Animals

Aquarium of the Bay Watch a leopard shark stalk its prey; walk through the two crystal-clear tunnel, traveling underneath 700,000 gallons of Bay water; observe 23,000 different aquatic animals; see what a bat ray or leopard shark feels like at the touch pool. Pier 39, San Francisco, CA; 888 SEA DIVE. Fee.

Aquarium of the Pacific Examine how the exotic lionfish and other marine animals use poison to survive their rugged environments; visit Shark Lagoon to touch a zebra shark; marvel at one of the other 150 species on display. 100 Aquarium Way, Long Beach, CA; +1 562 590 3100. Fee.

Birch Aquarium at Scripps Explore a giant underwater kelp forest; learn about various sea creatures; journey into a shark reef. 2300 Expedition Way, San Diego, CA; +1 858 534 3474. Fee.

California Living Museum View turkey vultures up close; come face to face with a gila monster in the reptile house; explore the children's discovery rooms and their interactive exhibits. 10500 Alfred Harrell Hwy., Bakersfield, CA; +1 661 872 2256. Fee.

Fisherman's Wharf Watch lounging sea lions while you walk along the pier; sign up for a whale-watching trip to see the humpbacks at play; cast a line and try to catch a giant mackerel. End of Calle Principal, Monterey, CA; +1 831 649 1646. Fee.

Fresno Chaffee Zoo Envy the Asian elephants as they cool off in the exhibit's waterfall and pool. Venture into Wolf Woods; marvel at the Winged Wonders bird show; lift your eyes to see South American monkeys running overhead through the 55-foot-high Tropical Rainforest Habitat. 894 West Bellmont Ave., Fresno, CA; +1 559 498 2761. Fee.

Living Desert Reserve Groom a dwarf African goat at the replica Village WaTuTu; hike along the path of the San Andreas fault; see a family of reticulated giraffes as they roam the desert habitat; crawl in underground tunnels at the Gecko Gulch Children's Play Land. 47-900 Portola Ave., Indian Wells, CA; +1 760 346 5694. Fee.

Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens Get inspired to preserve wildlife and habitats by visiting the adorably charming but rare mountain tapir; plunge through tropical foliage to emerge at the excellent gorilla, orangutan, and chimp habitats; stroll cautiously through an enormous tropical flight enclosure where spoonbills, ibises, and turacos soar above. 5333 Zoo Dr., Los Angeles, CA; +1 323 644 4200. Fee.

Micke Grove Park & Zoo Visit the Japanese gardens for a cup of green tea; head to the Madagascar exhibit to see hissing cockroaches and other species unique to that island. Especially well suited for younger children. 11793 N. Micke Grove Rd., Lodi, CA; +1 209 953 8800. Fee.

Monterey Bay Aquarium Immerse yourself in the area's marine wildlife; visit the three-story kelp forest; tickle a bat ray at the ocean touch tank; watch sharks in their natural environment at the million-gallon "Outer Bay" exhibit. 886 Cannery Row, Monterey, CA; +1 831 648 4800. Fee.

The Oakland Zoo Observe tigers, bison, elk, and lions with a bird's eye view from the Sky Ride; scale giant tortoise shells; pet goats and sheep; ogle the six-foot wingspan of Southeast Asia's flying foxes (a species of bat) at the Valley Children's Zoo. 9777 Golf Links Rd., Oakland, CA; +1 510 632 9525. Fee.

Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rock Visit Piedras Blancas Lighthouse and take in an aerial view of over ten thousand seals as they live and play along this coastline. 250 San Simeon Ave., San Simeon, CA; +1 805 924 1628.

Sacramento Zoo Meet a Sumatran tiger, a white-handed gibbon or countless other endangered and rare species; get close, but not too close, to the jumping pit vipers in the reptile house; watch the antics of the river otters as they play in their natural habitat. 3930 West Land Park Dr., Sacramento, CA; +1 916 808 5888. Fee.

San Diego Zoo Watch mighty lions prowl; scout out the famous giant pandas; walk through the Rain Forest Aviary to see comb-crested jacanas fly overhead; visit the Absolutely Apes exhibit to hang with orangutans. 2920 Zoo Dr., San Diego, CA; +1 619 234 3153. Fee.

San Diego Zoo's Wild Animal Park See Indian rhinos up-close on the Photo Caravan Safari; learn about elephants at the Asian habitat's elephant show; pretend you're in Africa at the authentic and picturesque Congo River Fishing Village, modeled after an actual African locale. 15500 San Pasqual Valley Rd., Escondido, CA; +1 760 747 8702. Fee.

San Francisco Zoo Come eyeball to eyeball with one of our closest animal relatives at the Gorilla Preserve; visit the African savanna to see giraffes, zebra, and kudu; marvel at extremely rare cats like the snow leopard at the Feline Conservation Center. 1 Zoo Rd., San Francisco, CA; +1 415 753 7080. Fee.

Santa Barbara Zoo Come eyeball to eyeball with Baringo giraffes and feed them snacks; ride the zoo train and see gorillas from the perimeter of the park. 500 Niños Dr., Santa Barbara, CA; +1 805 962 5339. Fee.

SeaWorld See Shamu dazzle in the new killer whale show "Believe" and get up close and personal with a white-tip shark at Shark Encounter. 500 SeaWorld Dr., San Diego, CA; 800 257 4268. Fee.