pontiac catalina safari wagon

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1960 Pontiac Catalina Safari Is Our Bring a Trailer Pick of the Day

This gorgeous nine-passenger station wagon finished in Copper Metallic and powered by a 6.4-liter V-8 would make an awesome road trip car.

• This Safari can seat nine people and features a 6.4-liter V-8 driving the rear wheels through a four-speed Hydra-matic automatic transmission.
• The Copper Metallic paint job combines with the oodles of chrome trim and white wall tires to create a beautiful flashback to a bygone era of automative design.

I grew up in the back seat of a station wagon, traversing national parks on monthlong cross-country treks, hauling catcher's gear to travel baseball games in the spacious trunk, and learning to drive the nimble longroof on the chaotic streets of New York. But while I loved my parents' 2003 Volkswagen Passat, it can't measure up to the decadent style of this 1960 Pontiac Catalina Safari currently up for auction on Bring a Trailer —which, like Car and Driver, is part of Hearst Autos.

The Catalina name first appeared in 1950 and became a standalone model line in 1959. It received a slight refresh the following year, trading a split-grille design for the cleaner, one-piece look seen here and toning down the rear fins after the 1959 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz took that design trend to the extreme. Safari was the moniker given to Pontiac's station wagons at the time, and this example was fitted with nine seats thanks to a first-row bench and a rear-facing third row.

Along with being capacious, this Safari is a stunning vehicle, with handsome, horizontal character lines stretching the length of the car, a wrap-around windshield providing an airy cabin, and plenty of brightwork to accentuate the Catalina's distinguished appearance.

This Catalina Safari is painted in a pleasing Copper Metallic hue, with the interior decked out in a Fawn vinyl upholstery. This example is fitted with luxuries (for the time) like dual sideview mirrors, a power rear window, power-assisted steering and brakes, and a "Super Deluxe" AM radio. The interior also includes contrasting brown carpeting, a heater, and the latest in safety equipment: lap seatbelts.

Power comes from a 6.4-liter (389-cubic-inch) V-8 engine and is sent to the rear wheels via a four-speed Hydra-Matic automatic transmission. The listing does not specify which version of the 389 V-8 this vehicle comes with, but on this generation of Catalina, the V-8 could make anywhere between 215 and 345 horsepower. The Safari rides on 14-inch steel wheels with chrome covers, shod in period-appropriate American Classic whitewall tires.

The listing notes a few chips and scratches, but you can’t expect a 62-year-old car to be pristine. The five-digit odometer reads 12,000 miles, although the true mileage is lost to time. Regardless, this 1960 Pontiac Catalina Safari is a beautiful vehicle and makes us long for the days when station wagons were the choice of family car instead of the now-ubiquitous crossover. Bidding currently sits at $17,000, and the auction ends on Monday, July 11.

Caleb Miller began blogging about cars at 13 years old, and he realized his dream of writing for a car magazine after graduating from Carnegie Mellon University and joining the Car and Driver team. He loves quirky and obscure autos, aiming to one day own something bizarre like a Nissan S-Cargo, and is an avid motorsports fan.

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1961 PONTIAC CATALINA SAFARI STATION WAGON

1961 Pontiac Catalina SAFARI Additional Info:

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389-Powered Wagon: 1963 Pontiac Catalina Safari

With the ongoing growth in popularity of classic station wagons, buyers tend to be clamoring for affordable project vehicles. This 1963 Pontiac Catalina Safari would seem to be a great candidate for restoration. It is largely complete and is structurally sound. It shows a lot of promise, and with an asking price of $3,000, it is definitely affordable. The Pontiac is located in Loleta, California, and has been listed for sale here on craigslist . I have to say a huge thank you to Barn Finder Angliagt for referring this classic wagon to us.

I have to give the owner credit because he doesn’t shy away from the fact that the Catalina has body issues. The good news is that these issues aren’t rust-related. The body wears plenty of minor dings and dents, and there are a few areas of surface corrosion. However, I can’t spot any panels that couldn’t be repaired with a bit of time and patience. The buyer might choose to replace the back door on the passenger side because that is the one with the worst damage. That would be a matter of personal choice. The Cameo Ivory paint is looking tired and baked, and there is evidence elsewhere on the vehicle that it has seen its share of UV rays. There are a number of trim pieces that are missing, and it looks like both bumpers might be damaged. On a more positive front, all of the tinted glass appears to be in good condition. If the Pontiac is as rust-free as the owner is claiming, then it could be a great candidate for anyone hunting for a DIY project to tackle at home.

The Pontiac’s interior is a bit of a mixed bag. The seats and headliner look like they might respond well to a deep clean. However, the shopping list for parts is still going to be reasonably long. It will need a carpet set, dash pad, door trims, and possibly kick panels. There is an aftermarket air conditioning unit sitting on the transmission tunnel, but I’m sure that the buyer can find a tidier alternative fairly easily. Once again, the majority of this work could be tackled in a home workshop. There are no engine photos, but we know that the Safari is fitted with a 389ci V8 and an automatic transmission. There were several versions of the 389 available in this model year, but it isn’t clear which is fitted to this wagon. The engine doesn’t currently run, and it isn’t clear whether it even turns freely. However, if it can be revived, then there should be at least 230hp available under the right foot. One change that has been made is that the Pontiac has had a front end transplant. There is now a ’63 Grand Prix front end in place of the original, which shouldn’t be a bad thing. The owner also mentions the fact that he has collected some missing pieces, but it isn’t clear whether these are drivetrain items, body trim, or interior components.

The owner of this 1963 Pontiac Catalina Safari admits that he isn’t that keen to sell the vehicle, and is only doing it because he has too many projects. That is also why he is standing firm on his asking price. It is going to take some time and patience to return the wagon to its former glory, but at least the buyer won’t be facing the prospect of wholesale rust repairs and metal replacement. Classic wagons continue to increase in popularity and value, and the Catalina Safari is no exception. Finding a really good one for under $20,000 is a battle, while figures over $30,000 are not unprecedented. If this one is as structurally sound as the owner indicates, then it would seem to be a financially viable project at an affordable price. Once restored, this is a classic that would attract plenty of attention wherever it went.

Great find, wagons are hot, literally, I think that’s what was called a “swamp cooler”. This one is a “Bon-Aire”, and had no compressor, just water, I believe. I’m sure those things “soggied” up the interior on a hot day. While I love ’60’s Ponchos, my late uncle had them, I just can’t get past a ’63 Pontiac wagon,,,it was President Kennedy’s last ride on that fateful day in Dallas 1963… https://www.stumptownblogger.com/2011/01/jfk-ambulance-for-sale.html

A high school classmate of mine drove on of those in red with white painted top and I don’t know what scared me the most, the power of that 389 or his driving.

