I preface this with other zoo reviews I've done, both because its true and because it helps allow for an objective viewing. And that is, one can always debate the efficacy of a zoo, but I always have fun seeing animals I wouldn't normally see and learning more about them. Sometimes they'll even interact with you. Anyway, Franklin Park is a 'no-thrills' zoo. It doesn't have a zipline like RWZ or Southwicks. It doesn't have a trolley like the Smithsonian Zoo or Bronx Zoo. It doesn't really have any amenities; it keeps it simple, and that's not necessarily a bad thing. Staff is friendly, and the zoo is easy to navigate. Parking is free, and it's still a fun zoo. But compared to other zoos I've been to, it's not as good. You'll still have fun, but it's not as fun as it could be. 1. Bronx Zoo 2. Southwicks 3. Smithsonian 4. RWZ 5. Franklin Park 6. Buttonwoods read more

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!!!!!!!!! The spotted/painted dog was pacing the whole time we were there. And almost every enclosure but the BIRDS, has enrichment activities. The lion also looks so sad. Disgusting to see. Don't recommend. read more

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Every single year I visit the Boston Lights at the Franklin Park Zoo, and somehow, it just keeps getting better and better. The lights were super dope this year! You can tell they put a lot of thought and creativity into new ideas and themes. I especially loved the Asian-inspired display. The owls, the panda bears, and the beautiful glowing dragons were stunning. There's something magical about the way the zoo transforms at night. The lights make me feel happy, almost like stepping into another world. If you haven't been, you have to go at night to really experience the full effect. Every year I think they've outdone themselves, once again. It's truly an amazing, breathtaking experience for all ages. read more

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Review for Zoo Lights Really cool light display for all types of animals. I like that it is a walkthrough experience that you can go at your own pace. It is also organized in a way that that you walk in one direction and don't have to think so you really get to relax and enjoy the experience. You don't need a map and you don't miss any part of the light display. The displays are huge. I loved the sounds/music that went along with the displays. Some of the animals moved too! The interactive segments were pretty cool too, but I did not wait for them since there were lines. Great experience and stroller friendly! The parking situation was very chaotic so having better organization for that would improve the whole experience. read more

" most animals put away until summer , but good walking experience, for mindfulness " So most of the animals are put away for winter . This is what I was told , although it's still opened . You can walk around see a few animals . Practice mindfulness since it's a long walk and hardly nobody at the zoo . If you get a membership you save I think I read it about $85 for one individual member. When a day at the zoo for one is about $22 so definitely well worth it . They have a big parking lot so parking is not an issue . I did have a great time walking around with my dog and no crowd . read more

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Who knew we had giraffes in Boston. Franklin Park Zoo is small but has a large variety of animals. At the butterfly greenhouse you can see them hatch and fly around. They have a petting zoo and plenty of interactive exhibits like feeding the parakeets. In the daytime the lights are off but you can still enjoy the night light routes. read more

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If you grew up in Boston, you grew up at the Franklin Park Zoo. I've been coming here for as long as I could remember! I have lots of memories here from family days to field trips. The zoo is quite small, but the animals are active and there are various interactive exhibits. My favorites definitely have to be the lion, the gorillas, the petting zoo, and the parakeet dome. The best part is that it's all still the same as it was 20 years ago - every time I come back I'm hit with the childhood nostalgia. The parakeet dome is definitely worth the trip and the extra cash for the seeds. They fly right into your hand and eat the seeds - they are soooo cute! I wanted to take them home with me! read more

Very very dissapointed. We arrived an hour before closing. The ticket clerk would not sell us tickets. The website does not state that you have to arrive 2-3 hours ahead. My goddaughter just wanted to see the giraffes. Also, we wanted to buy tickets to the light show that starts at 6pm and were told to buy online. Why have a ticketing counter?? They can just have a kiosk to scan in tickets if they can't sell on site. Also, the website should be edited to say that no tickets can be sold an hour before closing. read more

Franklin Park Zoo - Excited 8 year old, turned away from the zoo - Zoos Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Visited from nh There were not very many animals I believe the best part were the gorillas I could have stayed and watched them all day they were very active I didn't fine the area the animals were in to be attractive there was some awful smell to the indoor area ( yes I get it it's a zoo) Would I return? Probably not once was enough There was nothing open in the park read more

