This past weekend we took a trip to the New England Aquarium to check out the penguins and the massive fish tank. It had been years since we last visited, so we were looking forward to checking out any new exhibits and seeing the famous penguins, of course.
The ticket booth is outside on your left as you approach the main entrance. For the kids that don’t enjoy standing in lines (meaning, all kids), there is a harbor seal exhibit directly behind the ticket booth that will keep their attention and whet their appetite for some see creature viewing. Tickets cost $12.95 for kids 2-11 and $20.95 for adults. Combo tickets are available if you are planning to view an IMAX show or take a whale watch. Check out your local library for discounts to the aquarium.
The central exhibit at the aquarium is the Giant Ocean Tank, which is a four-story, cylinder-shaped Caribbean coral reef tank that is 23 feet tall and 40 feet across. A circular ramp wraps around the outside providing great views from top to bottom of the tank. Be sure to take the staircase on the top floor to view the open top of the tank. At the top you can see divers feeding some of the fish or you can catch a “tank talk,” where an aquarium staffer answers questions you have about the tank or fish.
A few other highlights of our trip were the Edge of the Sea Touch Tank, Amazing Jellies, The Penguins, and the Marine Mammal Center. The Touch Tank, which is on level 2, literally gives your kids a hands-on experience as they dip their hands into the tide pool and pick up sea stars, hermit crabs, and even a lobster. This exhibit is very popular and gets crowded. It opens at 10:00am so it may be worth heading to this exhibit if you get to the aquarium early. The Amazing Jellies Exhibit spans two floors of the aquarium and is the first exhibit to your left when you enter the front doors. This exhibit features incredibly fascinating views of these amazing sea creatures. You and your kids will learn all about the brainless, spineless, bloodless jelly fish.
The Penguin Exhibit is by far one of the most popular at the aquarium, and rightfully so. Situated at the base of the Giant Ocean Tank, this exhibit gives you a birds-eye view of three different types of penguins as they sit on their rocks and swim around their large tank. There are plenty of places to view the penguins from behind glass partitions on the ground floor as well as along the entire walk-way encircling the Giant Ocean Tank. Be sure to get a copy of the daily schedule and catch the penguin presentation or penguin feeding. There seem to be at least two of each presentation each day.
The New England Aquarium can seem small at times, especially during busy hours, so watch out for the strollers and kids running about. Like any museum, it’s good to map out your course either before arriving or once you get in, but stay flexible if certain exhibits are crowded. The aquarium is small enough that it’s easy to circle back and visit any exhibits you missed on the first way through.
With freezing temperatures and a snowy December, one family-friendly activity that we are gearing up for is ice skating. Lacing up the skates and getting outside is a great way to get some exercise during the winter months. Whether you are an experienced skater or looking to get your kids into this winter activity, January is a great time to get to it with the holiday rush having ended. Our blog this week gives you some tips on getting started and some places to visit throughout the state.
Equipment
Ice skates are the main piece of equipment you will need to get out on the ice. If you are just getting your kids started, you may want to look at renting the first few times before making the investment in purchasing. Once you have determined that your kids enjoy ice skating it’s time to get them their own skates. This will save money over time and, if you live near outdoor skating areas, they can go any time. The same issue with buying shoes presents itself with ice skates as our kids’ feet grow quickly. For this reason, buying used is a good option for the casual skater.
Play It Again Sports is a reputable dealer offering new and used equipment with knowledge staff. Give a call to a local rink and ask where the best place to buy used skates is in your areas as well. Below are the Play It Again Sports locations in the state:
Dedham (630 Washington Street – 781.493.6796)
Leominster (814 N Main Street – 978.537.2063)
Hyannis (25 Iyannough Road – 508.771.6979)
Stoneham (62 E Montvale Avenue – 781.438.2399)
North Reading (265 Main Street – 978.664.9363)
This online guide is worth a read if you are new to purchasing ice skates.
But, It’s Freezing Outside!
With Ice Skating comes dealing with the cold. Regardless of whether you decide to visit an indoor rink or live near a cranberry bog, you have to dress appropriately. Starting from the feet up, make sure your kids wear thick, warm socks (double up if you only have normal weight) that reach at least half way up their calf. If you are venturing outside, you may consider thermal under pants and shirts as a first layer following by another layer or warm clothing with a water-proof shell on top and bottom. Falling down on the ice is inevitable, so you want to make sure your kids stay as dry as possible.
