Feed giraffes and lorikeets, paddle a kayak past animal exhibits and watch your kids splash around in a zero-entry water playground at this terrific Melbourne, Florida zoo, home to nearly 500 animals representing 130 species.

Treetop Trek Aerial Adventures park, for ages 4 and up, is the newest addition to the facility — which is small in size, but especially well designed and packed with kid-friendly attractions. For children ages 4 to 6, the “Chutes and Ladders” course is scaled-to-fit fun, while “Treetop Challenge” rises to the highest high-wire test, with twelve zips and an aerial alligator encounter. In the middle, “Canopy Walk” is less intense but still physically challenging, offering up-close views of amazing animals, from monkeys to macaws. Bring bathing suits for the kids.