NYC Cool: A Winter Day in the Bronx

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When it comes to cool activities to do in New York City, the possibilities are quite literally endless. After living here for two years, I thought I had seen much of what the city had to offer. That is, until one crisp winter morning, when my boyfriend Mo suggested we go to the Bronx…..!

What’s to See in the Bronx?

The BEST activity for a day in the Bronx is the Bronx Zoo, of course! Followed by a restaurant in Little Italy of the Bronx! The Botanical Garden, is also located next door to the zoo.

Here’s the twist on our particular day in the Bronx: It was December! My immediate thought was that December is definitely not the best time for outdoor activities unless its seeing the Rockefeller Tree, right?

It turned out to be quite a diverse and relaxing day. I highly recommend a winter day in the Bronx to anyone who wants to get away from the frantic Christmas tourist season of Manhattan for awhile!

How Do I Get to the Bronx Zoo?

First things first, the Bronx may be a little hike from where you are staying if you’re in Manhattan. But I promise it’s worth it! And there are some easy way to get there, depending on where you are coming from in Manhattan.

A simple way from Madison Avenue is the BxM11 Express bus that makes stops from 26th street to 99th and brings you right to the gate of the Bronx Zoo.

You can also take the Metro North or the D train uptown to Fordham. From there, if you’re up for it, it’s a 20 min walk along the sidewalks lining every road to the Bronx Zoo. Another option is to hail a cab for a quick 10 minute drive. You should expect a $10 fare.

For more directions from other areas, you can look at the Bronx Zoo’s website here for more options.

The Bronx Zoo itself is gorgeous from the moment you approach the front gate. And in December, it was serene! Looking at it, you can imagine the teeming crowds of tourists that sweep through it during the summer, but on this day we had it all to ourselves.

The sea lions are the first to greet you as you walk in, with the surrounding Zoo Center, Birds of Prey and Madagascar Exhibit buildings. And do you know what the BEST part is about visiting in the winter?? Many of the animals are much more active in the colder months than in the hot summer! So.. less people AND peppier animals!

How Much Does the Bronx Zoo Cost?

Well, FIRST you should know that the Bronx Zoo is free on Wednesdays!

But if you can’t make a Wednesday, or want to avoid the crowds who come on that day, here are the prices below:

	General Admission	Total Experience
Adult	$22.95	$39.95
Child	$14.95	$29.95
Senior	$20.95	$34.95

A Winter TIP for tickets at the Bronx Zoo: While in the summer you have the option to buy a General Admissions ticket for walking the exterior grounds only, in the winter you should really buy the Total Experience pass for the inside exhibits as well.

That will open up the indoor experiences like Congo Gorilla Forest and Jungle World, which are the main attractions in the winter and summer both! Some of the animals, like the gorillas and the giraffes, will only be seen indoors in the winter.

The Total Experience will also allow you to learn about one of the greatest features of the zoo, which is the impact it has on saving animal species and habitat preservation.

Throughout each exhibit there are panels that educate visitors about environmental factors, and about the ecological effortsthey are working toward with local communities around the world to preserve animals and nature.

They even have a feature where you can choose which species you want your admission money to go toward. I chose elephants! Although on second thought, maybe I should have chosen the Giraffes…

Below is Leo, a snow leopard that was orphaned as a cub in Pakistan. He was transported to the US because they didn’t have facilities to care for him back home. The Bronx Zoo saves, breeds and reintroduces wildlife back into their habitats all over the globe!

Be sure to pull up their mobile-friendly website app.bronxzoo.com which gives you a map of this 265 acre zoo, plus keeps you updated on the events on the current day. From penguin feedings to seasonal camel rides, you can keep up to date on what’s available!

OH! And don’t forget the Bronx Zoo also has a zipline and rope course now, the Treetop Adventure! It’s hard to see everything the zoo has to offer in one day. But we did our best!

The Little Italy of Bronx for Cool Eateries

After we were done with what felt was our solo Day Tour at the Bronx Zoo (we did run into several large groups of grade school outings though…way too adorable,) we walked 10 minutes down the road to Arthur Avenue. This is the area known as the Little Italy of Bronx.

SO many choices for shopping and eating, drinking fabulous espresso and desserts! There’s a whole list of eateries you can choose from listed here on the official website for the Bronx Little Italy. It’s wonderful to see that the grandchildren and great grandchildren of many Italian immigrants who settled and raised their families in this area, haven’t lost their culture and the small town flavor of this area.

But you don’t have to be Italian to live, work or visit here! We went to a traditional Albanian restaurant called Teuta Qebaptore, where we tasted some authentic traditional food of albania.

Then we headed over to one of the many bakeries to get some dessert! Addeo and Sons Bakery has been here for generations and generations!

Arthur Avenue was an amazing cultural experience and a fun place to explore after our time at the Bronx Zoo. The way Mo tells it, there are fun festivals and parades throughout the summer, so stay tuned for a summer post!

The NY Botanical Gardens

Right next door to the Bronx Zoo is the beautiful Botanical Gardens! Although it is open all year round, we figured we would save this visit for Summer.Plus we came on a Monday and they are open all week EXCEPT most Mondays. But it makes a great addition to the itinerary during warmer weather!

How Much is the Botanical Garden?

	All-Garden Pass Weekend	All-Garden Pass Weekday	Grounds-Only (NYC Resident only)
Adult	$28	$23	$15
Senior	$25	$25	$7
Student	$25	$25	$7
Child	$12	$10	$4
Under 2	Free	Free	Free

Grounds-Only Passes are only available for NYC residents, and they have limited access to the indoor exhibitions.

Stay in touch!! Do you have any questions about NYC? Feel free to ask in the comment section as I live here in Manhattan.

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Related Questions:

What Are the Hours of Operation of the Bronx Zoo?

The Bronx Zoo opens at 10 AM all year long. The closing hours vary from 530PM on a summer weekend, 5PM on Summer week days, and then to 430 PM in Winter.

What are the Hours of Operation at the NY Botanical Gardens?

The NY Botanical Gardens are open year round from 10 AM to 6 PM. With a variety of outdoor and indoor gardens and exhibits, there is much to do in all seasons.

Is Parking Free at the Bronx Zoo?

Parking at the Bronx Zoo is $17 for all-day for cars, $20 for buses. Weekend Preferred Parking at Fountain Circle is $23. This is the closest parking lot to the zoo. For members of the Bronx Zoo, parking is free.