a hornbill, a hyrax - View this location on map 'Save time for a leisurely stroll through the Living Desert Zoo & Gardens ($10.95 general admission; 760-346-5694), a spectacular preserve that pays tribute to the world's most arid landscapes and the plants and animals that make them home. Winding footpaths lead you through 10 desert ecosystems, from East Africa to Madagascar to the American Southwest. Wonderfully exotic wildlife includes the Abyssinian ground hornbill, a prehistoric-looking bird that flies only when disturbed, and the Cape rock hyrax, a woolly cat-size mammal that lives on rocky outcrops but whose distant relative is the elephant. You'll gain fresh appreciation for the adaptability of the coyote at an exhibition devoted to its scat.'' New York Times 47-900 Portola Avenue, Palm Desert, CA Kids, Cultural, Active

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