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    Bergen County Zoo

    4.0 (26 reviews)
    Open 10:00 am - 4:30 pm

    Bergen County Zoo Photos

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    Wing L.

    Came here for the Halloween event. Majority of the animals were not in there exhibit. We were disappointed. We saw three monkeys, one goat, and two lambs. The Halloween event was ok. There were only two activities tables and it was overcrowded.

    Steph W.

    I used to visit this zoo when I was a child, came here to visit again to see the "Let it Glow" festival, the last time I visited didn't leave a review but I'll leave one now, the prices are reasonable and it's a nice interactive place to just take a stroll, and I love the fact that the train is still running, though I think the area itself needs some changes, the old ticketing booth was moved to the other side now, and I also think that they should have more holiday type festivals every season, maybe for the Spring time too, with water sprinklers or a water fountain for the animals...

    Train
    Paul Z.

    Great little zoo right in Paramus. Plenty of parking in the parking lot lots of affordable stuff to do can get pretty crowded. Don't expect the Bronx zoo

    Tortoise
    Jill C.

    Really cute place with reasonably priced admission. Perfect for littles or an easy stroll. It's a small place with interesting, concise descriptions of the animals. They have a train ride and carousel that costs extra. It took me about an hour to see everything. They have food trucks and ice cream, a gift shop too. I enjoyed myself. It's a small-town zoo so I wouldn't compare it to say The Bronx Zoo. What I thought was cool is that you see the animals up close bc the exhibits are small. Highlights were mountain lions and the indoor parakeet enclosure. The birds fly around you.

    Michael M.

    This weekend is special tickets for zoo for Halloween. Nice exhibits with 15 stations for free candy and snacks included. Very organized. All enjoyed special day.

    Brian M.

    Came here with my friends who have a 2 year old and a 6 year to see the holiday lantern spectacular. This was perfect for them and even for adults. There were a few real animals and animated assorted light up animals, birds, reptiles of all kinds. Free parking, they have a general store, clean bathrooms and friendly employees. Overall it was a nice experience. Best part was the train ride which takes you all around the zoo and it was dark so we were able to get a great view of everything lit up. Highly recommend the light show, it will give you an opportunity to keep the kids at bay for an hour or two.

    Eric R.

    Really cute small zoo in a massive park! The park this zoo is in reminds me of Central Park in NYC but without the weird NYC Central Park stalkers. Although this zoo is really small it's just another small adventure to do while visiting this massive park. After walking the zoo you can hop onto the small train that goes around the zoo then venture off to the carousel nearby as well as simply walk around the huge park. If you have kids in tow then you'll likely stop at the really neat fun looking playgrounds also available near the zoo. While this place isn't as massive as the Bronx zoo you also pay a fraction of what the Bronx zoo likely costs. For the few bucks this place charges to get in, I say it's worth the price of admission. I certainly don't mind paying to help feed & care for the animals.

    For the Bergen County zoo we need stronger fence and we should make this zoo more bigger.
    Ginger L.

    They should have a ice skating rink inside where the zoo is and they should have a Santa Claus restaurant and they should have hot chocolate with Mama Marshmello and they should have Santa Claus mini burgers and fries and a Santa cola and for the ice skating rink it should be on the other side of the restaurant and they should have the barn for the animals to stay warm at night and they should put a lot of Christmas lights and Santa Claus will come for Christmas time to visit the kids for the holidays.

    Christopher P.

    Personally, it was a wonderful full circle for me coming here to the Bergen County Zoo, since I had been coming here since I was a child, but now, I was able to finally bring along my own little cub. This zoo is a hidden gem of Northern Jersey, they offer train rides around the park which the little ones will certainly enjoy. They have surprisingly great collection of animals ranging from bald eagles to alligators to monkeys. However, I am painstakingly giving this spot 4-stars, mainly, because some of the animals were not to be seen like the American alligators, but I believe this may have something to do with preparation for an upcoming "holiday lantern spectacular event" which seems delightful (BTW it begins on November 9th and ends January 14th). In addition to the zoo, they have a classic carousel posted outside where my cub found her first love. For adults, the larger Van Saun County Park have many fun activities like tennis courts, picnic sites, and nice walkways to take in the green scenery. I highly recommend charting out a weekend plan here.

