The word “city” often evokes thoughts of concrete skyscrapers and traffic jams, but nestled within the Franklin Park neighborhood of Boston you’ll find the Franklin Park Zoo – 72 acres of landscapes and animal exhibits that can make you feel like you’re in the middle of the jungle, exploring the outback, or back home on the farm instead of in the middle of one of the most populated cities in the nation.
Save money on your admission to the Franklin Park Zoo with a Go Boston Pass. One pass that includes Franklin Park Zoo as well as over 30 other attractions and tours for one price. Also, you can save 10% off a pass with coupon code CMGOCITY10 . The code takes 10% off even if the pass is on sale.
Why You’ll Love the Franklin Park Zoo
Within the walls of the Franklin Park Zoo you’ll take a journey through the continents as you stroll through the exhibits.
You can step right into the grasslands with the Serengeti Crossing exhibit. Watch ostriches, Plains zebras, warthogs and wildebeest run free (behind a safety enclosure, of course). Next door, Africa awaits in the Kalahari Kingdom exhibit. Watch lions and tigers roam near the bongos and southern ground hornbills.
Moving along, you’ll come across the Giraffe Savannah. Here you’ll find the endangered Grevy’s zebras and the giraffes.
Ready for some adventure? Hop on the Rhino Rescue 6D ride. It’s your job to save a rhino family from poachers! The 3D film combined with motion stimulated seats and atmospheric special effects puts you right in the heart of the action.
Next stop, the Tropical Forest! This indoor landscape is home to a wide variety of animals, including the popular gorillas. Check the schedule when you arrive to ensure you don’t miss the daily Zookeeper Encounter and Gorilla Forage Feed! As you make your way through the building you’ll be greeted by tropical birds that fly above.
Speaking of birds, up next is the Bird’s World exhibit. Watch the flamingos practice their balance after the daily Bird’s World Zookeeper Encounter, where you can learn about the many birds that live within the zoo.
Head on over to the Outback Trail, where you can get a kick out of the kangaroos and catch a glimpse of birds native to Australia.
You’ll be wowed by the Butterfly Landing exhibit. Inside you’ll walk through vibrant gardens and sit by a serene pond accompanied by everyone’s favorite insect – the graceful butterfly.
The fun’s not over yet! Before you leave, make sure you stop by the Franklin Farm and catch up with the farm animals. You can get up close and personal with goats, sheep, cows, chicken and donkeys!
Within the park, you’ll also find a large playground for the kids, plus two restaurants and a snack stand. You can pick up a souvenir at the Things Wild Gift Shop.
Do you have a budding zookeeper on your hands? You can schedule a behind-the-scenes tour led by the zoo staff. You’ll get to go backstage to meet the giraffes or barnyard animals. Tours must be scheduled two weeks in advance.
What Makes the Franklin Zoo so Awesome?
The Franklin Park Zoo is an Association of Zoos and Aquariums accredited zoo. They work hard to ensure the survival of endangered species. One animal in the Species Survival Plan program is the Grevy’s zebra, which are kept in the Giraffe Savannah exhibit. Make sure you check these beautiful creatures out on your visit. There are only 2,500 left in the entire world!
What Else Is in the Neighborhood?
Within Franklin Park you will find so much more to explore. Blow off some steam on the basketball courts, ballfields or tennis courts. Go back in time and checkout the 99 Steps and Bear Dens. There’s also plenty of picnic areas and playgrounds that are perfect places to have some family time.
Next door to the zoo, you can play a game of golf at the William J. Devine Golf Course.
Who’ll Have the Most Fun at the Franklin Park Zoo?
The question should be who, won’t have fun at the Franklin Park Zoo? Anyone who wants to observe and learn about the wild animals will have a blast. Kids will have the most fun of all as they get introduced to the animal kingdom.
Before you jump in the car and head to the Franklin Park Zoo, you should know that some of the exhibits are seasonal, including the Kalahari Kingdom, Rhino Rescue 6D and Butterfly Landing. Other exhibits may close during extreme weather for the benefit of the animals.