Named for the alpha males that are its very raison d’être, the conservation center in the southern Alps’ Mercantour National Park ensures the well-being of three separate wolf packs. Each pack is allotted 7.5 acres of the park. Wolf sightings depend on the wolves, of course, but regular feedings every two to three days guarantee a lupine visit. In addition to the wolf habitats, there is a farm/petting zoo, a restaurant, and even some lodgings on-site, making it an easy base from which to explore the surrounding forest. (On rainy days, the nearby Vesúbia Mountain Park is a popular destination for its indoor climbing wall, gym, and Olympic-size pool.)