We all know how much heats escapes through the head, so cover up with a nice wool hat and get their hands into some gloves or mittens.
Where to Skate
There are two main options to look at: ice skating rinks or natural bodies of water. With rinks, there are indoor and outdoor options while ponds, lakes, and cranberry bogs round out your outdoor, natural options.
If being outside is not your thing or your kids are just getting started, indoor rinks are a great place to get started. Many rinks offer skate rentals, food options, and are much warmer than our typical New England winter day. The Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) has put together a nice list of public rinks (linked here) throughout the state. Make sure to call ahead to confirm public skating hours and check on skating lessons.
If you and your kids are ready to brave the outdoors, you’ll need to find a local place that offers safe skating. Other than the cold, the biggest safety concern with outdoor skating is ensuring you are skating on thick enough ice to support all the skaters involved. Check out the DCR’s news release [pdf] on ice safety for more information.
Crazy Kids Picks – The following are some of our favorite places to bring the family for skating fun.
The Frog Pond is a fun place to bring your family for some skating fun in a nostalgic setting of the Boston Common.
Steriti Memorial Rink is an indoor skating rink in the heart of the North End offering free skating during public hours.
Kendall Square Community Ice Skating is a seasonal outdoor ice skating rink located in Kendall Square. An all-day pass is $5 for adults and $1 for kids under 13. Rentals are available as well.
Old Sturbridge Village has added an outdoor skating rink this year. They do not offer rentals, so bring your own skates and enjoy some hot cider or cocoa and a cookie at the Miner Grant Store or the Village Café.
The Rink at The Charles Hotel is back for another season! This 2,900 square foot ice rink is open to hotel guests and the public. Skate rentals, season passes, and lessons are available.
Director Jerry Zaks has taken Dodie Smith’s classic tale to the stage. The 101 Dalmatians Musical is the top family musical to see in Boston this Holiday season. This musical presents the topsy-turvy, inside out world of the Dalmatians from the dogs’ point of view. Dalmatian characters are portrayed by adult actors while pups are portrayed by child actors. Humans are “differentiated” with exaggerated clothing and mini stilts that make them “larger than life.”
The tale follows the lives of Dalmatians Pongo and Missis Pongo who fall in love and are married. After a brief honeymoon “in the bushes” the Pongo’s are faced with the reality of impending parenthood. It is very well played. Their first musical number together “A Perfect Family” questions how hard parenthood could be. They’re both certain that their kids will be angels. There is humor at many levels. No family member will feel left out.
Rachel York made me think Cruella De Vil had stepped out of the Disney movie and onto the stage. She was wonderful and masterful. She brought forth an incredible lust for puppy fur. Cruella kidnaps the puppies and takes them to Castleville where they will soon become wardrobe. Pongo and Missis Pongo realize that their human “pets” will not be able to get their pups in time and realize it’s up to them to find the pups and bring them home. They send out the K-9 version of the Amber Alert and are soon on their journey.
I don’t want to spoil the adventure. My family enjoyed an exciting night of twists and turns. Something was there for everyone. Leaving the theatre I heard many people singing the catchy tune “Be a little bit braver”. It’s still in my head at this point.
And let’s not forget the Dalmatians. The dogs were adorable. Making it more memorable is that many of them were rescued.
Probably best for children 4 and up (or a mature 3). Though I did see several toddlers be-bopping to the music. It’s only here until the 27th. Tickets can be purchased directly through the Wang Theatre Box Office and range from $28-$75.
Created in 1958, and enjoyed by many in Boston throughout the 60’s and 70’s at Jordan Marsh, The Enchanted Village is back in action at Jordan’s Furniture in Avon, MA. With 28 holiday scenes and hundreds of animated figures, this one is worth checking out if you are in the area.
The village is free to the public and is open 10:00 am to 9:00 pm Monday through Saturday, and 11:00 am to 6:00 pm on Sundays. You will have to walk through most of the furniture after seeing the village, so remember that when you visit. Santa Claus visits the village each day and is available for Christmas requests and photos, usually from 11:00 am until 8:00 pm. Check the website for updated information.
The exhibit itself is set up in one large room with a wavy path and metal railings. With a wide variety of holiday scenes and snow every few minutes, this is a great treat for the younger kids in your family. Older kids might get a little bored with this one, but would surely be willing to walk through if they knew you were going to visit some of the other attractions Jordan’s has to offer.
