Discovery Place Nature is half zoo, half museum. There are plenty of live animals to visit, daily shows to watch, plus hands-on demonstrations. Some of the highlights include visiting Louis, a juvenile American alligator during feeding time, walking through the Butterfly Pavilion, exploring Insect Alley, or getting up close and personal with a number of wild animals while also learning about their native diets and habitats with a museum naturalist.

While most families go to Orlando for the theme parks, we recommend a little detour and visit the Safari Wilderness Ranch which is about 45 minutes away. Within the 260 acres, you’ll find hundreds of animals including zebras, goats, ostriches, llama, camels, lemurs, red lechwes, elands and more while being driven around by an experienced guide. The safari vehicles are fitted with shade canopies and stadium seating for extra comfort and better viewing. Or, view the animals by camelback.

Costa Rica is home to five of the seven species of sea turtle, and since they lay their eggs on the Pacific and Caribbean shores every month, it is possible to spot the creatures on the shoreline all year round. One of the best places to take a “turtle tour” is the Las Baulas National Park during the nesting season which runs roughly from mid-Oct. to mid-Feb. Tours are alwasy at night and restricted to just 30 people per tour so you’ll be able to get a good look at them!

Set sail on a schooner for a whale watching voyage off the coast of Massachusets (yellow slicker not required, but perfect for holiday card photos). In addition to the rich whaling history of the area, the Stellwagen Bank Marine Sanctuary—a rich feeding ground for whales, dolphins, sea birds and other marine creatures—practically guarantees you'll catch sight of humpbacks, finbacks, minkes, pilot whales or the critically endangered right whales.

Located outside the big city of Tacoma you’ll find Northwest Trek which is home to over 40 species of native Northwest animals including bison, bears, moose, elk, bighorn sheep, caribou, beavers, wolves, otters and more all living in their natural habitats. Admission includes the 40-minute Discovery Tram Tour which covers the 435 acres of the free-roaming area.

Want to go on a walk with a polar bear or sit down for a nice dinner with them? At Churchill Wild you can—the only remote fly-in ecolodge on the planet located on the Hudson Bay coast, deep in the heart of the polar bear country. Take in a polar bear walking tour, a photo safari and if the weather is right, viewing the northern lights. Unlike other nature tours, this company boasts that in its 25-year history, every tour group has seen bears. Good to know: The minimum age is 8 years old.

Located on the North Shore of Oahu, Turtle Bay Resort offers a variety of animal adventures throughout its 800 acres of property. Here you can kayak among sea turtles in glass-bottomed kayaks and then stop by the “sea turtle cleaning station” on your way back! Other adventures include HorSea Yoga which is a combo of horseback riding and yoga, “hang ten” with a surfing dog, climb in a shark cage, view the monk seals on the shoreline or take a dolphin tour.

This is one of the largest marine mammal facilities in the world to combine animal rehabilitation and research lab, and the only one authorized by the National Marine Fisheries Service to rescue and treat marine mammals along the Central and Northern California coast. It can care for up to 200 seals, sea lions and other marine mammals at once, and since the center annually treats, on average, 800 or more mammals, any time of year is a good time to visit.

You don’t have to go “down under” to get up close to a kangaroo. Located about an hour north of Seattle, the Outback Kangaroo Farm offers 40-minute wildlife tours featuring not only kangaroos but also wallabies, tortoises, wallaroos, lemurs, llamas, alpacas, peacocks, Nigerian dwarf goats, mini donkeys, parrots and emus. Unlike your local zoo, you’ll be able to interact with many of the animals while asking the experts everything you ever wanted to know about these creatures.

Teton Raptor Center began in 1991 when two field biologists began caring for injured raptors out of their home. Now they care for over 130 injured birds per year! In addition to onsite programs, the center offers some special events like the Feathered Float with Friends—a tranquil mid-day float on a vintage wooden boat down the Snake River to discover raptors and other wildlife. The tour includes an hour-long, up-close learning experience at the center