Zoos are a great place for families to visit any time of year and offer an unforgettable learning experience about our world’s amazing wildlife. Listed alphabetically, the following 10 zoos are among the best on the East Coast of the USA. Visit one of these for a memorable encounter that will inspire future generations with wonder and respect for the natural world.

Bronx Zoo

The Bronx Zoo in New York is the biggest urban zoo in the world

At 265 acres, the Bronx Zoo in New York is the biggest urban zoo in the world. Their naturalistic habitats are home to over 600 species of creatures in fantastic exhibits including Tiger Mountain, JungleWorld, the Congo Gorilla Forest, African Plains, Madagascar! and the Baboon Reserve. Their award-winning Children’s Zoo boasts three acres of hands-on activities that help children learn all about animals and their habitats and includes a petting zoo. The zoo also features a Bug Carousel, camel rides, a Zoo Shuttle with unlimited rides per ticket, a 4-D Theater, and the Wild Asia Monorail that takes visitors on a guided tour where elephants, rhinos, tigers and other wildlife frolic in the forests, riverbanks and pastures of their habitats. Daily animal feedings and training demonstrations offer unforgettable encounters as well. The Bronx Zoo is located at Bronx River Parkway at Fordham Road in Bronx, New York 10470. For more information visit www.bronxzoo.com

Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Safari tours at Disney's Animal Kingdom are a wonderful way to view many of the animals at the park, like this elephant

As part of the Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, Disney’s Animal Kingdom encompasses 500 lush acres and over 1,700 animals from 250 species. There are seven themed areas surrounding the park’s Tree of Life - a 14-story sculpted thematic park centerpiece –  with exhibits, expeditions and safaris that offer close encounters with the animals. Pulsating entertainment includes musical stage performances, parades, and fantastic shows like Flights of Wonder that features 20 bird species including macaws, hawks and eagles. Several rides whirl guests through themed adventures like the Kali River Rapids rafts, the Expedition Everest coaster, the TriceraTop Spin, the Wildlife Express Train and more. A shaded petting zoo lets children learn more about a variety of animals including llamas, sheep, goats and chickens. Kids can also run, climb, slide or dig for fossils at the playground with a shaded dig site called The Boneyard. Disney’s Animal Kingdom is located at 2901 Osceola Parkway in Lake Buena Vista, Florida 32830. For more information visit www.disneyworld.disney.go.com (under “Parks” tab at top)

Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens

Train rides are one of the delights featured at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens

With over 1,800 exotic animals and 1,000 diverse plants, the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens in Jacksonville, Florida offers families an exciting wildlife adventure. Some of the many naturalistic exhibits are the Great Apes, the Plains of East Africa, the River Valley Aviary, the Giraffe Overlook, Wild Florida, and the Range of the Jaguar that is home to one of the nation’s largest collections of these gorgeous cats. Its botanical gardens are a passionate testament to nature’s beauty, and a sanctuary for strolling. The zoo offers behind-the-scenes tours, lush garden tours, keeper talks, bird watching, train rides, and a delightful wildlife carousel. A play park with splash ground lets children run, jump, climb and play through mazes and a variety of nature-themed apparatus. They can also pet animals such as pygmy goats in the animal care contact yard, explore several tree houses, do arts and crafts and other activities in the Discovery Building, and much more. The Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens is located at 370 Zoo Parkway in Jacksonville, Florida 32218. For more information visit www.jacksonvillezoo.org

The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore

Guests can feed the giraffes for a nominal fee at The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore

With its opening in 1876, The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore, Maryland is the third oldest zoo in the nation, and is home to over 2,000 animals. African Journey is the zoo’s largest area with numerous exhibits where animals indigenous to Africa can be seen. Watch cheetahs, gazelle, warthogs, elephants, rhinos, zebras, lions and more in naturalistic habitats. Go on camel rides or feed giraffes at the feeding station for a nominal fee. In Polar Bear Watch, guests can explore the tundra setting with arctic foxes, snowy owls, ravens and polar bears with a large underwater viewing area to see the bears swim. The Maryland Wilderness featuring The Children’s Zoo boasts many interactive exhibits that inspire children to crawl, climb and jump like the animals displayed – all native to Maryland – and includes a walk-through aviary, cave, petting area with farmyard critters, and much more. The zoo also has a few carnival-style rides, a train, a carousel, a variety of tours, animal encounters and educational keeper talks. The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore is located at 1876 Mansion House Drive in Baltimore, Maryland 21217. For more information visit www.marylandzoo.org