Jordan’s has packaged the Enchanted Village along with a 4-D Motion Odyssey Movie Ride (MOM) and a Laser Light show into what they are calling ‘The Holiday Experience.’ The Village is the only free exhibit; the LITE show costs $3.00 per person and the MOM Polar Express ride costs $6.00.
LITE, which stands for Laser Imagination Theater Experience, is brand new and was created just for Jordan’s Furniture. Featuring high-powered, solid-state lasers in a dark room filled with cranked up music, LITE is 15 minutes of pure excitement for all age groups. Set to a holiday theme, this laser show was well worth the $3.00 entry fee and short wait. Check out the line and show times before you jump in to avoid waiting too long. The show runs every 15 or so minutes.
We did not have the chance to take the 4-D Polar Express ride, but have been on MOM rides before and would have done this if there were earlier tickets available. We heard that people show up right at opening to buy tickets for later in the day, so you have to be crafty to get on this ride at a time you want. Plan accordingly.
Dad Says: At first I was a little put off that we have to walk through the entire store to get out of this ‘Free’ exhibit, but quickly realized it’s a very nice store with no pushy sales people. Our son loved seeing the animated people and scenes and it’s great that Jordan’s has resurrected a Boston classic.
Mom Says: I wasn’t really interested in seeing the Laser Light show, but went along with the group. I’m not sure who liked it more, me or my son! It was nice to hear some familiar holiday tunes to put me in the spirit, and they did some really cool things with the lasers. It may be cold outside, but it’s also cold in this room!
The Children’s Museum in Easton packs hours of hands-on activities and learning into an Old Fire Station in North Easton, MA. The cost is $6.00 per person (over 1) for the day, and for $60.00 you can get a family membership for 2 for a year.
Inside the museum you will find three floors of interactive exhibits. Next to the museum is an outdoor learning center called ‘The Wild Place,’ which is open from April through November. The Wild Place is a park with at least 10 different learning areas, ranging from paleontology to nature tic-tac-toe to musical pieces of wood. They also have several picnic tables for group lunching and snacking. We’d recommend visiting on a nice day so you can spend time in this area.
You enter the museum on the ground floor, where you pay at the desk and jump right into the activities. Among the things you’ll find here are a replica train, a large wooden train track, a pretend camp and cabin (completely with tent, fire pit, and story books), a performance stage, a fishing boat, a puppet theatre, and one of the highlights – a Rube Goldberg-like set of chutes, chimes, and tunnels that your kids can send golf balls through. The cool part is that to send the balls into this apparatus you have to climb about ten feet up a set of stairs. There is also a real fireman’s pole that your kids can climb to ring the bell at the top.
Downstairs is split between an eating area, which is open during lunch-time hours, and the FETCH! Lab. Based on the PBS Kids show, this area features various science experiments and loads of puzzles. A museum employee was actively showing kids and parents what to do. Bring your own food as they don’t sell any, but have a nice area to eat.
The top floor is geared a bit towards the older kids with a room dedicated to everything wood. Hammer nails into pieces of wood or lock a piece of wood into the vice to saw some off. The room next to it serves as a doctor’s office, complete with an incubator for the baby dolls. Another large room is dedicated to arts and crafts with lots of different projects to do. From paper and markers to cloth and pipe cleaners, this area was staffed with a museum employee to help out the kids or give parents some tips. The remaining area is for free play. There is a padded corner for the youngest visitors to play in while the older ones play in the kitchen, on the fire truck (with the dalmations!), or in a treehouse-like structure.
Mom Says: I like that they proactively offer hand sanitizer and a sign encouraging its use before you even walk in the door. It was great to see a staff member working with families in the arts & crafts and giving them ideas.
Dad Says: This is worth a trip and if you live nearby, I’d think about a membership. We could have easily spent close to a full day here between the museum and the park area. This isn’t the biggest facility, so I assume on rainy days it gets crowded.
With frosty nights becoming the norm here in New England, it may seem like an odd time for us to be writing about the Mass Audubon, a group which manages 47 wildlife sanctuaries across the state of Massachusetts. A recent trip to the Broad Meadow Brook Conservation Center and Wildlife Sanctuary reminded us of the beauty of the Fall season and the great work Mass Audubon does maintaining these sanctuaries.
