Kid-Favorite Petting Farms & Zoos Near New York City

Nancy L.:  The Turtle Back Zoo features animals and experiences to delight the whole family. Try the Touch Tank to pet a sting ray, visit the penguins, giraffes, sea lions, and more. Other attractions include the prehistoric playground, zoo train, mini golf safari, pony rides, carousel, and face painting.

Explore the diverse range of animals at the Staten Island Zoo, where visitors walk among the cageless peacocks, can tour the reptile house, and observe all types of animals, including kangaroos, zebras, leopards, and Chuck, the famous weather predicting groundhog. Stop by the The Children’s Center located within the zoo, which is a big barn where your children can interact and feed the farm animals, including sheep, goats, and donkeys.

Nancy L.:  Located inside Van Saun County Park, the Bergen County Zoo features a variety of animals from snowy owls to mountain lions to American alligators and more!

Visit the New York Aquarium and observe a variety of sea animals, including sharks, eels, cownose rays and so much more. See sea lions in action at the Aquatheater, explore the ocean in the Playquarium, and observe sea otter feedings.

Take a trip to the Prospect Park Zoo, home to emus, red pandas, prairie dogs, all types of reptiles and other exotic animals! Visit the barn and garden sections where your children can feed and pet alpacas, sheep, and even a mini horse, then tour the discovery trail and explore the other animal exhibits.

Nancy L.:  This is a beautiful setting inside Central Park. The zoo is small in comparison to other zoos but that makes it easy to spend less than two hours here with kids and still be able to do other activities within Central Park or the surrounding area. For toddlers/early grade schoolers specifically, there's the Tisch Children's Zoo where kids can feed the animals and climb on "spider web" ropes. The penguins are also always a hit with kids of all ages.

Visit Green Meadows Petting Farm where you can feed and pet the animals, such as cows, sheep, rabbits, pigs, and more! Kids can enjoy a pony ride, play on the playground, and even learn how to milk a cow!

The Bronx Zoo is home to a large variety of animals, including lions, bears, reptiles, gorillas, and more! Visitors can explore the world of birds exhibit and stroll through the gorgeous butterfly garden. Observe sea lion and penguin feedings, ride the monorail, and don’t forget to stop by the children’s zoo, where your kids can feed donkeys, sheep, and goats.

Take a trip to White Post Animal Farm and enjoy feeding the farm animals, both from your hand and from a bottle! Walk through Ronnie’s Birdie Landing free flight aviary where a flock of Budgies will eat right from your hand, visit with the giraffes, and grab a ride on a pony! Stop by the Primate Enrichment Barn where you can give the monkeys a special treat and watch them swing and climb on their playground.