This zoo is just OK. I think the Rosamond Gifford Zoo in Syracuse or The Wild in Chittenango are much better and more worth it. The negatives are because the zoo is very linear and small. Frankly all the animals look depressed and all the outdoor exhibits reeked. I'm fine with the zoo smelling like the zoo but it was overwhelmingly noxious. The rosamond gifford zoo also has elephants and penguins but it never reeks of poop and a fish market when we visit there. The gift shop was also small and cramped. The indoor exhibits weren't entertaining or informative either. I would say the only positive would be the outdoor playground. It was great and beautiful compared to the rest of the zoo. read more

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A small zoo but a decent walk! I recommend coming in the middle of the week as there aren't that many people. We were also lucky in that most all of the animals were active. My favorite was going inside the elephant enclosure building and seeing the trainers perform tricks with an elephant and catching the goats during their feeding time. A fun experience for all ages read more

Seneca Park Zoo - Penguins - Zoos Near Me - Rochester, New York

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Seneca Park Zoo might not be the biggest zoo out there, but it was absolutely worth the $12 admission. Parking was easy, the lot was spacious and just a short walk to the entrance. I arrived shortly after opening, and it was great to see all the animals already up and active. There was a good variety of larger animals, though not as many reptiles, amphibians, or birds. The otters were especially lively and stood out as one of my favorites. The giraffes were another highlight, especially with the feeding stations right by the fence that let you get up close. The zoo is very family-friendly, with several playgrounds for kids and paths that are easy to navigate with a stroller. I also appreciated how many restrooms were available throughout the zoo. Since I visited around Halloween, the zoo had festive scarecrows set up around the grounds, which added a nice seasonal touch. The polar bear even got a pumpkin to play with. I was able to see the whole zoo in about an hour, with plenty of time to stop for photos. Before leaving, I checked out the gift shop which had a surprisingly large selection of magnets. Overall, the zoo was clean, well-kept, and a fun way to spend a weekend morning. I'd definitely recommend it for a casual visit. read more

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A wonderful zoo with amazing animals, friendly staff, and super clean grounds. The paths are easy for kids and wheelchairs, with lots of spots to stop and enjoy. We had such a fun day and would absolutely visit again! read more

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The zoo is awesome! We love coming here. You can feed the giraffes and animals come up very close. And its not too much walking and you can take the tram back to the front t if you want. Recommend the zoo for everyone. read more

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It's a nice zoo, with well-made exhibits. Fun for the whole family. The only two downsides is that it's not a loop (but only $1-2 for a ride to the front if you're lazy), and the gift shop is about 2-3x as expensive as other zoos. read more

We love this zoo! It's perfect to bring our toddlers to. A perfect size/ length for a walk. The food stands are great, when they're open more in the summer. Plenty of benches and places to sit and eat. Ample indoor and outdoor seating. We love going to Zoo Brew as well. We recently signed our toddlers up for a kinder zoo class and they LOVED it!!! The zoo employee who lead the class was sweet and informative, and kept the kids engaged. We are so lucky to live so close to such a well maintained zoo! read more

Seneca Park Zoo - Giraffe statue outside of one of the buildings. - Zoos Near Me - Rochester, New York

Best time, love the animals. I am so lucky to live so close. Educational for all ages and entertaining. read more

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I haven't been to the Seneca Park Zoo in a very long time (probably 25+ years ago when my kids were little!) The zoo has come a long way! My daughter and her husband have the annual membership. My grandkids LOVE it here! So many new exhibits and they are spaced out well. read more

Went off season So not as much opened or activity But it was quiet and a Great Walk on a beautiful day! Bigger than expected; highlights are elephants, sea otters, giraffes read more

Seneca Park Zoo - Beautiful day - Zoos Near Me - Rochester, New York

My 2.5 year old loves it here. We have a membership and visit close to twice a month. Not a ton of animals, but the ones they do have are usually out. One of the sea lions, Marylou, loves playing with people and if you throw your keys up and down near the window inside, she'll chase them and blow bubbles at you when you stop. Super cool for adults and kids alike! One time entrance costs are very affordable too! read more

