Back in September, I took a quick trip to Central New York to check a bunch of things off of that to-do list and one of those was seeing some animals at the Rosamond Gifford Zoo.
According to their website, the Rosamond Gifford Zoo at Burnet Park was founded in 1914 and is among the top 10 percent of zoos in North America awarded accreditation by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums. The zoo is dedicated to connecting people to the natural world by providing engaging guest experiences, exceptional animal care and unparalleled conservation education. The zoo is home to more than 700 animals representing 216 different species — from tiny poison dart frogs to 8,000-pound Asian elephants — many of them threatened or endangered.
For how many animals that this zoo houses, it doesn’t feel that big and everything is attainable. I could go through every animal that I saw (and there were a lot) but the highlights are the elephants, the monkeys, the giraffes and the penguins. It’s set up really well and the map is very easy to follow to not miss your favorite animal. Just be sure to wear your walking shoes because depending on the direction you go, there is a point that is uphill for a bit.
It’s a great place to stop with kids, there’s a huge parking lot, though it does seem like it’s in a weird place when you’re driving up to it. Don’t forget to take a look at the map in advance to plan your trip (here)!
