Location: Florida
Reason to Visit: The South Florida Museum's main draw is Snooty, a 1,300-pound manatee. Snooty, at age 60, is the nation's oldest manatee living happily in captivity. Every July, residents and visitors alike celebrate his age with a tank-side birthday party. And, Snooty keeps his stout figure with daily feedings of the green stuff -- about 100 lbs. of lettuce or 10 percent of his body weight.

Up Next: Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center

Location: Alaska
Reason to Visit: The Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center (AWCC) is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving Alaska's wildlife through public education. AWCC opened in 1993 and provides a secure environment for injured and orphaned animals. Some are rehabilitated and released back into the wild, while others become permanent residents at the center. It is a great place to view many of Alaska's famed animals such as grizzly bears, moose, wood bison, caribou, and musk oxen.

Up Next: Clearwater Marine

Location: Florida
Reason to Visit: The Clearwater Marine Aquarium (CMA) is the only aquarium in the Western Hemisphere that features a dolphin that swims with a prosthetic tail. Winter was brought to the Aquarium in critical condition and losing her tail. Now fully recovered, she swims with an artificial tail with other injured dolphins. CMA offers visitors a place to learn about river otters, sea turtles, experience a touch tank, view fish and dolphins underwater, participate in a Sea Life Safari and much more

Up Next: Ohio - The Wilds

Location: Ohio
Reason to Visit: Did you know you can Safari in Ohio? Located on nearly 10,000 acres in southeast Ohio, The Wilds is one of the largest and most innovative wildlife conservation centers in the world. It is home to more than 25 species of rare and endangered wildlife from Africa, Asia and North America, along with hundreds of indigenous species. The Wilds offers hands-on, guided experiences to the public, including open-air safaris, visits to the new mid-sized carnivore center and more.

Up Next: Texas State Aquarium

Location: Texas
Reason to Visit: The Texas State Aquarium is the only aquarium in the country that is dedicated to showcasing and educating the preservation of the Gulf of Mexico. Participate in a behind-the-scenes tour, the Deckside Dolphin Encounter or even become a Trainer for the Day. The Aquarium's newest exhibit, Tortuga Cay features a variety of species and is a sanctuary for rehabilitated endangered, non-releasable sea turtles.

Up Next: Alaska SeaLife Center

Location: Alaska
Reason to Visit: The Alaska SeaLife Center, located in Seward, Alaska is a non-profit marine science facility. It provides an up-close and personal experience with Gulf of Alaska marine wildlife. Star attractions include a 2,000 pound Steller sea lion and puffins that can be seen diving in a carefully crafted naturalistic habitat. In addition, harbor seals rest on rocky beaches and you can view Alaskan king crab, sea stars, and a Giant Pacific octopus.

Up Next: Claws 'n' Paws

Location: Lake Ariel, Pennsylvania
Reason to Visit: If you're looking for a wild adventure, Claws 'n' Paws Wild Animal Park is the perfect place. With daily animal shows, a dino dig, petting zoo, giraffe and parrot feedings and a turtle town, the wonders never end! During the lively animal shows, see baby animals, colorful parrots and interesting reptiles all up close. Pet an alligator or a python and then do the dino dig and fossil hunts. Spend time with Twiga, the friendly giraffe, who loves to visit with people and give big slurpy kisses.

Up Next: Detroit Zoo

Location: Michigan
Reason to Visit: Did you know that the Detroit Zoo was one of the first zoos in the U.S. to have barless exhibits. The zoo is noted for it's award winning Artic Ring of Life exhibit. The most unique feature of the Arctic Ring of Life exhibit is a spectacular 70-foot-long clear tunnel that winds through a vast underwater marine environment. This Polar Passage, which is a twelve-foot-wide, eight-foot-tall tunnel, takes visitors underneath diving and swimming polar bears and seals!

Up Next: Reno's Animal Ark

Location: Nevada
Reason to Visit: Animal lovers feeling a need for speed can get their fix at Animal Ark, 25 miles northwest of Reno, Nevada, during the annual fall Cheetah Challenge. The facility is home to three cheetahs that are run regularly to keep them fit. Other animals, including an arctic fox, white Bengal tiger, and peregrine falcon, reside at the ark.

Up Next: Guam Aquarium

Location: Guam
Reason to Visit: A visit to the Guam Aquarium Complex will take you on a spellbinding journey, fully submerged under 10 feet of water, inside a 7 foot wide, 7 foot tall, see-through acrylic tunnel. Along the way you will come nose to nose with sharks, rays, groupers, wrasse and other sea life. You will experience vistas normally reserved for only the most accomplished diver, without ever getting wet and without experiencing diver's bends. The tunnel dive will ''float'' you through various habitats as you find them near-coast and off-shore in the depths of the Pacific Ocean.

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