Top Five Reasons to Visit the Central Park Zoo in the Winter

The Central Park Zoo is a New York City gem. While much smaller than the famous Bronx Zoo, it has its own special kind of charm. It was beautifully renovated in 1988 with naturalistic settings that better suit the animals' needs and that are more appealing to visitors as well.

Most people think of going to the zoo in the summer. On a recent visit, though, I discovered there is much to be said for going in the winter. Here are the top five reasons to visit the Central Park Zoo during the winter months:

In the winter, the zoo is not crowded. In the summer, you may have to wait in line to get into the popular Tropic Zone, but in the winter, you can walk right in. Throughout the zoo, you'll be able to walk right up and see the animals without crowds standing in your way.

The polar bears seem happy. The Central Park Zoo has a large attractive space for the polar bears, who are among the zoo's most popular attractions. The bears have different levels of rocks to climb and a big pool where they can swim. I'm sure the zoo takes good care of the bears year-round, but it's hard to imagine that the bears are thrilled to be in New York during the city's sweltering hot and humid summers. If you see them during the winter, they should be more in their element.

You can warm up in the Tropic Zone Rainforest. This indoor exhibit is steamy hot even on the coldest days. It's a fascinating room filled with colorful exotic birds flying around uncaged. You can climb up to the second floor and be in the treetops. There are some caged animals too, including snakes and an adorable group of playful lemurs.

You can buy beautiful animal-themed tree ornaments and holiday gifts at the Zootique, the zoo's gift shop. It's located outside the zoo gates, so zoo admission isn't necessary.

When you're done with the zoo, you can go ice-skating, or simply watch the skaters, in Central Park's Wollman rink, which is a short walk away. There's a platform above the rink where you can stand and watch or sit at tables, and an outdoor snack bar where you can get a bite to eat or a hot chocolate with whipped cream.

The Central Park Zoo is open every day of the year. Winter hours (November 1 to April 1) are 10:00 am to 4:30 pm. Admission is $7/$9/$12 for children/seniors/adults, with children under 3 getting in free. For more information, see the Zoo's website.