Located in the Bronx, NY, this massive attraction is the largest metropolitan zoo in the country. Spanning 265 acres, it has numerous exhibits, forests, outdoor activities and restaurants. Oh, and don’t forget about the 5,000-plus animals! There are lions and tigers and bears (both grizzly and polar), all residing in naturalistic exhibits. You can easily spend hours walking the tree-shrouded trails past exhibits named after continents (African Plains) or taxonomic class (World of Reptiles). The zoo also has premium exhibits for an additional fee, such as the Wild Asia Monorail and the Bug Carousel, but the sea lion feeding is completely free and highly recommended.
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Get buzzed at the zoo
The Bronx Zoo finally began hosting Brew at the Zoo events in 2016, and it’s already one of our favorite times to go to the zoo. At this after-hours party, the grounds are free of pesky children, and it’s your rare chance to see the zoo at night (especially now that the World of Darkness has closed). More than 40 vendors offer unlimited beer samples, and there are food trucks, live music and a monkey house turned VIP lounge.
Fly over the river on a zip line
A brand-new attraction opening in 2017, the Bronx Zoo Treetop Adventure and Nature Trek lets you act like an animal yourself. Climb through the trees and soar for 400 feet over the Bronx River on a 50-foot-high zip line. Though the Treetop Adventure is a premium exhibit, the Nature Trek is free with general admission to the zoo, so go climb the ropes course or explore the nature play area if you’re bringing along kids.
Spend the night in the wild
Another annual zoo event is the adults-only sleepover. Guests age 21 and over can attend the party and spend the night eating, drinking and camping out in tents. There’s also a beer garden with the rhinos, an Instagram scavenger hunt and yoga classes. So no, you’ll never want to leave the zoo.
Our New York editorial team is constantly updating and reviewing the best attractions, activities and venues across the city, so that you're always in the know, with the best of NYC. at your fingertips. The Bronx Zoo was most recently updated with new tips on June 14, 2017.
