• About
  • Blog
  • Working together
  • Testimonials
  • Contact

Girl Gone Travel

Girl Gone Travel

North America, Travel
/
July 11, 2009

Prospect Park Zoo, Brooklyn, NY

Enjoyed this post? Give it some love and share!
Share

Many times when visitors think of “Great New York City Parks” they think about Central Park.  And of Central Park is pretty great, amazing even, but it’s not the only park in New York to be so.  I have written about Riverside Park, but not so much about Prospect Park, in Brooklyn.  And though in this adventure, my family and I only visited a small segment of  park, this small segment where they started their journey is, in my opinion, a great place to start for first time visiting families.

We were taking advantage of one of the sunniest weekend days we have had in a long time.  The past few weekends have been overcast and threatened rain here and there, but this weekend was anything but that. As we made our way into Prospect Park Zoo, the boys were excited and already talking about the animals they wanted to see.  However, much like Central Park Zoo, and unlike the Bronx Zoo, this location is much smaller, and the list of animals that can be seen are limited, however, it is a perfect visit, and I found it especially perfect for smaller children who often can get overwhelmed with too much at the same time.

IMG_1380

IMG_1383

The space is small and offers no cafeteria service other than vending machines with cold drinks and sandwiches (and maybe a small hot dog cart), but there is a nice eating area, so pack a picnic.  The center of the zoo is the Sea Lion Court.  When we arrived the sea lions were swimming around having fun and performing for the crowds.

IMG_1381

IMG_1382Before we could make our way through the too see the animals though, the kids discovered the Discovery Center.  This is a fun place for little ones to use their imagination and pretend they are scientists, or as my children did, pretend they are caring for the (plush) animals they had there with the (toy) veterinarian equipment at their disposal. They had books, and a tent resting area, and even a puppet stage to put on a show.  My advice to any parent visiting the zoo however is, if possible, leave this spot for last in your trip because the kids do not, did not want to leave.  And not only my kids – a few parents/caregivers were having problems moving along as well!

IMG_1384

IMG_1385

IMG_1386When we were finally able to convince our children that there was still so much more to see, we made it towards the Barn and Garden. We made our way past a short winding trail, across a wooden bridge where the kids stopped to admire the fish, and I took pictures of the flowers.

IMG_1388

IMG_1389

IMG_1390

They walked into the barn and found sheep, cows, colts, baby chicks, and goats, resting peacefully in their barn, coming by to see if the hand greeting them had any snacks to offer.  The boys enjoyed cow milking simulator and found it to be not as easy as one would think.

IMG_1392

IMG_1393

IMG_1396

IMG_1399We then made our way through the Discovery Trail, the boys really enjoyed this location, and so did we.  It was probably the most kid-friendly part of the zoo (for little ones). We saw kangaroos, and climbed up caves and tunnels.  We jumped on lily pads, sat in eggshells and got caught in a giant spider web.

IMG_1402

IMG_1403

IMG_1404

IMG_1408

IMG_1410

IMG_1414

IMG_1422Next stop was the Animal Lifestyle center.  The boys really enjoyed watching the baboons and other monkeys.  They joined in as the crowd watched them playing and socialize with the others…with one of them even came up to the window to say hi.

IMG_1427

IMG_1431

IMG_1430

IMG_1428Soon it was time for lunch, but not only for us but for the animals too!  The sea lions were active and looking for their caregivers, calling out for their fish and splashing water at the crowd nearby as they did tricks and played around.

IMG_1435The day at the zoo was wonderful.  For a zoo its size it really has a lot to offer, and again, a perfect spot for little ones to explore, play, and see some really great animals without getting overwhelmed.

As we exited the zoo, we walked further into the park, making our way to the Prospect Park Carousel located in “The Children’s Corner”. We walked past Lefferts House, which is a historic site representing 200 years of New York history, and though we didn’t walk in, we hope to do so on the next trip.

IMG_1437

IMG_1442

IMG_1444There was still so much more to see and do, but the kids had run out of steam, and so had twe.  We made our way out the park, past the Brooklyn Botanical Garden and towards home.  Another great adventure on another beautiful New York City day.

IMG_1446

Check out Heart of Brooklyn website for information on activities and events taking place in and around Prospect Park!

I had left my camera home this day (gasp!!) so these images were taken with my iPhone.

