This year, there have been many new animal exhibit and baby animal presentations, making 2009 the perfect year to visit a children’s zoo. Predators of the Serengeti opened at the Oregon Zoo, Teton Trek opened at the Memphis Zoo, Fantasea opened at Chicago’s Shedd Aquarium, McNeil Avian Center opened at the Philadelphia Zoo and San Diego opened their Elephant Odyssey display, which marks the biggest project in zoo history. With low prices and year-round special events, zoo trips are the ideal way to have family fun.

The top children’s zoo, according to Child Magazine, is the 56-acre Lowry Park Zoo in Tampa, Florida, where your child can see 1,614 exotic animals. The Australian-themed petting zoo lets the kids feed pet kangaroos and wallabies, mimic sheep herding and visit a water-play area with animal fountains and statues. Your kids will love the Safari Africa exhibit, featuring giraffes, elephants, zebras, warthogs, bongos and African ground hornbill birds. The “Spirit of the Skies” show features high-flying hawks, bald eagles, vultures and owls. Kids can hold lorikeets and feed them nectar, pet koi fish, ride on a camel, feed sting rays and act at a summer camp. With 35 educational programs designed to leave lasting impressions on youngsters, you can be sure your kids will never forget this trip to the zoo. For more information, visit www.lowryparkzoo.com.

Special at the Brookfield Zoo in Illinois, another top children’s zoo, is the 2,000-seat “Dolphinarium” shows, their 20-species butterfly showcase, bar-less panda and black rhino displays and Hamill Family Play Zoo, where kids can play in a fake animal hospital, plant gardens, dress up in animal costumes, paint murals, build animal exhibit habitats and pet animals. On the third Saturday of every month, kids between the ages of 5 and 10 will enjoy painting, sculpting, games, journals, mural-making and discussions geared toward their age group. All in all, you’ll see 5,938 exotic animals in this 216-acre park. For more information, visit www.brookfieldzoo.org.

New York City’s Bronx Zoo is another top zoo for kids, with 4,427 animals on 265-acres. The best thing about this zoo is its education programs that include summer camps, animal-themed plays, scavenger hunts, day camps, craft making and classes about animal studying technology. “Our zoo is a living classroom,” says Richard Lattis, general director. “Children are constant fountains of knowledge who are going to keep adults headed toward saving wildlife.” For more information, visit www.bronxzoo.com. Other great zoos for kids to check out include the Toledo Zoo, Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo and the Columbus Zoo.

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