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    Prospect Park Zoo

    4.1 (192 reviews)
    Closed 10:00 am - 4:30 pm
    Updated 2 months ago

    Prospect Park Zoo Photos

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    Alisa J.

    This was a pretty nice zoo. Pretty small so it's easy to see it in a short amount of time.

    Kitty H.

    Small zoo. There are lots of potential space for more animals exhibit. We didn't see any sea Lion at the exhibits for some reason. May be we got there late at 4 pm? ( zoo closes at 5:30 pm). Petting zoo ( they called it the barn) is cute. Feeding machine dispenser takes two quarters for 8-10 pallets. One changing machine on site. Place is clean. Good place to spend 2-3 hours.

    Sheena M.

    First time visiting Prospect ParkZoo. It's on the smaller side but still nice, and well worth visiting.. It's clean and well kept. There's also a petting zoo for kids. You can pretty much see the whole zoo in about 2 hours . Tickets cost $10. for adults and $7. for children.. You can see the Red pandas, sea lions, baboons, emu, dingos and others along with the petting zoo.. Petting zoo is really nice for young children.. Definitely worth visiting..

    Chelsea A.

    Stopped by on 3pm on Memorial Day weekend! Got tickets online and tried to watch the seal show at 3:30 but it finished so fast we never got to catch it! Weird considering online it says it's supposed to be 15 minutes, and yet it was less than 5. This is my 5th time coming to this zoo, and that was the shortest seal show I've ever heard of. That said, the park itself is beautiful to walk around with your significant other or family. The sculptures, fauna and animals make it worth it. The barn and red pandas were my favorite part of the entire zoo. You get to feed certain animals but the line to get change is insane. There used to be more animals too? Kinda miss seeing so many birds in the aviary, today it was disturbingly silent... For any annoyed by children, this is not your place. There are so many kids, so that means groups of families and strollers everywhere! Having to walk behind groups of moms and kids, so patience is required! Plus a lot of the kids tend to try to bother/chase the peacocks and pull their tails. Kinda annoying to witness but hey, they're kids right? Overall, clearly this isn't the last time I'm gonna come back for this zoo, it's a staple in Brooklyn and so close other places like the Brooklyn museum and botanical garden. Highly recommend!

    Dingo
    Steve A.

    A pretty nice and small zoo is in Prospect Park that's good for those not wanting to spend lots of time looking around and is a good place to bring a family. It doesn't have any wow type of exhibits but it does have lots of animals for considering how small it can feel. You can see everything within a couple hours. Fairly priced admission. This is a good value compared to other attractions around here. It has a convenient location on the east side of Prospect Park near the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. Lots of ways to get here. The main entrance is located on Flatbush Avenue at the large staircase. Admission is pretty fair. They have special exhibits you can pay extra for too. It's about $9 for adults. That's much cheaper than the New York Aquarium and the Bronx Zoo. Among the main attractions are the sea lions. These guys have a big pool. It's in the center. There's also small buildings that are homes of baboons, monkeys, and reptiles. Check out the barn. There's barnyard animals like chickens, cows, and goats. It seems much of this is geared toward children. That's okay, there's plenty for everyone to enjoy here. Has very few food choices. Only vending machines. There's many good places to eat in the area so before coming here go eat something.

    May 31 2021.
    Matteo R.

    As far as zoos, this is on the small size and geared more towards young children. Nevertheless, the zoo is very well maintained, it's clean, and it's fun to visit. Apart from the roaming peacocks who just strut around, the California sea lions are just beautiful to watch, and the baboons are probably the stars of the zoo. There is a barn and garden that features sheep, juliana pigs, alpaca, and goats, and you can buy food pellets to feed all the animals. Other interesting outdoor animals you can find along the discovery trail include river otters, emus, red pandas, and porcupines[1]. There is also an aviary with some beautiful wild birds. In the Hall of Animals indoor exhibition there are some incredibly colorful poison dart frogs, mongoose, fish from the Amazon river, iguanas, turtles, marmosets, tamarins, toucans, and many more. If you are a parent of a young child in Brooklyn, this is one of the few places that are open on a Monday. This place helped me quite a few times when daycare was closed on a Monday: great way to spend a couple of hours with your child, who is sure to love this zoo. The zoo helped out a lot also during the pandemic, when daycare was closed. But anyone can have fun and relax, here. My wife an I had one of our first dates here, now many years ago. One extra star because I happened to find myself at the Prospect Park Zoo on Saturday, November 7 2020, the day Joe Biden was declared the winner of the 2020 US Presidential elections. From inside the zoo we started hearing cars honking; like, A LOT of cars honking. While we were wondering what was going on, we started receiving the news on our phones. As we left the zoo and walked North along Flatbush Ave., we were greeted by a spontaneous celebration of hundreds of people on Grand Army Plaza. Nice memories. I love Brooklyn. ---------------- [1] For some reason porcupines smell really bad. Like BO on steroids.

