Tim had the day off on Monday so we decided to head out for
some family fun. The problem? Family fun is expensive! Our kids are 4, 3, and 2
years old so their attention span is limited and our timeframe is limited (with
lunch/naps) so I hate to spend a lot of money going places. Oh, and I’m cheap,
too. That’s why I was pretty pumped when I found the Buttonwood Zoo in New Bedford,
MA. It was PERFECT for us!
It is small enough that the kids can walk around pretty easily but
still has great animals in large displays. There were bears, mountain lions,
elephants, bison, lots of amphibian/reptiles, a large farm area, and more! On
top of that they have a small train that you can ride around the zoo, a
carousel, and pony rides. We also went on a Monday so they had the Toe Jam
Puppet Band performing at 10:30am and 12:30pm. Although there are small additional
charges for the rides and concert, it is still reasonably priced. Our family of
five did the zoo admission, train ride, and concert and we still spent $20 less
than general admission alone at neighboring, larger zoos.
The Buttonwood Zoo also has lots of tables and shady open
spaces for you to have a picnic. I LOVE places that let you bring your own food
and don’t force you to purchase their food. That being said, if purchasing food
is more your thing, they have the Bear’s Den Café that you can buy whatever you
may need. There is also a large playground next door to the zoo if you want to
check that out after your trip. We were wiped out so we didn’t get a chance to but maybe next time. We’ll definitely be heading back!
Me and the kiddos checking out the bison |
Isabelle and the elephants |
Henry loving the train ride! |
*I received no compensation from the zoo. We enjoyed our trip so I'm simply sharing with you!