Great Plains Zoo and Delbridge Museum of Natural History

One visit to the Great Plains Zoo, and you'll find so many reasons to Love Your Zoo! Home to 1,000 animals – from anteaters to zebras – the Zoo offers up-close views of animals often not found in larger zoos, including giraffes, tigers, rhinos and a jumping, hooting array of primates.

Watch the playful tiger cubs at the Asian Cat exhibit. Visit mom, dad, and baby rhino at the new "Rare Rhinos of Africa" exhibit. Feed a goat, ride a camel, or get a kiss from a sheep with six horns in the Hy-Vee Face-to-Face Farm.

The Zoo also includes the Delbridge Museum of Natural History, a one-in-the-world collection of 150 mounted animals, including 36 "vanishing species." During the summer season, take a train ride around Africa (the exhibit, not the continent), or a whirl on the Sanford Carrousel. You can also grab dinner or a snack at the Maasai Market Cafe.

No visit to the Zoo is complete without a trip to the Zootopia Gift Shop! There you'll find a large assortment of plush animals, clothing, games, and jewelry. Zoo Members save 15% at Zootopia. The Zoo also offers a variety of family-friendly events throughout the year including Breakfast with Santa, Zippity Zoo Day and ZooBoo.

The Great Plains Zoo is open daily from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. with the last admission at 6 p.m. from April through September. From October through March, the Zoo is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily with the last admission at 4 p.m.