This week, our NYC Dads Group, headed up to the Bronx to spend the day at their famous zoo. The Bronx Zoo was a perfect outing for our group. The drive from Manhattan was quick & took me less than 30 minutes. Most of the dads that went are members of the Wildlife Conservation Society. This means that we have annual memberships (about $120) for admission to the Bronx Zoo, New York Aquarium, Central Park Zoo, Queens Zoo, and Prospect Park Zoo – a great deal for families who plan frequent zoo outings. Therefore, the day did not cost the dads a lot of money & we were able to get into all of the special exhibits/attractions for free.
Originally, our group had planned to attend on a Wednesday, when admission is always “pay what you wish.” The weather forecast was bleak for Wednesday so we switched to “Toddler Tuesdays” at the zoo. Fortunately, the switch worked out because the weather was beautiful for our adventure. Overall, the kids seemed to enjoy the experience most in the children’s zoo. There was a magic show, puppet show, alligators, and a petting area that kept most of the kids (and dads) engaged. We moved at a relaxed pace to capture some of the animals like the Giraffes & Lions on our way to the different exhibits.
The butterfly garden was a cool experience as we were surrounded by live butterflies & they fluttered all around the kids. The highlight for me was the Wild Asia Monorail because it was a relaxing ride with birds eye views of the elephants, rhinos, tigers, and red pandas.
My son was three months old the last time I had visited the Bronx Zoo, and he slept almost the entire time. It gave me great pleasure to see him observing the animals in their “almost” natural habitats this time around. Believe me, the dads seemed to enjoy hanging out as well. We welcomed two new members & enjoyed our conversations/banter during lunch. To our benefit, the zoo was practically empty, a direct result of school being back in session. I would highly recommend the Bronx Zoo to any parent as a destination during this time of year.
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