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Roger Williams Park Zoo

4.0 (322 reviews)
Closed 10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Updated 2 months ago

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Snuggled up!
Katie N.

Every visit to the RWPZ is a treat! I am so excited they finished the new catio and I love the addition of an informational sign for local cat adoptions. There are so many fun things to do and cool animals to see all year long!

Nova & Oliver
Rachel O.

I visited today in the freezing cold & had a nice stroll through the quiet zoo. Many of the animals were no where to be seen, presumably in a much cozier & warmer area than their public enclosures. I did spend a significant time with Oliver & Nova, the bactrian camels. They seemed to be perfectly happy with the weather. Salvador (the tamandua) wasn't out & about today, but there was some other activity in the South America building. The sloth was having a nice snooze in one of the buckets under a heat lamp. The monkeys were very active. The otter was twirling & swirling around underwater, kicking off the window (parkour style) & giving me a show. The baby red pandas were very active, too. They were pouncing & rolling & jumping around. The cuteness overload was almost too much to handle. 'tis the quiet season at the zoo, but I still love it. Great afternoon walk.

Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular
Julia B.

I HIGHLY recommend coming to see the zoo's Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular. This is the one thing I must go to every October. The very first visit is SO magical for children and adults alike. Dress warmly if it's cold that night. Churros, hot chcoclate, pretzels, fried dough, and much more available for purchase. Indoor bathrooms, too!

Zebra
Brooke S.

First and foremost would like to share the first Saturday of the month for Providence residences, it is free to anybody that has a Providence ID, again it's the first Saturday of the month. Get there early parking is overwhelming. There are some animals not out but also new ones as well. Bring your own drinks/snacks it's a little pricey. You cannot bring any emotional support animals or service animals. Handicap accessible. Lockers available. Gift shops affordable. Lots of shaded areas. Great for younger kids.

Brittany C.

I love coming to the zoo for the animals, but if you haven't been to the Jack-o'-lantern spectacular, you are missing out!! This year was trivia night with questions throughout the park where the questions aligned with amazing carved pumpkins. There are THOUSANDS of hand carved pumpkins, YES, thousands! We also ride the Swan boats. Located right outside the park pond before entry $12 a person. Beautifully lit up where you take a 15-20 minute ride around the pond and under a bridge.

Peacock strolling
Starla F.

This zoo in the center of Providence has been through so many changes, loss of animals, changing layout and supplemental exhibits. Back inna day it was smaller. Less animal welfare and smaller, but I still fell in love with it. The monkey house stunk, the lion cage was too small but we had polar bears! Now it's more appropriate for animal welfare and enrichment. My visit was my first Winter visit. Many of the exhibits were sans views of the residents, too cold. But the wetlands were open for walking, I miss access during the takeover of dinos, pumpkins and holiday lights. Support local, pay the price, walk the property and enjoy!

Winter Lights Eves
Elizabeth E.

What a beautiful light display Roger Williams Park Zoo has at night during the holidays. We thoroughly enjoyed the lights, seeing some of the animals, the hot chocolate, and more. Snack stands everywhere. Immensely friendly staff. They still have the pressed penny machines!! 3 total in the park I think - we only made it to 2 of them. Regardless, if you're in the area you don't want to miss this. Wear warm shoes!! Total cost was $65 for 4 adults ($60 + $5 fee). Buy tickets online!!

Huon-tree Kangaroo
Christina H.

Roger Williams Park Zoo is the third oldest zoo in the country, but you can barely tell. Exhibits get refreshed every few years, keeping your zoo experience new and exciting. The zoo is divided into sections and easy to navigate. You'll start in the Savannahs, and end back where you started or if you have a little one, extend the adventure and continue on to "Our Big Backyard", a rotating, interactive play area for kids. For restrooms, I was surprised to see how well maintained they are! My favorite sections/exhibits in no particular order: Alex & Ani Farmyard: A mini version of a livestock show I'm familiar, including a petting zoo where you can pet/feed Shetland Sheep. BE WARNED: petting any of the animals are at your own risk and the Alpacas may spit! The Savannahs: visit the African Elephants - it was amazing to see them so up close. They love wandering near the gates to scoop up the grass with their trunks The Rainforest: The replicated atmosphere of a rainforest is perfect for the animals that live here. It's an open concept enclosed structure that allows tropical birds to fly free and cute monkeys to run around. The best little surprise? Seeing two sloths in the space sleeping in a hammock. Fortunately, the scarier things found in the rainforest are also located here, but are behind glass ie: anaconda & poisonous dart frogs Himalayan Trek: A bit of a disappoint with how small this section is, especially for the animal I was really looking forward to seeing: the Red Panda. Wild Woodlands: incredible, one of a kind experience to see our national bird, the Bald Eagle, out in the open -- these particular birds can't fly due to wing injuries. World of Adaptations: insanely cool to see the Komodo dragon, but wishing it had a larger space Penguin Exhibit: the newest exhibit that just opened on May 24, 2025 and already a crowd favorite! The penguin version of the Bachelorette, there are currently 11 male penguins, and one female penguin. If you didn't know, penguins mate for life and I can't wait to see which one she chooses!! If you've been to the Roger Williams Zoo prior, you may recognize this former space as the seal pool for Bubba, who has know been moved to another facility. PRO TIP: you can bring outside food and drinks

Penguins!!!!
Heidi S.

