Central Park Zoo: One of the Top New York Attractions for the Whole Family

Escape the concrete jungle and head to the zoo - a top family-friendly New York Attractions within minutes of the Paramount Hotel – a Times Square Hotel.

While Central Park is easily considered a destination in and of itself, the many New York Attractions available within the Park should not be missed – including the affordable, entertaining and educational Central Park Zoo.

With the release of DreamWorks’ Madagascar 3 fresh on kids’ minds, Central Park Zoo is sure to delight them more than usual as they enter the zoo to see the playful penguins enjoying a day in the sun.

Although Central Park Zoo is small compared to other New York Attractions, it has some big advantages, including its price (just $12.00 for adults and $7.00 for children), its fun and fascinating exhibits (a 4-D Theater, Polar Circle, and Tropic Zone, to name a few), and its convenient location (it is in the middle of New York City’s most famous park, after all).

Visitors are able to enjoy the Main Zoo and the Tisch Children’s Zoo, plus a 4-D Theater with 2 family-friendly short films, Planet Earth: Ice Worlds from BBC Earth and Dora & Diego’s 4-D Adventure. These 3-D films are given an extra sense of drama and excitement with 4th dimension sensory effects like water mist, blowing winds, scents, seat vibrations, and even snow! What could be a better way to give the family a brief reprieve from New York’s summer temperatures?

And the cool-weather theme continues with some of Central Park Zoo’s amazing animals, including one of the rarest mammals in the wild, which can be appreciated right here: the exquisite snow leopard. You’ll also find polar bears, a snow monkey, California Sea Lions, a red panda, as well as birds, reptiles and amphibians.

If you’re coming to New York to be close to the best New York Attractions, choose the historic Paramount Hotel - A Times Square Hotel located in the heart of exciting Times Square since the late 1920s. Paramount Hotel provides Guests with a lively Manhattan style and easy access to New York Activities and New York Attractions, including the Central Park Zoo.

While you’re at the Central Park Zoo, be sure to watch the gentoos and chinstraps (a.k.a. penguins) feast on fresh fish during their feedings that help recreate Antarctica in New York. The sea lion feed is also a crowd favorite as the Zoo’s sea lions – April, Clarisse, and Scooter – entertain with their impressive acrobatics.

Located near the southeast corner of Central Park, there is no on-site parking at the Zoo in Central Park, so it’s best to walk or ride.

If you’re there in time for lunch, grab a bite at the Dancing Crane Café, where you’ll find high-quality meals, snacks, beverages, and desserts that include fresh and healthy choices.

Central Park Zoo is open 365 days a year. During the summer months from May 28 – September 3, Central Park Zoo is open from 10:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. daily. If you want to avoid crowds, mornings during the summer will be less crowded than later in the day.

While General Admission Tickets include entry to the Main Zoo and Tisch Children’s Zoo, visitors can opt for Total Experience Tickets, which also include 1 admission to the 4-D Theater, and cost $18.00 for adults and $13.00 for children ages 3 – 12. Want to save a few more dollars? Check out the Central Park Zoo website for discount tickets when purchased online.

Plan to spend about 2 hours to get the most out of the intimate, yet delightful, Central Park Zoo.

About Paramount Hotel – A Times Square Hotel
The Paramount Hotel is unrivaled for combining style, comfort, and affordability in the most popular part of New York City. Having been part of the New York scene since the late 1920s, Paramount Hotel sits in the middle of Times Square, close to all things Manhattan – from the Broadway Theater District, Empire State Building, and neighborhoods of Greenwich Village and SoHo to Central Park, Rockefeller Center, and Madison Avenue.

Visiting New York? Choose Paramount Hotel - A Times Square Hotel located near Times Square, Javits Center, Madison Square Garden and Rockefeller Center.

A true Times Square Hotel - The Paramount Hotel is the ideal New York Hotel for Business and Leisure Guests.  The Paramount Hotel’s classic arched façade, dramatic lobby, the sleek, modern comfort in each of 597 Guest Rooms and Guest Suites with Boutique Furnishings and posh Bathrooms, on-site Boardroom, Fitness Center, Business Center, and friendly Concierge Service.