BIG fan of early 60s GM fullsizers and longroofs in particular. OK, this one has its issues but at least he’s not asking a fortune for it either. Pontiac made some beautiful interiors then, even for such a base wagon. Extremely cool affordable find for someone with a little extra spare time! 👍

I know the seller,Brody.He also has a ’61 Falcon on the humboldt (Ca) craigslist.He also seems to have a hand in every Falcon in Humboldt County. nice guy,knowledgeable & fair to deal with.

I like the addition of `63 Gran Prix grille/parking lamp pcs.–it really picks up the overall style of a Catalina.

Good catch, Will. I wondered who would notice.

I wondered about that too. My first car was a 63 Catalina and it did not have those. It’s a good look. Thanks!

Seems lie a good buy at 3K. It might be hard to find the missing trim pieces. I don’t remember ever seeing one of these. Even back in 1963.

roof rack’n VintageAir are some of the beginings. All is possible when the start is reasonable like this (2 -3K $). That N.Cali Falcon club is plenty active. We know it (if the 1 I think) way back east…

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1960 Pontiac Catalina Safari For Sale

1960 Pontiac Catalina Safari

Description:.

GR Auto Gallery is pleased to offer this awesome 1960 Pontiac Catalina Safari Station Wagon for world consideration. This wagon has spent the majority of its life in California. It presents itself in its original factory color, Stardust Yellow over green interior. It is powered by its 389 CID V8 with Tri-power carbs and intake, automatic transmission and rear wheel drive. Options include: Power steering, power brakes (front disc conversion), power rear window, dual exhaust, factory AM Super Deluxe Radio, 8 place seating with rear facing 3rd row, factory rear bumper steps, American Racing polished aluminum wheels, etc.

The car sports an older selective style restoration to include paint, carpet and interior upholstery. It does retain an outstanding original core structure. The paint remains deep and glossy and overall shows excellent, it does have a few minor chips and consistent with age and use. The chrome and stainless trim appear to be unrestored and in very good condition.

Mechanically, this Safari Wagon is spot on. The motor runs smooth and powerful, the transmission shifts well, and the brakes stop quick and straight. The car is fast out of the hole and maintains a healthy cruising speed in a smooth fashion.

Vintage station wagons are red hot in this collector car market, and the Pontiac Safari wagons among the most stylish ever produced. For this reason they are highly sought after. What an opportunity to acquire a classic piece of Americana. Gr Auto Gallery, LLC and our sister company, Wheelz Sales and Leasing Inc. makes every effort to represent each vehicle accurately and with integrity. We also welcome third party inspections when necessary. Although we try to do our very best to be accurate in our description writing we are human and do make mistakes. Unless otherwise noted, All vehicles are sold AS IS, No Warranty Expressed or Implied. All sales final. GR Auto Gallery and all its affiliates reserve the right to charge a 3% processing fee on any credit card sales of over $2,500.

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Curbside Classic: 1963 Pontiac Catalina Safari – How To Experience The Wild Life

If we are not permitted outside until August of 2023 it will be OK – I surely have enough shots of cars caught at the Curbside in my nearly endless stash to last until then.  Like this one.

In the 1960’s there would have been few things duller than this Pontiac station wagon.  Pontiac was selling a lot of cars, so they were pretty common in the suburbs of mid-60’s America.  And who wanted a wagon?  That body style was the height of un-cool.  Everyone’s Mom had a station wagon, at least for awhile.  This one would have been the worst – it was even beige.

But a funny thing can happen in the ensuing decades.  The commonplace becomes rare.  I have not seen a 1963 Pontiac on the streets in ages, so how cool that when I did it was a wagon!

The first thing that hit me about this car was the color combo.  It is identical to the paint and interior shades of my grandma’s 1964 Catalina sedan.  I wasn’t really a big fan of the color – it was far less appealing to young me than the pink and white ’55 DeSoto it replaced.  Beige – how ordinary.

At least the car made up for its ordinariness on the inside with the copious chrome plating slathered all over the dash and the heater control that looked like a radio, with the little red bars that filled the central display as you cranked that knob around and around.

Gray-haired readers may remember these, along with the high beam indicator light shaped like the silhouette of Chief Pontiac’s head.  I later discovered that air conditioned cars upped the ante with blue bars that started coming down from the other end when you twisted the knob in the other direction.

Can we all agree that there was never a better name for a station wagon than “Safari”?  The names on most station wagons of the 60’s reminded you of every suburban housing development or shopping center built after 1956, seemingly named by use of a roulette wheel with words like Park, Green, Wood, Briar, Country, Town, Squire, Village, Brook and Lake.  “After you go past Country Wood and Green Brook Village, hang a right at the entrance for Briar Lake.  We’re the first tri-level on the left.”  But nobody ever lived in a subdivision called “Safari”.

Everyone knew what a Safari was.  It was that wild place where you could see elephants and lions and English men wearing khaki and pith helmets as they piloted Land Rovers through the tall brown grass of the veldt.  Safari said exotic like no other station wagon name.  Which is probably how that name hung around for so long on some decidedly not-exotic vehicles.

Like this one.  In 1963 at least, because it is certainly exotic now.  This particular Safari comes with some mysteries.  Such as why there is a scoop on the hood.  And why it sports a Chevrolet steering wheel instead of the translucent plastic number that so captivated me on Grandma’s ’64.  [Update – A prior owner of the car solved this mystery in the comments – the original steering wheel was toast when he got the car and this was used as a replacement.]

It is even air conditioned, or at least got that way after getting out into the world.  I thought Safaris were supposed to be hot?  I think most of them were back then on sunny August days everywhere south of Maine.  And what’s that back there?  Aftermarket rear a/c?  Or perhaps just a spare in case the unit up front goes out as you are sprinting away from a thundering herd of elephants?

Actually the hood scoop question was answered when I happened to find this car online when I was looking for some artwork to use.  The car has been re-powered with a 1969 Pontiac 400 cid V8 with “Ram Air heads” (according to the description found here .)  It should be able to outrun even the hungriest cheetah with that mill.

The engine is probably not as big of an upgrade as the Turbo Hydra-Matic 350 would be over the original Roto (“slim jim”) Hydra Matic.  There would be nothing worse than becoming hyena-chow after your transmission takes a dump on you at an inopportune time and place.

Photo from this car’s tenwheel.com feature

The Chevy steering wheel is still a mystery.  Maybe it is just there for the leaping antelope in the center hub?

