Fodor's Expert Review Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens
The highly regarded zoo offers the chance to hop on a train and see animals from different regions of the world, from the Land of the Tiger, a 2½-acre Asian attraction featuring Sumatran and Malayan tigers, to the African Plains area, which houses elephants, white rhinos, and highly endangered leopards, in addition to other mammals and birds. The Range of the Jaguar takes you to a 4-acre Central and South American exhibit, with exotic big cats and 20 other native species.
The Reptile House showcases some of the world's most venomous snakes, and the 2½-acre Wild Florida has black bears, bald eagles, white-tailed deer, and other of the state's creatures. Play Park contains a seasonal Splash Ground, a forest play area, two mazes, and Stingray Bay with a 17,500-gallon pool where you can pet and feed the mysterious creatures. The zoo also has a Manatee Critical Care Center. What's more, parking is free.