There are zoos in some surprising and off-the-beaten-path places that have features the "big guys" can't match. If you want to see the country's best exhibits of North American animals, you need to travel to rural North Carolina. If desert critters are your thing, head for Arizona. And the world's largest indoor rainforest isn't in the Amazon, it's in Nebraska!

Here are five "offbeat zoos" that will reward the journey.

Caldwell Zoo

Tyler, Texas Ninety minutes east of Dallas, the Caldwell Zoo is a great and unexpected diversion for travelers rolling down Interstate I-20.

This inexpensive zoo features three continental regions, with its largest and most impressive being the East Africa savanna. This central grassland is grazed by zebras, warthogs, wildebeest, and other antelope. Elephants and giraffes have large attractive habitats nearby. Bongo antelope, colobus monkeys, leopards, jackals and blue monkeys live in unique multi- species habitats. Lions overlook their prey near the African Reptile/Aquarium building –which also houses African penguins. Black rhinos, cheetahs, and lemurs are also exhibited. The relaxing Chakula Café overlooks the entire area.

The Native Texas region, viewed from a boardwalk, displays an impressive collection of wildlife which are (or were) native to the Lone Star State. In the expansive Texas Plains, longhorn cattle and bison roam near an alligator swamp. Naturalistic rocky habitats display coatimundis, gray foxes, and river otters (with underwater viewing). Well-landscaped exhibits provide great viewing of four rare or extinct Texan felines, including jaguars and mountain lions. Harp wire aviaries hold owls, hawks, and eagles. The Texas Reptile/Aquarium complex features catfish and rattlesnakes.

A long, curving enclosure with giant anteaters, capybaras, and king vultures is South America's centerpiece. Smaller exhibits display tamarin monkeys, toucans, and other pretty birds. At the zoo's entrance, attractive islands display squirrel monkeys, flamingos, and pelicans. Children can feed over 400 parakeets and cockatiels in the Wild Bird Walkabout.