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I've heard that the Seneca Park Zoo is pretty cool, and wanted to check it out. It is clean. I didn't realize how small it would be though. When we got to the end of the zoo, I commented to my friend, is this it? Where is the rest of the zoo? My friend and I arrived right when the zoo opened on a Saturday in June. I'm so glad we arrived when it opened because when we left an hour or so later the parking was already in the overflow lot. We hit it just right. Because of COVID, there was timed ticket entry. So we were allowed to enter between 10 and 11 am. When the zoo opens, a lot of the animals are still sleeping. As we were touring the exhibits, we hardly saw any animals. At around 11am, the animals started to come out and become a bit active. They had great photo op stations. Some thoughts while at the zoo: The lawn was so high in the lion enclosure, that it was tough spotting anything. Mow your lawn! The animal enclosures are a lot better than my local zoo I'm accustomed to. The rhino was definitely my favorite animal. The rhino was running around and adorable. I also liked the sea lion exhibit. Would I recommend driving here from Buffalo? Probably not. But if you're in the area, and have kids, check it out. read more

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Our local Zoo really does have it all! From adult events (ZooBrew) to awesome membership options to multiple beautiful exhibits, a day at the Zoo is sure to impress family of all ages. The renovations and Animals of the Savanna exhibit are STUNNING and really allows you to see the elephants in a fun way. When I went with my nephew last year, we got to see the trainers working with the elephants and it was absolutely incredible. The zoo is clean and well cared for, and offers up educational shows of all kinds throughout the day. My fave animals are the wolves because they are so sassy and come right up to the fence to say hello. The sea lions are also a fun favorite! I fondly remember sleepovers at the Zoo with girl scouts as a kid, community service trips during college, and now going as an adult for fun events and time with my extended fam. With kids and stopping and snacks and strollers, seeing the entire Zoo in its full glory and all the activities will likely take about 4 hours - the perfect half day adventure for visitors and locals alike. I am looking forward to my next trip to the zoo and can't wait to watch it continue to grow and evolve here in Rochester. read more

General price admission was reasonable. For myself, husband, and two kids it was 15 bucks. They had veterans discount which we were able to receive. the food and the food court was pretty good. Bathrooms were extremely clean. The exhibits were pretty entertaining. We got to see the animals gift shop was typical prices, had lots of options. There were food and drink stands all over the place lots of benches to rest as well. Great place to take your kids highly recommend. read more

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"Small but Mighty" is the word that came to mind when we visited Seneca Park Zoo for the very first time. Seneca Park houses a diverse group of very special animals from all around the globe. It is home to a pride of Lions, a baby giraffe, a pack of grey wolves, a trio of elephants, a white Rhino, a Siberian tiger, a colony of African Penguins, and an International variety of primates, reptiles, insects, and birds of prey. The Seneca Park Zoo provides a safe environment, for both humans and animals, for people of all ages to learn about and connect with the natural world. It truly is a beautiful place filled with interesting wildlife run by a professional and dedicated staff. read more

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The Rochester zoo is great! They're going through a good amount of renovations and changes over the past few years. Right now there's a baby giraffe to see! And the lions have a toy pickle!? This zoo feels smaller than some but they do the best with the space they have. You always notice something new each time you visit. read more

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BwReqdUw82Q Recently it was announced that "Bill" the Rhino will be leaving us. Bill is being moved to Riverbanks Zoo and Garden in South Carolina. It's part of a species survival program. There are 2 female Rhino's there. Bill was to many of us a headliner at the Zoo. He had a great fan club. I spent many hours and days watching and filming him I will miss him as many will. Good luck to Bill. read more

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This zoo is on the smaller side, but hear me out: it's perfect for a day out with the kids! Plenty for them to do. Bring water shoes! They had an adorable little water play area and a large natural playground at the start of the zoo. Most of the animals were visible and all of them looked well taken care of and there was lots of enrichment for them. Apparently there is a train at the end, but we must have missed that. My only qualm is that the enclosure for the tiger seemed small, but he/she seemed content. Overall, great value and great experience. We aren't local, but we will be back! read more

