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.

The Botanical Garden is one of my favorite places in the Bronx. Each year I look forward to the…read moreOrchid Show and this year's exhibit did not disappoint. Show curator, Mr. Flower Fantastic, crafted a beautiful homage to New York City with taxi trunks, laundry mats, and City Townhouses covered and full of different varieties of orchids. The exhibit is a beautiful colorful display. I would sum the entire walk through of the exhibit at about 30 minutes with the option to join a dance party outside Enid A. Haupt Conservatory and enjoy drinks for purchase and disco music until the exhibit closes for the day. We definitely enjoyed ourself and had a wonderful evening. I can't wait to see what they come up with next year.

An oasis in the middle of an urban jungle. I came for the annual orchid show and had a great time…read more Even though it was crowded, walking through the exhibits didn't feel rushed. Our tickets came with the tram ride and we learned so much about the property. It's massive! All the different areas are beautiful. The crowd on the tram literally gasped when we got to the lilac area. If you're looking for somewhere to enjoy a slow afternoon, come and walk around the grounds. So many lovely areas to take in nature.

I loved it. To be fair, it's not Sand Diego zoo, but it doesn't have to be. It's nestled in the…read moremiddle of a beautiful Central Park. Start by going to the zoo first. You can a sampling of everything from reptiles to a Red Panda. The place is not big, but it's beautiful, well maintained, clean and has a ton of areas to set down and just take a break. Grab a water or an ice cream, watch feeding of Seals, look for the Snow Leopard. It's a different world in the middle of a city of eight million. After, walk through Central Park. Can you even imagine a better afternoon?

We stumbled upon this zoo while visiting Central Park. I had no idea what to expect but was…read moredefinitely thinking it would be much larger. It's comparable to the size of an animal sanctuary. We saw penguins, seals (or maybe sea lions), birds, a bear, reptiles, a white panther (or maybe a leopard), and a few primates. The bird enclosure is pretty cool as there is no barrier between you and the animals so watch out lol. It was an average experience, not bad but nothing extravagant.

They provided the most beautiful magical experience for my daughter's 5th birthday party. I had a…read moregroup of 30 children who fell in love with the unicorn. The farm animals are well taken care off. The package included a sheep, an alpaca, goats, chickens (one laid an egg), bunnies. There was a baby cow!! I also had a bounce house. It was very spacious and we had adults jumping in the bounce house after the kids left. The cotton candy and icees were concessions were yummy and a hit. Great customer service experience. I had a lot of questions that were answered quickly. Arrived on time and smooth setup.

Only the lowest of the low people would scam a library. We paid a $265 deposit for a petting zoo…read moreevent. On the day of the event, over 100 children waited patiently for the animals to show up. They never did, and no phone calls, emails, or texts were answered as to why. Several days later, we were told we would get a refund. Weeks later, and they're now ghosting us completely.

Huge local park in the neighborhood. It has a playground, water pad, carousel, pony rides and train…read moreand the zoo. It has multiple parking lots BUT it gets filled up quickly. Great place for kids to run around and release their energy. Ice cream truck and shaved ice truck on site. Good for the summer. The park playground is well maintained. It's spread out to different sections. It has for bigger kids and smaller toddlers. Many staff at the Carousel and train. Well organized. Tix required. It could be a long wait during weekends. Overall a great place for kids. Easily spend a day here.

One of the very, very BEST parks in NJ - if not the best…read more Bordering Paramus and River Edge, Van Saun County Park is definitely one of the most popular parks I've ever been to ... and there's very good reason for it. First, the park probably has the LARGEST playground I've everrrrrr seen at a public park with multiple playgrounds WITHIN the playground itself. As you can imagine, it gets quite busy on nice weekend days. Surrounding the playground are many pavilions and picnic tables for those that want to have BBQs or large gatherings, which can be had with a permit. In addition to one of the best park playgrounds, the Bergen County Zoo resides inside of the park, which is free to EVERYONE during the colder months of the year. During the warmer months, there's a small fee for Bergen County residents and non-residents. If that's not enough, there is a miniature train ride that takes people around the entire park for a small fee. And, let me tell you first hand that the train ride is actually quite long at 5-7 minutes. Nearby, there is also a carousel that you can ride on for a fee. And, guess what?? There's even more! There is a barn with ponies that let's people ride the ponies for a fee as well. There are also jogging, walking and biking paths too along with a few tennis courts. Besides all of the permanent amenities, there are also events during different times of the year including the Winter Wonderland, which ... surprise, surprise ... takes place during the winter months. If you're worried about parking, no sweat, there are multiple large lots inside of the park, so once you arrive you can start your day asap. Like I said, DEFINITELY one of the best public parks in all of NJ.

