We loved the Philly Zoo. One of our first animal experiences of the day involved Galapagos tortoises mating very loudly. While Gabe busily snapped photos, my friend Sarah and I enjoyed watching red-faced parents scrambling to invent believable explanations (lies) to feed their children. Big Cat Falls is stunning (AZA's 2007 Exhibit of the Year), but most of the cats were asleep by the time we got there—the sun was bright and hot. The cheetahs (who I guess didn't get invited to join the Big Cats), however, were very active and fun to watch. The new McNeil Avian Center is really nice, and the Macaw Show we saw right outside was fascinating. It's amazing what these birds can be trained to do. It's unnerving when they fly centimeters above your head. Other favorites included the polar bears, a mama peacock and all her peachicks, and a giraffe that kept getting his tongue caught in the fence trying to eat forbidden leaves. Two thumbs up for the Philly Zoo!

View photos of our trip to this zoo