There’s no getting around the excitement of observing and interacting with exotic animals from all over the world. So act like a kid again by spending the day at the St. Louis Zoo. Just go with the feeling – laugh at the chimpanzees playing in Fragile Forest, stare in awe at the tigers, jaguars, and leopards who live in Big Cat Country, and marvel over how cute, adorable or (insert your adjective of choice here) the baby elephants, penguins and dwarf mongooses are. The St. Louis Zoo is one of the best zoos in the country because of features like River’s Edge – a multi-species immersion exhibit that showcases animals in natural environments. Bush dogs and giant anteaters from South America’s Amazon backwater wander through waterfalls and mud paths. Cheetahs, hippos and hyenas live in the African Nile area. The spectacular Asian elephants play in a waterfall and swim in a deep channel of the river. The unique setup of the River’s Edge allows you to get up close and personal to these creatures. Stand right next to an enormous hippo with only a piece of glass between you. From the polar icecaps to the African savannah, you’ll become one with nature (or at least get some good snapshots of a grizzly bear) after a day at the St. Louis Zoo.