Alive and pretend, three-dimensional and painted on canvas, animals offer fun and wonder this summer for kids and families throughout LA. Youngsters can interact with fanciful giraffes, adults can thrill to life-size portraits of celebrity beasts, and everyone can ooh and aah at spiders.

Noah’s Ark at the Skirball – This innovative destination opens June 26 as a permanent exhibit for children and adults. Five years in the making, visitors brave a storm, then climb aboard a gigantic wooden ark - inspired by the ancient flood story of Noah’s Ark - to interact with handcrafted animals. From life-sized giraffes and elephants to snow leopards, flamingos and iguanas, the fanciful puppets and figures represent 186 species. The adventure culminates outdoors, under a real rainbow. Open Tuesday through Sunday. Admission to the Skirball Cultural Center, including Noah’s Ark, is $10 general; $7 seniors and full-time students; $5 children ages 2 to 12. Children under 2 are free. Tickets to Noah’s Ark are not yet available, so call 310-440-4500 for updated information. www.skirball.org

The Getty – When Oudry’s Painted Menagerie debuts May 1 at the J. Paul Getty Museum (at the Getty Center), two life-size 18^th century animal paintings will be unveiled for the first time in 150 years. Painted during the reign of Louie XV, when exotic animals were celebrities for an adoring public, the enormous artworks, Rhinoceros and Lion, have languished in storage in a German castle-museum until now. On display through Sept. 2, the Getty Center is open Tuesday through Sunday; closed Monday and major holidays. Admission is free. Parking is $8. No reservations are required for parking. www.getty.edu

Los Angeles Zoo – Enter the amazing world of spiders in “Spider City,” opening May 3 through Oct. 31. Spider-Man, the Marvel comics’ red-suited character, will be on hand to welcome visitors during the opening weekend. Set in the former Koala House, the exhibit is crawling with more than 20 species from gigantic jumping tarantulas to delicate micro spiders. The zoo is open daily except Christmas. Admission is $10 ages 13 and up, $7 seniors 62 and up, $5 children ages 2 to 12, children under 2 are free. For general information, guided tours and discounts for groups of 15 or more, call 323-644-4200. www.lazoo.org