Sometimes the best travel discoveries are the ones you stumble into without much of a plan. That’s exactly what happened when we found ourselves at Call of the Wild in Gaylord, Michigan, located at 850 South Wisconsin Avenue.
Now, I’ll be honest – this was one of those stops where we wandered through, enjoyed ourselves, but I didn’t take mental notes like I should have. What I do remember is the feeling of the place, and sometimes that’s more important than remembering every single detail, right?
What Makes Call of the Wild Special
The thing that stuck with me most was watching Zach finally get his chance to hug a wild animal. Well, okay, a stuffed wild animal, but you have to understand – this is a 46-year-old man who constantly wants to pet every deer, bear, and raccoon we encounter on our travels. There’s something pretty hilarious (and sweet) about watching your boyfriend’s face light up like a kid when he finally gets to safely hug that bear he’s been eyeing. That stuffed bear wasn’t going anywhere, and Zach was absolutely in heaven.
Wildlife Exhibits and More at Call of the Wild
Call of the Wild has this interesting mix going on – it’s part natural history museum with impressive wildlife exhibits, part gift shop with (surprisingly good) fudge, and somehow it all works together. The staff was genuinely friendly, the kind of people who seem to actually enjoy talking to visitors rather than just tolerating them.
The exhibits were well done – you could tell someone put real effort into creating displays that actually teach you something while you’re looking around. It’s the kind of place that manages to be educational without feeling like homework, if you know what I mean.
The Unexpected Fudge Experience
And about that fudge – I wasn’t expecting much, but it was legitimately good. There’s something to be said for a place that can nail both the educational exhibits and the snack game. That’s the Michigan way, really – do it all, and do it well.
Visiting Call of the Wild Gaylord Michigan
Would I recommend stopping by if you’re in the Gaylord area? Absolutely. Call of the Wild is one of those local gems that gives you a real taste of what makes a place special. Plus, if you’ve got a grown man who’s dying to get up close with wildlife (even the stuffed variety), it’s pretty much perfect.
Sometimes the best travel moments aren’t the ones you plan extensively – they’re the ones where you just follow your curiosity and see what happens. Call of the Wild was definitely one of those good surprises.