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There is a parking lot. Mbta Buses public transit that has a stop across the street. Train ride. Feed the girafferes'. Food, Gitty up grill. Season passes at reasonable prices. Zoo lights. Education programs. Petting zoo. read more

Gorgeous!!! OMG! Had a surprise date night to Zoo Lights!!! Let me tell you... this was an awesome experience! Entry was easy, signage was great, to guide the direction of the visit. It was late and dark, so the animals weren't really visible. However, dark is the best time to experience the lights. I was informed that during the day, there are dance performances every hour or so. This is cool, but the lights won't be as vibrant. A few concession and vendor stands were open. Restroom facilities were available, via some port-a-potty and also regular ones in the buildings. Look for the signs. The buildings look closed, but were open. As a mobility impaired person, I had no trouble navigating the your. However, my boyfriend rented me a scooter off site, to insure I had no problems. I'm not sure if scooters or electric wheelchairs are available on site. I'd suggest bringing one's own.‍ The tour took us about 2.5 hours to casually enjoy and take pictures, and let my boyfriend rest his feet. . I really enjoyed the information for the various exhibits, and the numerous themes displayed. Some exhibits were interactive, and provided a fun experience for all ages. It was really nice to see families ‍‍‍ enjoying themselves, all while being informed as well. I would definitely recommend the experience. I'd bring a light jacket, as it did get a little nippy toward the end. read more

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We went pretty far out of the way to visit the zoo. It was far more park than zoo. The staff didn't seem to care that we were even there and seemed more interested in the restocking of the vending machines than our presence. The enclosures seemed awfully small, which is super sad to me. I struggle with zoos because I want to support conservation (and reproduction efforts) while I feel so sad for many of the animals kept there. There were interesting art installments that seemed part of the Boston Lights at the zoo, some animated, most of which seemed out of place. Perhaps more support would help increase the offerings here? read more

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Haven't been to any zoo in a long while. Grew up in Boston area but never came to the zoo. Were visiting from FL and thought the kids would enjoy the zoo. The zoo is upgrading the big front attraction where the zebra and ostrich and few other animals suppose to be so we didn't see them. I couldn't find the sloth but everything else was very nice. I did bring a bottle of water and got to refill it once, inside one of the exhibits. There are few vending machines throughout the zoo but it's either sold out or it won't accept payment, which wasn't great because we were hot and thirsty. I am glad they're still upgrading and improving the place. read more

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Cutest Zoo Ever! This zoo is spacious, clean & have lots of animals to look at. It is winter and cold so the reptiles were not there which I thought was great that they keep the animals safe. To walk around the zoo with stops and photos took maybe 2.5 hours to go around the zoo. We didn't stop into the cafe to get some food but it looked beautiful from the outside. I really like the variety of animals. They have some animals that I would never think you could have in a zoo. And you get pretty close to the animals too! Overall it's a really great zoo & would recommend to visit when in Boston. read more

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This was actually my favorite place I went to on my Massachusetts vacation. On the day I went, it was in the 20s for weather so there were a decent amount of animals not on display. That being said, this was a really nice zoo with some beautiful enclosures with a lot of space. It was on the smaller side but we still stayed there for over 2 hours. I also always go to zoos first thing in the morning because whatever animals are on display, they are active and that was still the case! The lions, the gorillas all so active and moving around as well as many other animals. This place had a lot of kid areas for them to play so they are always entertained. I saw a couple of volunteers who were super friendly and informative. Side note: when you go to the zoo, type in "Old Bear Dens" on Google Maps which are NOT in the zoo but just on the other side of the zoo and you can see the beautiful old bear dens (one in particular with beautiful stairs and signage). read more

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I've gone here twice now - once for zoo lights and once for the animals during the daytime. I greatly enjoyed my experience both time. For my daytime visit, I used a coupon from the Boston public library to make it cheaper. Both experiences were worth it in my opinion. read more

Franklin Park Zoo - Zebra - Zoos Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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My family loves a zoo! This one was a little confusing to get to because it had 2 entries. There were fewer parking spaces than expected at the zebra entrance but we still got one the last ones around 9 am. The zoo is big in space though the flow felt disorganized. I feel like we were turning around a lot without seeing as many animals. We became preemptively bought a membership since it includes admission to the stone park zoo - but I'm not sure we will use it enough to buy another one next year. We haven't been to the Boston lights yet but were able to see the figures in the day and they do look grand! read more