Even with the stock 389 V8 under the sun-baked hood, a safari would be a task for which this Safari was well suited.  A Trophy V8, according to Pontiac.  After all, what fun is a Safari without a trophy?  That big, meaty 389 was one good reason for the gnu car shopper to make a stop down the block from the Chevrolet dealer who was offering lots of similar wagons with a hundred fewer cubic measures of basic V8 firepower.  Jumping up to an Oldsmobile only gained an extra 5 cubic inches, so why bother?  Pontiac was indeed in a sweet spot during this era, as demonstrated by its surging sales.

What a great California-style of patina – perfect for a car also named after a sunny SoCal island.  Or perhaps the patina could also be African style.  Because it certainly isn’t the native midwestern variety, which results in brown watering holes in the lower body often big enough to contain a small crocodile or two.  Which would really stand out with this light paint Pontiac called Yuma Beige.  This was a really popular color, available for several years through multiple Divisions.  How fitting that Cadillac would call this Sudan Beige in 1967-68.  A Safari in Yuma is a poor substitute for one in Sudan.  But enough talk about Sudans, lets get back to this wagon.

And enough talk of exotic Africa, because we all know that these wagons were mainly used to shuttle the neighborhood kids to the movies or the bowling alley.  It is likely that the closest this Safari ever came to going on a real safari was a family trip to the zoo on a Sunday afternoon.

I suppose that there might have been a tiger in the gas tank, which would help everyone get to the drive-in for ice cream extra quickly.  Was zebra-stripe a flavor in the 60’s?.

Is Pontiac the only one that really managed to put a little hippo in the hips of this really square body which it shared with its B body siblings?    Pontiac sold a lot of these, a bit over 30,000 between the six and nine passenger versions – which was somewhere between 10-15% of Catalina production.

The Bonneville versions were rare to the point of being endangered, with a bit more than 5,100 built.  And what’s with all the ships in the brochure art?  It’s not like this was called the Pontiac Cruiser or Schooner or some other nautical thing.  It was called a Safari, so where are the giraffes?  At least the guy on the left brought some Camels.

Like all Safaris, this one must come to an end, at least on these pages.  Although I would have preferred this one without the hood scoop, I am really quite smitten with it.  No lion.

Further Reading

1957 Pontiac Chieftain Safari – J P Cavanaugh

1964 Pontiac Tempest Safari – J P Cavanaugh

1970 Pontiac Executive Safari – Perry Shoar

69 Comments

Chrysler Australia named their Valiant wagons the Safari as well.

You could even get a Regal Safari!

Indeed you could, and I doubt the professorial class who’d just spent a small ransom on their haughty Citroen DS station wagon appreciated the same name appearing on the distinctly declasse Val Wog Chariot wagon. Especially as the progress of the Cit was more regal than racy, and the Val about twice as fast to 60.

Somehow Pontiac and Buick “did better” with the same basic shared basic body shell than the other GM divisions did during this time period.

The scoop is from an SD Lightweight drag car of the same year. it was actually sourced from Ford, being used on Super Duty trucks of the period. Super Duty car?, Super Duty Scoop, natch.

Interesting – I had not been aware of this history and assumed that it was just a generic scoop. I am starting to like it better – a Super Duty Safari.

With all the effort put into keeping this car all-Pontiac, from the Ram Air engine to the SD scoop, that 62 Impala steering wheel is even more of a mystery.

Going with the African Safari theme maybe it was a tribute to the full-size Pontiacs assembled in South Africa (and Australia) from parts shipped from Oshawa, which included a complete right-hand-drive 1961 Chevy dash for the entire ’61-64 run? But they at least had Pontiac steering wheels. More likely it’s a convenient replacement for an original which had been sunbaked to nothingness.

Alas, we never got the wagons in Oz.

Aboriginal peoples had (and have still) a tradition of initiation to adulthood of walking about “on country” and living with (and off) the animals the outback, the closest Australian equivalent to a safari, albeit a three to six month one. It was called “walkabout”.

Pontiac Catalina Walkabout. Sounds alright, actually.

The factory clear acrylic wheel was trashed when I bought the car so I painted up the Chevy wheel to match the car and it’s been there ever since. I sold this car to my best friend and he still has it.

I just now saw your comment, so you may not see this. I am so glad you found your old car here. I loved seeing it, and I have added the steering wheel info to the text. I am happy to hear that the car remains alive and well.

Lovely car, lovely piece.

I like the hood scoop, it completes the Madagascar Surf Wagon aesthetic. Just needs a roof rack. I’d drive it!

“Just needs a roof rack.”

I suppose there can never enough lemur-carrying capacity for a good Madagascar Surfin’ Safari.

Indeed, I’m totally picturing this car with a couple of surf boards sticking out the rear window. If only it were in Southern California.

The reason for that Chevrolet steering wheel is the real elephant in the living room. Perhaps he favors seeing impalas when on a safari.

What a fun looking old wagon. No doubt it’s got some good stories to tell and I can’t help but wonder how many adventures it’s getting annually.

Hey, JP – you forgot the Uniroyal “Tiger Paw” tires!

Haha, I did indeed. I can remember as a little kid being disappointed that our cars did not have them. The TV advertising was really effective. 🙂

KITTY! Now, why can’t we have ads that look like this?

Because we are oh so sophisticated…

Maybe the car was wrecked at some point and the steering wheel got bent and replaced with the first one they found at the junkyard that would fit? Speaking of dull and uncool wagons at the time, I watched an episode of The Donna Reed Show from season one (’58) yesterday and son Jeff is washing the family wagon. An Edsel wagon!

Oh man, do I like the ’63 or the ’65 better? These big Cats have it all: the best advertising and perhaps the best styling among ’60s big cars. They were beautiful in almost every bodystyle.

You see impalas on a safari!

I appreciate the wood custom made speaker boxes just behind the rear seats. They remind me of the earlier article on CC about speaker placements and such. I’m sure the owner found the perfectly optimal placement for ideal sound.

I can’t quite read the sign on the building – does it say City Hall? That may explain a certain attorney’s leather attache case perched next to a post unattended, but not for long we’re sure. It may have the monogram “JMM” near the latch.

Nice. BCS fan? That show has been really good lately!

