Southwick Zoo
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.
Southwick Zoo
2 Southwick Street
Mendon, MA
http://www.southwickszoo.com/
What did you do this weekend?