If you’re planning a trip to the Bronx Zoo… here are some helpful hints to make your day go a little more smoothly.
- Plan ahead! Will you be bringing snacks and lunch, or buying them at the zoo? If you are bringing food, pack the night before so the morning isn’t crazy (like ours was).
- Watch the weather. Our day was cut short by rain because only one person had brought an umbrella!
- Get there on time. The park opens at 10am and you’re going to need the full day if you want to see everything.
- Carpool! Parking is $8 per car (and $16 for busses) regardless of how many people are inside.
- Spring for a POP Pass. With the POP pass ($21 for adults and $18 for children up to 12) you get admission to the zoo’s main attractions included. So instead of standing on line and paying a separate fee (between $2 and $5) for each attraction, you zip to the front of the line, get your ticket punched, and go in. It saves time and money.
- If you can, plan your visit for a Wednesday — regular ticket prices are suspended and admission is by donation. A weekday visit will be less crowded than a weekend or holiday visit… though you will run into class trips on a weekday.
- Use the map! Figure out what you definitely want to see and do. You can manage to see just about everything in one big loop. The “Zoo Loop” is marked on your complimentary map with a double red line.
- Don’t rush. If you speed from one exhibit to another, you’re going to miss a lot of the zoo experience. Take your time! On my zoo trip, half the party raced ahead while the rest of us took our time and got to see several things the others missed — including my favorite, the polar bears playing in the water.