Marginal fan at best. He should have gone to work for Howard. LOL

It is the City Market, a multi use downtown building with food vendors, market stalls and various other things. The briefcase is mine, which I set down as I took pictures after leaving the City-County building across the street and was heading back to my parked car. It has the initials of the guy I got if from. 🙂

Noticed that this has the optional remote control outside mirror, which always bugged me on Pontiacs, Olds and Buicks of this era as it was too far down the left fender to be of much use. My dad had the same one in his ‘63 Olds. The interior control was also not on the door, but on the dash. The non-remote mirror was in a much more convenient spot on the door. Curiously, Cadillac and Chevy had their remote control mirrors up on the door. Strange GM would not have standardized the mirror placement across all lines.

Wow, that’s a good one you pulled out of the archive! And lots of great Safari jokes you pulled out of there, too. My favorite was the Sudan pun (even though I love Waguns best).

Some fair points you make, especially the one about how this wagon was the epitome of UNcool when it was a late model car, but is about as cool as can be now. Wagon body style, dog dish hubcaps, surface rust..er..I mean patina, lowered stance, hood scoop. What a hip car!

Pontiac had some of the best styling of the 60’s, particularly 63-67 in the full sizers and 65-70 in the mid sizers. This wagon is so sweet with it’s low tailfins, stacked headlights and hip bulge.

Safari is definitely one of the best wagon names. I submit that the very best, in my personal, long-held opinion, is Custom Cruiser (or just Cruiser as applied to every Olds wagon from 71-95). It would certainly go better with the nautical brochure theme Pontiac had going.

The Impala steering wheel doesn’t mystify me much. That car has obviously spent quite a lot of time baking in the southwestern sun somewhere. The original translucent steering wheel certainly disintegrated long ago. This wagon, as cool as it’s modern state is, doesn’t appear to be a high budget project. When the owner found the Chevy wheel, it’s a perfect color match and is a pretty cool looking wheel in its own right. The mismatch would only be noticed by Pontiac nerds like us while looking like it totally belongs there to the casual observer. Finding the correct Pontiac wheel may be hard and/or expensive, so I think it was a reasonable choice. But I do love those Pontiac helms.

Thanks for the fine write up!

Oh, and I forgot to mention: is it a coincidence that the brand that sold Safaris also came up with the Tiger motif for their GTO? A GTO and a Safari, what a garage full of sweetness that would make! Then or now.

Agree on the steering wheel!

Here in often sunny, perpetually hot & humid New Orleans, those gorgeous translucent steering wheels died early also,

“Gnu Car Buyer” was a good one, too!

In the 1960’s there would have been few things duller than this Pontiac station wagon.

Having been a car-obsessed ten year old in 1963, I could write up quite a long list of cars (and not just wagons) duller and uncooler than this. As far as wagons go, it was by far the coolest, period, except of course a Bonneville. Pontiac coolness had been growing strongly since 1959, and the ’63 was red hot.

I was perhaps influenced by a family across the street whose two sons were car crazy, had hot rods, and drove the family ’60 Pontiac wagon like maniacs. They had a friend who sometimes showed up in a ’63 Catalina rag top. Now that was about as hot as it got, except for a GP.

FWIW, n this crowd, a wagon was cooler than a sedan, for its utility, especially out at the reservoir. 🙂

PN: I agree. This Pontiac wagon was far from dull.

I am 9 years older than you and was also very car obsessed in the 1950s and 1960s. I considered the Pontiac and Oldsmobile wagons of that era to be as beautiful and exotic (and as fast) as their sedan counterparts. They had gobs more power and style than the basic Ford and Chevy wagons, and their dashboards were marvels of sweeping three dimensional styles of steel and chrome. Lots of chrome!

By comparison, late 1950s and early 1960s Fords had dashboards that looked like a single stamped metal panel laid over underlying gauges. And that old fashioned exposed shifter rod was plain embarrassing. (Remember, I drove a 1959 Ford Galaxy for a while in the 1960s so I saw that dash design a lot).

This probably all started when at the age of 13 I rode in a brand new 1958 Oldsmobile 88 wagon on a long night time trip jammed into the back seat with three other kids. While my brother and two friends slept, I stared with growing love and fascination at the elegant and dimly lit dashboard and the Oldsmobile’s sumptuous (to a 13 year old) interior. And it was so quiet!

I consummated my love for Oldsmobiles when I bought a very used 1957 88 sedan in [about] 1964. It wasn’t trouble free – but then neither was I.

agree – it was much cooler than the Catalina 4 door sedan – and better looking too

The AC unit in the rear is something else…..does it say WATER towards the right hand side of the control panel? I wonder if it is an automotive “swamp cooler”, though I have never seen or heard of such a thing.

As to those two air conditioner units, they’re Bon Aire vintage evaporative swamp coolers. The one in the back is just a slightly later version. I’m more familiar with the round ones hung on the window, but this would work too, with a fan, as long as the humidity is low enough.

Classic Buick 4 holer Woody Wagon (51?) with a swamp cooler and everything including the kitchen sink.

Fun read! I will always have a soft spot for aging Pontiacs…had three all made btwn 1957-1960. How does one explain the asymmetrical paint wear down to the primer on the tailgate to right of the latch from top lip of tailgate to midpoint…not seen on left side of tailgate…maybe long-termed direct sun exposure due to being parked in one place for an extended time, perhaps? It has that “resurrected from the pasture” look. My patina and the Pontiac’s would be a great duo.

I don’t recall the details, but was this Catalina from the era when GM still outsourced its full size wagon bodies? Or was that prior to 1963-64? Or was that only Buick?

For 1963, Pontiac could be the most CC’d make, deservedly? There has even been one, perhaps more, on the 1963 Tempest.

Detroit stopped outsourcing wagon bodies when they went all steel. For Plymouth and the car-based Dodge two door wagons, that was 1949; all had gone in house just a few years later.

For those curious how Plymouth and Chevrolet Truck both sold Suburbans simultaneously for decades, it’s because Suburban was the trademark of U.S. Body & Forging. They mounted wood wagon bodies on both car and truck chassis for decades, finally throwing in the towel when Plymouth introduced that all steel wagon. Yes, station wagons were wagons back then, whether cars or trucks. The original meaning of “sport utility vehicle” was a Jeep, International Scout or Bronco.

My grandmother had a ’63 Bonneville Vista four door in dark blue. I loved it dearly and considered it gorgeous, though my father disliked the long, long trunk and consequent aircraft carrier profile. He later got a ’64 Catalina Safari in medium blue. The color was deceptive; it was a lemon. If you like your Roto Hydro automatic, more power to you, but don’t use it to haul a family of six, full camping gear for the same including both Coleman stove and Weber grill, tools, groceries, canoe and ephemera through the mountains. He went through three, and never bought a Pontiac again.