Philadelphia Zoo

State-of-the-art exhibits at the Philadelphia Zoo let visitors see many animals like this very regal lion up close through tall windows

The Philadelphia Zoo in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is the nation’s first and oldest zoo, having opened after the American Civil War. Over 1,300 animals – many of them rare and endangered – live on the 42-acres in habitats that allow visitors to see and experience the animals up close.  Get face-to-face with big cats from around the world including tigers, lions, leopards and jaguars through tall glass windows rather than across deep moats. Watch gorillas as they meander through stunning lush gardens. There are bears, birds, bugs, reptiles, aquatic animals and so much more. Children will love the variety of rides and activities such as the Amazon Rainforest Carousel, camel and pony rides, swan boats, train rides, hand-feeding lorikeets, and the Channel 6 Zooballoon that offers panoramic views at a soaring 400 feet. The Children’s Zoo allows kids to pet and feed familiar furry and feathered farm friends, and get a closer look at creepy crawlies at Backyard Bugs, while they learn about the many creatures that share our planet. The Philadelphia Zoo is located at 3400 West Girard Avenue in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104. For more information visit www.philadelphiazoo.org

Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium

These sea lions and over 4,000 animals live at the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium

With its fantastic combination of zoo and aquarium, the Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania features 77 acres with over 4,000 animals.  Guests can see lions, elephants, zebras and ostriches roam among the plains and animals of the African Savanna exhibits. There are over 90 primates in the indoor/outdoor Tropical Forest complex. The Asian Forest is home to snow leopards, tigers, a Komodo dragon and other fascinating creatures. Visitors can get a close look at polar bears, sea otters and sand tiger sharks in the Water’s Edge exhibit with its two underwater tunnels. The PPG Aquarium boasts over 4,000 exotic fish, an open ocean tank, coral reef, stingray tunnel and more. Children will love exploring the Kid’s Kingdom with its petting zoo, animal encounters, playful sea lion shows, reptile house, playground and many interactive exhibits where they can learn all about the animals. Train and carousel rides (Memorial Day through Labor day – weather permitting) top off an exciting visit here. The Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium is located at 1 Wild Place in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15206. For more information visit www.pittsburghzoo.org

Riverbanks Zoo and Garden

Pretty penguins frolicking at the Riverbanks Zoo and Garden

Over 2,000 animals live at Columbia, South Carolina’s 170-acre Riverbanks Zoo and Garden, while its lush exotic and native plants – including perennials, vines, fragrant flowers and more – are all enchantingly displayed among waterfalls, scenic river views and tranquil pathways that inspire a wonder for nature. Some of the animal exhibits include the African Plains with giraffes, zebras and ostriches; Large Mammals with lions, tigers, bears and baboons; Australian Animals with koalas, a walk-through lorikeet aviary, kangaroos and wallabies; and the Ndoki Forest with elephants, monkeys, gorillas and meerkats. The award-winning Aquarium Reptile Complex features fish, amphibians, invertebrates and reptiles along with daily diving presentations. The popular Riverbanks Farm lets children get a closer look at farm animals while learning about farm life. This wonderful zoo also offers pony rides, an Endangered Species Carousel, and a 3-D Adventure Theater with exciting shows. They are located at 500 Wildlife Parkway in Columbia, South Carolina 29210. For more information visit www.riverbanks.org

Smithsonian National Zoological Park

Graceful cheetahs lounging at the National Zoo

Founded in 1889, the National Zoological Park in Washington, DC is one of the oldest zoos in the USA. There are about 2,000 animals from 400 species including its popular giant pandas (one of only four such centers housing giant pandas in the USA), Asian elephants, great apes, big cats, birds, small mammals, aquatic animals, amphibians, reptiles, insects and a host of endangered species which comprise about a quarter of the animals there. Exciting daily programs include feeding demonstrations, animal training, and keeper presentations where visitors can learn more about the fascinating animals, what they eat, and how they behave. The Kids’ Farm engages children with hands-on activities and a petting barn where they can learn about a variety of animals including goats, hogs, cows, alpacas and donkeys. There is also a playground area and Pizza Garden where they can discover the origins of ingredients that make a pizza. The National Zoo offers free admission and is located at 3001 Connecticut Avenue NW in Washington, DC 20008. For more information visit www.nationalzoo.si.edu

