Toronto Zoo

If you’ve ever dreamed of trekking through the African savannah or the Arctic tundra, the Toronto Zoo offers the next best thing. The 500-acre zoo is one of the largest in Canada and houses more than 3,000 animals across seven different geographic regions, each showcasing fauna and flora from that part of the world.

In the Tundra Trek region, visitors can observe polar bears enjoying a swim in their pool or lounging on the rocky shore. The lower-level viewing tunnel offers a chance to see them underwater through large glass windows.

The most recent addition to the zoo is the rainforest-like habitat in the Indo-Malaya region. Seven critically endangered Sumatran orangutans reside here, including Puppe, who has lived at the zoo since it opened in 1974. The group can often be seen swinging from ropes or perched atop elevated platforms reaching up to 75 feet high.

Another must-see is the Wildlife Health and Science Centre, where visitors can watch as medical teams performs surgeries, lab tests, nail trims and other procedures from a viewing gallery. Enhance your visit by booking a behind-the-scenes experience with some of the zoo’s most charismatic residents and their knowledgeable caretakers. Perhaps you’ll meet Blue and Jay, a pair of shaggy Highland cows, or hang out with a group of Australian kangaroos.

When it’s time for a break, the zoo has several restaurants and snack shacks, as well as an animal-themed play area with a splash pad, carousel and climbing ropes. The Toronto Zoo is open year-round, and spring and summer serve as a prime time for viewing new babies and seeing fascinating animal behaviors. 2000 Meadowvale Rd., Toronto, Ontario M1B 5K7, 416/392-5900, torontozoo.com