    Melissa I.

    This review is solely on the 'Let it Glow' event. I have never been to this zoo so I have no idea how good or bad it is normally. What I can say is I paid about $15 per person for the 'Let it Glow' event. I went to a very similar event at the Philadelphia Zoo last year, spent much more money and I was severely disappointed in the event. This is absolutely worth the money. They have a lot of beautiful displays, you can still see some animals, and a train ride is included in the cost. The only downside for me is that they had no food. They had mini donuts and hot chocolate but I mean actual dinner food. I am not talking about anything fancy... just a hot dog or a sandwich, something simple. Overall, it was a success. I would definitely check it out again and recommend. I will be going back in the summer months since I do want to see what this place is like without the event.

    Brian R.

    Without getting into how I feel about taking animals out of their natural habitat for our amusement..... Bergen County Zoo wasn't charging for admissions today. A few of the exhibits were closed so I guess you get what you pay for. This zoo isn't very big and there isn't that many different animals but it's still a nice area for you to walk around and see some animals. It seemed pretty fucked up to see an eagle on a leash but maybe there's a backstory? There were goats, cows, horses, elks, ostriches, mountain lions, sloths, monkeys and more. There's a small train that goes around the zoo but unfortunately it was closed as well. The gift shop and information center were open. There was no food just a vending machine with drinks and a guy with a cart selling ice cream.

    Mountain lion
    X P.

    Half of the exhibits are empty and the half that have animals I noticed they looked exhausted and sad. The only good one I saw was the mountain lion, horse, and porcupine. Really wanted to see capybaras,alligators,and anteaters as they mentioned they have on the website but none were here. The prairie dog was advertised everywhere but it was not there and after circling back and forth three times it finally popped out.... Just one tiny one If you are traveling far don't recommend it. But if it is close by it is a cute small zoo

    Vanesa F.

    How have I not been here sooner! The zoo itself is small. It took us about 45 minutes to complete. I came here during off-season. Due to winter months many of their animals are not out; so the zoo is free during that time. For free admission and still seeing a handful of animals I personally think it's worth it. Each station has its information stand that you can take your time reading and learning more details of animals. The day we went spring was in the air as many people had the same idea visiting. Employees were great gearing the traffic in and out. There was a huge line for the train so we didn't get to experience that. Instead, we went for a walk back towards the first lot then back. On our way back we enjoyed an hour or so in the park located right across the zoo. There's a carousel and a food truck on premise to check out as well. From the truck we had freshly baked cookies. Delicious!

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    Ask the Community - Bergen County Zoo

    Is re-entry allowed in the zoo if you leave and go back on the same day?

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    Review Highlights - Bergen County Zoo

    The train which takes you around the park and the carousel have been shut-down for the season.

    Mentioned in 7 reviews

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    Abma's Farm

    Abma's Farm

    4.1
    (198 reviews)
    9.2 mi
    $$

    Always such an enjoyable trip, and the experience differs depending on the time of year. That said,…read morewe visit multiple times over the course of the year for various reasons. In the Spring, their garden center simply can't be beat. I purchase flats of vegetables for my garden here, and the plants always do incredibly well. Healthy, good producers, and for a great price. There also offer many varieties I can't find elsewhere. The market truly shines here. Fresh baked goods are incredible. Donuts, pies, cakes, etc. are all excellent. Fresh milk, vegetables, and eggs are also amazing. However, we LOVE their meats. You can't go wrong with any of them. The petting zoo is great for children and families. It is certainly elaborate and fun. Staff are kind and helpful, always willing to strike up conversation. Prices are reflective of the quality here. We love it. Try it out!

