Zoo in Forest Park and Education Center

The Zoo in Forest Park occupies a prime piece of Springfield's spectacular 735-acre Forest Park — one of the finest urban parks in New England. The zoo itself is small and intimate, which is actually one of its advantages for families with young children: you can see everything without the overwhelming scale of a large metropolitan zoo, and the animals are often much closer to you.

The collection includes black bears, white-tailed deer, river otters, bald eagles, foxes, and a variety of birds. The river otter habitat is consistently the most popular exhibit — these are highly active animals and when they're in the mood to play, the underwater viewing window provides genuinely spectacular viewing. Ask about feeding times when you arrive.

The zoo sits in the middle of Forest Park, which means your visit can easily extend into the park itself. There's a splash pad, a pond, extensive trails, picnic areas, and in summer, a carousel. In winter, the park hosts Bright Nights — one of the largest holiday light displays in New England, which has nothing to do with the zoo itself but makes Forest Park worth a winter visit in its own right.

Admission is modest by zoo standards (around $14 adults, $9 children) and parking is free in the park's lots. The zoo is about 90 minutes west of Boston, making it a reasonable day trip destination when combined with other Pioneer Valley activities like the Basketball Hall of Fame or Historic Deerfield.

Check forestparkzoo.org for current seasonal hours before you go, as the zoo's schedule varies considerably by season.