Zoos and Aquariums

The Monterey Bay Aquarium, in Monterey, California, showcases breath-taking open ocean and deep sea exhibits—as well as a one-million-gallon tank containing tuna, sharks (the only great white in captivity), ocean sunfish, and sea turtles. An entire gallery at the aquarium is devoted to jelly fish—a room where I personally watched my then 18-month-old daughter spend 30 minutes in wide-awed awe, whispering "wow" over and over again. The popular SplashZone gives toddlers and preschoolers a chance to learn about and interact with sea life—including an educational play area, tide pool, and "petting" pool.

The San Diego Zoo is the only American zoo to successfully breed, birth, and rear healthy giant pandas—by themselves, a pretty amazing sight. But, in addition to visiting the pandas, the zoo has a lot to offer. You can watch baby polar bears frolic in the Polar Bear Plunge, explore the enclosed 8,000-square foot Gorilla Tropics, or visit Bugtown—The Itty Bitty City (the newest edition to the Children's Zoo). You can rent a stroller at the zoo for a nominal fee. And here's a tip: You can visit the zoo, Sea World, and the Wild Animal Park with the San Diego 3-For-1 Pass available through the zoo's website.

The National Parks

Camping in any one of the many United States National Parks is by far one of the best adventures for children of all ages. Where else can you sleep under the stars, touch fossils, explore caves, count prairie dogs, follow a buffalo herd as it grazing its natural habitat, see geysers as regular as clockwork, or gaze upon historic political figures carved out of a cliff face? The National Parks Service provides a long list of very cool things for you and your children to visit and do (and their website offers an easily maneuverable search engine for finding locations to suit your family's geographic, historical, cultural, or ecological wishes).

Does your preschooler have a fascination with dinosaurs? Then head for Dinosaur National Monument in Colorado and Utah. Here your budding paleontologist can pick up a Junior Paleontologist Activity Book at the park bookstore and after a short one-hour tour, complete the workbook and submit it to a park ranger for a colorful Junior Ranger patch.