In the Spring, a young child's fancy turns to... animals! And what better place to see an incredible variety of animals than the Bronx Zoo, the largest urban zoo in the country (265 acres) with more than 6,000 animals living in incredibly natural surroundings.

Here's some advice on how to get the most out of your trip, without ending up snarling like a bear at day's end.

First, arrive early. The zoo opens at 10 a.m. every day of the year, and you want to be at the Rainey Gate entrance at 9:45. Why? The Rainey Gate entrance is closest to all the best exhibits, but it's small and fills up fast. (This entrance is also beautiful--filled with statues, fountains, gardens, etc.) If you have to park in one of the other lots, be prepared for a long hike past less-than-exciting exhibits.

Second, plan out your visit with a zoo map. Our favorite itinerary includes the sea lion exhibit (watch out--those critters love to splash), the Butterfly Zone (opens May 29--a huge, caterpillar-shaped, mesh structure filled with a thousand loose butterflies), the Children's Zoo (with an enormous treehouse/ slide, climb-able spider web, huge aquarium, and wonderful petting zoo), a cable car ride (the view is super), and the gorilla habitat. (Early this summer, the zoo plans to open a new Gorilla Forest--destined to be the largest exhibit of its kind in the world).

Third, bring food with you. The snack bars feature slow (and sometimes surly) service, steep prices and pretty bad food. You could also eat a bag lunch at any of the outdoor food areas.

Fourth, bring a stroller. The zoo is huge, and even if your youngest child is five years old, he or she will definitely be happy to hitch a ride at some point in the day. At the very least, a stroller can hold jackets, drinks, souvenirs, and so on.

That's it for advice on what to do--though I'm sure you'll find lots more to add to our list.