It's a little bit of a challenge to drive here from points south but worth it. Beautiful roaming paths to take in the sights of the zoo and plenty of helpful people along the way to answer your questions and make it a more enriching experience. The Boston Lights make their return each year and are not to be missed - arrive near sunset for the best views. read more

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Well we arrived at 5 when they were closing to prepare for the lights festival. We returned for that, paid extra for it, and were so very, very disappointed. A zoo should have animals, right? Nope--they put them all AWAY for this lights thing. Which was great for children and photo opps but to see animals? At a zoo? Nope. I wish it had said somewhere--anywhere--that you will see no animals. Oh, except for the odd peacock roaming the grounds, and the donkey. So upset we paid so much for this sad experience. read more

Great experience. Went with a friend and we enjoyed the expansive light festival ("Boston Lights"). I can tell there was a ton of effort setting up the entire zoo with these giant light sculptures and they all looked pretty awesome. Even though the ticket had strict guidelines, we arrived a few mins late and got admitted without issues. Also stayed much longer than the alloted 30 mins (stayed and hung around for over an hour) on a Thursday night. read more

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Visited the zoo in the pouring rain, so focused most of our visit on the Tropical Zone. Lots of construction and renovations going on, and animals on display in outdoor exhibits rather than this indoor one, so there were lots of empty areas. Seemed to be a well-run zoo though, with plenty of different animals around. read more

AWFUL! For the simple fact that we drove almost two hours to get there, got there an hour early and sat in traffic for a whole hour trying to find a parking spot. It was absolutely crazy. There were over 100s of cars trying to find a parking spot for the lights all around the zoo. We had to eventually turn around and go home because it was now past our ticket time. The website states no refunds, why is that? Y'all obv know this happens and people end up leaving and yall just keep everyone's money. It's wrong and you need a better parking system or stop over booking !!!!!! read more

Had an amazing time at the light show at Franklin Park Zoo. We were the last to arrive right at the cut off but the kind attendant helped me find my tickets and get in. Really magical experience! read more

Great place to spend the afternoon with family and friends, beautiful grounds, great staff, and the gorilla exhibition is amazing I suggest that if you're in town, go enjoy wildlife at its finest read more

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It's the best zoo we have in Boston. Give it a visit on a nice day...Lions and Tigers and Bears... oh my!

Purchased the ticket a day before for the Boston Lights: A Lantern Experience, the only time available is 9:30 pm and they closed at 10:30 pm. I thought 1hr should be enough to see all the displays but once you go in, you definitely need more time. The non-member ticket costs $21.95 + the processing fee per person. I suggest the latest time should be 9 pm. There is so much to see. Parking is a problem even I go this late... the zoo parking is full and street parking is full. I ended up with street parking which has to walk around 15 minutes to the zoo. One thing that I am disappointed that the staff who make announce about closing, start chasing guest out and keep telling we will turn off the light. As we exit, the lights at the entrance were off. I was planning to take pictures when we are leaving because we are almost late for the ticket time, we just rushed in. Definitely will come back again for the next Boston Lights. Going to the zoo regular day, you still can see the lantern. But going nighttime is so much beautiful. read more

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I went to this zoo this afternoon and it was a great experience. The person at the entrance was a great worker, very friendly and helpful. He answered a question that I had upon entering the zoo. There were animals galore! I saw zebras, lions, gorillas, camels, giraffes, several birds that I don't see everyday, an anteater, ostriches and so much more. The grounds are very extensive and are kept up nicely. There are several cute little play areas for kids with swings and slides plus little stationary toys that they can climb on and play with. There is a nice gift shop and a small restaurant with both indoor and outdoor seating. There are also picnic areas that you can sit and eat in if you prefer to bring your own food. I came across several volunteers who were walking around the zoo answering people's questions and directing them to places within the zoo. So if you're lost or need help there is help. There are a few restrooms throughout the zoo and a stand selling fried dough, fried Oreos and lemonade if you want a snack. If you want more of a lunch meal then definitely hit up the small restaurant that I mentioned earlier in the review. I'm glad I got to spend the afternoon here and I know I'll be back! read more

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Wow!!! An incredible urban destination with the all time best bat aviary. Hundreds of bats are above your head in the rain forest indoor exhibit. Gorillas, zebras, and giraffes; peacocks abound. Great solo lion who roars. Lovely walks and paths. Really nice - get discount tix at library. read more

