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