Jun102015

Roger Williams Park Zoo RI–Up Close Family Fun

feeding giraffe

I have a love for zoos. I love being able to see animals that I may never get a chance to see in the wild (I mean honestly I don’t plan on going to Antarctica to visit polar bears or rural China to see pandas). Zoos bring the imagination to life and let people experience wild animals in the safety and comfort of a familiar setting.

We got to explore the Roger Williams Park Zoo this past weekend. Located in Providence, Rhode Island, the zoo is located in a beautiful park in the heart of the city. We went bright and early on a Saturday morning hoping to avoid any weekend crowds (which we did). After entering the zoo, the path split off into two directions. You’re provided with a great map to help you plan out your day. Well, I’m a little crazy when it comes to parks and zoos so I ALWAYS plan out my day to make sure we see everything.

 

There are giant maps everywhere to help guide you through your trip.

There are giant maps everywhere to help guide you through your trip.

The exhibits are fantastic and you are really close to the animals. We loved the elephants and watching them walk around and eat. There is a discovery center right next to the giraffe and elephant enclosures where you can see, touch and learn about these animals. Monster was absolutely thrilled that he got to touch elephant and giraffe poop (it’s totally sealed so they aren’t really touching it…still thrilling for a little boy). We saw an elephant tooth and compared vertebra from a human and giraffe. I love that the experience was so educational and hands on.

We stopped by “Flutterby: Butterflies in Bloom” which is open for it’s final season until September 7th. There is an additional cost of 3$ to enter and experience the butterflies. Lovebug loves butterflies so it was a must. When you enter there are butterflies everywhere. Be prepared to have them land on you and take a ride. It was another great up close experience that the zoo offers. If you have younger kiddos you may want to keep them close so they don’t handle the butterflies (they are everywhere and very easy to “catch” for little ones).

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Right past the butterflies is “Hasbro’s Our Big Backyard”. It’s a fun play area for kids featuring water, sand and plenty of outside activities. It’s a great stop to let the kids run for a bit and get their energy out. We moved on to walk the wetlands trail and see some more animals. After feeding the giraffe (an additional 5$ fee which is well worth it for an up close and personal experience with a giraffe) we went to the “Farmyard”. The kiddos got to go into an enclosure and pet and brush goats. I’m pretty sure this was Lovebug’s favorite part of the trip. She loved being able to touch the animals and take care of them. The staff was well in control of the situation and only let a small amount of people in at a time. This minimized the chaos and let everyone have a turn with the animals.

 

Brushing the goats

Brushing the goats

We had a fantastic time at the Roger Williams Park Zoo and fully intend on going again. There are plenty of exhibits to see and many chances to be “hands on”. I love the educational aspect of zoo and the staff that answered all of our questions about the animals. It is a fantastic zoo and a definite must when visiting the area.

TIPS FOR YOUR VISIT

  • Go early if you’re going on a weekend. We were there when the zoo opened and there was a line. However, the crowds grew as the day progressed.
  • You can bring snacks and lunch with you to the park. The concessions were similar to most parks and I find it nicer (and much less expensive) to bring food and drinks. I’d rather spend the extra money on experiences.
  • The zoo is very stroller friendly so I would bring one if you have younger kids that may need a break…it’s also great for storing extra gear!
  • Check out the zoo’s website for information on special events, programs and exhibits.

 

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13 comments on “Roger Williams Park Zoo RI–Up Close Family Fun”

  1. Sarah M

    What a fun looking zoo! I love that they have maps everywhere to help guide you – I get lost easily!! I will have to plan a trip to visit there!

    Reply to this Comment
  2. Robin Rue (@massholemommy)

    We go there all the time. We have had season passes for years. The giraffes are our favorite.

    Reply to this Comment
  3. crystal

    It looks like a great time. I need to renew my membership at our zoo.

    Reply to this Comment
  6. Amy G

    Looks like a great zoo! We love visiting the zoo’s near us!

    Reply to this Comment
  7. Liz Mays

    I agree about going early. The animals (and our kids) tend to be good moods and have more energy then.

    Reply to this Comment
  8. Elizabeth O.

    Looks like you had a wonderful time. We love visiting zoos as well.

    Reply to this Comment
  9. dogvills

    Kids love zoos. Hope that our community can keep on improving the zoos not only for the visitors, but for animals too!
    Great zoo experience by the way, look like the kids love it.

    Reply to this Comment
  10. Victoria

    This looks like it was a fun outing. I plan to take my boys to the Zoo for the first time soon.

    Reply to this Comment
  11. April G

    Honestly, I wish I liked zoos. I find them overwhelming and smelly. My kids love them, so they will be going to a few. This one looks like one that they’ll enjoy.

    Reply to this Comment
  12. Carly Brydon

    I absolutely love zoos, too! The Roger Williams Park Zoo looks like a great one! I would have loved the butterfly exhibit.

    Reply to this Comment
  13. April Decheine

    Oh what family fun, we loved visiting the goats, they are so cute. They let us pet them at the zoos, I always wanted my own pet goats.

    Reply to this Comment

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