I've been visiting the zoo since I was a kid, like pretty much everyone in Rochester I'd assume, and all of the changes they've made over time are really amazing. The newest African additions are incredible. I visited recently to see the new area for the first time and the expansion is absolutely beautiful. I loved seeing the new animals, like the giraffes and zebras, and old favorites like Bill the rhino having so much room to roam. Be sure not to miss the rock hyrax or naked mole rats, either! I'm also a huge fan of the Cold Asia section, since the red pandas and snow leopards are two of my all-time favorite animals. Their habitats are lush and well-maintained, as is pretty much everything at this zoo. I encourage everyone to visit the zoo if you haven't been in a while, because the changes really are fantastic. I also appreciate all of the interactive events and daily feedings/experiences they have available with the different animals. This is a great zoo for conservation and education, plus it's a great way to spend a day with friends or family! read more

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We were visiting from Michigan and needed a relaxing day. The first thing that we did was use our Detroit Zoo membership to get in at no charge as they have a partnership with other zoos. We stopped at gift shop to rent a wheelchair for my mother in law (no fee, just showed her license). The thing I liked best about the zoo was the layout. Other zoos are a maze but this zoo was a straight line - no circling back or missing an exhibit. read more

In an effort to try more outdoor activities, we took out a membership to the zoo. It had been years, at least 20, since I'd been to Seneca Park Zoo. If you have also not been in a long time, not much has changed. It is still very similar with many of the staple exhibits still being there. What's newer is the African Safari exhibits. These are really nice. For a small Zoo, it serves its purpose as expected. It's a relatively short walk, not long at all. I am happy to have it in town. read more

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This is the perfect zoo for toddlers and small children. It's not huge but it has all of the major animals. I know my toddler only likes a couple hours and she's ready to go so it was perfect. The staff was friendly and informative as it was very clean the animals seemed well-kept, all-around great experience! read more

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Growing up every vacation involved seeing a zoo or aquarium. My family loves seeing animals. I came here as a kid. This a nice small to medium size zoo to bring the kids. As an adult, you can probably get through it within an hour at most. When you enter, they have an area where kids can climb and run around. Nikki and I didn't do it, but it definitely looked fun. The zoo is just a long strip inside a park where you walk one way down and back up. We arrived as it opened and felt like we were playing "Where's Waldo" with the animals. The farther into the zoo we went, more animals started appearing. Some we did get to see on the way out. It was nice to see Elephants again, since my local zoo does not have them anymore. I also enjoyed how they had the Giraffes and Zebras together in one enclosure, like they would be in the wild. The sign said they could be together since Giraffes eat from above and Zebras from the ground. The best was the Rhino, who on the way out decided to come out and run laps in his enclosure. That was really cool. The way he ran, made me think of a fat horse galloping around. read more

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The new section past the elephants is now open! I believe it's called the Animals of the Savannah and is home to two new giraffes, two zebras, two ostriches, and the rhino. They now offer a tram ride through the park either from the end of the zoo and back up to the front entrance or vice versa, for a fee of course. Tickets can be purchased at the main entrance. The section includes a new building, a souvenier and snack store, and an outdoor seating area. We were surprised and happy to see the newly developed section because when we first arrived, the entire front section and first building as soon as you walk into the main entrance was closed off. Not sure what the plans are for the area. I hope they demolish the building and open that area up and add exhibits in the middle to spread people out. It can get very crowded and would be nice to have some circular exhibits for more visibility during busy times. It's exciting to see the zoo's new look and we are looking forward to future makeovers. read more

Always a great time! We went earlier in the summer and they handled COVID really well. read more

Seneca Park Zoo - Entrance - Zoos Near Me - Rochester, New York

Wow wow! Came here to feed the giraffes and was told at the front gate to go to the line at the back of the zoo. After jogging with a group of 10 including children, we were told we couldn't because we should have bought tickets at the FRONT gate!! You can buy them at the snack shop next door. I was so upset and then while I was writing this review, Justin stepped up and allowed us to feed them. I will say, do your research before coming and understand ALL times, restrictions and sales. The workers that I asked along the way were helpful, but I don't understand why we were told wrong info at the front gate. Enjoy the zoo, just don't get annoyed like us! read more