The Mass Audubon sanctuaries take many different forms, from beaches and salt marshes on Cape Cod to woodlands and mountains in the Berkshires. Mass Audubon’s land protection efforts protect more than 34,000 acres of ecologically significant land in Massachusetts.
Through November 30, 2009 the Mass Audubon is running a Fall special on family memberships for $29.00, which normally costs $58.00. In addition to being tax deductible, membership gives your free access to all wildlife sanctuaries in the state and discounts on educational programs. Entry to the sanctuaries varies, but at $29.00 for the year, you only have to make a couple of trips to make this one pay for itself.
You can check out a list of the sanctuaries in your area using the Mass Audubon website.
As we welcome the foliage to New England, we quickly realize the warm days of summer have past and it’s time to get ready for Halloween and Thanksgiving. We all (well, most of us) love this season as we get to dress up in costumes with our kids, teach them how to roll around in piles of leaves, and take hayrides through pumpkin patches with hopes of a warm cup of apple cider at the end.
We are ready for Fall here at Crazy Kids Boston and we hope you are too!
We’ve put together a couple of guides to help you make the most out of October. First up is an interactive map of 86 Pick-Your-Own Pumpkin Farms throughout Massachusetts. Use this to find a farm near you to visit for pumpkins, veggies, and many have rides for the little ones. After that is a listing of selected Haunted Houses that we think you might be interested in. Let us know your favorites by dropping us a note. click here for a full version of this map
Nightmare New England & SpookyWorld!, Litchfield, MA
With seven different attractions this is one of the largest scream parks in New England. http://spookyworld.com
Factory of Terror, Fall River, MA
With 30 rooms of terror, this factory building has supposedly been haunted for 100 years. http://www.factoryofterror.com
Braintree Haunted House, Braintree, MA
In its 29th year, this is a South Shore fav! Only running for 3 nights, this year features a ‘Not So Scary’ night, designed for younger children on Thursday, Octoboer, 22 from 6-8 p.m. The regular haunted house is Friday and Saturday, October 23-24 from 6-9:30 p.m.
Haunted Ship – USS Salem, Quincy MA
Located aboard a 716 foot long US Navy Heavy Cruiser Gunship, no other haunted attraction matches the scale and visual impact of the Haunted Ship. Take a 20 minute tour of the haunted ship. http://www.hauntedship.com/
Barrett’s Haunted Mansion, Abington MA
This mansion changes each year and this year has a new ‘Buried Alive’ experience, where you will hear, feel, and smell what it would be like to be alone and trapped in your final resting place. http://www.bhmansion.com
Nightmare on Brookwood Road, Hanover MA
This isn’t a haunted house, but is a group of folks dedicated to giving visitors a scare. This free yard haunt with pre-6pm ‘non-scary’ hours is worth checking out if you are in the area. http://www.thehauntedgrounds.com
REGION 335, West Bridgewater MA
Our 23rd year. The compound, now an military research facility, that has been taken over by the walking dead! All money goes to the Berwick Boys Foundation, a non-profit with year-round program for teenage boys. http://www.Region335.com
The Haunted Mansion, Douglas, MA
When hinges creek in doorless chambers, that is the time when you should be nervous. When your friends don’t make it back, that is the time to be terrified! The best part of this haunted mansion is that admission is one can of non-perishable food, which is donated to a local food panty. http://www.thehauntedmansiondouglas.com
Village Mire, South Yarmouth Massachusetts
This is a free haunted yard attraction which is not for the faint of heart (according to their site). If you are on the Cape, check this one out. http://villagemire.blogspot.com/
We found ourselves near Hartford, CT, this weekend and decided to stop by Lyman Orchards to check out their Sunflower Maze. We’ve been to corn mazes before, but had never seen the sunflower variety. This place is a bit of a drive, but we think it was worth it as the sunflower maze was great and the rest of the facility made for a great afternoon. Read on for more information…
Owned and operated by the Lyman Family since 1741, Lyman Orchards has something for everyone including the Apple Barrel market, pick-your-own fruit, a corn maze, a sunflower maze, Frisbee golf, and even a 36-hole championship golf course. We arrived around lunch so parked and headed directly for the Apple Barrel market to find some nourishment.
