Photo: Hurricane Idalia Brought Flamingos To The South Carolina Coast

Have you ever been lucky enough to come across a flamingo or maybe even a flock of flamingos in the wild? One thing on my bucket list is the get up close and personal with a flamingo. There is a hotel in Aruba that owns a private island full of flamingos and whenever I come up with a spare couple thousand dollars I will be booking a trip there. But for a short time, there is a chance of seeing Flamingos on the South Carolina coast. The birds essentially caught a ride with Hurricane Idalia which impacted the United States last week.

WPDE (Myrtle Beach) Meteorologist Ed Piotrowski shared a photo from a viewer on Facebook of a pink flamingo sighted at Bulls Island which is near Awendaw over the weekend. According to his post, he mentions that the birds have also been sighted in North Carolina and even Ohio. A Tampa Florida news station I follow on social media also shared photos of some flamingos that had landed in the area on Sanibel Island.

And while you may have never seen it, Flamingos actually do fly! The winds of the fast-moving storm most likely made those flights a little less strenuous than normal, allowing the birds to travel north at much greater distances than they typically would have. And good for them, they deserve to see the world!

The birds will eventually make their way back to their southern homes. But what a treat for anyone who comes across flamingos in South Carolina or any of the other unusual locations they are currently visiting. I tend to say I don't like animals I'm not expecting to see, and while that's true, I'd make an exception in this case. Even as someone who is notoriously afraid of birds, I do love and relate to a flamingo. Perhaps it's the pink color (it is), the way they stand on one leg (the former dancer in me often stands the same way), or the way the animals stand out but still blend in in large groups. Safe travels to all the pink flamingos as they migrate back to tropical climates.

Are you looking to have some fun with animals? Well, I have been contemplating fun things to do and for some reason, a petting zoo has been on my mind. It's probably because I recently went to Disney World and Animal Kingdom was my absolute favorite place. From The Lion King being my favorite movie to the Safari Tour at Animal Kingdom, I have been thinking about animals like crazy. But, there is no Animal Kingdom here in Charlotte for me to enjoy, right? So, I have to think of somewhere else.

Of course, I decided to take matters into my own hands. That means I am looking into petting zoos, zoos, and all types of animal parks in the state. Why not have some animal-friendly fun? Let's enjoy some time with the animals and see what you can do here in North Carolina. Can't wait!

Lazy 5 Ranch is a drive through ranch experience. Whether you are sitting in your car or riding on the back of a wagon, you can ride through the ranch to check out some great animals. Not only will you sight see, but you can also feed them along the way. The ranch is open 7 days a week and has tons of animals like cattle, deer, goats, antelope, and other exotic animals. Doesn't that sound fun?

Of course, we're naming a pretty big one - the obvious, the North Carolina Zoo. The state zoo is located in Asheboro, NC and your chance to see tons of different animals. Explore different animals and plants throughout the zoo during your time there. You can see up close and personal, lions, elephants, river otter, giraffes, zebras, and more! Sounds like a place I need to go for sure.

Want to visit a tiger rescue? Personally, I have never thought of it but it looks pretty cool to me! So, head to the Carolina Tiger Rescue and check out some wild cats. The rescue is your chance to learn more about and see tigers that have found sanctuary at this rescue spot.

Are you a fan of birds? Well, this might be the perfect spot for you. The Carolina Raptor Center is for the  exploration and rehabilitation of birds of prey. Visit and walk a trail to explore the different species that are in house. There are more than 30 birds of prey for you to see up close and personal. Cool, right?