Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens

Barry Rabinowitz

Things are looking up at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens—from higher attendance numbers to a redesigned giraffe overlook, where you’re eye to eye with the beloved creatures. Since the city is home to the Jacksonville Jaguars NFL team, it’s only fitting that the park’s premier exhibit is Range of the Jaguar. The neotropical rain forest setting is not only home to big cats, but also 20 other species of animals and plants indigenous to Central or South America. The latest addition to the 120-acre venue is the Gardens at Trout River Plaza, a beautiful space that includes lush garden beds, Grecian columns topped with flower urns, sumptuous shade trees and a celebratory fountain. As a result of this and other work over the past three years, the zoo is the largest public garden in northeast Florida.

370 Zoo Pkwy., Jacksonville, 904.757.4463, http://jaxzoo.org