I am always looking for family-friendly things to do, and one of the places we were happy to discover was Adirondack Animal Land. This is the largest zoo in upstate New York and makes for a fun day trip.
The zoo is open from May to September (check online for exact dates). Also check their website for coupons before heading out, and be sure to bring cash – they do not accept credit or debit cards.
There are lots of things to do at the park, so it’s just a matter of deciding what to do first! I highly recommend buying treats for the animals, which you can feed around the park.
African Safari Ride
The Safari Ride is a blast. The several times we have gone, our tour guide has a great sense of humor and really engages the people on the ride. You ride on a large, comfortable covered wagon pulled by a tractor, and there is a nice variety of animals. Our favorite are the camels, which follow the tractor because they know the guide has a bucket of treats. And, you will learn that the camels have a tendency to slobber on passengers!
You also get to see ostriches, zebras, and many other animals on the Safari Ride.
Zoo
There are paved paths and trails through the zoo that offer easy viewing of the animals, and much of the zoo has shaded areas.
I have enjoyed being able to walk around leisurely with the kids without having to spend the whole day in the hot sun.
There are lots of great animals, which are in clean habitats. Many of the animals roam through large areas, such as deer, zebras, and more. There are smaller animals as well, such as monkeys and birds.
The kids have a blast feeding the animals, especially the giraffes.
They sell cracker-like food for some animals, but there are also dispensers for around the park.
Deer Park
There is also a deer park at the far end of the zoo. You can go right into the enclosure, which is supervised by an employee, and feed the deer by hand!
Petting Zoo
My kids always love the petting zoo – the animals are all super cute!
We especially love the miniature goats.
Playground
There are several playground areas and the kids love to play on the different structures. My kids seem to remember every playground they have been on so it is a nice addition to the park to have a place for the kids to run around.
Picnicking
There are picnic tables throughout the park, which are great for taking a break and having a snack or even bringing a lunch.
Overall
We have really enjoyed going to Adirondack Animal Land. I feel like it is very family friendly, and there isn’t anything else like it in the area. The park is nicely maintained and clean and the animals appeared to be well-cared for.
Prices when we went (please check their website for most up to date information): Admission is $16.75+tax for adults, and $13.75+tax for kids ages 1-12, so I suggest making a day of it!
Afterwards, you can head back towards I-90 on Route 30, and there are plenty of eateries and other stores. You can stop for food at a variety of places, like Ruby Tuesday, Subway, Pizza Hut, etc., which has been our tradition.
Recommendations for what to bring:
~CASH! Enough for tickets and treats for the animals – and don’t forget coupons!
~ food and drinks, or money for food.
~ although there are bathrooms, bring wipes.
~ camera (or a phone that can take photos)
~ sunscreen/sun hats and bug spray
~ stroller for younger kids (the park is stroller-friendly)
Visit Adirondack Animal Land at http://www.adirondackanimalland.com/
This post is not sponsored.
Check out our other Things to Do in Albany, NY!
About the Author: Marysa
Busy blogger and mom of two girls. We love traveling and the great outdoors, and are always looking for our next adventure!
My kids and I love visiting new zoos when we travel. We would totally love to check out the Adirondack Animal Land!
That looks like a great place to take the kiddos! I love how healthy the animals look and how clean it is. I’ve been to some smaller zoos like this that I actually reported after we left. =(
You did get some really great pictures. The giraffe was making me laugh. What a sweetheart. Hurrah too that there was a bit of shade at the zoo. Our zoo doesn’t have a lot, and it makes for dates to visit limited throughout the year (cooler seasons only).
That looks awesome! My family loves to go to any place that allows us to get up close and personal with fuzzy creatures. I think we’d have a blast there.
Looks like a great place. I love that you can get up close and personal with many of the animals, great for photos for sure!
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Stunning and Interesting things to peruse and learn. Its astounding to discover something intriguing and cool stuff.
Amazing its very impressive
I found this very interesting.
This is definitely something my kids (and myself) would love to do! We love animals, and my oldest daughter especially wants to be around them all of the time. She would love to be able to go to a petting zoo, and feed them all! I am going to have to plan a special trip to do this very soon. Thank you so much for sharing!
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