Eating at Lyman Orchard
There were a few options to choose from: an outdoor fast food-style vendor (hot dogs, hamburgers, fried dough, etc.), a full-service deli, and wide variety of fresh fruits and vegetables. The deli is inside the market, so you can check out the produce and homemade pies at the same time. The deli offers fresh made sandwiches, homemade soups, salads, and a hot entree.
There are plenty of seating options available around the market. The outdoor deck has numerous picnic tables, or you can do a real picnic on any of the grassy areas throughout the area. We sat under a tree near the pond next to the market and were entertained (our son more than us) by the geese and birds begging for food.
Pick up a map at the information desk in the market to get the lay of the land. The activities are a bit spread out so make a game plan before visiting by checking out the map. You can visit the Apple Barrel market and do the corn maze with one car stop, but you have to drive to the rest of the areas. The sunflower maze isn’t on the map yet as it’s new, but is in the general vicinity of the pick-your-own area.
The Mazes
Admission to each maze is $9.00 for adults and $5.00 for kids ages 4 to 12. A combo pass for both mazes is available for $12.50 for adults and $8.00 for kids. Before entering the maze you can pick up a map and a set of trivia questions. You must choose from various categories such as American History, sports, politics, and tots and tikes. Each sheet has ten questions that will help you navigate through the maze. Each question is multiple-choice and the answer corresponds to either left or right—the direction you should take at that numbered pole in the maze. Get the question correct and you will head in the right direction. This is a great opportunity to work with your kids on some problem solving by helping them eliminate certain multiple choice answers and even letting them get a few wrong (if you know the answer).
We took a few different categories of questions and found that some, like American History, were more difficult than others, such as tots and tikes. Ask the attendant for the category that is most appropriate for your kid’s age group. This year’s corn maze theme was George Washington and Barack Obama. The aerial view of the maze is quite impressive as it does resemble the two presidents. In addition to the trivia the corn maze had additional presidential factoids throughout the maze, so if you kid is into history they’ll enjoy stopping to read up along the route.
Pick Your Own
Lyman offers one of the most diverse and largest pick your own orchard that we have been to with the following available throughout the year: strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, jostaberries, peaches, pears, Asian pears, apples, and pumpkins.
You can use their containers or bring your own and get to picking. They provide nice stations to work from and store your picked fruit as well as recipes to help you come up with ideas for the fresh produce. The staff was very knowledgeable and extremely helpful during our visit. We would recommend calling before heading to Lyman to see what is ripe for picking and check out the current prices. The number is 860-349-6015.
Dad Says: The price of the maze seemed a bit high, but was worth it. Next time, I think we’d stick with the sunflower maze only. The food was great and this place is worth a visit if you are in the area.
Mom Says: Between the picnic and the sunflower maze, this was one of the most romantic family events we’ve ever done. It was so beautiful walking around the sunflowers we didn’t even care if we got lost! Note: you are in a field, so it is a bit warmer than the actual temperature.
Labor Day Weekend comes with mixed emotions for many of us. A long weekend is always a blessing, but this weekend usually marks the beginning of the end…of summer. We had one full month of rain this summer and overall temperatures were not the best, but this weekend looks great and we’ve put together some ideas if you don’t have a trip out of town already planned.
Free Preview of Disney’s Video on Demand
Disney is starting an On Demand channel to showcase their catalog of movies. The new channel will provide unlimited access to 12-15 movies a month. These movies could be anything from the Disney catalog including classics, Pixar, and live action like the High School Musical series. Cable providers are providing a free preview of the new channel during Labor Day weekend, September 3 through September 7. I spoke with Charter and Comcast and both are offering this channel free. Find it by starting at channel 1 (video on demand).
Go Apple Picking (or just visit a family farm)
With Labor Day Weekend begins the start of Apple Picking Season in New England. While it is a little early to be picking apples, the farms are open and eager for you to visit. We’ve put together a map showing you close to 90 farms in Massachusetts. Click on a tree icon to get their phone number and some additional information. click here for a full version of this map
We are at the beginning of fair season in New England and this weekend there are plenty to choose from. Most of these are in Western Mass or Connecticut, but are worth a drive if you live near Boston. Most of these fairs can be a good half-day of entertainment, eating, and shopping.
