Massachusetts offers some of the best zoo field trips for anyone looking for fun and exciting adventures with animals from all over the world. From small to larger-than-life creatures, zoos in Massachusetts bring you a close encounter with exotic wildlife.
In this post, we’ll take you on a quick virtual tour of the best zoos in Massachusetts and what you can do to make the most out of your visit!
Cities in Massachusetts That Have a Zoo
Bolton Zoos
Animal Adventures
Located just west-northwest of downtown Boston, Bolton is the home of Animal Adventures, which has several attractions for you to enjoy. You can visit the zoo and buy general admission tickets and enjoy the sight of numerous animals such as:
- Tortoises
- Snakes
- Alligators
- Spiny Tailed Iguanas
You can also see more exotic animals like the kangaroo and wallaby at an additional cost. In fact, Animal Adventures offers a wide range of ticket tours, including a fully customizable time for your friends and family. You can even become a zookeeper for a day if you’re really into animals and want a more intimate experience with them.
Boston Zoos
Franklin Park Zoo
As the capital of the state of Massachusetts, there’s a lot to see in Boston. In fact, you won’t have a shortage of attractions to visit in the city. So, if you’re looking for an adventure with some animal buddies, Boston has two destinations for you.
Firstly, you can visit the Franklin Park Zoo. It has a wide range of animals for you to see and discover, such as:
- Tigers
- Red Kangaroos
- Ostriches
- African Lions
The zoo functions as a conservation park, a place for special events like birthdays, and an educational center.
Boston Museum of Science
The second destination that you can’t miss is the Boston Museum of Science. While not a zoo per se, its Garden Walk and Insect Zoo is an exciting spot for those that want to see invertebrates such as scorpions and millipedes. Perhaps you can also chance an encounter with one of the museum’s ambassadors from the Live Animal Center.
Westford Zoos
The Butterfly Place
The peaceful community of Westford is best seen in its very own zoo, The Butterfly Place. Obviously, visiting this Westford attraction allows you to experience an army of butterflies from around the world. You can watch butterflies fluttering their way through its indoor garden as they bask in the sunlight. Furthermore, you can also enjoy the quail birds and koi fish inside The Butterfly Place.
If you want to take something as a remembrance of your visit, then you can go to their gift shop inside. You can buy hatching kits for a live butterfly and moth, and numerous butterfly-themed jewelry, books, and souvenirs.
New Bedford Zoos
Buttonwood Park Zoo
New Bedford also offers a zoo of its own with Buttonwood Park Zoo. From amphibians, birds, fish, inverts, mammals, and reptiles, there are a lot of animals to see in the Buttonwood Park Zoo. It also functions as a conservation and educational center for those that visit. Furthermore, you can apply as a volunteer for:
- Animal care
- Counseling
- Horticulture
- Events
- Veterinary preceptorship
Buttonwood Park Zoo can also host birthday parties, overnight programs, and after-hour events for those who want an exotic zoo experience.
Attleboro Zoos
Capron Park Zoo
Located in the heart of Attleboro, Capron Park Zoo offers a wide range of animals for you to see. Their large animal collection includes:
- African White Lions
- Mindanao Bleeding Heart Doves
- Sumatran Water Monitors
With Capron Park Zoo’s “Adopt an Animal” program, you can even support an animal yourself.
Florence Zoos
Christenson Wildlife Center
One of the main destinations of Florence is the Look Park. Within the park is a wildlife destination called Christenson Wildlife Center. You can meet their fallow deers, peacocks, barred owls, pygmy goats, and more when you visit them. Because it’s in Look Park, you can also enjoy nearby amenities such as:
- Playgrounds
- Tennis
- Walking Paths
- Miniature Golf
- Water Spray Park
You can also feed the animals while learning about how they live simultaneously.
Lincoln Zoos
Drumlin Farm Wildlife Sanctuary
Lincoln offers a different wildlife experience with its Drumlin Farm Wildlife Sanctuary. You will experience first-hand what it’s like to be on a working farm while exploring their wildlife. Interact with the farm’s pigs, cows, chickens, and more as you explore its trails, forest, and wetland habitat.
They also offer Summer Camps and vacation programs for those that prefer to stay longer in the sanctuary.
Ludlow Zoos
Lupa Zoo
Ludlow has a family-friendly zoo for you to visit: Lupa Zoo. You can check out their animal exhibits of camels, monkeys, otters, and zebras. With its field trip programs, you can also celebrate birthdays and learn as you go. Furthermore, Lupa Zoo functions as a conservation center for animals.
Mendon Zoos
Southwick’s Zoo
Mendon brings you an exciting wildlife experience with its very own Southwick’s Zoo. Aside from their large animal collection, Southwick’s also offers different rides and attractions such as:
- Skyfari
- Woodland Express Train
- Soaring Eagle Zipline
They even offer close animal encounters with giraffes, rhinos, and sloths. There are so many things to do at Southwick’s that you can even make a plan for your own adventure with them!
Stoneham Zoos
Stone Zoo
Stoneham also offers their very own zoo with Stone Zoo, owned by Zoo New England, the same owner as Franklin Park Zoo in Boston. It offers a playground and a wide range of animal exhibits that you can enjoy, such as:
- Reindeer
- Rosy Boas
- Bald Eagles
- American Alligators
Ipswich Zoos
Wolf Hollow
This coastal town in Massachusetts is a gem for wolf enthusiasts. The Wolf Hollow is a wolf sanctuary and educational facility staffed by volunteers dedicated to preserving wolf species.
You can join their public guided tours to their wolf enclosures and learn about wolves for 45 minutes. Furthermore, you can also hire a private guided tour, albeit with a higher price tag. Public presentations of volunteers during spring, summer, and fall will let you watch live interactions of volunteers inside wolf packs.
Springfield Zoos
Zoo in Forest Park and Educational Center
Finally, the northern city of Springfield boasts The Zoo in Forest Park and Educational Center, where you can witness exhibits of:
- Mammals
- Primates
- Birds
- Reptiles/Inverts/Amphibians
- Barn Yards
You can also take part in their guided tours, guided enrichment tours, and even have a zookeeper experience. They can also host events such as birthday parties and weddings.
Guide To Visiting Zoos in Massachusetts
When going to the zoo, you have to ensure that you bring all the things you need to make the trip more fun and less cumbersome. Here are a few tips to remember when visiting zoos in Massachusetts:
- First, check the zoo’s daily schedule of events and check if there are any special events happening on a specific day.
- Secondly, find the best time to visit the zoo. We recommend that you go there in the morning. This is because most animals are active at that time, usually after feeding them. If you’re not the type that likes enormous crowds, then be sure to avoid planning your trip around major holidays. It will also help if you go on a weekday instead of a weekend for lesser crowds.
- List all the attractions you want to see, such as animals, exhibits, feeding, and other events.
- You can also plan your path around the zoo to avoid backtracking. You can consult your zoo’s website, a free zoo app, or the zoo’s kiosk to map out amenities. Amenities include petting zoos, restaurants, picnic tables, and kid play zones.
Recap: Zoos in Massachusetts
Zoos in Massachusetts are all gems to discover. It’s completely up to you to decide which one you’ll visit. We promise that your experience at these wildlife attractions will be exciting, fun, and insightful.
These zoos are constantly updating their collection of wildlife, so be sure to check their websites if you want to learn more about them. Are you ready to explore the best zoos in Massachusetts?
Looking to explore Massachusetts? Here are some other great things to do in the state:
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