Animal Care Centers
The following non-profit facilities house and rehabilitate injured or sick wildlife. Drop-in visits and/or tours are available. Donations welcome.

Marine Mammal Care Center – Outreach and educational programs. 3601 S. Gaffey St., San Pedro. (310) 548-5677. www.marinemammalcare.org

Pacific Marine Mammal Center – Classes and presentations are available for groups, schools and Scouts. After-school kids? club also offered. Adopt an animal and view their release back into the wild. Open daily, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. 20612 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach. (949) 494-3050. www.pacificmmc.org

Los Angeles Zoo
and Botanical Gardens
5333 Zoo Drive, Los Angeles
(323) 644-4200
www.lazoo.org
Covering 133 acres, the Los Angeles Zoo is home to more than 1,100 animals from around the world. Picnicking is permitted. Open daily, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. (except Christmas), last admission at 4 p.m.? Admission: adults, $12; kids (2-12), $7.

Orange County Zoo
Irvine Regional Park, 1 Irvine Park Road, Orange
(714) 973-6847
www.ocparks.com/oczoo
Small zoo with black bears, mountain lions, bald eagles, golden eagle, vultures, owls, fox, porcupine, deer, bobcats, ocelot, coyote, raccoons, beaver and a barnyard touch and feed area. Open daily.

Petting Zoos and Farms
The following facilities offer an opportunity to interact with live farm animals:
Centennial Farm – Educational farm with sheep, goats, llamas, pigs, donkeys, cows, chickens, peacocks, oxen and rabbits. Milking takes place daily. Weekends, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.; weekdays, 1-4 p.m. Free, unless there is an all-ground event at the fairgrounds, then admission applies (includes Thursday Farmer?s Market). 88 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa. (714) 708-1618. www.ocfair.com

Lakewood Pony Adventure – Petting zoo/pony rides. 11369 Carson St., Lakewood. (562) 544-4010.

Norwalk Nature Center (562) 929-5702
The center is home to a variety of animals including mini-horses, lambs, sheep, bunnies, peacocks, pigs and donkeys. 2nd and 4th weekends, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. Free. 13000 Clarkdale Ave., Norwalk.

? Zoomars Petting Zoo – 31791 Los Rios St., San Juan Capistrano. (949) 831-6550. www.zoomars.com. See listing in this section.

San Diego Wild Animal Park
15500 San Pasqual Valley Road, Escondido
(760) 747-8702
www.wildanimalpark.org
Like a safari, guests can see herds of African animals?rhino, giraffe, antelope and gazelle?roaming the hills of the San Pasqual Valley. Camp and sleepover programs are offered. Open daily.

San Diego Zoo
2920 Zoo Drive, San Diego
(619) 234-3153
www.sandiegozoo.org
A sanctuary to more than 4,000 exotic, rare and endangered animals and plants. New this year, Elephant Odyssey where guests journey through time and discover what animals lived in Southern California 12,000 years ago and meet their living counterparts. Camps, sleepovers and family events are also offered. Open daily. Kids, ages 11 and under with adult, are free the entire month of October.

Santa Ana Zoo
Prentice Park, 1801 E. Chestnut Ave., Santa Ana
(714) 835-7484, (714) 836-4000
www.santaanazoo.org
?Home of the 50 Monkeys? and 80 species of animals (some endangered). Children’s farm, train and carrousel available. Open daily.