Blandford Fair (9/4 – 9/7) – North Street, Blandford, MA
Agricultural Exhibits, Horse-Oxen-Pony Draws, Horse Show, Entertainment, Truck Pulls (Adults $10; Seniors $6, Servicemen $5; Children (7-12) $5; Under age 6 – FREE) – http://www.theblandfordfair.com
Three County Fair (9/4 – 9/6) – Bridge Street, Northampton, MA
Windham Mountain Wild West Show. Horse racing, demo derbies (Adults: $7, children $4) Carnival: Rockwell Amusements. http://www.3countyfair.com
Woodstock Fair (9/4 – 9/7) – South Woodstock, CT
(Adults: $12, Kids under 10 are Free). http://www.woodstockfair.com
King Richard’s Faire (9/5 – 10/25) – 235 Main Street, Carver, MA
At King Richard’s Faire, the New England Renaissance Festival, enjoy musicians, jugglers, acrobats, contests and games for all ages, and knights on horseback. Devour turkey legs, ears of corn, fresh baked cookies, chocolate, wine, and beer and check out a 16th-century marketplace. (Adults: $26; child age 5-11: $15; If you live in Carver; We haven’t confirmed this, but heard this is FREE on Saturday for Carver residents). http://www.kingrichardsfaire.net
Nantucket Arts Festival (through 9/7)
A week-long celebration of the cultural arts on Nantucket, featuring theatre, music, dance, visual arts and literary events. The Nantucket Arts Festival is annually organized by the Nantucket Arts Council. http://www.NantucketArtsCouncil.org
Hit The Beach
This may be one of the last weekends you have to spend at the beach, so if the weather is nice, here are some of our favorites broken down by area.
Boston Beaches
Boston Harbor Islands – This 17-island state park is part of the 34-island Boston Harbor Islands National Park Area. They are a wonderful natural resource, only 45 minutes by ferry from downtown Boston. Spectacle, Lovells, and Bumpkin island all have beaches. Website
Revere Beach – Revere Beach, the oldest public beach in America, celebrated its 100th anniversary in 1996. Today, this beach boasts miles of shoreline which welcomes throngs of visitors every summer. Website
Carson Beach – This sandy beach is one of the best swimming beaches in the area, with nearby public amenities and great views of the Harbor. Website
Cape Cod
Coast Guard Beach – This beach is a prime swimming beach during the summer months and was dubbed ‘The Great Beach’ by Henry David Thoreau. Website
Head of the Meadow Beach – An ocean-side beach in Truro known for towering sand dunes. Website
Marconi Beach – Up for a history lesson and some swimming? The Marconi Area obtained its name from the famous Italian inventor, Marconi. From a site here, Marconi successfully completed the first transatlantic wireless communication between the U.S. and England in 1903. Website
North Shore Beaches
Crane Beach – With its clean, inviting water, miles of shoreline, and mesmerizing views, Crane Beach has been a favorite with the ocean-loving public for generations. Website
Good Harbor Beach – A popular beach, but pricey with a parking fee is $20 during the week per car; $25, weekends and holidays. Parking is limited so plan to arrive early. Website
Nahant/Lynn Beach – 4 miles of waterfront and a boardwalk. Website
Salisbury Beach State Reservation – Salisbury Beach is one of the state’s most popular ocean beaches, stretching 3.8 miles along the Atlantic Ocean. This 521-acre park offers swimming, boating, fishing, and camping, and is very popular with trailer campers. Website
South Shore Beaches
Horseneck Beach State Reservation – Located at the western end of Buzzards Bay, the sandy, southwest-facing, 2-mile long beach is breezy all year round, providing excellent wind surfing and a dependable respite from sweltering inland temperatures every summer. Website
Nantasket Beach – The reservation encompasses 26 acres along one and a third miles of oceanfront. Website
We had no idea where Mendon was, but had heard great things about the Southwick Zoo and decided to try it out. With our kid and some grandparents in tow, we navigated our way down Southwick Street and were blown away by this hidden jewel. Bring your camera, some quarters (we’ll explain that), walking shoes, and love for animals to this zoo!
Planning Your Visit
Southwick Zoo is pretty big and has many different paths throughout the facility. We’d recommend either mapping out your plan before you get there using on their online map or spending some time when you first get in to plan the day. There are live shows throughout the day, so keep that in mind when planning your route. The times for these are posted on a board when you first enter (we used our digital camera to take a picture to remind us of the times throughout the day). We saw the elephant show and the live animal show and would recommend both; if you only have time for one, the elephant show would be at the top of our list. Wanderers will find it easy to walk about with no plan as well, but some of us need to be more orderly than that!
