sometimes do. This year, due to flooding in Northwest Iowa (heartbreaking), I had to take a different route than normal to get there. On the way home I was looking for fun stops on Google Maps and I spotted Lost Island Lake Nature Center a ways south of Spencer, Iowa. So I paid it a visit on the Sunday afternoon after the 4th.

I’ve always been both fascinated and slightly squeamish about nocturnal animals in general. But not so much anymore! The Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo’s Kingdoms of the Night will introduce you to numerous unusual and sometimes even endearing creatures.