    Do not come here if you breastfeed your baby. I was having a…read morenice day picking flowers and veggies until I made my way to the market. My baby got hungry, so I looked for a place to nurse him. The only sitting area around (aside from the pumpkin garden that had no seats available) was a small secluded room next to the wine section. There were no customers there. So I made my way to a stool, took out my nursing poncho (I'm European so for me breastfeeding is completely natural, nonetheless I understand and respect the fact that other people might get distracted by it so I still wear a poncho to cover myself in public) and was about to take my baby out of his stroller when a lady working in the counter asked me what was I looking for. I replied "nothing thanks I just have to nurse him". She then stopped in complete shock, looked at me in disgust and said "You CANNOT DO THAT HERE". I think I was just as in shock upon hearing this in the 21st century, in a so-called "family-friendly" place. I quickly got up, turned away, and had to go all the way back to my car with my crying baby to be able to feed him. Of course as soon as I finished breastfeeding him in my car, I drove off, and I will for sure never drive into this place again. Nor will I recommend it to any other moms. Really sucky experience for a postpartum woman, who just moved into town, and was very excited to take her baby to the farm. I had booked my tickets a couple days ago and what I expected to be a fun farm day turned out to be an experience where I felt judged and discriminated for having to do something as physiological as feeding my baby. I understand a room next to a wine-selling section might not be an ideal place to nurse, trust me, it wasn't for me either. But the lady could have been a LOT nicer, much less judgy, and be polite enough to guide me into a better place to feed my baby rather than making me go away as if I was gross. I think if you work in a customer-facing role in a family farm, being this rude to a family should be a deal breaker and managing these situations with kindness should be non-negotiable. And if you're a place that "welcomes" families with kids of all ages, you should also expect some breastfeeding moms might have to feed their children.. And either have a place for them to do so, or good enough manners to handle the situation. But maybe that's just me. Extremely bizarre day for me and my family.

    Photos
    Pellet bucket (it came 2/3 full but we finished the feed)
    Pellet bucket (it came 2/3 full but we finished the feed)
    Abma's Farm
    Abma's Farm

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    Bronx Zoo

    Bronx Zoo

    4.1
    (1.5k reviews)
    10.5 mi

    I was 58k steps into a 100k steps day when I arrived at the hallowed ground that is the Bronx Zoo…read more You really need to move as much as possible on the 100k step days, so zoos are the ultimate hack to keep moving while taking your mind off the throbbing of your legs. An old coworker of mine used to RAVE about the Bronx zoo, and he was not lyin. We saw everything, including but not limited to giraffes, rhinos, gorillas, camels, tigers, sea lions, aardvarks, lions, a peacock, etc. All those were rad, but seeing an Okapi truly altered my brain chemistry. I didn't even know an Okapi existed, and am still not fully convinced they do. It was a half zebra, half giraffe, and half horse hybrid. One cannot help but make the comparison to ManBearPig. It really got me wondering. If I didn't even know Zebraffehorse existed, what else don't I know about the world? Sometimes we get stuck in routines and being trapped in this bubble inflates our egos to the point where we think we understand everything. Seeing this Okapi humbled me and reminded me that all I know is that I know nothing. Get over to the Bronx Zoo, it's good for the soul. IG @johnny.novo Tiktok @jnov__ Substack @johnnynovo

    Bronx Zoo is honestly top tier. When my family and I took a trip to New York, one of the places we…read moreknew we had to take the kids to was the Bronx Zoo. I am not even the biggest zoo person, but I honestly feel like this place should be the standard for all of them. First off, it is so spacious. There is a ton of greenery, and it genuinely seemed like the animals were well cared for and in habitats that felt natural to them. They also have an incredible variety of animals. Maybe I was just being naive because it is in New York, but I was so surprised by how many different animals we were able to take our children to see. As a huge bonus, they had an exhibit with a Daniel the Tiger partnership or collaboration, which was so cute. There are plenty of food spots around and they looked pretty good, though we ended up not grabbing anything to eat so I cannot speak to how it actually tasted. What I did notice, though, was that there were no crazy long lines, and the park overall was extremely clean. I kept seeing workers walking by actively cleaning up the space. You are definitely going to get your steps in. It was pretty hot the day we went and I was tired by the end of it, but they actually have strollers and even double strollers available to rent. As a mom of two, I really appreciate that they actually think of us. I honestly wish we had known that beforehand. Overall, this was a really great experience. I would love to go back again, maybe on a day when it is not quite so hot, but I can totally see why this is considered one of the best zoos in the country.