Small zoo, but enjoyed walking through it on a beautiful fall day, it was pretty warm, and many of the animals were sleeping, but the giraffes were walking and eating. Would like to come back at night sometime for the lights of Boston nights! read more

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Not a bad zoo. Pretty small enclosures and habitats and not that far to walk. Also cant see the giraffes unless you reserve a time? Idk about that but can't wait to see how they grow and update read more

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Solid zoo. Not mindblowingly awesome, but there are some good animals, especially if you visit during warmer months. It's about a 2-2.5 hour experience with my kids (under 2), but could probably be longer with kids with longer attention spans. Interesting/exciting animals include a lion, a family of gorillas, a couple pigmy hippos, a giraffe family, and a sloth. I highly recommend going first thing in the morning, before it gets crowded and chaotic. And don't forget to hit the giant playground in the middle! read more

My wife and I visited here in 2008 as part of our week-long vacation in Boston, but hadn't been back since. But, they have red panda (which my wife loves) and offer behind-the-scenes tours for them so I thought this would make a nice Christmas gift. We came on a cold February day almost exclusively for the B.T.S. tour, and we had a great time. We were met and given a special tour by four staff members who took us back into the Red Panda enclosures. We got to see where they lived, slept, ate, etc. My wife and I were allowed to feed one of them ("Gimli") grapes, and he ate them as ferociously as his namesake! But he (as well as the other two pandas) we adorably cute. The tour wasn't particularly cheap, but if you are looking for a special gift for someone then this might be a good option. Though the zoo was open during the winter, many (maybe 1/3 it seemed by my estimation) of the animals had been relocated either indoors or somewhere else so we couldn't see them. But, since it isn't really fair to judge a zoo during the winter when you should know that this will be the case, it didn't affect my ratings. read more

Meh? Kind of a sad place to visit from the perspective of most of the animals. It's a little worn compared to some of the other zoos we've visited the past couple of years. The playground. My kid loves this place. And he's a climber. Problem is that he's a lot smaller than the other kids there, they (the kids) have informed me that he's too small to climb it. And yet he does it with ease. So they knock him around. We avoid the park because I'm afraid they'll knock him off one of the higher parts of the play structure. The lights display is beautiful but the one time we've gone, my car was punched (by someone's hand) because I was watching the road. If you know the area, that's all I need to say. And as much as I want to see the look of absolute joy on the kiddo's face again, I'm no longer interested in going back. read more

Been to the zoo a couple of times. The new gorilla enclosure is pretty cool. But the highlight this Fall is their Boston lights event. I've been to this event for the last few years, and have seen it consistently grow and become better. Considering this event is after hours, most animals are already fast asleep. But the creative light displays keep you occupied. I wish there was a larger discount for members. Other than that, this event is worth the visit. read more

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The light show at Franklin park zoo was amazing. We got the 8:30 pm tickets to really enjoy the lights in the dark. Their were 55 displays all throughout the park. Pictures speak for itself. It ends September 25th so I suggest you book your tickets right away before it's over! read more

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3 stars for the Franklin Park Zoo. It was fun outing day and we got to see a tiger, lions, zebra, hippo, giraffes, kiwi, gorillas, birds, and etc. The main problem is the lack of signage. Frankly (ha!), I should've done homework ahead of time looking up and studying directions. When we got here after following Google Maps, we saw a lot (Sausage lot) that says Zoo parking so we pulled in. When we got out, we were like so where do we walk from here? We crossed the street but that looked like people golfing. We looked up directions on Google Maps again but it wasn't really helpful. I had to find directions instructions on the Zoo website, but I wasn't even sure how close we were to either of the entrance. We then saw people walking along a small paved pathway next to Sausage lot and then followed them. There should've been a signage at the sausage lot pointing to the zoo direction. For people like me who were here the first time, I shouldn't have to look up directions while I'm standing the lot trying to figure out if I need to turn left, right, or across the street. Once inside the zoo, I found from the cashier that there was no paper map. That's totally fine, but the online map is hard to navigate. Please consider coming up with a mobile version of the map, or simply put more large printout of signage across the zoo. We were kind of lost the whole time, as I was trying to zoom in and zoom out of my phone map. I finally saw one large map printout right outside of the kids playground that says you are here. There may be more of the printout elsewhere, but I didn't see any. Also, I had no idea they had stroller rental! I didn't see it until I left, since it's tucked away in a corner at the zebra entrance. Maybe they had signage that I missed it, but a clearer signage would for sure help. On the topic of signage, we walked from the gorilla grove side and tried to find the giraffe. We walked and walked and were like where is it?! We finally saw an observational opening area, and spotted the giraffe. Again, I was like I'm not sure if we are even walking towards the right direction. If they don't already, the Zoo should consider a mobile version map and location service, so as I walk around I can clearly see where I am. For the tropical forest exhibit, I'd recommend you wearing a mask. It's completely indoor and I'm not sure if there is HEPA filter installed. When I was there, more than one kid was coughing and sneezing everywhere, and the kids haven't mastered the art of covering their coughs. Fortunately, I had a mask with me. And most people had their own masks on. It would've been nice if there are some free mask available right outside the exhibit for people who forget to bring a mask. I recommend coming here early some time between 9 and 10 am to find parking. If you don't plan to stay for too long, perhaps budge a good 2-hour window for yourself. If you plan to stay here all day, there is a kids playground where you can sit and "rest." When we left shortly before noon, the parking lot filled up. In terms of tickets, definitely consider getting a museum pass from your library (if local) or buy the citypass (if out of town). I also like the special free admission for moms and dads on Mother's Day or Father's Day. The tickets get expensive so quickly. Some other zoos I've been to (e.g. Seattle, Copenhagen, the Bronx Zoo), only kids 3+ need to pay a ticket. Over here at the Franklin zoo, only kids under 2 are admitted for free. read more

