Frustrated urbanites will do just about anything to try to reconnect with the ancestral animal world, from eschewing soap to instituting loincloth dress codes at office board meetings. Connect to the primal world without leaving the comfort of plumbing and pants with today's Groupon: for $8, you get one general-admission ticket to the Philadelphia Zoo (up to an $18 value).

As America’s first zoo and current home to more than 1,300 creatures, the Philadelphia Zoo hosts a cavalcade of winged avians, furry friends, aquatic characters, and slithering showboats on 42 sprawling acres. Gauge the ferocity of your roar at the Big Cat Falls, or visit the snow-strewn habitats of polar bears, snow leopards, penguins, and the Cheetos-dusted Amur tigers. Exercise your bipedality over to the primate reserve and speak firsthand with the trainers and conservationists working to save and protect endangered primates worldwide from the violence of video games and reckless taxis. The Philadelphia Zoo also features rides and attractions (at additional costs), allowing revelers to twirl about the Amazon rainforest carousel, paddle the swan boats, or take a ride in the iconic Zooballoon, where, from the comfort of the skies, the bearded pig's questionable facial hair is only turning children’s tears into raindrops.

Reviews

Citysearchers give the Philadelphia Zoo an average of 3.5 stars, and lilaguide users give it a four-star average. Yelpers give the zoo an average of 3.5 stars, and more than 17,000 Facebookers are fans.

• What can u say great place my kids love it can't beat the zoo – mrcapcom, lilaguide
• One thing I really liked is that the majority of the animals are out in the open and not behind very many enclosures. It almost feels as if you are walking through a park and looking to the left and right of you you are able to see all sorts of interesting animals. – Nina N., Yelp