Kids Guide NJ | New Jersey's Guide to activities, places and events for children, teens and families

PLEASE NOTE:
Hours, prices, exhibit and event information are subject to change.
Please call ahead or use the convenient website links to get the latest information prior to your visit.

See New York and Pennsylvania listings for information about the Bronx Zoo, Central Park Zoo, and Philadelphia Zoo.

Bergen County Zoo
Van Saun Park, 216 Forest Ave. (Rt. 4E to Forest Ave.), Paramus, 201-262-3771. 10-4:30 year-round. Free Mon.-Thurs. Admission charged Wed.-Sun. & holidays May-Oct.: Adults $6, ages 12-17 $5, srs. $2, free under 3. Exhibits include North American Wetlands Aviary, spider monkeys, farmyard. Train ride around zoo, pony rides, carousel, toddler and older children playgrounds and picnic areas. In-zoo and outreach programs; zoo camp, jr. zookeeper, & zoo camp for children with special needs offered in summer.

Cape May County Park & Zoo
Rt. 9 & Crest Haven Rd. (GSP exit 11), Cape May Court House, 609-465-5271.

Popcorn Park Zoo
Humane Way at Lacey Road (Garden State Parkway exit 74), Forked River, 609-693-1900. Daily 11-5pm. Adults $5, children & seniors $4, under 3 free. The Associated Humane Societies established these 10 acres in the Pine Barrens to serve as a refuge for wildlife, exotic and farm animals that were elderly, sick, abandoned, abused or injured and could no longer survive in the wild.
Deer Woods, wild animal compounds, monkey house, horse and pony corral, farm; able to feed free-roaming animals. Picnic area.

Six Flags Wild Safari
GSP exit 98, I-195 west to exit 16; or NJ Turnpike exit 7A, Jackson, 732-928-1821. Four and a half mile auto trail winds through a 350-acre wildlife preserve, home to 1,200 animals.

Space Farms Zoo & Museum 218 Rt. 519, Sussex, 973-875-5800. May 1-Oct. 31: Daily 9-5pm. Closed Nov. 1-April. Adults $13.50, srs. $12.50, children 3-12 $9, under 3 free. Begun in 1927, Space Farms remains a privately owned collection of over 100 different species of North American wildlife. 11-building museum houses over 50,000 items of "Americana." Miniature golf; playground; picnic area; parties.

Staten Island Zoo
614 Broadway, Staten Island, NY, 718-442-3101. Daily 10-4:45. Children's Center open year-round, weather permitting. Adults $8, srs. $6, children $5, under 3 & members free. Free on Wed. 2-4:45. Small zoo encompassing one square city block offers year-round entertainment as most exhibits are indoors, including South American tropical forest, Aquarium, a Serpentarium housing amazing reptiles, and African Savannah. You can purchase food to feed the domestic farm animals in the outdoor Children's Center. Pony, cart rides, snack bar. Workshops for ages 4 & up; summer camp; Careers with Animals workshops for grades 6-9; Breakfast with the Beasts program. Education schedule available each season (718-442-3174).
Wed
     Donation Day, admission by donation Wed. after 2pm.
Sat & Sun
     Animal talk & touch presentations, 1pm.
     Reptiles feeding time, Sun. 2:30pm.
Open
     Reptile Wing, houses 120 species of reptiles and features 2-level alligator pool, interactive exhibition space and "Fear Zone," an exhibit designed to dispel common myths about reptiles.
Selected Special Events
Jun 20
     Father's Day, dads free with paid child.
Jun 26
     Enrichment Day, keeper talks, crafts. 10:30-3:30.
Jun 27-Jul 3
     Good Grade Week, bring an A or 4 on report card and get in free with adult admission.
Jul 24
     Breakfast with the Beasts, ages 5 & up. 8:30-10am. Reservations required.
Aug 14
     Wildlife Film Series, short animal/nature films, 11-3.
Aug 15
     Enrichment Workshop "Ocelot," 1:30-3:30.
Aug 28
     Serpent Day.
Sep 26
     Breakfast with the Beasts, ages 5 & up. 8:30-10am. Reservations required.
Oct 11
     Dinosaurs & More, fossils, models, make a fossil mold. 1:30-3:30.
Nov 13
     Wildlife Film Series, short animal/nature films, 11-3.
Dec 18
    Breakfast with the Beasts, Holiday Breakfast with Santa. 8:30-10am. Reservations required.

Turtle Back Zoo
560 Northfield Ave., West Orange, 973-731-5800. Winter hours: 10-3 Daily. April-Nov.: Mon.-Sat. 10-4:30, Sun. 11-5:30. Adults $9, children 2-12/srs. $5, under 2 free, memberships available. New Jersey and North American wildlife exhibits, reptile center, Essex Farm with petting zoo and pony rides, train ride, picnic area, playground and food concession in season. Group programs; children's workshops; Mommy & Me program; summer camp; birthday parties; special events throughout the year.
Open
     Wild New Jersey, five natural habitats featuring bobcats, bald eagles and porcupines. Year-round Carousel Park, concession stands, restrooms and picnic area. Carousel $2. Penguin Exhibit, Red Panda Exhibit open.
New
     Two Golden Gibbons in South-Asian exhibit; Australian Interactive Aviary.
Selected Special Events
Jun 23, 30, Jul 7, 14, 21, 28
     Family Night, reduced admissions and dinner specials. 5-8pm.
Jul 4
     Red, White & Blue Zoo Day, 11-4pm.
Jul 20, Aug 19, Sep 9, Sep 24, Nov 5
     Night Moves, guided zoo tour at night. Bring flashlight. 8pm, admission from 7:30-8:30pm. $7, pre-registration required. Oct. 23 reserved for groups only.
Oct 16
     Wolf Awareness Day, 11-2pm.
Oct 17
     Pumpkin Patch, celebrate the harvest. 11-5.
Dec 11
     Winter Workshop, make presents for the animals. 11-3pm.

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