Zoos in New York
19 activities
Zoos in New York
Showing 19 of 19 activities
Central Park
📍 New York, NY
Central Park offers families a vast green space with numerous attractions including the Central Park Zoo, vintage carousel, boat rentals on the lake, and dedicated playgrounds. The park features scenic walking paths, open fields for recreation, and hosts community events throughout the year, making it an ideal destination for families to enjoy outdoor activities together.
World of Birds
📍 The Bronx, NY
World of Birds is a 30,000-square-foot exhibit at the Bronx Zoo featuring exotic birds from around the world in naturalistic habitats including deserts, rainforests, and alpine forests. The exhibit includes interactive touch exhibits, open-air viewing spaces with no glass barriers, and beautifully recreated environments that transport visitors to wild habitats globally. It's wheelchair accessible and open year-round, making it an engaging destination for families interested in wildlife and nature.
Children's Zoo
📍 The Bronx, NY
The Bronx Zoo is one of the premier zoos in the United States, featuring a diverse animal collection with interactive experiences like wild animal encounters with penguins, cheetahs, and sloths. The zoo offers family-specific programs, feeding demonstrations throughout the day, and virtual experiences, making it an engaging destination for children of all ages to learn about wildlife conservation.
Brookfield Zoo
📍 Brookfield, NY
Brookfield Zoo features a wide variety of animals including lions, tigers, dolphins, and more in naturalistic indoor and outdoor settings. It's an excellent destination for families to learn about wildlife and observe animals in environments designed to mimic their natural habitats. The zoo offers educational experiences suitable for children of all ages.
Essex County Turtle Back Zoo
📍 West Orange, NY
Turtle Back Zoo offers a full day of family fun with wild animal exhibits across themed areas, a custom-built endangered species carousel, mini-train rides through South Mountain Reservation, and a prehistoric playground for young children. The zoo features keeper talks included with admission, educational programs for various age groups, and seasonal activities like face painting, making it an engaging destination for families with children of all ages.
Woodland Park Zoo
📍 Seattle, NY
Woodland Park Zoo offers a full day of family fun with nearly 300 animal species across 92 acres, including interactive exhibits and wildlife viewing. The venue features a vintage carousel, indoor play space for younger children, and seasonal ZooTunes concerts. With daily hours from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., it's an ideal destination for families looking to connect with nature and learn about animal conservation.
Smithsonian National Zoological Park
📍 Washington, NY
The Smithsonian's National Zoo in Washington, D.C. features over 2,200 animals from around the world with free admission for all visitors. The zoo offers live animal cams, interactive exhibits, educational programs, and special events like the recent debut of a baby Asian elephant, making it an engaging destination for families with children of all ages.
Seneca Park Zoo
📍 Rochester, NY
Seneca Park Zoo in Rochester offers visitors an opportunity to see lions, elephants, and hundreds of other native and exotic animals in naturalistic habitats. The zoo features special family events like Brunch with Bunnies and Penguin Awareness Day, making it an engaging destination for children to learn about wildlife and conservation while enjoying interactive experiences.
Staten Island Zoo
📍 Staten Island, NY
Staten Island Zoo features over 1,100 animals across 8 acres, including reptiles, African Savannah exhibits, and interactive experiences like the Kids Korral and Conservation Carousel. The zoo offers educational programs, birthday parties, and seasonal events, making it an ideal destination for families to learn about and observe diverse wildlife.
Queens Zoo
📍 Queens, NY
Queens Zoo features over 75 animal species from the Americas, including Andean bears, pumas, parrots, and bison. Families can enjoy interactive experiences like sea lion feedings, visit the petting zoo with domestic animals, and explore the beautiful aviary dome. The mid-sized zoo is perfect for an afternoon outing with children of various ages.
Prospect Park Zoo
📍 Brooklyn, NY
Prospect Park Zoo features nearly 400 animals representing 150 species across 12 acres in Brooklyn, including sea lions, red pandas, and peacocks. The zoo offers engaging experiences like sea lion training sessions and a farm area, making it an excellent destination for families with children of all ages. Membership options and advance ticket purchasing are available for convenient visits.
Rosamond Gifford Zoo
📍 Syracuse, NY
Rosamond Gifford Zoo in Syracuse offers families the chance to see over 43 acres of wildlife including elephants, penguins, and an Amur leopard, with educational trails and an aviary. The zoo features family-friendly amenities including food options, a gift shop, and various events and programs designed for children to learn about animals and conservation.
Lehigh Valley Zoo
📍 Schnecksville, NY
Lehigh Valley Zoo offers a variety of animals including kangaroos, penguins, bobcats, and bison, along with interactive experiences like pony rides and a dedicated children's activity area. The zoo provides educational programs, seasonal camps, birthday parties, and special events throughout the year, making it an engaging destination for families with children of all ages.
Adirondack Animal Land
📍 Gloversville, NY
Adirondack Animal Land is an 80-acre zoo featuring a drive-thru African safari experience and interactive petting areas where children can get up close with animals like prairie dogs. The venue offers a fun way for families to explore wildlife and learn about animals in a hands-on setting.
Utica Zoo
📍 Utica, NY
Utica Zoo is a well-maintained, moderately-sized zoo featuring over 200 animals in natural habitats, plus a dedicated Children's Zoo area with a playground. The zoo offers special experiences for kids including animal encounters with ambassador animals, birthday party packages, guided tours, and year-round educational programs. Visitors consistently praise the zoo's cleanliness, animal care, reasonable prices compared to larger zoos, and family-friendly atmosphere.
Central Park Zoo
📍 New York, NY
Central Park Zoo offers an engaging wildlife experience featuring penguins, sea lions, monkeys, and a petting zoo within the iconic Central Park setting. The zoo hosts daily animal feeding demonstrations and children's programs designed to inspire the next generation of conservationists. With its compact size, clean facilities, and educational focus, it's an ideal destination for families looking to explore wildlife without traveling far from Manhattan.
The Buffalo Zoo
📍 Buffalo, NY
The Buffalo Zoo offers a classic family day out with mammals, reptiles, birds, and amphibians across the country's 3rd-oldest zoo grounds. Kids can enjoy hands-on animal experiences, a petting area, educational programs, and seasonal family events like the Bunny Treat Trail. The zoo is open daily and offers memberships, summer camps, and field trip programs designed specifically for children.
New York Aquarium
📍 Brooklyn, NY
The New York Aquarium features engaging marine life exhibits including sharks, sea lions, penguins, and sea otters, with daily Aquatheater shows and seasonal up-close animal encounters. The venue offers educational programs focused on wildlife conservation and is located on the Coney Island boardwalk, making it an excellent destination for families to learn about ocean ecosystems.
Zoo New York
📍 Watertown, NY
Zoo New York is a 32-acre zoo in Watertown featuring native animals including bears, turtles, and lynx. The venue offers educational classes about conservation and wildlife, birthday party packages, and family memberships with year-round admission benefits. Open daily from 11 AM to 3 PM, it's an ideal destination for families seeking an outdoor learning experience.