We've had a family membership to this lovely zoo since our oldest child was a baby. She's 22 now and we still love going here! Today I went with our youngest child and we had a great time! I had forgotten that it was a holiday and the parking lot was packed at 9:15, only 15 minutes after opening time. Entering the zoo was a very efficient process - no line at all! A staff person outside the entrance scanned my digital membership card, checked it against my ID and we were inside a split second later. Even though the parking lot was packed, the zoo didn't feel overly crowded and we were able to see everything we wanted to see without difficulty. The new penguin exhibit is great and it was really fun to watch them from above the water and also watch them through the large window as they zoomed around underwater. Some of our other favorite animals at Roger Williams are the giraffes, the red pandas, the tree kangaroos, the gibbons and the flamingos. We also love seeing the golden tamarins and the sloth in the rain forest house, and the ant eaters in the same area are really interesting as well. Today we enjoyed the armadillos who were very active and seemed to be having lots of fun when the keeper sprayed water from a hose for them to run through. One great thing about this zoo is that there is lots of shade, so even in the summer heat it is still pleasant to visit. I also love not having to lather on the sunscreen since so many areas are shaded. There are also misting areas, and a few exhibits are air conditioned. We didn't visit the Big Back Yard playground area today, but this was always a hit with my children when they were younger. We usually bring our own water and snacks, but there are many food options available at different stations throughout the zoo. Our visit today lasted about 2 hours and we saw everything we wanted to see. I think you could easily spend 3-4 hours here if you wanted to go at a more leisurely pace, stop for snacks, and enjoy the play areas. We've loved coming to Roger Williams Park Zoo for 22 years and I hope we keep on enjoying it for many more years to come.

The entrance
Shahané M.

I came here a couple of weeks ago for the pumpkin spectacular with my family. I didn't know what to expect but I had an idea from talks from friends and family. My review?? It was amazing!! There were pumpkins everywhere!! In the trees, on stands and on the ground. They were all carved so intricately I was so impressed!! There's a couple snack stations at the entrance where you can grab yourself hot chocolate if you want to keep yourself warm. I enjoyed the trivia as well even though I only got 1 right haha

Jose P.

The Roger Williams Park Zoo was a pleasant visit. The park is very large, has a vast amount of animals, every staff member was helpful, and you could get very close to each exhibit. Since it was cold, I enjoyed how visitors could go inside the elephant and giraffe exhibits, where the temperature is comfortable. There, you could see them at a close distance and take photos/videos. The gift shop is large and has a vast selection of zoo items and apparel. FYI.....make certain to ask about discounts when purchasing tickets. They provide many (Teachers, students, military, veterans, seniors). If you're in the Providence area, don't hesitate to stop into this zoo and enjoy your visit.

Alice
ShaynaLynn ..

So .. I have had a membership to the zoo since 2009. Unfortunately right now they are doing a lot of construction throughout the zoo, which is bothersome to the animals as it is to guests. This is going on during zoo hours which I feel is ridiculous, seeing that the zoo closes early. They could be doing this at other times. It's very uncomfortable for some guests, especially those who are handicapped, have disabilities, or special needs.. hopefully they finish it up soon so we can continue to enjoy this beautiful zoo we have here in Rhode Island.

T W.

I went with my family while we were on vacation and we enjoyed our selves. Entry price ....eh! Even with my military discount It seemed like a lot. (I'm pretty sure we're the ones paying for the renovations) It took about 2.5-3 to walk the entire zoo, which could have been longer but certain places were closed off and they are still doing renovations. Certain places weren't open like small kiosk that would have served drinks or snacks which would have been helpful considering all the walking that we did. Maybe we went on a bad day ...idk. I will say some of these animals looked sad. You can't really explain it unless you're there and you know certain bigger animals don't belong locked up. Being from Boston and trying NOT to compare the zoo to our own was kinda hard considering the effort we put into the city zoo. I guess this was more for the kids enjoyment than our own but overall I'd love to come back and see the difference once the renovations are all done.

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1 month ago

Great little park. The pumpkin exhibit is great! Kids love it! Do not recommend late at night.

