Franklin Park Zoo

Some kids walk right up to Franklin Park Zoo's glass enclosures and make faces at imposing gorillas or stalking lions, while others love to pet the Nigerian dwarf goats at the Contact Corral. Brilliantly colored birds dart through the tropical forest over the heads of pygmy hippos and capybaras, and butterflies flutter on to outstretched hands at the Butterfly Hollow (June-Sept). Then again, some kids will happily ignore the animals altogether, and tackle the zoo-themed playground equipment instead.