Seneca Park Zoo - The line we waited in for no reason. Buy tickets in advance at the front gate 30 min before or at snack shop. Good luck! - Zoos Near Me - Rochester, New York

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We made reservations today for the zoo. We have a membership for five years so far. They are constantly modifying things and it's nice to see the improvements. I really miss certain animals they got rid of when they knocked down the original building. I've been coming to this zoo since I was very little. It's a very long zoo but not wide given the property dimensions. It is not a zoo that will take you all day to get through. There aren't many things to keep you staying for more than a half day if that. Since covid they have really limited the extra things they used to have even things like the bathrooms. Pet peeve of mine is the standard line. I get it's covid times but there really should be a separate line for members and general public. That was the one benefit of having a membership. The line is always so long and it just seems silly to group everyone together. Also another real big thing that is getting me is the lack of water. I need to be hydrated (I have a medical condition) and they have zero fountains available even the no touch one for water bottle filling station. So I carry what I can with me. This is a little crazy since people need water what will they do in the summer. And if the zoo is looking to conserve the environment getting bottled or paper cups of soda or water isn't doing it. They removed all their vending machines. So make sure you bring snacks with you unless you want to buy what they offer in their snack "restaurant" They removed their pressed penny machine which was on my sons list this time to get one for his collection. They had one place to get food or drinks and the staff member said they only had snacks and beverages. It's been a full year since covid started and there are literally hand sanitizer stations every 15 feet or less. I think it's about time to reopen the water fountains and machines. Put a sign on there.. high touch spot.. wash your hands, use sanitizer. The animals were very active today. I think the change of weather tends to make them more active. Typically speaking not all the animals are out and about. I really wish they had more enrichment while visitors are there to watch. I understand it is a smaller zoo than buffalo and Syracuse but with a little extra they could make it a better place. We've been to several zoos even one that was the very first zoo and they have a nice program all year long that you can see the zoo keepers with the animals. read more

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This is the saddest zoo I've ever been to. The large animals just paced back and forth in their tiny enclosures and seemed miserable. It's cruel, especially with the abundance of land around the zoo that could make for roomier spaces for the animals. Zoos like this should be forced to shut down if they cannot or will not expand the space. I would never bring children here. The only star is for the employees who were all extremely nice. read more

I had not been to the Seneca Park Zoo in a long time and was very impressed by the changes that they have made. The zoo has become a beautiful sanctuary for the animals there, as well as a great place for kids to play. As a life long Rochestarian one of the reasons that I stopped going to the zoo was the less than stellar conditions under which the animals were kept up until the recent renovations. The new exhibits are beautiful and the animals seem to have ample space and stimulation to enjoy life. Not only that but the Rochester Zoo, while small, is on par with many larger zoos in terms of quality of visitor experience. There are far fewer animals than there were in the past but the habitats and living conditions for the animals are far better. I also appreciate that there are less snakes. The newest exhibit, which I liked the best, is the giraffe and zebra habitat at the end of the zoo. Three of each animal lounge in the sun or come in to the large barn at their leisure. There is a chance to feed giraffes on the weekend, but we went on a Monday so had to be content to look. I'm looking forward to bringing my daughter to the zoo for years to come! read more

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It's a nice place to bring the kiddos. They are always looking for ways to improve this zoo, I feel like. Something is always being constructed when we go. They have rhinos, elephants, zebras, sea lions, otters, snakes, birds, wolves, penguins, giraffes, baboons, lions, polar bear, snow leopard, tigers, goats. Probably more that I'm forgetting. They've really stepped up their game as far as the food goes. I ordered a buffalo chicken sandwich and it came with delicious fried pickles and a blue cheese aioli! It was pretty good for being at the zoo. Lots for kids to do. If you come in the summer, they have a little creek so make sure you pack your water shoes! read more