Zoo Atlanta

Zoo Atlanta is one of only four zoos in the nation with giant pandas

Zoo Atlanta in Atlanta, Georgia is home to more than 1,300 animals representative of over 220 species residing in about 40 lush acres of realistic wildlife habitats. Like the Smithsonian National Zoological Park, it too was founded in 1889 and is Atlanta’s oldest cultural venue. Some of the exhibit highlights include the Asian Forest and the Ford African Rain Forest with the nation’s biggest zoological collection of orangutans and gorillas, a giant panda conservation, and the African Plains and Mzima Springs where black rhinos, giraffe, lions, zebras, meerkats, ostriches and other animals roam a five-acre savanna like the African plains. Children will be delighted with KIDZone where they can explore the children’s zoo with spacious petting zoo and outback station, ride the Endangered Species Carousel, scale the Rock Climber wall, embark on educational train rides, and romp around in the outdoor and indoor play areas. The zoo also features live shows, presentations and feedings, including friendly parakeet feedings by guests. Zoo Atlanta is located at 800 Cherokee Avenue SE in Atlanta, Georgia 30315. For more information visit www.zooatlanta.org

Zoo Miami

Zoo Miami has camel rides among its many enticements

The Zoo Miami in Miami, Florida is the only tropical zoo in the continental United States, and one of the country’s largest zoos with over 300 developed acres. It has more than 100 exhibits with over 2,000 animals living in spacious naturalistic habitats among lush tropical landscaping. The exhibits feature animals native to Africa, Asia, the Amazon and Australia with everything from tigers and tortoises to lions and leopards, to anacondas, anteaters and much more. The large amphitheater features exciting wildlife shows, while keeper talks and feedings can be seen throughout the park. The air-conditioned Zoofari Monorail provides guests with great views and narrated tours about the animals. The Children’s Zoo offers up-close and personal interaction with many smaller animals. Familiar barnyard animals like goats, sheep and horses await children at the Wacky Barn. Kids can also take camel rides or enjoy the Wildlife Carousel with its assortment of endangered animals. Zoo Miami is located at 1 Zoo Boulevard in Miami, Florida 33177. For more information visit www.miamimetrozoo.com

Baltimore has always been a fascinating cultural mix of working class city, bustling water front, unique ethnic neighborhoods, and historical attractions. Francis Scott Key wrote our nation’s National Anthem, The Star Spangled Banner, here. Little Italy is an expansive and delicious neighborhood. Water taxis are a fun way to get around and explore the town. Best of all, prices are relatively low for excellent accommodations, restaurants are varied and friendly, and one of the best children’s museums in the nation is located here.

Port Discovery Children’s Museum is a modern, exciting children’s museum, located at the Inner Harbor in down town Baltimore. Geared to kids ages 2 to 10, the museum houses an immense three-level climbing structure, with its other exhibits surrounding this over size jungle gym. Called KidWorks, this structure lets kids jump, slide, squirm and crawl over rope bridges and through tunnels. How interactive is that? And the exhibits are wonderful. Kids can travel back to 1920′s Egypt and play Indiana Jones while deciphering hieroglyphics and following clues to a pharaoh’s tomb. At the Down at the Farm exhibit, kids get to plant vegetables and brush a horse tail. A linked exhibit, Harvest Hill, allows junior farmers to sell or trade their products and work a massive crane to move the goods from market to transportation sites.

There’s also a Blue’s Clues like exhibit called Miss Perception, a detective story dedicated to solve the case of a missing family. Musical performances and kareoke are offered at the MPT Studio; when we were there we got to experience the resident Sunday performers known as The World Rhythm Drum Circus, which employs percussion instruments made of barrels, bowls, and tubes to explore their motto: “The world is a giant drum.” And there’s Tiny’s Diner, a retro spot for kid’s to play-cook and serve and even play a song from the jukebox. Still, hands down, our favorite exhibit was Color Diffusion in Nature, an interactive exhibit that allows kids to make their own color diffused art, similar to the color of leaves.

