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Staten Island Zoo

4/12/09 - By charlotte

It’s true that the Staten Island Zoo isn’t the most extravagant and is the Bronx Zoo’s smaller cousin, but its still has a whole lot to offer and is a great place for kids to really hang out with animals.

In 2007, a newly renovated Reptile Wing opened with an extensive collection of reptiles and amphibians, and a “Fear Zone” that teaches visitors the truth, and talks about the myths behind venomous creatures. It really is a lot of fun and teaches kids respect for these animals, instead of fear.

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There’s an African Savannah that houses mandrills, lizards, lemurs, antelope and the ever-popular leopards. Another memorable exhibit is the Tropical Rain Forest, which is very aesthetically cool, but physically hot, as to mimic the environment of a South American tropical forest. There’s bats and monkeys and crocodiles and alligators—oh my! There’s also an aquarium, which is worth checking out if you are already there, but it isn’t the most impressive—though it has some cool sharks.

Arguably the most kid-friendly part of the zoo is the aptly named Children’s Center, home to an extremely interactive petting zoo. In this farm-like setting, kids can feed baby goats (which they can pet, too), donkeys, pigs, deer, Alpacas and other farm animals. There are also Clydesdale horses and some ponies that little visitors can take a ride on.

The zoo also has special events for families and ones just for parents, too, in addition to all the exhibits. Check the website for more information and for more events.  How to get here

The Staten Island Zoo
614 Broadway, 10310
718-442-3100
www.statenislandzoo.org
 

Places featured in this article:

About the Author

Charlotte Cusumano - Editorial Assistant

Charlotte was born in Staten Island, attended the Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and the Performing Arts, then Hunter College, and currently lives in her home borough. Although her heart is in New York, Charlotte and her husband-to-be are on a quest to visit all 50 states (we'll have set foot in at least 33 of them by the end of 2011!). When she's not working on Mommy Poppins, she's writing on her tumblr.

More About Charlotte

What do you read when you aren't reading Mommy Poppins?   
I'm one of the few twenty-somethings that still reads magazines. I'm talking print. New York is my favorite by far. I do go online, of course. I frequently visit Serious Eats, Slate, Gawker and various tumblrs.

What do you want to do when you grow up?   
Be an editor! A chef! A travel writer! I'm still pretty undecided.

What's your favorite thing about raising kids in NYC?
I'm not a mom—yet. But I was raised here, so I can say with confidence that families can do anything and expose their kids to everything in this amazing city.
 

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