My second car was a ’63 Catalina. I loved it, but it ended the romance for me. Handling was Improved GM with the extra wide rear axle, and styling never got old with the stacked lights and low, clean grille making the outside look ten feet wide, and the “second radio” a/c controls within. But about the time I got leg cramps from the lack of thigh support and figured out it had nothing on torsion bars for stability, I figured out why John Z. Delirean’s hair turned white. Trying to make driver’s cars from the GM parts bin was an impossible and thankless task. Plymouth’s win-you-over beat worked on me.

A bit of sleuthing on the interwebs revealed that indeed, Buick did outsource its station wagon bodies to Ionia until 1964; so did Oldsmobile from 1957. There is no mention of Chevrolet and Pontiac, though:

“1954’s most important contract was the construction of bodies for Buick’s new all-steel Estate Wagon. Ionia had been building Buick’s wagons since 1949 and were rewarded for their hard work when the Buick contract was renewed. From 1954 through 1964, Ionia manufactured all 139,344 station wagon bodies sold by GM’s Buick division. Ionia supplied Oldsmobile with station wagon bodies beginning in 1957, producing 143,696 station wagon bodies through 1964.”

I also learned from the article that my 1963 Corvette’s body was built by Ionia from subassembles from Molded Fiberglass. The bodies were assembled and shipped by train to St. Louis, MO for final assembly.

http://www.coachbuilt.com/bui/i/ionia/ionia.htm

After reading this, I felt compelled to go on a hunt for any Pontiac Safari related propaganda (ads, brochures, etc.) with a safari theme of any sort. No luck whatsoever. I’d have thought that at some point over decades of Safari wagon production, some ad agency would have thought to include something like a family driving through a safari park or something. But maybe Pontiac didn’t want to be seen as copying Peugeot too much with their safari-themed ads!

This is a great wagon; I’m glad you dug the pictures out of your endless stash for us to enjoy!

Unfortunately, this is cut. I have the full version on VHS & DVD–it’s really quite funny and original. This guy’s accent is perfect. Goes over details of the ’60 wagon, with lots of jungle/safari puns. Concludes with “As we say in the ancient Pontiac tribal language, ‘Ooka nooba, nawga hooka, cucamunga.’ Which of course means, ‘Be sure to visit your Pontiac dealer.’ ” Or something like that.

Aha! Great find… he certainly nailed the part, too.

Besides the Yuma Beige color, another beige that was popular then was “Fawn Beige Metallic”. It seemed as though every other Chevrolet was painted that color. You could even get it for your Corvette. It had all the gloss and sheen of dry caked mud, even when nearly new. I don’t think I’ve ever seen someone use when they restored their car. Love the wagon, and those are the biggest aftermarket AC units I’ve ever seen!

Yup! My first car, a ’67 Corvair Monza, had the exterior color name of “Sierra Fawn Metallic”.

When it was only four years old the factory “Magic Lacquer” paint on the hood, top and trunk faded down to a dulled down Mississippi River mud shade.

Dammit, I was hoping to be the one to explain what those mystery machines were. My parents moved to southern Arizona in 1960. We were at 5000 feet, so maybe five degrees cooler than Tucson which is maybe five degrees cooler than Phoenix. But even there at that time pretty much no middle class person would buy a new non-air conditioned car. Those Bon-Aire things were around although I never rode in anyone’s car that had one.

Pretty ambitious to have one in the back as well.

Some relatives from back East did a road trip in summer a couple years later and stopped in at our house for a couple days. Along the way they bought one of those ram air tube shaped coolers than hung outside at the top of the passenger side window. The air came in through the slightly lowered window. To wet the cylindrical evaporative pad inside there was a pull string which spun it around, dunking them in the water. The passenger had a job to do. Quite the Rube Goldberg invention.

We got a Falcon wagon with factory air conditioning, but actually a hang on unit, in 1963. Same as in the original Mustang, but but unlike the Mustang, with a bench front seat it meant no kid could be stuck in the middle of the front seat in the summer or no AC to the rear and one cold kid.

Nice find! I could do without the scoop as well, but the sunburnt paint is just perfect for a fun cruiser.

Liked the guy brought some Camels. The only thing missing is a Tamil Tiger reference.

I’m on board with the big Poncho being a cool wagon.

Partial to the ’65 – ’66 models.

I don’t think it was a factory offering, but a few ’65 – ’66 wagons have been retrofitted with fender skirts from the other body styles. I thought Pontiac missed out not making them standard on the Bonneville wagons.

Tom D., I haven’t heard that song in many many years (maybe 50 or more), but as soon as it started I correctly anticipated all of the various sections and hooks.

Memory, especially long term, is a really interesting thing.

As Bob Hope used to say: “Thanks for the memories”.

Haha, I had forgotten all about this one, thanks for bringing it up.

Nice old wagon – great patina. I’ve always liked the ‘60’s Pontiacs, and the ‘63 models are among my favourites. Just by coincidence, that wagon is the same age as I am and we’ve both aged pretty well…though a black Grand Prix coupe would be my first choice in ‘63 Ponchos. Still, I’ve always had a soft spot for big old wagons, and that would be a top contender for my garage.

Even this Ford Guy found these very handsome at the time. Roof racks and “going anywhere” personified in this GULF ad:

Love Pontiacs of this era. So gorgeous! And thanks JPC for the detailed photo and description of how the heater control works.

I happen to have a couple of photos, both taken in California in Decemeber 2005. The first is a twin of this Catalina wagon spotted in Bishop. It almost looks like someone was trying to paint the car from the can shown beside it.

And here’s the other, with surfboards! Taken on the famed Pacific Coast Highway near Seal Beach. Even though the plate says “BONNY 59,” the rear view (not shown) indicated it was a Catalina.

You’re right — Safari is a cool name for a station wagon. Of course, I thought Studebaker resurrecting the Conestoga name for its wagons was pretty cool, too.

I am a little surprised that none of our eagle-eyed readers noticed something about this car, especially in view of our recent dive into the wiper systems on these GM cars: The opposing wipers do not overlap when parked. My guess is that replacement wiper arms/blades are shorter than regulation, pulled from some other vehicle of the period. It is one more mystery.

“But nobody ever lived in a subdivision called ‘Safari.’”

Au contraire, my good sir!

A quick Google search reveals at least two: “Safari Waters Ranch,” about an hour southeast of Dallas, and “Old Safari Heights,” which is not far from the southernmost point of Louisiana, on the Gulf of Mexico.

All manner of subdivision names were in use during the decades following WWII (I grew up in one of many suburban “Sherwood Forests” across the US), that it’s difficult to imagine many name variations that weren’t used during those years.

