With all the other attractions San Antonio [1] has to offer, visitors often overlook the worthy San Antonio Zoo (3903 N. St. Mary’s St., 210/734-7184, www.sa-zoo.org [2], 9 a.m.–6 p.m. daily Memorial Day through Labor Day, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. daily the remainder of the year, $9 adults, seniors, and children 3–11). The 56-acre zoo, located among the cliffs of an old limestone quarry in Brackenridge Park [3], is home to more 3,500 animals representing 750 species.
The facility’s extensive exhibits include an impressive bird collection (make a point to visit the penguins), an African antelope collection, a monkey and ape area, and the only American exhibit of the endangered whooping crane.
The children’s area, called the Tiny Tot Nature Spot, is a great place for kids under 5 years old to get out of their strollers (and shoes and socks) to interact with the natural world by digging up worms and bugs and occasionally feed them to non-threatening animals like guinea pigs.
Links:
[1] http://www.moon.com/destinations/texas/san-antonio
[2] http://www.sa-zoo.org
[3] http://www.moon.com/destinations/texas/san-antonio/sights/brackenridge-park