"The Philadelphia Zoo bills itself as America's First Zoo. Sadly, its age shows: most animals are housed in exhibits that are tiny compared to those in most big-city zoos. Just a short distance from downtown Philly and hemmed in by the city, the 40-acre zoo doesn't have room to expand. Fortunately, the zoo is working hard to address the animals' needs in this cramped space. A recent overhaul of the big cats' area created a huge outdoor space in stark contrast to the Victorian-era cages of the past. A trip to the zoo isn't cheap: most of the year, tickets run $18 for adults and $15 for kids ($12 per person during three winter months), and parking will set you back another $12. The good news is that visitors are permitted to bring their own food and drink into the zoo, and many families do just that, toting in backpacks and coolers full of snacks and sandwiches. Doing this lets you avoid the zoo's expensive concession stands. The zoo is fairly well laid out, too. It's easy to explore all of it in one visit--or to see part on one day and the rest another time."

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