Set on an island in the Bow River, Calgary Zoo houses everything from big cats to meerkats. The vast Prehistoric Park shows what western Canada would have looked like with replica dinosaurs hiding in amongst recreated ancient plant life and rock formations.
The dwellings themselves are far from the pokey cages of old. All the African creatures, for instance, are housed within the Africa section - a fully recreated piece of the continent thousands of miles away.
The Botanical Gardens are also a must-see. The Dorothy Harvie Garden holds over 4000 ornamental plants, many of which are unique and hardy that have adapted to the harsh conditions of Alberta.