Zoos, Aquariums & Animal Parks
Zoos, Aquariums & Animal Parks in New England
New England is home to a handful of excellent zoos and aquariums dedicated to the preservation, appreciation, and rehabilitation of wildlife. Visitors of all ages can view, and possibly interact with, animals and fish from all around the world. Many zoos and aquariums also offer food; experiences like train rides, zip lines, shows or petting zoos; and after-hours or adults-only events.
Follow these links for : Family Activities - Outdoor Adventures - Events
4 places to visit
Southwick’s Zoo
A fun-filled day for everyone with exciting rides and over 850 animals
2 Southwick Street Mendon, MA 01756 800-258-9182 With animals to visit, rides to take, goats to pet, and deer to feed: It’s a full day of family fun at Southwick’s Zoo. With more than 850 animals, explore New England’s Largest Zoo! Visit the petting zoo with pygmy goats, walk through the 35-acre Deer Forest where you can feed fallow deer, and visit the EARTH Discovery Center where you can meet animal ambassadors and watch live presentations. Soar above the African Plains and Deer Forest in the Skyfari Sky Ride or take the Woodland Express Train through the North American Exhibit to get a closer look at elk and trumpeter swans. Work your way through the Rainforest Adventure Maze and zip through the air on the Soaring Eagle Zip Line. Your next adventure begins at Southwick’s Zoo!
York's Wild Kingdom
New England's Only Zoo AND Amusement Park
Route 1 - (GPS address: 1 Animal Park Road) York, ME 03909 207-363-4911 Get your tickets to the zoo at yorkzoo.com - Use the promo code VNEzoo25 to receive $2 off each adult ticket you purchase. In order to get this discount, you must buy your tickets online only. Discount codes may NOT be used at the in person ticket box.
Bring your children to York’s Wild Kingdom and enjoy a day with our animals! Visit our Zoo and see dozens of exotic animals, including Lions, a Bengal Tiger, Gibbons, and Ring Tail Lemurs. Here at the zoo, you can feed deer, goats, and ducks all by hand. Walk through and feed a flock of parakeets and view a variety of butterflies in our butterfly aviary. Pony and camel rides are available for an additional fee. Ride the rides and enjoy some fair favorites in our Amusement Park! Take a spin on a carousel or play a round on our mini golf course. Feel free to bring a picnic lunch or feast from our snack bars on ice cream, fried dough, hamburgers and more.
Save The Bay
Year-round aquarium and interactive marine science center lets visitors get up close to bay critters
Newport, RI, MA 401-272-3540 Hold a sea star, pet a shark, marvel at jellyfish, and more at Save The Bay's Hamilton Family Aquarium in Newport, RI. With exhibits featuring creatures collected from, and ultimately returned to, Narragansett Bay, this year-round center is always introducing new specimens—plus, their touch tanks offer endless opportunities to come face-to-face with the wonders beneath the waves of local waters. Expert staff are always available to answer questions, engage visitors, and share fun facts about Rhode Island's unique marine habitats.
America's Stonehenge
Who built America’s Stonehenge? Try to solve the mystery with a visit to this intriguing attraction
105 Haverhill Road Salem, NH 03079 603-893-8300 Ponder the mystery of ancient civilizations at America’s Stonehenge, an outdoor history museum of stone structures and astronomical alignments built more than 4,000 years ago. But who built this maze of manmade chambers, walls and ceremonial meeting places that still is an accurate astronomical calendar? Was it an ancient American civilization or a migrant European population? No one knows, but it’s a great puzzle to try to solve as you take a self-guided audio tour. The half-mile trail is over uneven rocky terrain and takes about an hour. There’s an 11-minute introductory video on the website. There’s also snowshoeing on the site and: seven friendly alpacas! For a special outing, consider visiting during the summer or winter solstice.