    Gary M.

    Came here for the first time as a 32 year old with my wife and 2 year old. This zoo is the perfect size for a baby/toddler compared to the Bronx Zoo which is so large and requires a lot more walking. You'll be done with all the exhibits here in 2 hours or so. Many things to keep your child attentive especially those roaming peacocks. Don't forget to bring quarters for the animal feeding stations. The only thing missing here is food options but you can always bring in your own lunch. Plus street parking is available (tip: you can park on Flatbush across from the zoo starting at 10am).

    Royce L.

    My first time at this Zoo ever. It's too bad I had waited all this time to check this Zoo out. One of the entrances is closed currently or at least it was recently. It might have opened up by now because of restrictions being lifted. There is a lot to do and see here. There were three indoor buildings you could go into and there were multiple animals inside each building. Also sea lions that are outside. Usually there is a feeding schedule but it's suspended until restrictions are lifted. I went with my niece and she loved it as well which is also good enough for me. Definitely be back and great way to spend a couple of hours.

    Pig
    X P.

    One of the things that stood out to me was how clean and clear the exhibits were to see. Super simple to navigate around the zoo as well. Saw a lot of animals I have never seen before. Highly recommend. I have been to Queens Zoo, Manhattan Central Park Zoo , and Bronx zoo ....Brooklyn Prospect Park Zoo was my favorite zoo overall. I liked how chill it was. Bronx zoo is way too chaotic in my opinion with too much going on and too many people.

    Leftovers? Again?
    Terry B.

    As part of our membership in the New York Zoological Society, we made the goal of visiting every zoo in the system. This was the last one we had not seen, and it is a complete gem. Not terribly close to the Atlantic Avenue LIRR station, but an easy bus ride. We knew that it was in a very compact space, but it feels distinctly bigger than the Central Park Zoo, and there was plenty of elbow room as we went through the various sections. The long path includes a stream with otters, a red panda, and a very people friendly peacock. The main building has a generous selection of monkeys. The next building has a striking exhibit of nocturnal animals. At the time of our visit, there was a display of life sized dinosaur models, and the grounds were well maintained, giving me my first look at spring foliage. The barn area out back had a herd of very friendly goats, and the seal pond in the front courtyard reminds you that seals are natural showmen. Because of its relatively compact size, you can manage a visit in two hours or so without completely wearing out your legs. In between, there are lots of treats for animal lovers.

    Jason P.

    Small zoo even smaller now with COVID as some of the exhibits were closed. During COVID they are very good with social distancing. They have floor markers, direction signs for one-way traffic and limit the number of people in the indoor exhibits. The price is very reasonable and appropriate for what is currently being offered. ($10 for adults and $7 for kids) This would be good if you are in or near Prospect Park to kill about an hour or two. Lots of street parking along Flatbush Avenue (even though street cleaning is alternate side - Mon/Thurs, Tues/Fri - it is from 8:30 - 9 AM so you could easily find spots after 9.) All staff were very helpful and kind. I would love to return once the other exhibits open back up.

    There are two entrances. This entrance (inside the park) is accessible to strollers and wheel chairs .

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    2 months ago

    Great place to walk your dog very quiet good environment only was a little messy and teenage kids smoking everywhere

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    Fun little zoo. A short stay but a fun one. Reasonably priced. The exhibits are nice.

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    Review Highlights - Prospect Park Zoo

    Ducks, and turtles by the wooden overpass (bring spare quarters for feedings), a cute red panda, and Kay's favorite?