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    Snow leopard
    Snow leopard
    Holiday fun
    Holiday fun
    African Animals were amazing a must see

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    African Animals were amazing a must see
    Essex County Turtle Back Zoo

    Essex County Turtle Back Zoo

    4.1
    (487 reviews)
    16.8 mi

    5/31/26 (Update) Having been coming to this zoo forever. In…read morethe last 5- 10 years, I've really seen Turtle Back Zoo grow into a first rate zoo! It's not as large as the Bronx Zoo, but it's certainly getting there. -Animals: We saw beautiful, large flamingos, penguins, numerous wildcat species, giraffes, bald eagles, hyenas and more... -Living Conditions: All the animals are protected by high fences. The animals appear to be very healthy. Their living conditions appear to be very clean. -Sea Turtle Recovery Center: Besides the wonderful animals, there's a Sea Turtle Recovery Hospital on the premises. You can visit the "patients". It was an interesting experience. Once the sea turtles have regained their health, they're be released back into their natural habitat. -Food: You'll probably get hungry during your visit. The zoo has several food kiosks and a large indoor and outdoor café called Zanzibar. -Gift Shop: Of course, there's a cool gift shop at the zoo. Lots of adorable stuffed animals for purchase. -Parking: Parking was free this past Sunday. There's several indoor parking garages with clearly marked animal logos. Looking forward to my next visit to Essex County Turtle Back Zoo.

    Besides visiting the Turtle Back Zoo a bunch as a child, I only returned a few years ago for their…read morewinter light show and again recently for an afternoon stroll through the park. For a zoo in suburban New Jersey, this one was truly impressive and would surpass most expectations. They had a wide range of creatures across various species and even interactive opportunities, like feeding lettuce to giraffes and riding on a carousel. Their train ride only went through a small part of the animal park, but also took you by a neighboring lake, which was beautiful and part of the larger, surrounding South Mountain Recreation Complex. It was clearly a favorite with children and adults alike, as acted a reprieve from navigating the zoo on foot, which could be exhausting in warmer months (lots of hills and little shade) and brutal in cooler months. There were various food carts and a very nice restaurant on-site, though we did not try any of them. Their membership passes were an affordable option for parents that planned on frequent visits, and the parking was free, so there certainly were economical ways to visit. I would recommend the Turtle Back Zoo for a fun and engaging way to spend a family-friendly afternoon. Watching the monkeys swinging about in their habitat was a particularly amusing highlight.

    Photos
    Beautiful Flamingos!
    Beautiful Flamingos!
    Holiday lights by Amazing Asia section
    Holiday lights by Amazing Asia section
    Essex County Turtle Back Zoo

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    Central Park Zoo

    Central Park Zoo

    3.7
    (614 reviews)
    12.1 mi

    Small yet adorable zoo in the Central Park!!! Interesting collection of birds, seals, penguins and…read morefew other small mammals. 3 adult bears!!! Of note is the seal show that took place and attracted a large crowd. While not comparable to larger zoos - it is awesome for what it is!!!

    Walk into Central Park Zoo and you'll forget that you're in NYC. Yeah, it's all a zoo anyway, but…read morereally, this place is a much more peaceful zoo. These days, admission is about $17-$23 depending on your age. Reasonable, especially since it's not a huge zoo. I get in free because I have the WCS Family Membership. If you enjoy the Bronx Zoo and think you'll stop by here once or twice a year, the membership will easily pay for itself. You'll probably spend about an hour and a half here. You can spend longer if you catch one of the scheduled shows or experiences--I remember seeing a seasonal 4D show here. They also have restrooms and a small café. Right in the middle of the zoo is the seal exhibit. If you time it right, you can catch feeding time for the seals or the penguins. Secret tip: If you have no money, sit on the bench just outside the zoo and you can still watch the seals swimming around. Don't even bother with a map here. With the seals in the middle, just walk around them and you'll naturally see everything else. Complete the semicircle and you're done. If you have little ones and they're still eager for more, there's also the Tisch Children's Zoo just a short walk away. It's an easy addition to your day and has some great animals and hands-on exhibits for younger kids. It's a relaxing way to spend a couple of hours in Central Park and one of my favorite little zoos to visit.

    Photos
    You kiddin' me?
    You kiddin' me?
    Same as yesterday
    Same as yesterday
    Sea lions

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    Sea lions

    Bergen County Zoo - zoos - Updated August 2026

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