local flavor – spring at the prospect park zoo
This last weekend in New York, spring came in unprecedented glory. So I decided to take the children to my little secret spot, the Prospect Park Zoo. I should have realized that the reason that the zoo was so ’secret’ before was that I always took the kids in the dead of winter. And curiously, nobody was ever there.
Anyway, despite the crowds, I have to say that this is my zoo of choice in the city. The Bronx Zoo is amazing, but gargantuan in scale, and takes an entire day to even begin to explore it. The Central Park Zoo is also small and intimate, but the Prospect Park Zoo just has a flow that works perfectly for kids.
A few highlights:
1. They have several buildings with lively indoor exhibits (think meerkats and baboons) — which makes the zoo still a great option in inclement weather.
2. The Petting Barn – docile sheep and goats hang out and are easily fed even by two-year olds (bring lots of quarters in case the change machines are out of order).
3. The Discovery Trail (my favorite bit) – it takes the kids about an hour or so to wander along this scenic path while exploring various habitats — pretend to be a prairie dog, climb a spider’s web, feed the geese, see a kangaroo. It’s a really nice bit of organized micro-wilderness where my kids can run, climb, and generally get a bit crazy. And I personally like to see an otter every once in a while.
4. Lastly, the zoo ends at the historic Prospect Park Carousel — opening this year March 27th — always a crowd-pleaser.
April 2nd, 2010 at 14:48
Thank you for the wonderful writeup! So you’re one of those brave souls who actually comes out in winter – another thank you. I hope you’ve enjoyed the otter in the snow – he sometimes toboggans on his tummy. We hope you come back this spring and summer too – we’re making lots of improvements (new animals like a female companion for our otter for example). And I think you’ll enjoy photographing here when everything starts blooming. Join our Facebook fan site and you’ll get updates on our activities. Best, Denise McClean, PPZ director
April 11th, 2010 at 10:25
Good blog, some amusing details. I believe seven of days ago, I have viewed a similar article. Does anyone know how to track future posts?