Near the children’s museum in the Inner Harbor is The Maryland Science Center. With a state of the art planetarium and IMAX theater, the center has excellent hands on science exhibits ranging from earth science to computer technology. Our favorite exhibit was the Maryland-centric Follow the Blue Crab. Baltimore loves its crabs – you can get crab cakes or crack open a fresh crab at many cafes all along the inner harbor. This exhibit focuses on the habitat of this resilient and tasty creature in the Chesapeake Bay. We got to see ane enormous mechanical blue crab, with waving claws and legs, stroll through wetlands and see live crabs and fish in aquatic displays. We really enjoyed walking across a full color satellite image of the bay itself.

We also liked the Newton’s Alley exhibit, where hands on activities lets kids – and adults – experience Newtonian principles based on the concept that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction – gravity experiments, water vortexes – wonderful interactive fun.

Baltimore Water Taxis

Water taxis are a fun way to explore Baltimore.

Ready for some outside fun? Take a trip on a water taxi. This uniquely Baltimorean way to travel will take you from the Inner Harbor to historic Fort McHenry or a variety of waterfront residential neighborhoods such as Fells Point or Canton. It may take you a little longer to get between attractions than driving or hopping in a land-taxi, but it’s a fun way to see the city and get some fresh sea air. The stops are all clearly marked, just find one and wait for the next boat. During holidays and summer months you may have a short wait, at other times the taxi is waiting for you. Tickets on board are cash only; you’ll receive a hand stop allowing on and off travel all day. You can buy tickets in advance from kiosks in the Inner Harbor area using a credit or debit card as well. Think of the water taxi as Baltimore’s fun-travel equivalent of San Francisco’s cable cars – they’re an attraction in and of themselves. Our kids enjoyed just taking rides on the taxis from the inner harbor to Fells Point and across the bay. A caveat: in winter the water can be choppy.

The water taxi is a convenient way to get to Baltimore’s premiere historic site, Fort McHenry. Shaped like a star, this fort extends into the harbor, and it was from this vantage point that U.S. forces protected the city from British invaders during the war of 1812. It was also here where Francis Scott Key wrote the words to the “Star-Spangled Banner.” Today, the fort is a national park with interesting historic displays and presentations by historical re-enactors. The grounds around the fort itself are great for a relaxing picnic or just to let the kids run around and watch the boats sail by in the harbor.

Fort McHenry barracks – one of many interesting aspects of the fort to explore.

Every day of the week you can watch a flag change in the morning or afternoon; or stroll through the massive fort constructed in 1798, and named for George Washington’s Secretary of War, James McHenry. We spent a great afternoon strolling the grounds and exploring the many nooks and crannies of the fort.

While the historic fort and the inner harbor area are among the most well known of Baltimore’s attractions, there are plenty of other neighborhoods and attractions to explore, as well as unique restaurants and accommodations to house your brood and create a truly memorable vacation. Next I explore some of Baltimore’s dining, hotel, and off the beaten track attractions. Until then, climb in your water taxi and enjoy the view from the inner harbor!

Baltimore’s inner harbor is lovely any time of day.

First of all there are some unique small museums that you won’t find anywhere else. We loved the classic Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Museum. What kid doesn’t get excited about trains? Here you’ll find model trains, steam engines, historic train cars, and a round house filled with fascinating railroad-related objects. A national landmark, this museum contains the oldest and most comprehensive American railroad collection in the U.S.  Our kids couldn’t get enough of climbing on the varied locomotives. Playing engineer and learning some railroad history at the same time comfortably filled a rainy afternoon. From locomotives to rolling stock and small items like dining car china and signal devices and tools, this fascinating museum contains artifacts of the entire railroad industry.  

