From the Monterey Bay Aquarium to the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, California has many option for travel planned around cute creatures. Here are five destinations.

San Diego Zoo: Fresh off its 100th year, the zoo recently unveiled Africa Rocks, devoted to the continent’s lemurs, baboons and more; http://africarocks.sandiegozoo.org

The Reptile Zoo: This 10,000-square-foot Fountain Valley zoo houses more than 100 exotic species of reptiles, amphibians and arachnids; www.thereptilezoo.com

Safari West: Herds of wildebeest, rhinos, giraffes and other animals roam through this 400-acre preserve in Santa Rosa — 900 animals in all. www.safariwest.com

Oakland Zoo: The California Trail expansion opens this July and includes one of the largest mountain lion exhibits in the world; www.oaklandzoo.org

Aquarium of the Pacific: Explore frogs, jelly fish, sharks, sea otters and other species at this beloved Long Beach aquarium; www.aquariumofpacific.org

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