Seneca Park Zoo - Buffalo chicken sandwich with fries. Has fried pickles! - Zoos Near Me - Rochester, New York

Boring zoo. Let's be honest, the most exciting part of this zoo are the monkeys, because the other animals are usually asleep, just not there, or both. Well, the monkeys appear to just be gone. Waste of money, dirty, and overpriced. It took us like 30 minutes to walk through the entire place. read more

I grew up in Rochester and school field trips to the Seneca Park Zoo was something I'd always look forward too. The sites and sounds have changed over the years and it keeps getting better. Now I'm 41 and I've taken my son to the zoo and just looking at his face and smile takes me back to when I was his age. I'm glad it continues to expand and continues to educate. read more

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Ehhhh Maybe I'm spoiled since I'm a member of another zoo but I wasn't impressed. Small, on a hill, the sidewalks made loops and we're confusing. Enjoyed seeing the lions close and elephants were out and about. If you're in the area it's okay. My daughter was 2 and enjoyed it, I wouldn't bother to come back though. read more

I've spent way too long trying to make "en-zoo-iastic" a thing, but the word merging isn't working out right, so let's just focus on something that did work out, our visit. I had been very enthusiastic after reading over their website, and pulling into the parking lot, that feeling did not dissipate. Buffalo Zoo is my typical go to, though having also visited Erie, I wondered who else was out there, and what they had to offer. Seneca Park is a bit of a field trip for us, but by the end of the day, we could both agree it was worth the gas money. We had preordered tickets for the noon time slot. At first we had worried that we would only have an hour to explore, though that isn't the case. It's merely a way to help stagger the foot traffic during Covid. The woman at the booth told us if we were vaccinated we wouldn't have to wear our masks. Every other employee seemed to adhere to this rule except one, who told everyone to mask up, for the safety of the animals inside the building. Not that the animals are going to read this, but just know I smiled for you guys too. Y'all are cuties. At only 12 dollars a ticket, one leisurely lap through the spacious grounds will surely give you your monies worth. However, we decided to take a couple laps, just to see what exactly we would catch. Some things remain the same. The playground at the entrance, full of obstacles that I decided not to face, like bridges and stepping stumps, was one of them. As was the Zoo Shop. We browsed it on our way out, resisting all urges to adopt one of the affordable stuffed animals propped up in the window. They were adorable, but so were the numerous photos we took. Now that's not to say that we spent the entire afternoon living through a lens. This is definitely the type of place you want to experience first hand. Though if you are looking to beef up your photo folder, this is the place to do it. Call me delirious, with the sun beating down on me, but some of those animals stopped to smile and pose. Thank you, goat. If you are feeling in need of a recharge, there are snack opportunities along the way. There are cafes and vending machines. We, still stuffed from lunch, just refilled our water bottle at a fountain equiped with a bottle station. And we will admit to passing through the mist of the hoses for a quick spritz of cool breeze. Sun block is your friend people. You could also say the same for the workers, as the ones we came across were incredibly friendly and knowledgable about the animals. If you're antisocial, there are placards around the zoo explaining factoids about the animals too, if you can keep your eyes off them long enough to read. They make such a spectacle of themselves that it's hard to look away. The otters have their own hill, which I can best describe as melted sledding as they glide through the water down to their pond. They get along like best mates. The seals are the same way, viewable from above and below their enclosure. They hung out together on a rock, save for one, who was putting on a show for us down below, blowing bubbles and showcasing his signature move, the flipper bite. There's a few elephants, giraffes chilling with the zebras, and even a few lions, though some animals fly solo. On one of our laps through, we caught the lions in a very, uh, intimate moment. He had decided it wasn't worth the hassle, yet his lady had reached out for him, eliciting a roar from her man, and a laugh from the crowd. Parents, you've been warned. We also got to witness the tiger chowing down on an oxtail, parading it in front of the crowd. These are things that are forever wedged in the happy part of my mind. And if not, my video files, because while I can't afford the time to come back and explore this place every day, it is worth remembering. It's been an entire review, and I still can't make enzooiastic a word, so let's just go with the obvious choice, yeah? This place is Zoo-per. :) read more