Went for the tree lighting this year for the first time. I like that it is one of the evergreen…read moretrees growing at the farm. There was caroling which added to the holiday feels. There were a few vendors, Meet and photos with Santa (indoors) and hayrides for a fee. The farm store was open - merchandise available ( good for gifts ) and we got some hot cocoas there. Just loved the atmosphere. Good for families, esp with young children bec has just enough to do to keep everybody entertained. And it felt like I was far from NYC, when I was not even a 1/2 hr from home. No admission fee for this event. Found free street parking nearby.

During the summer the staff are rude and the animals are mostly inside, food is not open for sale,…read moreand there is really not any exciting things to do, it is a terrible place to drive to as well. If you want a nice farm trip this is not your place.

We love the Queens Zoo. It's a cute zoo with a nice variety…read moreof animals. It sits in a part of Corona Park with a cool vibe. It's very kid friendly and their petting zoo is also great. It's not an all day affair like the Bronx Zoo, but you will still have an awesome time.

This is such a go to in the summer. Easy to get to and there's parking. It is also affordable and…read morethere are food options. Museum/zoo food is usually pretty eh. There are also a lot of bees/wasps that have made some of the animal showcases their hive. They also have teens doing cute things like making buttons or teaching kids once in a while. Great place.

From my previous review, noticed recently during a big snowstorm that I omitted most winter-related…read moreactivities one can do in Central Park! These include, though aren't limited to: Sledding, cross country skiing, making all manner of snowmen/forts/snowballs/snow angels, snow tubing, snow plowing and shoveling the streets and walkways, defrosting your fingers and toes, admiring the winter scenery. One of the best things about CP is that it's open daily, year-round. On one very very cold Saturday afternoon when we got about a foot of snow, I ventured out in sub-freezing temperatures, and was surprised by how many people (thousands!) were playing in the snow. I had never seen CP so crowded, not even on warm sunny days! Not only families with children, it seemed everyone healthy and active enough to participate was out and about. How many people had sleds too!* That being said, one suitable aspect of CP is the many hilly areas so if you had a sled, you were in luck, with much fun to be had. On your next snow day, GO PLAY! *Considering it hadn't snowed more than a few inches annually the past few years I wasn't sure where people either had space to store, or how they were able to procure sleds at such short notice.

One of my most favorite places in the York city! Just don't get caught there walking throw it in…read morethe middle of the night. No just kidding all jokes aside and this is one of the most interesting parts in the city and one of the few places that you will lots find green open space. There are lots of common walkways and running trails for you to get your fitness in if that's what you like to do and for kids there are several playground areas in and around the park. It's the perfect place and change of pace from the hustle and bustle of the city. And what I find most interesting about Central Park is that no matter how many times you come here, it always seems like you'll find something different about it from the last visit. The sights, people, landscape and everything around it changes with each day or season. That's the beauty of the park that I like most.

Noel the owner of the company , we spoke on the phone and he offered all the help I will ever need…read more Very friendly and willing to help with any aquarium issuesI may need one day. He is official on my Iphone. Thanks Noel

Brought my niece here while visiting. What a great experience. Very helpful staff. I am excited for…read moreher to decide on her set-up! I will post pictures then. Dont hesitate to use Anchor Aquarium.

We traveled to the American Dream mall specifically to do the Animal Crossing event being held at…read moreSea Life. The aquarium itself is incredible, it was above our expectations for sure. They had a large shark mascot roaming around and causing a lot of laughs. The Animal Crossing event was fun, we were able to collect stamps from staff at different exhibits and trade them for a prize in the shop. Unfortunately they were low on the Animal Crossing merchandise but getting the patch was still very cool. They had character meet and greets. We stayed for one of them, K.K. Slider. Not sure if they have other characters for meet and greets, but that is who we saw.

Few things in this world compare to the beauty of the underwater ecosystem, and fortunately for…read morethose who are fascinated by life under the sea, a trip to an aquarium will allow one to see firsthand sea creatures of all shapes and sizes, from the small but mighty seahorse to the aptly named and gently giant whale shark. While visiting the American Dream mall in East Rutherford yesterday with family from out of town, my partner, his family, and I decided to escape to Sea Life NJ by purchasing via their kiosk. Some of us haven't visited this establishment since it first opened up 4 years ago. Upon arrival, the staff scanned our time slot tickets, and we breezed right into the elevator. It's a smaller, quick-visit aquarium great for an hour and managed to pack a lot into it. It is a walk-through experience where one can marvel at the aquatic animals and read fascinating information on the walls. Especially great for young kids who love interactive features and photo ops. The touch tank was one of the memorable events, being able to touch the sea anemones and starfish. The various tanks looked clean and well maintained. One can pop one's head up into a few tanks for fun pics. The staff was friendly and knowledgeable. It's a fantastic destination for families and ocean lovers alike.