| Zoos, safaris, museums, nature trails... | | | | animals and the other in Benalmádena, |
| Spain has a wide array of leisure and | | | | which specializes in marine animals. In an |
| entertainment options for children that goes | | | | enclosure inhabited by over 500 animal |
| beyond the big theme parks that have sprung | | | | species from the seven continents, Valwo |
| up over the last few years. | | | | combines leisure activities with |
| | | | environmental education. |
| In the last decade, more and more theme parks | | | | |
| have been built in Spain with Terra MÃtica | | | | Along the same lines, but giving a greater |
| in Benidorm, Port Aventura in Tarragona, Isla | | | | role to adventure, we find safaris, where |
| Magica in Seville, Warner Bros Park in Madrid | | | | animals are not caged and for which a car is |
| to name but just a few. At the same time | | | | essential. At the Safari Park in Aldea del |
| however, a wide range of leisure activities | | | | Fresno, located an hour from Madrid, you can |
| has also come about, that focus more on | | | | travel among elephants, rhinoceros, |
| contact with the environment and science than | | | | hippopotamus, giraffes and many other |
| tall, twisting roller coasters. | | | | species. |
| | | | |
| Of the many centers connected to nature in | | | | However, if you would like for your children |
| Spain, the most classic are the zoos, which | | | | to see animals in their natural habitats, |
| allow children to see animals without leaving | | | | other possibilities include natural parks. |
| the city. The Zoo Aquarium in Madrid, one of | | | | Cuenca Alta del Manzanares, in La Pedriza |
| the most important in the world, contains a | | | | (Madrid), organizes guided tours for children |
| dolphin tank, aquarium, a large aviary and a | | | | on weekends and holidays. Accompanied by |
| zoo with more than 500 species of animals, | | | | guides, children learn how to identify |
| among which the koalas, the zoo's latest | | | | different plant species, and discover the |
| acquisition, stand out. The Barcelona Zoo is | | | | hiding places and habits of squirrels, |
| still among the best in Europe, despite the | | | | griffon vultures, roe deer and more. |
| loss of its most cherished symbol: "Copito de | | | | |
| Nieve", the only known white gorilla in the | | | | Further north in Villafáfila (Zamora), the |
| World. | | | | Centro de Interpretación de la Naturaleza |
| | | | (Interpretive Center on Nature) provides |
| In terms of aquariums, Spain boasts the | | | | organized visits to observe the rich variety |
| largest one in Europe, the spectacular | | | | of bird life present on the region's lakes. |
| L´Oceanografic located in the Ciudad de | | | | Still further north, in Asturias, a fun |
| las Artes y las Ciencias area of Valencia. It | | | | option is the Senda del Oso, (Bear Trail), a |
| recently celebrated the first birth of a gray | | | | pleasant route along an old railway line that |
| shark in captivity. Every Saturday, the | | | | stretches between the towns of San Andrés |
| Finisterrae Aquarium in A Coruña, as part | | | | and Teverga. While traveling, on foot or on |
| of its Escuela de CientÃficos (school of | | | | bicycle, one of the most beautiful regions of |
| scientists) program, invites children between | | | | Asturias, children can meet "Paca" and |
| the ages of 4 and 14 to do little research | | | | "Tola", the two brown bears that live in the |
| projects, which are accompanied by a | | | | area. |
| delicious snack. | | | | |
| | | | Returning to the city, and in a more |
| Another option available to children are the | | | | scientific vein, museums can also be the |
| big nature parks such as Faunia, in Madrid, | | | | perfect way for children to have fun while |
| Selwo, on the Costa del Sol or Valwo, located | | | | they learn. A classic example is the Museum |
| 30 kilometers from Valladolid. The first of | | | | of Natural Science in Madrid, which |
| these, with a surface area of 140,000 square | | | | periodically organizes activities to help the |
| meters, reproduces the world's major | | | | little ones keep abreast of the latest |
| ecosystems, and also has an interesting | | | | scientific discoveries. And in Valencia, the |
| nocturnal room, where you can observe | | | | Science Museum Principe Felipe at the Ciudad |
| nocturnal species without being seen. As for | | | | de las Artes y las Ciencias de Valencia |
| Selwo, it focuses a little bit more on | | | | offers El cielo de estrella, an audiovisual |
| adventure, and has two sites: one in | | | | display in which children learn how to |
| Estepona, Spain dedicated to birds and land | | | | identify the major constellations. |