City: Norfolk, VA

Category: Tours & Attractions

Telephone: (757) 441-2706

Address: 300 Granby St.

Description: This is the state’s largest zoo with more than 350 animals housed in natural settings across its 53 acres that can be viewed and enjoyed by the entire family. There’s an African exhibit called the Okavango Delta with elephants and giraffes and meerkats and a pride of lions that recently produced cubs. A prairie dog exhibit lets you look into their underground world. Also featured are a red panda, a bald eagle exhibit, a kangaroo exhibit, and Alfred, the white rhino.The zoo began in 1892 and put its first animals on exhibit in 1900. The early days of lonely critters in metal cages are long gone. Now the animals live in large, natural enclosures and are kept challenged with a variety of toys and programs. The park participates in breeding efforts for endangered species, including African elephants and lions, Eastern bongo, fennec fox, white rhino, and red panda. In addition to the wonderful displays, the zoo has special programs just for kids. They include a spring break zoo camp, storybook times, birthday parties, classes and programs for scouts, and a summer Camp Safari, with a series of one-week half and full-day sessions for kids from 4 to 14. The zoo is also home to a collection of gardens, including a butterfly garden, herb garden, and white, blue, orange, and yellow-themed gardens.There’s a gift shop here and a restaurant, or you can pack a lunch and eat at the adjacent Lafayette Park while the kids play on the swings or other equipment. Open daily, except major winter holidays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.