Of all the gifts the internet has brought us, nothing tops the online animal cam. Just think of all the sneezing pandas and frolicking sea otters you would have missed had zoos and aquariums never gotten into the surveillance game.

But as great as it is to watch these zoo animals on a screen, it’s even better to see them in person. Here are our favorite live animal cams broadcasting from zoos (and cities) well worth considering for your next family vacation.

Sea Otters at Monterey Bay Aquarium | Monterey, California

• Benefit of visiting IRL: An underwater viewing area provides a front-row seat to the graceful otters.
• While you’re in the area: Explore Cannery Row before hitting oceanfront trails for gorgeously rugged views.
• Where to stay: The 4-star Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel & Spa
• See the live animal cam here. 

Red Pandas at the Trevor Zoo | Millbrook, New York

• Benefit of visiting IRL: On wintry days, the red pandas have been known to frolic in the snow.
• While you’re in the area: Check out FDR’s presidential library in Hyde Park and the mansions built by Gilded Age titans.
• Where to stay: Poughkeepsie is the nearest city; Albany is a 90-minute drive north.
• See the live animal cam here.

Giant Pandas at the National Zoo | Washington, DC

• Benefit of visiting IRL: Listen to daily talks from the keepers who care for America’s most famous zoo animals: giant pandas Tian Tian, Mei Xiang, Bao Bao, and cub Bei Bei.
• While you’re in the area: Check out the Washington National Cathedral before exploring the trendsetting Adams Morgan neighborhood.
• Where to stay: The 4-star Omni Shoreham Hotel—a DC landmark since 1930—is within walking distance of the zoo.
• See the live animal cam here.

Koalas at the San Diego Zoo | San Diego

• Benefit of visiting IRL: Elevated walkways make it easy to navigate a habitat that houses eucalyptus-perched koalas, as well as wombats and Tasmanian devils.
• While you’re in the area: The zoo is the crown jewel of Balboa Park, which also houses gardens, performance venues, and museums.
• Where to stay: Hard Rock Hotel San Diego in the historic Gaslamp Quarter   

• See the live animal cam here.

Brown Bears at Katmai National Park and Preserve | Alaska

• Benefit of visiting IRL: Three platforms along the Brooks River offer spectacular views of the park’s wild brown bears. Go in July to see them fish for salmon.
• While you’re in the area: The 4-million-acre park is also home to a stratovolcano and the ashy Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes.
• Where to stay: Book a campground reservation in advance if you’re planning on spending the night in the national park. Anchorage is the closest major city, just a quick 80-minute flight away.
• See the live animal cam here.