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One of the best zoos I've ever been to, and let me tell you, I've been to a lot of zoos

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Ask the Community - Roger Williams Park Zoo

Review Highlights - Roger Williams Park Zoo

We had almost two hours of fun, s'mores, gift shop exploring and more in the beautiful Roger Williams Zoo!

Mentioned in 15 reviews

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Capron Park Zoo - Serval

Capron Park Zoo

4.0(98 reviews)
12.3 mi

Capron Park Zoo is always a nice visit whenever I pair it with any other zoos in the local area. It…read moreis an AZA Accredited facility, and from speaking with some of the keepers, exhibit designs, and more people from this facility, I am certain that the welfare they provide for these animals is as good as it can be. The zoo is constantly working on small improvements to improve the welfare of the species in the zoo, as well as the guest experience. For those of you with a Buttonwood Park Zoo membership, you're able to utilize your reciprocal benefits to get free admission here, which I think is a huge plus. I think unfortunately as of late, Capron Park Zoo has been hit with a few unfortunate tragedies. With the recent passing of Nyala, the African Lion female that lived alongside Ramses, with the transfer for Vicky the Sloth Bear to Washington DC's National Zoo, it's a bittersweet feeling to know that she's going to a facility with a bigger habitat, but the zoo loses another species. However, the zoo is still good in my opinion. I don't foresee spending much time here, especially in the winter months, but it's still worth a visit, especially in the warmer months due to more species on display, as well as the waterpark for the children. If you're hoping to avoid larger crowds though, winter is a very good time to visit regardless. The Amur Leopard, Lacey, is very active during this time, since the species is from Russia-Northern China area, she's very comfortable and active in the colder months, which is very cool to see. Same goes for the Red Pandas, which have a great indoor space as well for the warmer months for them to cool down. To me though I think Capron's indoor habitats work very well for them. Especially their tropical house, it's not the biggest around, but it's very beautiful. Tons of tropical birds, a Cuvier's Dwarf Caiman, and Red-Footed Tortoises. Again, the zoo is not the biggest, but I think that's not necessarily a bad thing. If you're hoping to have a quicker outing with your family, I think Capron suits the bill. Always worth a visit every year from me though. Exciting to see what they're planning for the future!

This zoo was fun but is very small and didn't have that many animals. I was expecting the place to…read morebe a lot bigger so I was kind of shocked when there wasn't that much going on. A few of the exhibits were also closed when I went, which made it even less animals to see. But nevertheless, I took my nieces because they have this little waterpark area, which was super cool that it's a part of the zoo. I did end up buying a family three pack membership because I found out that I could use this at several other zoos all around the United States and either get a discount offer or get in for free so it was just a no-brainer. The price alone for the zoo I felt was very reasonable. I didn't like the fact they didn't have any paper maps. They did everything virtual. I like to hold things in my hands to be able to navigate. But I guess that's the kind of world that we live in now where everything is just online. But the exhibits that we did see were nice the animals they appeared to be super close. And right outside the zoo they have a park area as well for the kids that's free. They have a decent size parking lot. The people who worked in the little shop were very sincere and genuine, and the prices were great for the stuff that they were selling in there. I didn't see any informational sessions at all no employees like educating on any specific animals or anything. So I guess it was okay. I wasn't really impressed. It's a very small zoo with not many animals. Maybe when they fix some of the enclosures and bring some of the animals back I can give it a go and change this review. But if you want something on a smaller scale, then you can bring your children here.

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Capron Park Zoo
Capron Park Zoo
Capron Park Zoo

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Franklin Park Zoo - 11.1.2025

Franklin Park Zoo

3.5(366 reviews)
39.7 mi

Every single year I visit the Boston Lights at the Franklin Park Zoo, and somehow, it just keeps…read moregetting better and better. The lights were super dope this year! You can tell they put a lot of thought and creativity into new ideas and themes. I especially loved the Asian-inspired display. The owls, the panda bears, and the beautiful glowing dragons were stunning. There's something magical about the way the zoo transforms at night. The lights make me feel happy, almost like stepping into another world. If you haven't been, you have to go at night to really experience the full effect. Every year I think they've outdone themselves, once again. It's truly an amazing, breathtaking experience for all ages.

Review for Zoo Lights…read more Really cool light display for all types of animals. I like that it is a walkthrough experience that you can go at your own pace. It is also organized in a way that that you walk in one direction and don't have to think so you really get to relax and enjoy the experience. You don't need a map and you don't miss any part of the light display. The displays are huge. I loved the sounds/music that went along with the displays. Some of the animals moved too! The interactive segments were pretty cool too, but I did not wait for them since there were lines. Great experience and stroller friendly! The parking situation was very chaotic so having better organization for that would improve the whole experience.

