Find yourself an animal adventure at zoos, aquariums North of Boston & in the Merrimack Valley

Laugh at the toothy grin of an alligator, marvel at the majesty of a snow leopard, scritch the ears of a dwarf goat at the petting zoo: Do all this and more at the Stone Zoo, where visitors can walk through a series of environments hosting a huge variety of animals. River otters frolic in Treetops and Riverbeds; jaguars and cougars prowl in the Sierra Madre; yak climb the Himalayan Highlands; and black bear brothers Smoky and Bubba play in the Yukon Creek exhibit. Hands-on activities are featured in the Animal Discovery Center, there is a playground and a children’s train ride; and fun in a nature play area includes fort building and climbing into an oversized bird’s nest.