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    New York Aquarium - Indoor playground

    New York Aquarium

    2.9(587 reviews)
    6.3 miConey Island

    We visited the New York Aquarium on Jun 26, 2025 as part of the Road Scholar's "American Mosaic -…read moreAn NYC Exploration" program. Tickets were provided by our tour group. Parking isn't free, or cheap. We didn't have to worry about that since we took the subway. We started at Glover's Reef and slowly moved through Conservation Hall. By "we", I meant me. There was a lot of people, and they kept walking into my shots. That meant waiting and more waiting, but it was worth it. From Conservation Hall, I exited to an outdoor area known as Sea Cliff. This area housed the otters, sea lions and penguins. More on Sea Cliff later. I approached the Ocean Wonders: Sharks! building, went in, and was immediately greeted by the wonderful underwater glass tunnel. This was easily the most impressive gallery in the aquarium. Multitudes of marine creatures were swimming over my head with every step I took. It was breathtaking. The rest of Ocean Wonders was all about sharks... mostly. There were rays, turtles and other fishes too. Next was the Spineless and PlayQuarium building. The Spineless gallery was not impressive, with the spider crabs and the octopus being the only standouts. No sturgeons. The collection of fishes wasn't as impressive as Ocean Wonders or Conservation Hall. We bypassed the PlayQuarium and into the gift shop. Last but not least, the sea lions. They were adorable. I took some videos but am unable to post them here. They can be found in my YouTube channel @1Somber. Look for "2025-1: American Mosaic - An NYC Exploration" playlist, and the "Day 5: Sea Lions" video. Thankfully, we didn't have to pay for our tickets. If we had, I would insist on visiting the 4-D Theater and the Aquatheater. But we did not due to lack of time. We were given less than 2 hours and the time was almost up when we were done with the main exhibits. The New York Aquarium is definitely comparable with the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach, CA. The visit was enjoyable. It's worth visiting one time.

    Visitor rating: 4/5 | Local rating: 3/5…read more As a visitor, I really enjoyed this aquarium! I hadn't been in years, and it was great to see all the updates and changes. During my visit, I saw jellyfish, sea lions, seals, otters, penguins, fish, and sharks. There's plenty to see both indoors and outdoors. The aquarium also does a sea lion show twice a day, and there's a new sea tunnel where sharks and other sea life swim all around you--it's really cool! After your visit, you can walk along the boardwalk and explore the nearby area. I rated it lower as a local (3/5) because if the exhibits don't change often, it can feel a bit repetitive and less worth the price. Overall, a fun visit--I'll definitely be back. Check out the aquarium today!

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    New York Aquarium - Sea lion show

    Sea lion show

    New York Aquarium - Ocean Wonders gallery

    Ocean Wonders gallery

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    Bronx Zoo - Holiday Lights

