Last week, on a muggy summer's day in the city petting zoo, a super hero decided to show us his stuff. Feathers spread wide, head and neck groovin’, he walked proud from one side of his pen to the other. Ever since, my two-year-old son won’t stop asking, "Mommy, ee-cock?" as though he’s thinking just maybe, if he says it enough, the peacock will walk into our living room sporting his rack of feathers.

My son’s fascination is no surprise. More amazing than Spider-Man, more awesome than the Fantastic Four, nature wins every special effects contest hands down. The trick is getting the whole family interested. From the zoo to your backyard, here are some easy and fun ideas for planning a nature outing this summer.

The zoo: "The same planet, a different world," claims the Toronto Zoo, one of the largest in North America. And the slogan roars true. A well-kept local zoo can be a true discovery zone for families. Find out how to make the most of your visit.

The backyard: From touching caterpillars—and watching them curl!—to learning about plants, this summer take the time to find out just what exactly what lives in your backyard.