Ha, I live in mid 60’s suburbia and we have a Robin Hood / Sherwood Forest themed area a few blocks away.

I however live in “Pleasant Valley” which is also a perfect place to find this wagon 🙂

I grew up in Glenwood Park. And bought this album as a youngster while living there.

I lived in a Pleasant Valley subdivision in the northern Virginia suburbs of Washington, DC. It’s a very common name, along with Pleasant Hills.

I think, or had though, that that Hood Scoop was the Ford Truck “Big Job” or “Super Duty” hood scoop used from 1957 through 1965, although I usually have seen them on the 1957-1960 models. Exact same design as that on the Pontiac.

I actually read that same thing 20 or 30 years ago, in Cars and Parts magazine.

When Pontiac first put a hood scoop on its cars in the early ‘60s, it was faster, easier, and less expensive to use the Ford truck part, than to tool up and produce a run of hood scoops for a relatively small number of Pontiacs that included this feature. Makes you wonder how often manufacturers used other manufacturers’ parts instead of developing their own.

A close up of the Ford truck “Big Job” hood scoop. Note how the 3 indentions on the scoop line up with the indentions on the Ford truck hood – designed for the Ford Truck.

I had one…..a 1959 Bonneville. I sold it when I got my draft notice in 1964 for my SE Asia paid vacation for a year. Bought a 1956 Pontiac when I got back to the states. These were great cars!

About 1970, I used to get an occasional ride to school in a school-mate’s mom’s 1964 Catalina Safari. Most of the paint was in somewhat better shape than the one here, in that popular mid-60s GM metallic blue-green. But the sheet-metal displayed stark evidence of where she drove it, or more likely, how she drove it, as there was not one straight body panel on that car!

Happy Motoring, Mark

Here’s one of my other Safaris. I have two 62’s, two more 63’s and this 64 that I drive the most. It has a 455 and working air conditioning, tilt wheel, power windows, disc brake conversion and will tow my Serro Scotty trailer.

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Moscow Tours & Travel Packages 2024/2025

63 moscow trips. compare tour itineraries from 45 tour companies. 308 reviews. 4.7/5 avg rating., popular moscow tours.

St Petersburg & Moscow in Style - Winter

• Explore the majestic St Petersburg & Moscow on private city tours
• Admire the rich Russian history, art and architecture
• Travel to Moscow on a highspeed train
• Enjoy the local cuisine in stylish restaurants

Golden Ring of Russia

Lower Volga Voyage

• Visit magnificent Red Square and Kremlin and examine the collection at theKremlin’s State Armory.
• Experience Russia’s diverse musical traditions at lively folk music performances
• Explore Volgograd, the site of the decisive battle of World War II’s eastern front

Best of Russia

Volga Dream Russian River Cruise

Highlights of Russia

St Petersburg & Moscow in Style - Summer

White Russian - 7 days

• Discover Moscow's UNESCO-listed Red Square, home to spectacular St Basil’s Cathedral, Lenin's Mausoleum and the historic GUM Department store
• Explore the grounds of Moscow's mighty Kremlin, with its numerous governmentbuildings, gold-domed cathedrals and the giant tsar bell
• Celebrate New Year's Eve in Moscow!
• Take in the highlights of St Petersburg including a guided tour of the exquisite Church on Spilled Blood, Peter & Paul Fortress and Cathedral
• Take a guided tour of the remarkable Hermitage Museum at the Winter Palace

All Moscow , expedition cruises, self guided adventures and vacation packages. Find the best guided and expert planned vacation and holiday packages. Read more about Moscow

Small Group Moscow Tours

Vodka Shot - 6 days

• Explore the beautiful city of St Petersburg, including the exquisite Church on Spilled Blood, Peter & Paul Fortress and Nevsky Prospekt
• Marvel at the dazzling array of art and exhibits in the world-famous Hermitage Museum, at the Winter Palace in St Petersburg
• Discover a lavish residence of the tsars on a day trip to Catherine Palace at Tsarkoe Selo (winter: mid-October to April) or Peterhof Palace and gardens (summer: May to mid-October)
• Take in the highlights of the capital on a walking tour, visiting Moscow's famous Red Square, home to the historic GUM Department Store, Lenin’s Mausoleum and spectacular St Basil’s Cathedral
• Take a guided tour of the Moscow Kremlin, Russia’s political power house. Stroll around the grounds of this fortified complex, visit the Kremlin's cathedrals and see the mighty Tsar Bell

Route of the Romanovs - 10 days

• Learn about the last days of the Romanovs in Yekaterinburg, visiting the sites where Tsar Nicolas II and his family were assassinated and buried
• Straddle two continents at the famous obelisk Europe/Asia border marker in Yekaterinburg
• Experience the Trans-Siberian railway on an overnight train journey from Moscow to Yekaterinburg

New Year's in Moscow - 9 days

• Visit Catherine Palace at Tsarkoe Selo on Christmas Day and marvel at the incredible Amber Room
• Spend a night in Novgorod, an ancient city by the Volkhov River - explore the kremlin, cathedral and other sights and enjoy a traditional Russian banya (sauna)

Back in the USSR - 7 days

Russian Revolution - 9 days

• Visit historic Novgorod, an ancient city which straddles the Volkhov River. Explore the attractive riverside kremlin and experience a traditional Russian banya (sauna)

The Snowball - 6 days

• Visit Catherine Palace at Tsarkoe Selo and marvel at the incredible Amber Room

Mood for Moscow - 4 days

• Head underground to visit a Stalinist-era Soviet Bunker on an optional excursion
• Stroll to the vibrant Izmailovo Market, which lies behind the walls of an ancient Kremlin, and shop for an array of souvenirs

Best Moscow Tours by Duration

Tours, Cruises & Private Trips

Best Moscow Tours by Price

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Moscow Tours & Travel Guide

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Moscow reviews & ratings, capitals of the north.

some hotels could have been better

It was jam packed with every place I wanted to go and see. I especially love my photo of us setting out on the night time river cruise in St Petersburg and the Peter...

I really did not buy much and what I did buy was small gifts for others .

Johanna-Marie

Good hotels, some better than others. Interesting itinerary

Too rushed. Optional tour rather too short

See all Moscow reviews

Traveling to Moscow, an FAQ

1. Does Travelstride have all the tour operators?

2. How does the Member Savings program save me money?

3. Can I trust the tour operator and trip reviews on Travelstride?

4. What does ‘Stride Preferred’ mean?

Safari Tours

Take a Tour of a Wildlife Safari Zoo in Central Pennsylvania

Guided safari tours in central pennsylvania.