    Bronx Zoo

    4.1(1.5k reviews)
    13.6 mi

    I've been holding back on this review because there's just so much to sayy- I don't know where to…read morestart. If you are debating whether a membership is worth it or investing on some tickets for the family, I say GO FOR IT! you really won't regret it I have a membership and it's been the greatest membership I've had thus far. I have the family zoo plus membership where three adults including yourself get in for free plus 4 children. You have the option to add another adult on the card- the purpose is so that person can go to the zoo with the card without you having to be there. The person whose name is on the card must be present. You are able to remove or add a person at anytime. For me it's more flexible and convenient to only have my name on it to not restrict the people I could take. The membership grants you access to the zoo for a full year, including the Central Park zoo, prospect zoo and queens. there's a membership that grants you access to the aquarium as well but is more expensive. Parking is not included in the membership but is available for an additional fee at the time of purchase with your membership or at any point during your membership. Every time I go to the zoo, regardless of the season we find parking so we don't need the parking at the zoo. You get a 10% discount at the gift shops and food spots. You get free access to jungle world, nature trek, the children's museum, Congo world, the big carousel, wild Asia monorail and the butterfly garden which you would normally have to pay an additional fee to get into besides your regular zoo admission ticket. You also get early access to new animal exhibits before the public does. And those are only some of the benefits that you get, you also get additional discounts for things that aren't covered by the membership such as the holiday lights show (25% off) I am delighted to say that I have never seen the bathroom at the zoo in bad conditions EVER. I don't know how they manage to keep it so clean, regardless of the large crowds. Overall, the zoo is always clean. The guests are respectful in the sense that there is never garbage on the floor. It is worth it to purchase a souvenir cup. You get free refills throughout the day and for any future visits. I've been using the same cup since last year with no issues. There are some areas where the refill is a $1 and others where it's free with that specific cup. If you are a member, remember to mention to the cashier that you are one so they can apply your member discount for your food and drinks, they often forget to ask if you are a member. The best recommendation I can make is to use the interactive map provided by the zoo, available on your phone. You share your location with the map, and tap on the animal you want to see and it will direct you to it live. It will look similar to your iPhone maps when you're walking without the audio. Trust me the interactive map will make things significantly easier and less aggravating. You can miss a lot of animalsthat are close by without the map, you would be walking in circles without it and end up note tired at the end. The signal over there is not great but the maps function work perfect for me. I recommend you wear walking sneakers because you will WALK a while lotttt. You also can't get in the nature trek without sneakers. You can bring in your own food and drinks to the zoo, there are designated areas to sit down and eat. An insulated book bag works wonders for me. There are strollers available for rent which you will absolutely need if you don't have your own. The zoo is very inclusive when it comes to people with disabilities which is great, they have alternative routes all over and tell you in advance if a particular route will lead to stairs, and if so there's alternative routes that are stairs free. There are also quiet areas and headphones available upon request. The most perfect time to go is right before spring, you will have the animals to yourself ! I discovered that solo dates to the zoo is the most majestic experience ever! You get to enjoy the zoo with no rush and it's even better without the crowds. The animals are also more relaxed and don't hide when there's less crowds. For the first time ever I got to see the tiger walk right next to the glass. Prior to the spring there will be exhibits closed for the winter but none that take away from the experience. The zoo is free on Wednesdays and so is the botanical garden which is close by. I went to the botanical garden for an hour to journal and spend time with god and proceeded to the zoo for the rest of my day and it made it 100x better to see that these beautiful animals are a gift to us form the lord 10/10 recommend

    In general I'll try to avoid visiting zoos due to ethical concerns, but I think the Bronx Zoo might…read morebe one of the more ethical ones out there. It is one of the few exceptions I allow. I've never once seen the entire zoo in one trip. I've been going there since I was five and wouldn't be surprised if there are parts I still haven't seen yet because it's so expansive. All my visits as an adult have all been with groups of children, and it's difficult corralling and motivate kids to keep moving in such a large zoo. I found it best to ask each kid what they want to see most and hit up those spots. Treat everything passed along the way as a bonus. These trips often include city kids. These kids are used to walking entire neighborhoods just to get to school or anywhere else, but the zoo still wears them out, so imagine suburbanites used to the car life on these trips. Those kids struggle. We've always left before even seeing half of what the zoo has to offer. If I didn't live in NY and wanted to really wanted kids to see the zoo more fully, I'd break it into a multi day trip rather than attempt it in one go. But kids are always happy with my abridged trips to just say hi to their favorites. I'm the one left wanting. I'll probably have to start going solo or with adults in order to really explore. I do think it will be possible to see everything in one trip with just adults. The zoo is just not little legs friendly. The Bronx Zoo is probably the most expensive zoo I've ever visited. If an exhibit is popular, anticipate pulling out some money to pay more to see it. That's ok for me if the money is used for good, but it's something to consider if on a budget. I wish they were more strict about not letting people bang on the glass in the primate exhibit. I leave the primates for last on trips because watching them makes me so sad. That sadness gets punctuated by bangs and taps on the glass by inconsiderate zoo goers.

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    Bronx Zoo - Snow leopard

    Snow leopard

    Bronx Zoo - Holiday fun

    Holiday fun

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    Staten Island Zoo

    Staten Island Zoo

    3.8(98 reviews)
    8.3 miWest Brighton

    Lovely small zoo. I…read moreappreciate that it is appropriately-priced given its size. ($10 for adults and $6 children)...for reference the Bronx Zoo, which is MUCH bigger charges about $38 for adults and $28 for children. The main parking lot (free) is along Clove Road but there is also lots of free street parking along Broadway, if you are coming from that direction. There is also an entrance gate on Broadway for easy access. It was fairly empty on a Sunday late morning. There are a few animals to see along the outside area but the large indoor area is where most of the animals are. The zoo is well-maintained. There is a small cafe and gift shop. Again...both are reasonably priced...$3 for bottled drinks, $3 popcorn, $3 hot dogs, $6.50 hamburger...much cheaper than the average NYC venue/attraction prices. All staff we encountered (the gate, gift shop and cafe) were very nice. Although it was nice, due to its size, don't plan on spending more than an hour or two there...work in some other nearby attractions/eateries to complete the day.

