Bronx Zoo - Worth it?
 

How is the Zoo? I haven't been there since 7th grade so its been 18 years. Now that I have just found I have 5 unpaid days off this year (added onto long weekends - softens the blow), a few of us are looking at day trips for these days.

We are thinking about the Bronx Zoo for the Monday after Easter Weekend. Is it worth the 2 hour drive from Hartford.

It would 3 adults and maybe a 6 year old (Friend's niece).

It's changed a lot in 18 years. I think it's a wonderful zoo, but two hours is a long ride. You can spend an entire day there, so be prepared for a very long day. If it's possible, try to arrive early although I don't think the crowds will be bad on a Monday. (ds used to work there in the children's zoo which the 6 yr old will enjoy.) Also, do some research online and familiarize yourself with the layout. The monorail, tram ride, etc. can break up all the walking.

The 2 hours is based on Google. Looking at the directions, I don't think its that long (coming from Hartford)but it will be a long day. We will definitely get there early.;

My family enjoyed going there a few years ago! But, we like to check out zoos in cities we are visiting.

It is a really lovely zoo, and well worth a visit, even for adults. Unless you never, ever go to NYC it is probably worth buying a membership, as you'll just about break even on it in one day, and it will admit you to the Central Park Zoo, and the Aquarim out in Brooklyn.

We went to the Central Park Zoo and the Brooklyn Aquarium last year so I don't see a need for the membership. Its a possibility but am undecided now.

You could combine it with a visit to the NY Botanic Gardens since they're across from each other.

It is a world class zoo.

I have made the drive a few times but I cannot remember the exact times but you do not have tangle with Manhattan traffic and there is plenty of parking.

How flat is the zoo? Friend of mine sprained up his ankle over the weekend and is limping pretty bad. Given that we are going in less than 2 weeks, there is a chance that he will still be hobbling.

Just saw that the Monorail isn't open until May. Can you see all of the Wild Asia exhibits without the Monorail? Obviously this will take more walking but don't want to miss any exhibits.

It's not a question of flat - it's A LOT of walking!

Agreed. He is insisting that he will be fine on flat ground but is concerned about hills. Worst case is that he ends up sitting around while the rest of us walk around.

Same thing happened last year at the Milwaukee Zoo and my left knee. Apparently we are not meant to be healthy going to zoos.

The zoo may have a wheelchair for him to use.

Considering he is refusing a doctor, I can't think he would use a wheelchair. I just talked with him and he says that his ankle is feeling better so we may be ok.

Is the lack of the Monorail going to prevent us from seeing any exhibit?

My recollection is that the monorail lets you view things that are far away. I don't think it will be a big loss.

The monorail is only there to show off one very, very small section of the zoo--it just does a circuit of Wild Asia, a special animal area you cannot visit by any other means. For all of the rest of the zoo, you must walk.

Does the Zoo have African Elephants? My friends niece is nuts about Elephants. Saw on the website about the Asian Elephants but since they are on the monorail, they won't be visible. Will we see elephants tomorrow?

I'm not sure. But I remember seeing elephants up close, not from the monorail.

Will we see elephants tomorrow?

You will if are you going to the zoo or one of my family functions.

Thanks. couldn't imagine a zoo not having elephants to see up close but couldn't find either way on their website.

We decided to go tomorrow rather than Monday due to the weather being nicer (at least according to the forecast).

When I lived in Manhattan I used to go to the Bronz Zoo a few times a year. I quite enjoyed it. Even so, I don't know that I would make a special two hour trip just to go. What about the Mystic Aquarium?

FYI, one part of the zoo is a pretty steep hill, especially if you park in the lot off the Bronx River Parkway. That is the section that has the tigers and the bird house and is the route to the main part of the zoo. The zoo is very big and requires a ot of walking to see the whole thing. You may be exhausted after a full day. Neither the monorail nor the tram are really that good for actually seeing any animals although they do break up the day.

I just got an email that memberships are on sale through May 7, $20 off. Check out the website to see if it would make sense for you to join, even for a one-day visit

Just wanted to follow up with how our trip went. We had a lot of fun. Definitely picked the right day for it. It took us longer than we hoped getting there due to traffic on the Merritt Parkway (not unexpected but thought it would be faster than 15 mph for a long stretch)

My friends ankle was still bothering him but he didn't let it bother him too much and we did take some rest breaks. There are no elephants right now as the only ones are the Asian elephants that you need the Monorail to see. It did get really crowded at the inside exhibits (Reptile House, etc) so we didn't spend as much time at those. My favorite exhibit was definitely the Tigers or the Gorillas. Both Tigers were up and moving around playing. I also really enjoyed the Madagascar exhibit. Same goes for the Gorillas. Overall, the zoo was definitely spaced out and just getting ready for the summer season (some animals not out on the African plains, shops not open, etc)