places to go / THE BIG TO-DO

the pasture at FOSSIL RIM WILDLIFE CENTER, a drive-thru safari park where you’ll see other impressive creatures—giraffes, wildebeest, zebras and more—from the comfort of your own car or a guided tour. // Glen Rose, 254/8972960; fossilrim.org

Standing at 14-feet-tall and weighing 20,000 pounds, Columbian mammoths roamed what is present-day Texas thousands of years ago. Today, you can see these fossilized Ice Age remains in situ, meaning in the original place of discovery, at the WACO MAMMOTH NATIONAL MONUMENT. // Waco, 254/750-7946; nps.gov/waco

More Animal Encounters

AQUARIUMS

Bass Pro Shops Garland, 469/221-2600 Grapevine, 972/724-2018 basspro.com

Cabela’s Allen, 214/383-0502 Fort Worth, 817/337-2400 cabelas.com

The Dallas World Aquarium Dallas, 214/720-2224 dwazoo.com

SeaQuest Fort Worth, 817/731-5357 visitseaquest.com

PETTING ZOOS

Animal Connection Experience Irving, 972/721-2640 cityofirving.org

Cathy’s Critters Princeton, 972/562-0583 cathyscritters.com

Preston Trail Farms Gunter, 972/382-4995 prestontrailfarms.com

Stockyard Stables Petting Zoo Fort Worth, 817/247-2510 fortworthstockyardsstables.com

WILDLIFE EXPERIENCES

In-Sync Exotics Wylie, 972/442-6888 insynexotics.org

Sharkarosa Wildlife Ranch Pilot Point, 940/686-4600 sharkarosa.com