New York City Family Travel Tips

[subscribe2]

Related

Enjoyed this post? Give it some love and share!
Share
Pin this Post
Share this Post
Carol Cain

Brooklyn native Carol is happiest when on an adventure, whether close to home or farther away. She is a small business owner and travel writer. In addition to creating Girl Gone Travel, she is the Founder and Principal of Brave World Media, a social media marketing, communications, and branding agency. She's mom to three wonderful sons and wife to a handsome Irish/Scot. She lives, works, and plays in the beautiful Finger Lakes region of NY.

You May Also Like...

Christmas Tree Hunting in Long Island, NY

December 12, 2008

Fort Tryon Park, Washington Heights, NY

December 10, 2008

Winter afternoon in the Bronx Zoo, NY

December 16, 2008
6 Comments
  • Beth
    July 11, 2009

    Looks absolutely perfect for the little guys! I love the eggshell pics. I am so glad that if ,or I should say, when I get to bring my guys to NY you will be there to play tour guide! You would do that for us right?

    Reply
  • Carol
    July 12, 2009

    OF COURSE! Say when and we will be here to show you all NYC has to offer!

    Reply
  • Vlad Veras
    July 15, 2009

    Took your advice, packed up the family (From the Bronx) and headed to Brooklyn. Let me just say "Thank You", "Thank You", "Thank You"!!! We had a blast at Prospect Park Zoo, my 6 yr. old really enjoyed himself and did I mention, so did we! I've got to say Brooklyn never looked better. We plan on visiting the Brooklyn Botanical Garden this upcoming weekend. My wife and I really enjoy all the valuable advice you share with the world, once again thank you for making a trip to Brooklyn a great family experience!

    Reply
  • Carol
    July 15, 2009

    Hi Vlad! Thank you for your comment! I'm soooo glad you went and loved it! Thank you for the kind, sweet words. It makes me so happy to know that families are benefiting from our Adventures : ) Have fun at the Botanical Garden!

    Reply
  • Ice Skating in Prospect Park, Brooklyn, NY
    December 3, 2009

    […] Prospect Park is one of Brooklyn’s most beautiful parks, where residents and visitors to the area can enjoy many of the same activities they would in Manhattan’s Central Park. Wollman Rink is a great place for winter fun all season long. Take lessons, throw a skating party, take a leisurely spin around the ice, and enjoy a snack and a hot chocolate. […]

    Reply
  • Ice Skating in Prospect Park, Brooklyn, NY : 511enews.com
    December 4, 2009

    […] Prospect Park is one of Brooklyn’s most beautiful parks, where residents and visitors to the area can enjoy many of the same activities they would in Manhattan’s Central Park. Wollman Rink is a great place for winter fun all season long. Take lessons, throw a skating party, take a leisurely spin around the ice, and enjoy a snack and a hot chocolate. […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Previous Post
NYC Travel Photography: A Summer Day
Next Post
Bastille Day Street Fair and other Street Festivals in NYC

About me

Hi! I'm Carol! I am an award-winning travel blogger, a keynote speaker, and the Principal and owner of Brave World Media, a social media marketing, communications, and branding agency. I a wife to a handsome Irish/Scot and a mom to 3 sons and 2 puppies. Welcome to my blog where I share stories of my travels and professional public relations insights and advice. Thank you for reading and for your support!

Carol Cain

Categories

  • Asia5 Post(s)
  • Caribbean17 Post(s)
  • Central America4 Post(s)
  • Europe53 Post(s)
  • North America316 Post(s)
  • Oceana1 Post(s)

Contact

  • carol@girlgonetravel.com

Follow @girlgonetravel

If you are a foodie traveler, Madison, WI is a des If you are a foodie traveler, Madison, WI is a destination for you. This list of good eats were all within close proximity to each other and spots we made time for during our short weekend visit. So definitely note that this doesn’t even begin to cover the tip of the iceberg, but makes a good starter list!

📍@ShortStackEats in the heart of Downtown Madison is clearly a UW favorite. Loved their pancakes! We thought it was a pricey for breakfast, and only offered drip coffee, but the scene was fun, food was good, and service was friendly.
📍@SardineMadison is a waterfront French bistro that has stood the test of time (we’ve been coming here since we lived in Madison!). It can feel very corporate some nights, but their Happy Hour and brunch are definite highlights and it’s a really nice dining experience overall.
📍@EatattheAudrey impressed us! It’s not your usual “hotel restaurant” and I would say it easily stands alone as an eatery worth checking out in Madison. Great breakfast options, cozy vibes, nice bar, and good service!
📍@RamenStation1124 good, affordable ramen.
📍BlindShotSocialClub We really loved this spot for brunch (sorry, was enjoying the company and totally spaced out on capturing food images!). Golf fans will love hitting the putt here (you can reserve a private room too), and what I though was most cool was the delicious and wide selection of non-alcoholic cocktails to choose from. This place is a total vibe!
📍@StringsRamen is a chain, but I have to say it is some of the best ramen I have had in a long time. I especially loved how you can choose your ramen but heat level but also by Japanese region which allowed us to taste a couple of new flavors!
📍@Parthenongyros has been around awhile (hubby recalls coming here during his college years!) and was voted #1 take out in Madison! Though we indulged inside and away from the snow. A delicious, quick bite when strolling around State Street.

