For a roaring good time on vacation, nothing beats San Diego. The beachside city is famous the world over for its San Diego Zoo, Safari Park and splash-tastic SeaWorld San Diego, but tucked away in San Diego’s bucolic backcountry visitors can find several other exciting and unique close encounters of the animal kind.

The following are eight unforgettable, must-visit places to see amazing wildlife in San Diego. A few are bucket list-worthy and adrenaline-pumping, some are downright adorable, and all are family-friendly, sure to thrill visitors of all ages.

• At Wild Wonders in San Diego’s North County town of Bonsall, visitors can tame their curiosity for wildlife by getting up close and personal with 150 animal ambassadors including parrots, desert tortoises, an alligator, wallaby, foxes, groundhogs, bobcats, monkeys and a Siberian lynx. Tour groups are led by their own personal guide, a professional biologist and animal trainer. In addition to providing guests a dynamic animal adventure, Wild Wonders’ goal is to foster a desire to preserve and learn about wildlife and the important role they play on the planet.

• Located in nearby Valley Center, Nurtured by Nature offers three-hour guided tours for guests to touch, feed, and interact with several exotic animals, including armadillos, a kangaroo, sloth and porcupine, as well as swim and play with adorable Asian small clawed otters in a heated pool. Proceeds from the otter swim encounters go toward caring for the animals and funding free programs for children visiting from organizations like Make-A-Wish Foundation.

• Visitors can flutter over to the Butterfly Farms in Vista to experience the magic of butterflies in a 2,000 square-foot vivarium, the largest native butterfly free house in Southern California. Guests of all ages can meander among several different butterfly species, including Cloudless Sulfur, Cabbage Whites, Painted Ladies, Gulf Fritillaries, Anise Swallowtails and their most popular butterfly, the Monarch.

• Adventure takes wing at Sky Falconry in the picturesque mountain setting of Alpine, where guests can experience flying trained birds of prey to their glove and learn about raptor biology, conservation and the art of falconry, one of the world’s oldest hunting traditions. Guests can also play field games with the raptors, as well as take stunning photos with them.

• Be among the first to discover the magical menagerie at the new Children’s Nature Retreat in Alpine, a 20-acre ranch-style sanctuary for more than 80 domesticated animals from around the world including zebra, camels, Nigerian goats, mules, miniature horses, alpacas, Scottish Galloway mini cows and more. The retreat is designed to help children develop a sense of wonder for nature and animals through unstructured exploration and learning.

• The first camel dairy in the United Stated, the unusual Oasis Camel Dairy in the pastoral town of Ramona features monthly Open Farm Tours where visitors can enjoy camel rides, petting the camels, fun photo opportunities, an animal show, petting zoo and shopping at the dairy store, selling camel milk lotions, soaps, chocolate and more. Perfect for families, the dairy also offers leisurely private guided tours for small groups.

• Located near the rural town of Descanso, Lions, Tigers & Bears, a non-profit rescue facility that provides a safe haven for abandoned and unwanted big cats and exotic animals, features three lions, two tigers, 10 black and grizzly bears, a mountain lion, leopard and bobcats. This unique animal preserve allows animals to live out their lives in a safe and caring environment while also educating the public about some of nature’s most magnificent wildlife. Tour reservations are required.

• The California Wolf Center, located south of the historic mountain town of Julian, is a non-profit wildlife education center dedicated to increasing public awareness and understanding of the history, biology and behavior of the gray wolf which once roamed North America in countless numbers. The center offers thrilling public tours to view several packs of gray wolves, including a pack of North American gray wolves, as well as packs of highly-endangered Mexican gray wolves. Tour reservations are required.