Animals

Alligator Alley See (and feed!) more than 150 rescued alligators; meet the world-record holder Captain Crunch, an 800-pound 'gator over 13 feet long and with a 2,982-pound bite; view owls, ospreys, and turtles. 19950 Hwy. 71, Summerdale, AL; +1 866 994 2867. Consult website for specific feeding times. Fee.

Audubon Bird Sanctuary Seek out the serenity of the Audubon Park; spy rare birds that shelter here; observe the migratory patterns of flocks that cross through the sanctuary. 109 Bienville Blvd., Dauphin Island, AL; +1 251 861 3607.

Birmingham Zoo Gaze at more than 750 animals, including over 30 endangered species; look eye-to-eye with giraffes through a periscope; try to stay dry during a sea lion show; take a ride on the carousel; schedule a twilight tour to see nocturnal creatures at play. 2630 Cahaba Road, Birmingham, AL; +1 205 879 0409. Fee.

Dauphin Island Sea Lab & Estuarium Ogle eels, sharks, jellyfish, and octopuses; visit the "Touch Tanks," an aquatic petting zoo; learn the science behind the formation of the Mobile Delta. 101 Bienville Blvd., Dauphin Island, AL; +1 251 861 7000. Fee.

Montgomery Zoo Treat yourself to a bird's eye view of the North American prairie, the Asian plains, and even the African savanna; take a train ride through the zoo's five represented continents. 2301 Coliseum Parkway, Montgomery, AL; +1 334 240 4588.