The Houston Zoo contains more than 6,000 animals that range from cheetahs and giraffes to otters and bats. There's even a habitat for rare albino reptiles. The zoo's interactive kids section is a great place to keep young tikes occupied. What's more, the zoo offers special activities like giraffe feedings, a water play park and a 4-D movie experience. Most visitors say the zoo's layout makes it easy to navigate and they appreciated the large variety of animals. 

The zoo is open every day except Christmas, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (last entry at 4 p.m.). Admission is $18 for adults, $14 for kids ages 2 to 11 and free for kids 1 and younger. You'll find the zoo in Houston's Museum District, inside Hermann Park near the Museum of Natural Science. For more information visit the official website.