Speaking of industry, Baltimore has a museum dedicated to that, too with the Museum of Industry. There’s a recreation of an early 20th-century neighborhood that lets kids take on roles pretending to be tailors, grocers, bankers, ship builders, you name it. With a uniquely Baltimorean point of view, pointing out the geography, immigration patterns, and construction of the city, this museum offers a simple to understand view of the businesses and laborers who built this town.  

The opposite of industry is, well, relaxation. And when the weather cleared up, we found a great place to do just that outside of Baltimore itself on the city side of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge. The bridge leads to Maryland and Delaware ocean resorts, but en route there are several enjoyable bay beaches. Here you’ll find a locals favorite, the white sands of  Sandy Point State Park. This bay side beach is great for swimming in warm weather or strolling along the bay on cooler days. The water is calm, with a long, slow drop off that’s great for little kids splashing and playing. There’s great bird and sail boat watching and a wonderful view of the long, impressive Bay Bridge. A uniquely Maryland activity here is crabbing. Recreational crabbers are known as “chicken neckers,” as the usual technique is tying a piece of chicken to a string as bait, and dangling it off rocks or over the side of a boat into the bay. Our kids were introduced to this crab catching technique by a family of locals. If you’re not squeamish, your kids will enjoy catching a crab this way – you can let it go again with its free meal.  

Ah, food. No matter where you’ve spent the day, you’re going to be hungry and in the mood for a restaurant that welcomes bambinos. You’ll have plenty to choose from in Baltimore’s Little Italy. This small neighborhood is literally jammed with tasty, inexpensive family owned restaurants. Most restaurants are located along High Street. Although it’s near to the inner harbor, the residential neighborhood feels like its in another city. While there are some shops and bakeries, the restaurants are the thing here. We liked Amicci’s, casual, affordable, with great pastas and one of the best deserts we’ve ever eaten – orange ice inside a scooped-out orange. Caeser’s Den Italian restaurant offers grilled fish, meat and veggies; Chiapparelli’s Restaurant is cozy, offering family style entrees along with Caesar salad, and excellent versions of Italian classics like ravioli and lasagna. Try the chocolate chip cannoli for a rich desert. 

After a big meal, you’ll want to find a place to sleep off all that food! We found several great places to stay for Baltimore bound families. The Baltimore Marriott Waterfront hotel is situated in the east Harbor, between the tourist-attractions of the Inner Harbor and the historic, residential Fell’s Point. This high rise hotel is right on the water, walking distance to most attractions, with a water taxi nearby. For the more economy minded – as we often are, these days – there’s the
Brookshire Suites. Very roomy, this small hotel is two blocks from the water and there’s a full breakfast every morning included in the rate. Our favorite area to stay however is Fells Point, an historic neighborhood with cobblestone streets, row houses, small shops and cafes.  

Fells Point is a quaint, historic neighborhood and our favorite place to stay in Baltimore.

If you visit in October, you’ll experience the eclectic arts, crafts, rides, and kids attractions at the Fells Point Fun Festival, an event started in order to raise money to fight against the razing of the neighborhood for highway expansion. The fight was successful and this fund raising event continues and draws visitors from across the state.  

The Admiral Fell Inn is right in Market Square. Sure the location can be a little noisy if you’re in a room that faces the front on a busy weekend. But the bustling neighborhood and reasonably priced yet period decorated inn is a great deal of fun. Our kids loved the old fashioned pedestal sinks and the cushy Persian rugs.  

After a good night’s sleep, your family will be ready to tackle some unique art. And there may be nothing more unique than The American Visionary Art Museum. This Baltimore treat houses a collection of  bizarre, and outside-the-box art created by self-taught artists without any formal training. There’s no place quite like this anywhere in the country, and the vibrant colors and primitive painting styles on display when we went connected well with the kids. Show your kids first hand how awesome it is to just create – and what you can make out of odds and ends and imagination.  

For a more formal approach to artistic expression, take the kids over to the Baltimore Museum of Art. Here you’ll find a lovely collection including work by Picasso, Cézanne, and Van Gogh, as well as an extensive Matisse collection. And outside, the kids will love having the run of the museum’s three acre Sculpture Gardens.  

No matter where you go in Baltimore, you’ll find a city with a special pride in its heritage. From museums to local neighborhood cafes and the rhythm of harbor life, you’ll enjoy exploring this city by the bay.