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Franklin Park Zoo - Boston Lights

Boston Lights

Franklin Park Zoo - 11.1.2025

11.1.2025

Franklin Park Zoo - Beautiful Blue butterfly  Zoo Lights!!!

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Beautiful Blue butterfly Zoo Lights!!!

Animal Adventures

Animal Adventures

3.8(209 reviews)
46.8 mi

Animal Adventures in Bolton, MA is truly a hidden gem and an amazing rescue doing wonderful work…read morefor animals in need. Every animal there is clearly well cared for, loved, and given a safe second chance. We had the opportunity to meet so many amazing creatures...reptiles, birds, mammals, and even some more exotic residents! The highlight of mine and my fiancé's visit was the otter encounter, and it was unforgettable! Our tour guide, Marshall, was fantastic; knowledgeable, friendly, and clearly passionate about the animals. He made the entire experience fun and educational, and his care for the animals really showed. Interacting with the otters up close was something we'll never forget. I can't recommend Animal Adventures enough. If you're looking for an engaging, hands-on, and heartwarming experience while supporting a rescue, this is the perfect place. We will definitely be back!

It's always cool to see animals up close to have a better view but for what expense?…read more That you're supporting exotic animal abuse, can taste their feces in the air in the entire place, and looking at them distressed in a cage 2x their body length. You cannot witness these animals in a fun active manner, they are crammed in tiny cages in survival mode, mostly are freaked out. The biggest ones that hit me was about 12 lemers crammed in a tiny cage all together. Then a tiny monkey was clearly loosing his mind, screaming at us, very frantic, in a cage a size small enough for a parakeet. (Good thing he was behind glass for our safety :-( ) This is not a place ppl drop of their pets (very FEW have) and these animals are not turned over to this place by zoo's that will not take these animals. This is mostly black market purchases that have gotten out of control. No one that loved an animal/pet would bring it here to slowly rot in this place. This is not a sanctuary- it's hell for these poor animals. This place is someone's house, with small added sheds around the yard and 3/4 tiny outdoor enclosures turned into a major hoarding zoo with the smallest of cages, stacked on top and next to each other. Putting these animals in dyer situations. When will these ppl stop buying animals? They have NO room. Surely, there has to be laws especially for the exotic animals crammed up crying for someone/something to save them. Heartbreaking, disgusting, and just outright wrong. -and to the gentleman replying to these Yelp post about this business. Please open up a lemonade stand and save up some money to get these animals in safer conditions and looks like you need a health evaluation. How are the fire codes in this place? Get off complaining and go clean the crappy cages, thank you

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Animal Adventures - Pig

Pig

Animal Adventures
Animal Adventures - Pig

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Pig

New England Aquarium - Rainbow over the New England Aquarium

New England Aquarium

3.5(1.2k reviews)
44.0 miWaterfront

We finally did adult night at the Aquarium and it was great. They had several different talks about…read morethe penguins, sea lions and the touch tank. They served food and beverages the entire time. The talks were probably the best part. We had a chance to learn all about the penguin couples - including the love triangle and the one penguin who won't choose one female partner. We also got to learn about all the ways sea lions experience enrichment. All in all, a very fun night!

As I've gotten older, I've definitely become more critical and cynical, and that may play a part in…read morethis review; nonetheless, I didn't like the New England Aquarium. First, I went on a charter bus, and they stamped our hand. Re-entry was allowed, but my stamp faded within minutes so I wasn't even able to test it, so I can see how that would be a problem if others did that option. Second, the theatre/movie presentation is in a different building on the property. It was a nice day when I went, but I can see that being a major pain in the you know what if it was raining or windy or whatnot. Third, the building is spiral-shaped and goes up, and pretty much only up. So there isn't much room for crowd flow, viewing windows get crowded and it can be a bit of a wait to be able to see things. It was very busy when I went, and people were constantly bumping into each other and having to wait for walking paths to clear up. And there isn't that much to see here either. Penguins, Seals, and fish, but nothing substantial, nothing at least to support the price. It's pretty much one big tank going up from top to bottom, a dozen or so small tanks, and the seals/penguins. Lastly, there wasn't much information about what was in the tanks. There was also a setup for a seal show, but no information on showtimes.nt Overall, it was a big disappointment. Of the three aquariums I've been to, I'd put them in 3rd behind the Mystic Aquarium and the one at the Amazing Dream Complex in New Jersey.

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New England Aquarium - Aquarium

Aquarium

New England Aquarium - Zoomed in picture of some jellyfish

Zoomed in picture of some jellyfish

New England Aquarium

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Roger Williams Park Zoo - zoos - Updated May 2026

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