    The staff was super helpful and knowledgeable, which was a bright spot. The rest of the visit was…read moretough to watch. The leopard enclosure was small, offered no stimulation. The leopard was pacing back and forth constantly, in distress. A staff member said it's been doing this for over 8 years. The Sonoran Desert exhibit had the same issue: a roadrunner crammed in with armadillos, the bearded lizard and a tortoise, pacing endlessly. These animals deserve better living conditions. I hope the zoo can SERIOUSLY revisit enclosure sizes and enrichment programs. The staff clearly cares & I wouldn't mind paying 3-4x the price of admission to see that.

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    Staten Island Zoo
    Staten Island Zoo
    Staten Island Zoo

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    Essex County Turtle Back Zoo - Rail cars over the big cat enclosures

    Essex County Turtle Back Zoo

    4.1(479 reviews)
    18.0 mi

    This is a review for Christmas experience at the Zoo…read more Wow... can't believe I didn't know about this despite living in NJ for 8 years! Turtle Back Zoo turns into a complete Christmas paradise after 5 PM, and it's absolutely magical. I recently found out about this and, after seeing the lights and activities, I was genuinely impressed. During the holiday season, entry is free after 5 PM through sponsorship, which is a huge plus. Timings are 5 PM - 9 PM. Parts of the zoo remain open, so you can still see animals and birds like bison, giraffes, toucans, and more, which makes it extra special for kids. The entire park is beautifully lit with festive decorations and multiple Christmas trees. The area near the carousel looks amazing. For Kids' Activities - There's no shortage of fun for children- Face painting, Meet & greet with Santa (on specific days/times), Carousel rides, Pony rides etc... Food and beverages are well taken care of, like Starbucks or Zoo's own food sections spread across the park. Perfect for grabbing a warm drink while walking around. They also have private igloos available: You can rent for 4 hours, which can accommodate up to 10 guests, and includes hot chocolate and snacks It's located in West Orange, Essex County Parking: Two multi-level parking garages--parking is hassle-free and well organized. Overall, it was an amazing 2-3-hour evening spent with friends. Festive, family-friendly, and surprisingly delightful. Highly recommended--especially if you have kids!

    This review is strictly for the holiday lights event held at the zoo. The event is totally…read morefree--they simply ask for a donation of non perishables, new or gently used coat and/or an unwrapped toy which we were excited to provide. Parking was even free. They have a small lot out front and two multi level parking garages for the overflow. The light displays were so cute and sparkly, holiday music was playing overhead, and there was a train that took us over a river and through the woods. The line for the train was lengthy, but they had a heater which helped some on the very frigid night. There were plenty of lights to admire while in line. I will say we were a little surprised that the entire train ride was pretty dark. We expected to see light displays and installations along the way, but it was really only at the beginning. Our little one loves trains and so he was content, which is all that matters. There were smores pits, a kettle corn and hot chocolate cart, and a cozy inside cafe which we really needed to warm up. Pricing for these items was a bit of an upcharge, but as everything else was free, we sort of expected it. The animals were not really on display as it was a special event after the zoo was officially closed, but we did get to see and pet the sting rays, 1 baby shark, and a large aquarium with colorful fish (Nemo, Dory & friends). All in all it was a great holiday event and was enjoyed by all.

    Photos
    Essex County Turtle Back Zoo - Holiday lights by Amazing Asia section

    Holiday lights by Amazing Asia section

    Essex County Turtle Back Zoo - Essex County Turtle Back Zoo_Christmas Edition_Yelp_Sanju-19

    Essex County Turtle Back Zoo_Christmas Edition_Yelp_Sanju-19

    Essex County Turtle Back Zoo - American Flamingo

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    American Flamingo

    Prospect Park Zoo - zoos - Updated May 2026

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