The dry plains of Africa and the woodlands and forests of Australia have never felt closer thanks to the incredible safari tour at Lake Tobias Wildlife Park. Like our other amazing attractions , the safari allows you and your family to see first-hand the various animals native to those lands and learn about their natural habitats. Discover more about our animal safari in Central Pennsylvania and all you can expect to see on your journey.

Guided Safari offered May thru October.

Self Drive-Thru Safari Available Only in April and November

Guests who wish to enjoy our safari tour from the comfort of their vehicles can do so with our self-drive-thru option.  VEHICLES WITH HARD DOORS AND HARD TOP ROOFS ONLY. Those interested in this experience should first read the Drive-Thru Rules to ensure their safety and the wellbeing of our animals. You will be required to sign a vehicle waiver prior to entering the safari fields.

The Drive-Thru Safari pre-season/post-season option is available on select weekends only in April and November, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The cost of admission is $9 per person for all ages three and older.

Please note: Only the Safari Tour Fields are open for the Drive-Thru option. Zoo exhibits are open from May 1st through October during the regular season.

Adventure Awaits at Our Wildlife Safari Zoo

Say Hello to Our Animals

One of the best parts about our safari zoo in Pennsylvania is all the different animals you may see. More than 400 animals roam the safari fields freely at Lake Tobias Wildlife Park. You may meet curious critters that are just as interested in you as you are in them — it is common for animals to approach the tour bus and get close enough for guests to reach out and touch them. Interacting with these animals is sure to be an unforgettable and highly beneficial experience for your party.

Our New Safari Station

Dedicated to providing our guests with the best possible experience, we are happy to introduce our safari station. Built and launched in 2015, the safari station includes the following:

• A comfortable holding area large enough to fit guests as they wait for their turn to hop aboard the cruiser
• A snack shop where you can grab a drink, some food for the ride, and even feed to give the animals while on the tour
• Well-maintained restrooms for your convenience

Things to Keep in Mind for Your Next Safari Tour

To help guests get the most out of their animal safari in Pennsylvania, we encourage all to be mindful of when the tours begin. Rides go out right when the park opens, and guests are welcome to come early to avoid crowds or waiting in long lines. Our tours last around 45 minutes, providing plenty of time to take in the entire tour without tiring out the youngest in your group. The last tour departs our Safari Station one hour before closing.

Please be advised that we do not accept reservations for our tours as they are offered on a first come, first serve basis. However, even if you miss your preferred time, another is coming up shortly!

Plan Your Visit Today to Our Safari in Pennsylvania

Lake Tobias Wildlife Park welcomes guests from Central Pennsylvania and the surrounding areas to enjoy a first-hand experience with animals from six continents. Our safari tour allows visitors to witness a variety of majestic animals and gain insight into their way of life. Contact us today to learn more about our Pennsylvania safari tours and rates , or to view our park hours .

Safari Times

• Safari tours begin when the park opens.
• Tours last approximately 45 minutes.
• Last tour goes out one hour before closing.
• Tours are offered on a first-come, first-serve basis and depart multiple times per day.

Attractions

Zoo Exhibits

Petting Zoo

Reptiles & Exotics

Baby Animal Program

J.R. Tobias Museum & Education Center

Catch & Release Fishing

Dining & Food

New Giraffe Exhibit

Visitor information.

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Project Pawsitivity

A Sitting For a Cause Blog Featuring All Things Pet-Related

Subway Strays: The Dogs of Moscow’s Metro

Despite the collapse of the Soviet Union, the stray dogs in Moscow have a surprisingly well-documented history which animal behaviorists have been paying close attention to for several decades. During the Soviet period in Russia the packs of wild (or stray) dogs in were regulated. Only the clever canines who learned to stay in isolation were able to survive. Usually, these dogs would remain on the outskirts of the city hunting in wild packs, as the living in the city was dangerous and food scarce.  After the fall of the Soviet Union quality of life in Russia began to slowly improve and with it more street vendors and food collecting in busy neighborhoods. This began to bring some the stray dogs out of the suburbs into the city.

Today, there are nearly 35,000 stray dogs that call Moscow home. Out of these 35,000 stray dogs there are about 500 that have taken to living underground. Out of these dogs, there are a few that have started thinking outside the box and inside the boxcar. They have begun the slow move underground to stay out of the cold (Russian winters reach an average of -5 degrees every day). Many of the Russian commuters embraced the dog’s underground migration by petting them or giving them food.

Though these claims may seem like the made up type of internet misinformation that we have learned to be skeptical of these days, it is actually sourced to a Russian biologist by the name of  Dr. Andrey Poyarkov , a highly regarded scientist in his field of study. As it turns out Poyarkov has been studying these dogs for the last thirty years and told news sources back in 2010 that he suspected a small fraction of these underground dogs had actually learned to use the subway in order to beg for food in bustling urban areas where food is more plentiful.

Andrei Neuronov , an animal behaviorist, says much like you train your dogs at home to respond to verbal commands like “sit” or “stay,” the Moscow metro dogs are using audio cues from the subway stops they have learned. The dogs memorize the names of the stops to navigate the subway systems in order to take them to heavily populated places during the day and get food.  Then, they return to their more secluded corners of the suburbs at night where they are less likely to be bothered by people.  Here is a story ABC did back in 2011, talking about this very thing.

Do you have any information on how to help these dogs?  Please share and comment below.

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Your 48-hour tour guide of Moscow this winter!

9 am – Visit the Red Square 

Christmas market on Red Square

The first thing that every tourist should do by default is visit the very heart of Moscow – it’s main and most beautiful (which ‘krasnaya’ actually meant in Old Russian) square! 

There are several ways to explore it:

• Take a selfie with Spasskaya Tower
• Have a warm drink at the Christmas market (which lasts until mid-January)
• Visit Lenin’s Mausoleum
• Shop in the gorgeous adjacent GUM department store
• Visit St. Basil’s Cathedral (and learn that it’s actually several churches under one roof).           

11 am – It’s Kremlin time! 

Inside the Moscow Kremlin

Entering the Kremlin is, actually, a bit of a quest, as it’s a presidential facility with no general access. You need to buy a ticket or, better still, book a guided tour. Inside the Kremlin’s walls, you will find ancient cathedrals, in which Russian tsars used to be crowned and buried, as well as explore the magnificent architecture of the Kremlin that reflects the rich history of the country. And, finally, you could also make a quick visit to the Moscow Kremlin Museums and admire artifacts from various Russian tsarist eras: carriages, thrones, crowns and the most incredible armory and jewelry. 

