The Turtle Back Zoo offers a fun and interactive experience for the whole family to enjoy and learn about various animals.

There’s so much to do at this small zoo, you can easily spend several hours with your family wandering around the various exhibits. You can travel all over the world from African Adventure (giraffes!) to Amazing Asia (red panda!), the Great Plains (bison!), and Australia (wallabies!).

A popular choice is the Reptile House featuring a Komodo Dragon, lizards, snakes, and even toucans! Turtle Back Junction train ride is next to the reptile house. It’s included with admission so can get pretty crowded; be prepared to wait in line for 2-3 trains. It is a nice ride through a part of South Mountain Reservation and you travel past the giraffes.

Also included is the nearby touch tank with stingrays. This aquatic area is always great fun for the kids with playful sea lions, an otter, alligator, and gorgeous pink flamingos.

Another favorite that has been at the zoo since I was a kid is Prairie Dog Hill. The prairie dogs are hilarious to watch and kids can go into underground tunnels and “pop up” from burrows next to them (this just opened back up after being closed due to COVID).

There are some picnic areas near the prairie dogs and also a cafe open during lunchtime. Some of this area can be reserved for parties as well. We love that you can bring your own food/drinks inside.

A few paid activities can be found inside the zoo like the carousel, pony ride, and seasonal butterfly tent. For only $2 these are very affordable add-ons. There are also options to buy food to feed certain animals like birds in the aviary, goats at Essex Farm, and the  giraffes.

In between Essex Farm and Amazing Asia is a prehistoric playground, your kids won’t ever want to leave so you may try to sneak around it if you don’t have time or want to spend a while watching kids climb dinosaurs and go down slides.

The whole zoo is stroller friendly and restrooms and benches are located throughout.