And again, this is just a starter list. There is so much more to eat and enjoy in this top foodie city! What other spots would you add to this list?

#madisonwi #foodiegram #foodiedestinations #goodeats @destinationmadison
I love to travel. It has always been important to I love to travel. It has always been important to my family. My parents got my first passport weeks after I was born. They couldn’t afford to travel like I do now, but they understood, as immigrants, the absolute privilege that comes attached to having that shiny blue American booklet and they wanted me to have it.

I was yet again reminded of my privilege when my travel back home on this last trip was delayed over 24 hours. I have a village in place to make sure my kids were ok. Having my own business meant I didn’t have to report in to anyone, and was still able to work remotely so none of my clients were inconvenienced by it. Though the airline covered our hotel and food, we never worried that we couldn’t do it ourselves otherwise. While we were annoyed, we weren’t stressed.

So while I love to travel, and I love sharing my travels with you, I acknowledge that being able to do so, and dealing with the consistent travel disruptions so prevalent today without worries is a privilege…one that started with a little blue booklet that gives me more access to the world than some others do.

And I want us all in this travel space to be reminded of this. Of how lucky we are. Of our privilege to access and time and money.

So let us travel with grace and awareness. Let us remain rooted in reality and perspective. Acknowledging that our escapism isn’t one so easily accessible to others. Understanding that this is also why local stories have as much value as those to exclusive destinations, if not more. And, never forgetting, especially in the travel influencer and media space, that were it not for hosted campaigns and paid-for travel opportunities, most of us wouldn’t be able to afford the lifestyle we so beautifully curate online.

It doesn’t matter how often you travel, or how far. Just that hopefully you will be able to gift yourself the experience of doing so and experiencing something new.

#travel #travelmedia #travelinfluencer #wheretonext
As I work on compiling all the good eats I experie As I work on compiling all the good eats I experienced in Madison, WI, I have to ask: what is your favorite meal of the day, and where did you experience a highlight of the same?

I am a huge fan of breakfast. This beauty was a blueberry pancake order from @shortstackeats. Pancakes are not a big thing for me, but these were pretty perfect. I am craving them still. 🥞♥️

#madisonwi #goodeats #travelingfoodie @destinationmadison
We got back on a plane! Here are scenes from a qui We got back on a plane! Here are scenes from a quick trip to Madison, WI - my first time back in 14 years! Though we were here for family matters, we did take a moment to explore a bit of what used to be a place we called home.

We couldn’t do anything else until we drove around Lake Monona, where we once had a home, and took in the wintery views (there is an epic 13.2-mile trail that loops around the lake that is worth exploring if you visit!). Though our time was limited, we were able to enjoy some of it along State Street exploring the shops, eateries, the FREE @mmocamadison, and the beautiful architecture of the WI State Capitol Building (the Dane County Farmers Market will soon pick up again - Saturdays, April 15 thru November 11, 2023 around the Capitol Building and it is one of the best farmers markets anywhere!). 

We booked a room at the @hiltonmadison Monona Terrace to be within walking distance of all the downtown fun (tip: for a room with a lake view make sure to book at the upper levels above 10th floor for an unobstructed view of Lake Monona). 

Madison, WI is a skip and a hop from the Finger Lakes so this short and sweet visit didn’t feel difficult at all. And we absolutely loved the winter scenery and seeing what has changed (a lot) since we lived here.

Stay tuned for my list of where we ate!

Have you ever been to Madison, WI?

#madisonwi #weekendgetaway #wisconsin @destinationmadison
The joy of that first sip of the day. #randommom The joy of that first sip of the day. 

#randommomentsarethebest
I think my husband enjoys it, but still can’t be I think my husband enjoys it, but still can’t believe how easily I’ve been waking up in the early mornings since our last trip. Not sure how to shake it, or if it’s temporary, but here it is: the rare sighting of me up and moving early in the day. Am I a morning person now? Has travel ever permanently changed any of your habits?

#morningperson #lifeinthecountry #newme <-😂

Copyright © 2023 Girl Gone Travel | Privacy Policy | Copyright Notice