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I debated between 1 or 2 stars on the rating, and decided to give 2 stars because some of the zookeepers we came into contact with were very friendly and willing to help or answer questions. Honestly, nothing at the zoo is worth the cost. It makes me sad to write this because I know another low-rated review for this zoo means less people will go out of their way to visit, which means less money going to the animals and their care. They were setting up for the lantern festival, and the displays were beautiful! The only other part I remember being mildly impressed with was the bird atrium where they have ducks and turtles. It looks new, clean, and well maintained. The lions were cool to see as they were visible from any viewing spot. We ate at Giddy Up and the only word to describe it is deplorable. Specifically, they served us a hot dog with a hard, stale bun. We ordered the broccoli bites for our kids and couldn't serve them to the kids because they were so over cooked and burned. My fries were lukewarm. My chicken tenders had possibly been reheated after already being heated once. They were hard and stale tasting. I was getting a bit desperate for something edible to feed my young children, and I'm disappointed that I couldn't count on the zoo to help me do that. Thank goodness we had snacks in the diaper bag. You pay for no less than 3 playgrounds. I don't want to go to a zoo to watch my kids play on the same playground that exists for free right outside the gates. There aren't any play areas for the youngest of our children, either. When it came to animals, it was a hot and humid day, and we sat empty water troughs. Really shameful. Also, many of the exhibits were closed. The petting zoo was not operating, and it was a Friday. There were 3 chickens and 2 chicks in that exhibit. No horses. We did also see a hog and a goat. It seems to me that the zoo would want to get their exhibits open and fully operating so as to draw the higher levels of tourists going through Boston's city limits right now. Anyway, I agree with other tourists that maybe the zoo should close, at least until they can get adequate staff, better maintained exhibits, and proper training for their food staff to improve their awful customer service. read more

Franklin Park Zoo - Lantern Festival display. - Zoos Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Expectation setting: this is a small zoo. Its featured exhibits can be seen in well under two hours, with a few cafes and play structures for tiny kiddos to backfill the trip time. And if you pay full price, I do believe it be a bit lofty for what it is. BUT! You can get half off tickets simply by contacting your local library, and at those rates, our family of four had a fun afternoon saying hi to a fat tiger, a two skinny lions, an army of primates (including the I-bet-you've-never-heard-of-this potto), two camels, zebras, giraffes, more birds than is reasonable, and pygmy hippos! All for less than $40. Parking is chaotic, but it's a cute zoo and the kids will have a ball. I'm actually surprised how close you can get to some of the animals! read more

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We went to the zoo lights for Halloween and they were gorgeous!! They did a really excellent job. My only issue is parking was kind of confusing. They had little lots all spread out and there wasn't anyone directing traffic or cops to make sure people crossed the street safely. But once we were inside it was super pretty read more

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This is not a top end zoo. Infrastructure is very dated in places. Animal enclosures are not up to modern standards. Pretty small for a big city zoo. Price of admission is out of line with quality. I would pass on this zoo. read more