Usually you have to look up to see a giraffe's face, but at the Sacramento Zoo, their viewing deck allows visitors to get eye to eye with the world’s tallest animal and watch the growing giraffe calf engage the rest of the herd with languid, graceful movements. From the deck you'll will also be able to watch their long, purple tongues unfurl and grab elm and acacia branches from your hand during scheduled Giraffe Encounters (additional fee required). At the Sacramento Zoo’s sprawling 14.5-acre grounds, this is just one of the ways the zoo team brings the public closer to animals in their efforts to nurture public education and respect for wildlife.

Across lush grounds, the African lions play and rest, white-handed gibbons swing, and red kangaroos move about with emus and wallabies. More than 500 animals call the zoo their home, where zookeepers provide care, practice conservation, and responsibly breed endangered species to help them stave off extinction. That dedication extends to all creatures, from the slithering Brazilian rainbow boa to the elegant snow leopard. Zoo personnel also organize educational programs such as classes, wildlife stage shows, overnight campouts and more. The zoo also hosts special ticketed events and fun for all ages throughout the year.