Central Park Zoo

The Central Park Zoo sits right in the middle of Central Park, making it one of the most convenient animal encounters you can have in Manhattan. It's a smaller, more manageable zoo than you might expect — which is honestly a feature, not a bug, when you're wrangling a toddler. You can do the whole thing in an hour or two without anyone melting down.

Highlights include the penguin feeding area, the sea lion pool (check the feeding schedule when you arrive), and the snow leopard exhibit. The Tisch Children's Zoo section is especially well suited for the littlest visitors, with goats and other animals kids can get close to.

The zoo is run by the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), the same organization behind the Bronx Zoo, Prospect Park Zoo, and Queens Zoo. Admission is paid, and tickets are available online in advance. It's a year-round destination — some exhibits are indoors, making it a solid rainy-day option too.

Strollers are welcome throughout the zoo, and bathrooms are on site. It's located on the east side of Central Park, near 64th Street, easily reachable by subway.