![Santa Barbara Zoo: One of the Better Small Zoos in California](https://californiathroughmylens.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Santa-Barbara-Zoo-8-768x512.jpg)
California is filled with wildlife in its parks (and sometimes in town when they wander in). For those who aren’t hiking into a national park, there are plenty of famous zoos and conservatories to visit around the state. The San Diego Zoo and Monterey Bay Aquarium are known throughout the country and for a good reason. If you want something a bit more hands-on, head to Cabrillo Beach to do some tide pool exploring. Here are some options to see creatures and wildlife around CA.