Hola!
My parents live this way now so I will help as much as I can.
Malaga is a cool place to visit but it is a rabbit warren to get around.
The croc park you are thinking of is probably this one just outside malaga in Torremolinos:
www.crocodile-park.com
If in malaga this is a must see for a couple of hours:
Click here for castle
Dont forget Piccaso was born in Malaga
there is a famous restaurant that I will try and remember the name of!!
I also found this site which is very good:
http://www.spanish-living.com/regional/Andalucia_Malaga.phpClick here for details
I cant speak specifically for Malaga as my parents are in Almacher but there are quite a few wild parking spots in Spain but I must say the locals do get a little tetchy when whole carparks are invaded and taken over (some of them compare us to the UK Gypsies!)
There are some stunning places in Spain if you get away from all the tat and irish bars on the coast especially around Marbella (which I personally hate)
If you are down that way Mijas is a nice little tourist area just up in the hills from the coast with great views
Click here The shop on the corner is where I buy all my leather goods from as they are VERY well priced and my wallets last 3 years!!
Ronda is another place that is suppost to be lovely, have not been there as yet but our spanish friends keep reccomending it.
Hope that helps for now