Buffalo Zoo

Accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, the Buffalo Zoo is the third-oldest zoo in the United States (founded in 1875 on the former site of the Deer Paddock at Delaware Park) and is second in popularity only to Niagara Falls among tourist attractions in the Niagara Frontier, welcoming 400,000 visitors each year. The 23-acre (9.5-ha) Zoo boasts exciting thematic displays that play host to 1,200 different animals, such as elephants, bears, otters, sea lions, hyenas, and of course, bison. Some of the animals, such as a resident peacock, are allowed to roam freely on the walkways, allowing visitors to get closer to nature than they would in most zoos. In 2002, a new Master Plan was unveiled that will see the Zoo thoroughly modernized over the next 15 years. Under this framework, the Vanishing Animals, EcoStation, Otter Creek, Sea Lion Cove and South African Rainforest exhibits have already opened, with a new Children's Zoo and other exhibits slated for the near future.

• outdoors
• family

Address

300 Parkside Ave.

Getting there

Metro Bus 11 or 32

Hours

Summer: Sat-Thu 10AM-5PM, Fri 10AM-7:30PM Winter: Daily 10AM-4PM

Price

$10, students and seniors $8, children 2-14 $7, children under 2 free. Parking $3.50. Train and carousel rides $2

Website

buffalozoo.org (opens in a new tab)