The two cats chosen to breed together and create Highlanders were the Desert Lynx and the Jungle Curl. The domestic cats that were used to breed Highlanders were very carefully selected, and they weren’t chosen from any existing breed that was registered and recognized by organizations like The International Cat Association. They were bred from existing hybrid cats, so this breed has no wild genetics and is a perfectly docile housecat. The interesting thing about Highlander cats, however, is that they have no direct wild ancestor. The Highlander came into existence when interested parties wanted to create a domestic cat that retained the look of a wild cat – as is the case with every other cat that has one wild ancestor and one domestic one. We only have to look back as far as 2004 to find their history. Highlander cats are a young breed of felines. Most Highlanders are muscular, strong cats, but they can still make great family pets and are extremely nurturing felines to have around. They have some great lectures too.Although the Highlander cat started its life as an experimental crossbreeding project, they have come to be recognized as their own breed of cat with distinctive traits that come from their Desert Lynx and Jungle Curl cat ancestors. The Highland center is awesome - 👏 Go there and find your path to outdoor enjoyment and learning. We had the pleasure of purchasing a painting which then allowed us to meet the artist and attend an event at her house - it has introduced us to some lovely new friends and all due to the Highland Center. We look forward to continuing to enjoy, explore and support Highland nature center - many activities for young'uns and young'uns at heart. We chose to also purchase the 'meal' and it was yummy and delightfully packaged - from Los Gatos. Highland Center coordinator and crew set up seats/tables around the discovery garden and it was enchanting as we enjoyed the pre-play time in that lovely atmosphere.

We are addicted to going there.īut last night was the best - oh joy!!! A fairy tale setting for the play Merry Wives of Winslow - Shakespeare with a western twist!! The acting was excellent - wonderful dialogue and sarcasm - and the environment was absolutely superb. We have always loved the Highlands Center - a hidden treasure - with its lovely discovery garden and Pebble Loop Trail and all the trails - all are easy enough for most hikers. Trails are open til 6:00 in the winter and 7:00 in the summer, but be advised the store closes at 3:00 in winter and 4:00 in summer and is closed on Sunday and Monday. The center is funded by memberships and donations, so be generous if you visit the facility. We were told that they are constructing a 'discovery garden' so that will be an added bonus! I would have liked to see more educational exhibits I was expecting a museum or nature center experience.

There was also a restroom at the half-way point on the trail. The trail was hard-packed dirt and rocks with a few grades, so some assistance may be required. The area around the building and the 3/4 mile interpretive 'Stretch Pebble Nature Trail' through the forest were wheelchair accessible. The ladies operating the nature store were very pleasant and helpful. The James Learning Center building and adjacent restrooms were clean and attractive.

We stopped by to see the Highlands Center in April when we were visiting Lynx Lake Recreation Area, which is also on Walker Rd.

There is no food or water for sale at the gift shop so bring your own and be sure to leave nothing behind but footprints. But after you've been there and done one of the trails you'll likely feel that some contribution is worth it to make this experience available to future visitors. Yes, there is a donation box if you're so inclined, but the objective of the Highlands Center is to expose as many people as possible to the wonders of nature rather than generate income. The longer trail focuses on the geologic history of the Prescott area, pointing out evidence of plate tectonics and an undersea rock genesis.Īnd the best part is that it's free. The emphasis on the shorter trail is ecosystems: how plants, animals, fungus, bacteria, insects and rocks interact in cycles and webs. Trail maps at a kiosk near the parking lot will lead you from one interpretive spot to the next. One can be done in as little as half an hour. The Highlands Center is a wonderful place to spend a couple hours or half a day.

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