I have lived in New Jersey most of my life, and had never made the trip up to the Bronx Zoo — until this past weekend! My friends told me that once we got there, I would never know we were in New York City… and they were right! The Bronx Zoo is like a whole other world.
Be sure to wear your walking shoes if you go — the zoo spans 265 acres of land! That’s a lot of walking. With over four thousand animals making their homes in the zoo, you might not be able to see everything in one day. Plan ahead — hit the Bronx Zoo website to see what’s going on and peruse the zoo map in advance. Make a list of all the things you want to see; chances are, they’ll be on the main Zoo Loop (marked with a double red line on your map).
For my inaugural visit to the Bronx Zoo, I let my friends — who make a trip up at least once a year — lead me around. Our first stop was the World of Birds. It was pretty amazing to see that some of the enclosures weren’t enclosed at all, just an open wall to the birds’ habitats. We climbed Tiger Mountain next, and were treated to a close up view of a tiger lounging in the pool and nibbling on some grasses.
Next on the Zoo Loop we stopped to see the polar bears playing in the water. I could have stayed there all day! It was just fascinating to watch the polar bear crunch an apple down in two bites, then flop into the water and attack a plastic iceberg.
Don’t miss the World of Darkness — an exhibit featuring nocturnal animals. It is a little creepy when you first walk in, but as your eyes adjust, you can easily find the nighttime wanderers in their habitats.
Be sure to ride the Bug Carousel, either before or after you walk through the Butterfly Garden and try to find more than forty different species of butterfly inside. I wasn’t overly thrilled with the reptile house, but then I’m not big on reptiles in general. Last but not least we hit the Children’s Zoo, which I loved. Yes, I am just a big kid at heart. We got to explore different types of habitats — forest, wetland, desert, and others — and then get up close and personal with goats, llamas, sheep, and more at the petting zoo. Be sure to bring lots of quarters so you can feed the animals! I made friends with a pair of goats named Sophie and Jay, who liked having their necks scratched.
I was extremely impressed by the zoo’s conservation efforts — for more than 100 years, they have been working to save animals around the world. In the early 1900s, the Bronx Zoo efforts helped keep the bison from extinction. The World of Birds has a room dedicated to all the avian species now extinct — where they used to live and when they died out — and those now endangered.
Rain cut our day short a few hours early, but it was still a fantastic time! If you ever get the chance, make a trip to the Bronx Zoo! It will be a fun and educational experience that will stick with you and your family for a long time.