Visit The Animals
Take a family safari without ever leaving on a jet plane. Head to a local zoo or aquarium and visit the Savannah plains or the rain forests of Congo or maybe even a penguin nesting ground! Make a day of it - bring a picnic, stroll through the grounds and enjoy the animals or underwater marine life, ride the carousel or train, feed the animals in a children's zoo - there's always so much to see and do! Even better - it's both educational AND fun (but the kids will just think it's fun!). And don't forget to check each site's website - many places offer special events, activities and classes. Enjoy!
Turtle Back Zoo
560 Northfield Ave, West Orange, NJ | 973-731-5800. |
Bergen County ZooExhibiting wildlife from North and South American only. Visit the Baird's tapirs, Andeam condors, and lion. Train / Carousel / Pony Rides available. Playground and picnic areas. 216 Forest Avenue River Edge, NJ. |
Bronx ZooBronx Zoo has more than 5,000 animals representing more that 600 different species. In the children's zoo you can feed goats, sheep, and llamas. Experience the wonder of butterflies and other backyard bugs in a lush wild meadow and spacious greenhouse. Get on the trolley and travel between Wild Asia and Zoo Center, stopping along the way near Tiger Mountain. Also enjoy family-friendly entertainment with your little ones. Dinosaur Safari: Something Big is coming. Opens May 25th. 2300 Southern Boulevard, Bronx, NY. 718-367-1010. |
Adventure AquariumAdventure Aquarium will allow you to touch, feed and maybe even wade in with gentle giant stingrays. Adventure Aquarium is the most touchable museum in the nation. The big exhibit is the shark exhibit, where for a fee, you can actually swim with the sharks. What about training and feeding the seals, or go behind the scenes with penguins (advanced reservation only). 1 Aquarium Dr, Camden | 856-365-3300 |
Jenkinson’s Aquarium
300 Ocean Avenue | Pt. Pleasant Beach, NJ 08742 | 732-892-0600 |
Insectropolis
View thousands of beautiful and bizarre exotic insects from all over the world. Play bug games on our touch-screen computers. Pretend you are a termite as you crawl through our mudtube. Watch ants forage for food and build tunnels in the live ant nest. Safely get up close to our observation hive and see the busy bees. Or spy on many of the other live insects. Of course, your visit is not complete unless you touch a bug! Touch a live tarantula, scorpion, millipede, and a hissing cockroach before you leave. Whether you are a bug enthusiast or just a curious visitor, Insectropolis has over a dozen exhibit areas that are sure to educate and entertain. 1761 Route 9, Toms River, NJ 08755, (732) 349-7090 |
Cape May County Zoo - The PRIDE of Cape May County
707 Route 9 North, P.O. Box 864, Cape May Court House, NJ 08210 |
Central Park ZooCentral Park Zoo has over 1,400 animals of more than 130 species throughout tropical, temperate, polar habitats, and children's zoo. While you're there, visit Central Park and play in over 20 playgrounds, see model boats sailing, go on the carousel, visit the woods and water exhibit, or take a boat ride on the lake. 830 5th Ave. NYC. 212-439-6500. |
Popcorn Park Zoo
But what makes Popcorn Park so special is that each animal was rescued from suffering, exploitation and/or death - each has its own unique story to tell. You will learn these stories as you walk through the Zoo and as you visit this section of our web site. You have entered a quiet world where all the residents were once in danger and now are safe. So start your journey - bring your curiosity and respect for these beautiful creatures. 1 Humane Way, Forked River, NJ | (609) 693-1900 |
The Manasquan Reservoir Environmental Center
Designed to connect visitors with their natural world, the Environmental Center highlights the importance of water. One exhibit features fish found in the Reservoir outside. Another traces the journey of a raindrop as it travels through the watershed to the Manasquan River and, eventually, reaches the ocean. Some exhibits reveal what is not readily visible, such as nocturnal animals that call the Reservoir home. Another exhibit compares the effects of a town with unmanaged growth to one that has chosen to establish practices that protect the environment. 331 Georgia Tavern Road, Howell 07731 | (732) 751-9453 |
Huber Woods Environmental Center
25 Brown's Dock Road, Locust (Middletown Twp.) , NJ | (732) 872-2670 or 0336 |
New York Aquarium
New York Aquarium features more than 300 marine species. Meet some of our mammals, birds, fish, and reptiles, and learn about their natural history, biology, cultural roles, and conservation status. View the sea stars at our Touch Pool, visit the strange universe of Alien Stingers, or cheer on our California sea lions during their Aquatheater training demonstrations. Afterward stroll and sun on the Coney Island Beach. Surf Avenue & West 8th Street in Brooklyn, New York |
The Maritime Aquarium
10 North Water Street, Norwalk, CT. | 203.852.0700 |
Philadephia ZooAmerica’s first zoo, is home to more than 1,300 rare and endangered animals from around the world. Kids can pet our friendly sheep and goats and more in the Children's Zoo. In the farm area, kids can climb on a life-sized tractor and learn how to groom our goats and sheep while they learn about the important connection between farm animals and people. 34th Street and Girard Avenue in Philadelphia |
Insectropolis is a fun and unique insect learning center that dazzles visitors of all ages. There is plenty to see and do here! Set within the architecture of a bug-themed city, our creative displays entertain guests as they learn about these fascinating creatures.
Our zoo is a major attraction to the thousands of visitors to the shore and residents alike. Families who visit our zoo are always impressed by the lush country gardens, leisurely atmosphere and extensive natural environment. Animal lovers are impressed by our collection of over 550 critters, representing over 250 species. But above all we are proud of the conscientious care our animals receive from a dedicated and caring staff. 
Over 200 of these animals and birds now live in spacious surroundings in the heart of the scenic Pine Barrens in southern New Jersey. You may be greeted at the gate by a gaggle of geese, but soon you will see a marvelous array of animals including African lions, tigers, mountain lions, a camel, emus, rheas, muntjacs, Australian wallabies and more. Many different types of monkeys clamor for your attention in the monkey house, and the Zoo abounds with all kinds of native wildlife such as white-tailed and fallow deer, bobcats, an American black bear, and a raccoon. Farm animals such as horses, steer. sheep, pigs and goats often look for a handout, and reptiles and tortoises enjoy their own special house. In addition, you¹ll find numerous species of birds have made themselves comfortable throughout the zoo.
The Manasquan Reservoir Environmental Center is dedicated to providing experiences of learning and discovery related to wetlands ecology and wildlife and habitat protection. Through interactive exhibits, multi-media presentations, educational activities for schools and community groups, live animal exhibits, and wildlife observation areas, visitors gain an understanding of the importance of wildlife in our world..jpg)
Explore Huber Woods with your family and friends! Come explore its redesigned, hands-on exhibit areas. While there, play Native American instruments while viewing and listening to recordings of American Indian musicians and dancers. Try basket weaving, archeology, the revolving maize game and many other Lenape activities. Discover something new in the environment at the Junior Naturalist station. Watch tadpoles and frogs frolic in the Forest Room. View the many colorful native birds outside or play in the puppet theater. Live turtles and snakes await your visit to the Reptile House. Huber Woods Park also features an all-access Discovery Path, wooded trails and a beautiful picnic area with a view of the meadows and Navesink River.
The Maritime Aquarium is in the heart of the historic waterfront neighborhood of South Norwalk. Shark Dives Most Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays @ 11:45 am & 1:45 pm. Visit seals and sea turtles, get a feel for crabs, sea stars and more in the touch tanks, come face to face with sharks and hundreds of other amazing animals from Long Island Sound. Then see an IMAX movie and our current special exhibits, or look into camp programs, special events, and more!