Spring at the Bronx Zoo

City-Kid Review:

I like the giraffes.

There will be many posts about the Bronx Zoo as it offers a different experience for every season. Spring is wonderful. The warm-weather animals finally back outside after a winter spent indoors. They gallop about rediscovering the beauty of the open air. We have enjoyed both Zebras and Giraffes gambol and run with glee, at the Bronx Zoo. Yesterday, due to a strangely warm March, we had the delight of seeing young giraffes goofily widen their front legs to munch on grass, as there were yet no leaves on the tree tops, which would otherwise offer them nutrition.

Spring is lovely at the Bronx Zoo as there fewer folks in attendance, plenty of space and most of the distracting concession booths are closed. In the Spring, the zoo is a wonderful place for city kids to playfully run and gambol in their own spring re-emergence, especially remarkable given the proximity of busy roads. As the wonderful documentary about this zoo points out, it is only 10 miles from Times Square. Spring flowers burst through the brown mulch of the beds, birds tweet with excitement at the Northern ponds, and you can have the baboons and ibex all to yourself.

Although most of the food stands are closed, the tables are still out, so you can sit and eat a home-brought sandwich in relative ease. Yesterday, we had the entire Asia court to ourselves, so some city kids played with a small ball while peacocks honked at those of us still seated to give them our food. They are New York peacocks, after all. (FYI- We didn’t feed them – we respect their digestive health, too much)

Although many exhibits are still closed until late spring, there are still plenty of animals and exhibits to see at this time of year. The Congo exhibit of gorillas is free at this time of year. Usually, it is part of the ‘Total Experience’ package.   Tiger Mountain, the sea lions, the penguins, the bears, the snow leopards, to name a few.

This is a highly recommended City Kid adventure, especially when linked to a trip to Arthur Avenue.

Need to Knows:

The zoo is open daily except for Thankgiving Day, Christmas Day, New Years Day and Martin Luther King Day.

It closes earlier at this time of year. At 4.30pm. Mid-April it closes later at 5pm and on holidays weekends during the warmer months, it closes at 5.30pm.

The children’s zoo is closed until late spring, and there is no zoo shuttle, monorail or butterfly exhibit until later, also.

You can bring your own food. There is a cafe which is mostly a burger and fries type of place. The food is not the cheapest.

Location: 2300 Southern Blvd, Bronx, NY 10460. You can find more visitor information here.

By public transport, you can easily get there on the 2 to Pelham Parkway. The BxM11 bus from Madison Avenue. I have never taken this bus route but you can get further bus and car directions, here.

Top-Tip

The zoo is free on Wednesdays.

Your NYC-ID card gives you free membership for general admission.

Go for lunch or dinner at nearby Arthur Avenue. I highly recommend Tino’s Deli for daytime, delicious Italian fare.

Watch ‘The Zoo’ on Animal Planet. It gives a great insight into the importance of the Zoo. It really is more than a Zoo!

Care to share any thoughts, observations or questions about the Bronx Zoo? Please post in the comments below.

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