For more information, visit the official website of the Kremlin . It’s open from 10 am to 5 pm (and it’s closed on Thursdays) in winter.

2 pm – Watch the changing of the Guard

The honor guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

A very spectacular (and free) thing to do is watch how the honor guard does their ceremonial change at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the Eternal Flame, situated in Alexander Garden, right next to the Kremlin wall. Every hour, from 8 am to 8 pm, the 1st Company of the Kremlin (Presidential) Regiment performs this rather old and beautiful tradition. But, be warned, it's often overcrowded. 

3 pm – Enjoy a green oasis just in the center

Florarium in Zaryadye

Just a few steps from the Red Square, you will find the fabulous Zaryadye park. Opened in 2017, it is designed by renowned American architect bureau ‘Diller Scofidio + Renfro’. You can walk among the very cozy botanical decorations and explore Russia’s climate zones, as each of them is represented in dedicated areas, complete with flora from those zones.

The floating bridge in Zaryadye Park

The park also has an underground museum, an “ice cave” and a 3D cinema, where you can take part in a virtual adventure – a flight over Moscow! However, the piece de resistance is a floating boomerang bridge over the Moskva River, one of the best places to take a selfie.

You can also grab a quick lunch or relax with a cup of coffee or tea in the park.

7 pm – Arrange a ballet night

The Bolshoi Theater

Of course, the most fancy way to finish your day in Moscow would be to go to the ballet at the Bolshoi Theater (in a perfect world, to see ‘The Nutcracker’!). However, getting tickets to the Bolshoi is not an easy task and should be done well in advance of your visit. 

But, don’t be upset if you don’t manage to get tickets to the Bolshoi. Moscow has dozens of other options to see a ballet (or opera). No less brilliant performances can be seen in the Stanislavsky and Nemirovich-Danchenko Music Theater or in The State Kremlin Palace (by the way, this is another way to get a quick glimpse inside the Kremlin!).

10:30 pm – Have a late dinner in a fancy restaurant

Dr Zhivago restaurant

There are not so many other cities with such a big choice of restaurants in a range of tastes and styles. In 2021, the authoritative Michelin guide announced their pick of the best of Moscow’s restaurants. And here’s our guide to all the places with Russian cuisine for any budget. But, if you happen to be in the area of the Bolshoi or Nemirovich-Danchenko Theater, then ‘Dr. Zhivago’ would definitely be a nice option (and it’s open around the clock).

DAY 2 

9 am – grab a moscow coffee.

Winter festivities mood in Moscow

Moscow is definitely a coffee city! You can find coffee shops on every corner and they all offer a huge range of drinks. Try a ‘raf’ coffee, a sweet, creamy drink that was created in Russia, or dare to pick one of the very unusual offers, like cheese coffee or a Soviet candy style one (check out our coffee guide here ).

10 am – Take a river cruise

Winter boating along the Moskva River

Another exciting way to explore Moscow is to observe it from the water. Boats cruise along the Moskva River all year round. Most begin their route from the Hotel Ukraine, one of Stalin's ‘Seven Sister’ skyscrapers, and will bring you back to the same spot after passing the medieval Novodevichy Convent, Moscow State University and Luzhniki Stadium, the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour and giant monument to Peter the Great and many other sightseeings. 

It’s always at optimum temperature inside the boat, which also has huge panoramic windows. Select boats also offer a full dining experience, so it is also a nice place to have breakfast or lunch.

If you are not a water person, then discover other, unusual sides of Moscow – pick one of the activities we’ve prepared for you here ! 

1 pm – Visit ‘Russia’ Expo and taste a bunch of Russian regional cuisines

Russia Expo at VDNKh

Until April 2024, the Soviet-era VDNKh exhibition park is hosting the huge ‘Russia’ expo, with tons of activities and expositions devoted to Russia, its culture, science and nature. Check out our special guide on what to do there!  

An entire ‘House of Russian Cuisine’ has been opened at the expo. You will find 15 food stands with flagship dishes from Kamchatka, Siberia, Karelia and other regions of Russia. Imagine trying a range of cuisines and dishes in one place without even having to travel anywhere, be it Altai pelmeni, Tula kalach or Caucasian pies! A perfect place to grab some lunch.

House of Russian cuisines at VDNKh

The VDNKh exhibition park is a great place to visit, in general! Its pavilions are the perfect example of Stalinit Empire style architecture and you can almost feel as if you’ve traveled back in time! You will also find several interesting museums in the park – devoted to space exploration, Russian history and even a ‘Special Purpose Garage’, which showcases the various vehicles used by the country’s leaders. 

'Sun of Moscow' wheel

And, finally, you can ride Europe's tallest panoramic wheel – ‘Sun of Moscow’ – that will give you panoramic views of the city – from a height of 140 meters!

5 pm – Ice skate with view & mulled wine

Ice skating rink on Red Square (GUM department store on the background)

Ice skating is one of the most popular and affordable activities in Moscow. There are several great ice skating rinks in picturesque locations that are open all winter long. One of the biggest rinks in Europe is also at the aforementioned VDNKh or you can visit the one in Gorky Park, another very popular Moscow spot, or the small, but fancy rink – right on Red Square! 

All the parks offer ice skate rental, so the only things you need are warm clothes, a charged phone to record your memories and a good mood!  Moscow also gets dark at 4:30 pm in winter and hundreds of lights are switched on, turning the city into a giant fairy tale! 

A mulled wine with a view

And, if you are not a sports person, we’ve picked several other unusual activities that you could do in Moscow instead. For example, did you know that there is an entire district of dacha (countryside) houses, just 10 minutes from the center, surrounded by giant new highrises? How about taking a stroll there and feeling the early Soviet atmosphere?

8 pm – Warm up & laugh out loud

After all these outdoor activities, what could be better than a warm cozy bar with a hot drink and nice company? Moscow is a city full of entertainment for all tastes. So, if you know the Russian language or want to practice it, go to a theater or catch a stand-up comedy show. Moscow even has comedy shows in English, where you can hear both Russians speaking fluent English or foreigners (including Brits and Americans) who live in Russia speaking in broken or heavily-accented Russian (Check their show dates on the ‘ Moscow English Comedy ’ Telegram channel)!

11 pm – Finish by partying the night away!

Propaganda club in Moscow

Moscow never sleeps, as you might have heard. Which means there are plenty of bars and nightclubs where you can have a drink (or two or three; be sure to check out how Russians make Black Russian and White Russian cocktails) and chat with incredibly different people. Have fun and don’t miss your flight (or miss it and stay longer in the best city in the world!)!

That's it! See you soon in Moscow

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