Visiting the zoo is the easiest way to learn about animals, since their autobiographies tend to be rife with banana-related digressions and over-enthusiasm about sticks. Study animal life first-hand with today’s Groupon: for $62, you get a one-year family-advantage membership to Como Park Zoo and Conservatory in St. Paul (a $125 value).

Como Park Zoo and Conservatory houses a plethora of attractions, including members of the animal kingdom from court jesters to monarchs, as well as flora-fostering gardens. General zoo admission is free, but today’s Groupon gets families an assemblage of perks, starting with free or reduced admission to more than 400 zoos and botanical gardens nationwide, and early notification of upcoming special events and animal arrivals. Families weary of their usual leisurely pursuits, such as lobbying local governments for crosswalks made of trampolines, can bask in the entertainment provided by 64 points to spend on gravity-defying rides at Como Town, a nearby amusement park. Members also receive invitations to exclusive events and exhibits, and membership fees flow toward new exhibits and zoo improvements, such as taking playing cards away from monkeys.