The terrain is very hilly, so wear good walking shoes and bring a stroller or wagon if you have bags, coolers, or younger kids. We were happy with the amount of natural shade provided by the trees throughout the entire zoo. We always try to get to zoos early in the day to avoid the large crowds and would recommend the same with Southwick. We arrived at 10:20 (they open at 10:00 am) and the parking lot was already half full. Despite the expected crowd, we found very few exhibits to be overcrowded, mainly due to the size of this zoo, and we hardly had to wait in line anywhere.
If you head into Deer Forest, where you can walk with the deer and feed them out of your hand, you will want to bring some quarters to buy the deer food ($0.50 for half a handful of corn). You may want to bring a bag or cup to carry it if putting corn in your pocket isn’t appealing to you. Some of the deer are skittish and may not want to come close. Be patient and you should be able to find one that does not mind eating out of your or your child’s hand.
The Animals
The animals are why we visit zoos, and Southwick does not disappoint with its variety of animals and the quality of its exhibits. Most of the exhibits provide close-up, unobstructed views of the animals, and there are opportunities to feed and play with some of them. Highlights for us were the humungous Aldabra Tortoise, leopard, rhinos, elephant, monkeys, giraffes, lemurs, and camels, to name just a few.
The Petting Zoo area is full of goats, turkeys, and sheep and lets you and your kids walk around with these animals, feeding them and petting them. This area was a little hectic, but armed with some quarters to buy food, we headed into the fenced-in area to play with the goats. Some were more aggressive than others, so if you have little ones, keep a close eye on them. Hand sanitizer was provided outside the door of the petting area.
The Food
We brought food for our son and planned to buy lunch at the zoo for our adult contingent. There are seven different food locations throughout the zoo, ranging from the Pizza & Snack Shack and the Jungle Hut (popcorn, pretzels, candy) to the more healthy Clarice’s Cupboard (fresh sandwiches, wraps, and salads). We opted for the healthy option and enjoyed our freshly made wraps along with some homemade oatmeal and chocolate chip cookies (so much for healthy!).
The Rides
There are mechanical kiddie rides, animal rides, a Sky Ride and a tire train ride. For the older kids (42” and taller) we recommend the Sky Ride, which is a 15-minute aerial tour of the zoo in a 2-person ski lift chair. This ride costs $5.00 per person, but we think it’s worth it as you get a nice break from the hilly paths and a great view of the animals and much of the zoo from above.
The Woodland Express is a tire train ride that takes you through a wooded area outside the main zoo area, giving you a view of North American animals in their natural setting. We missed this one by a couple minutes and didn’t feel like waiting the 15 minutes for the next train, but would hop on this train during our next visit.
With five circle mechanical rides, a moonbounce, and camel, pony, and elephant rides, there are plenty of options to choose from. If your kids are going to want to go on multiple rides, or if you have several kids, you will want to look into the ride ticket packages to save some money.
Final Thoughts
Southwick Zoo is one of the best zoos in Massachusetts! As a privately run zoo (no government funding), it’s more expensive than others at $18.75 for adults and $12.75 for kids 3-12 and seniors. We came across a coupon that got us four adult passes for $30.00, so look for deals before heading to this one. They also have a coupon posted on their website for $2 off per person. Even at full price this place is worth the admission, especially if you can pack a lunch. This will be a place we go year after year with our family.
Mom Says: There are tons of picnic tables, so it’s very easy to find a spot for your family to sit and eat. Even with the big crowd and eating at high noon we had no problem finding a table. If you are cold easily then bring a pullover; I was cold on an 80 degree day due to the shade throughout the zoo!
Dad Says: This place just kept going and going and rivals some of the country’s top big-city zoos. Do not worry about having to sit through a show with your kid – they are short programs designed to keep their attention.
What will I do with my Kids today is on the lips of every parent, every day. Once you get past breakfast, the grueling decisions start. Crazy Kids is the cure.
Mom Says: I like that they proactively offer hand sanitizer and a sign encouraging its use before you even walk in the door. It was great to see a staff member working with families in the arts & crafts and giving them ideas. 
Dad Says: This is worth a trip and if you live nearby, I’d think about a membership. We could have easily spent close to a full day here between the museum and the park area. This isn’t the biggest facility, so I assume on rainy days it gets crowded.