Met my friends the other day after lunch at the zoo and was pleasantly surprised. The zoo has expanded quite a bit, and is now quite impressive. The exhibits are well maintained, and the animals look like they're at home, not crowded into a cage, which is nice. I was able to see leopards, tigers, lions, wolves, polar bears, seals, giraffes, zebras, hyenas, a rhino, an owl, and red pandas. It took a couple hours and I definitely felt I got my moneys worth. Oh, and they have plenty of bathrooms, which were clean! Will definitely plan on a return trip, as this was a great day. If in the area with a few hours to kill and you like animals, I highly recommend. read more

Seneca Park Zoo - Just incredible to see snow leopards. - Zoos Near Me - Rochester, New York

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Amazing layout, great atmosphere, fun enjoyment for all ages. Great variety of different animals... Price is fair. read more

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This zoo just had an expansion and it is incredible. The buildings are gorgeous and clean. The animals look happy in their enclosures. It was very cool to see three types of animals in one enclosure. I can't wait to see how they redo the others that are now empty. They put a tran in place at the end of the zoo to drive the visitors back to the main enterance. This is such a good concept because it reduces the amount of people in the park because no one is walking in the opposite direction. Suggestion: Don't do ZooBrew. Crowded and the people are annoying. read more

I like looking at, touching, feeding, playing with, taking pictures of, or doing literally anything that has to do with animals. My girlfriend and I decided that Sunday was the day that we would venture over to Rochester to see what the Seneca Park Zoo had to offer! We came early in the afternoon and thanks to being season pass holders at the Buffalo Zoo we were even able to get half price admission. This zoo is pretty easy to get around as it's pretty much just a straight walk to the back, which means you shouldn't miss anything along the way. I really enjoyed the way most of the animals were set up and had a good amount of room to play, sleep, exist, and go in and outside depending on what they wanted. Some people might complain about some of the animals not being out (I was not able to see the Red Panda, Tigers, or Polar Bears) and while that is a huge bummer, it usually means these animals or deep in slumber, feeling sick, or being looked at by the staff for whatever reason that might be and you can't blame a zoo for that. It was probably a solid 95 and humid on Sunday so I was a huge fan of the random water sprinklers this zoo has setup for you to walk under as well, it's a real life saver! Overall, I was a big fan of the Rochester Seneca Park Zoo. It's small, but well maintained, well structured, and the animals seem pretty content for the most part. I recommend checking this place out if you are a zoo hopper, animal lover, or just someone who wants to look at a darn owl. read more

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I finally decided to get a membership to the Seneca Park Zoo this year. I live very close, and with all of the traveling I do - I always like to visit zoos. (I went to the Buffalo Zoo just this weekend.) The deals for reciprocal zoos are awesome! The membership was well worth it, as I took a group of teenagers to the zoo this week. We went on a Tuesday during Spring Break, and it was great. There were hardly any people at the zoo (thanks to the weather which was snowy one minute and sunny the next). Actually - we had the zoo mostly to ourselves which was pretty cool! I really do enjoy this zoo. Despite the fact that so many animals have died in the last few years (mostly because of age) and the limited ability to take photos (wire fencing surrounds most of the enclosures), I feel like we have a well designed zoo with a good variety of animals. The new Ngorongoro Crater exhibit with the lions, elephants, and baboons is really great! The design is great, and they are very interesting animals. Who doesn't love the baboons? My only complaint is about the Polar Bears. Do we still have them? I NEVER see them when I am here. I'm looking forward to using my membership a lot this year! I highly recommend visiting Seneca Park. Adults, Teens, and children alike will enjoy the trip. read more

What a lovely surprise! This zoo is easy to navigate...almost impossible to miss any exhibits. The walk from one end to the other just kept getting better and better. I was prepared to be gently unimpressed after the first third, but the zoo has clearly put a lot of recent work into adding and improving the exhibits. Still a relatively small zoo, but a wonderful way to spend a couple of hours. read more

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