I love animal encounters. Nothing is as exciting as having the chance to play, touch or hold an adorable animal. I passionately search out these experiences. Our family vacations tend to revolve around these animal encounters. They are my favorite memories, produce the best pictures, and bring out such happiness in me and my kids. Naturally, hunting down the best animal encounters is a passionate endeavor for me.
If you are looking for a good Christmas or birthday present, these encounters make amazing presents for the animal lovers in your life!
Buffalo/Niagara Region
Buffalo Zoo
The Buffalo Zoo is the 3rd oldest zoo in New York State. Many of the zoo’s original buildings are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Yet, there is nothing outdated about this zoological park. The Buffalo Zoo has undergone a number of major renovations in the last few years, to provide the animals with enclosures that are as close to their natural habitat as possible.
The Buffalo Zoo has a number of animals encounters that allow visitors to spend time with some of their most popular residents, as well as try some unique experiences such as shadowing the zoo veterinarian. Guests who arrive early to the zoo have an opportunity to sign up for one of two encounters, feeding the giraffes and going behind the scenes in the Rhino enclosure. These are popular and fill up fast.
Aquarium of Niagara
I wouldn’t call this aquarium a hidden gem, it just sometimes gets forgotten due to the enormous draw of Niagara Falls. However, it is definitely a gem. This beautiful aquarium has beautiful exhibits including their newest addition, Aliens of the Sea. The Aquarium of Niagara is also a marine mammal rescue facility.
Children 6 and older can have the chance to interact and play in a 30-minute encounter with either a Humboldt Penguin or a rescued Harbor Seal. Children under the age of 12 must be accompanied by an adult, and general admission is included in the cost of the encounter.
Prehistoric World
This is an incredible reptile zoo that encourages interaction with the majority of its animals. The docents are very interactive with visitors and are continuously taking reptiles and snakes out of their enclosures to teach about them and give visitors a closer look at these beautiful critters; often letting guests touch or hold them. This entire zoo is one giant animal encounter. I guarantee you will leave here 1000X more informed about snakes and reptiles.
Hidden Valley Animal Encounters
Embark on a safari where animals such as zebras, water buffalo, and camels approach your safari vehicles looking to be fed by lots of excited visitors. The safari vehicle travels over the 60-acre park. once your safari is over, enjoy the Small Animal Adventure. This is a petting zoo for smaller and more docile animals, which comes with the admission price of the safari ride. This is a popular spot in the summer. If you visit November – to March, your family can enjoy an old-fashioned sleigh ride.
Finger Lakes Region
Seneca Park Zoo
The Seneca Park Zoo has recently begun offering some pretty unique animal experiences such as an encounters where you can meet the zoo’s elephants, interact with the friendly sea lions, or feed the giraffes. While the giraffe feeding are only seasonal (Memorial Day through Labor Day), the other two encounters are offered year round. In addition to the fantastic encounters offered at the Seneca Park Zoo, this is a gorgeous zoo that has undergone (and continues to undergo) major renonvations and upgrades to the Zoo’s buildings and animal enclosures to create habitats with lots of space and enrichment activities for each animal.
Central Region
The Wild Animal Park
I know as a writer and as a representative of this website, I should remain objective and not have “favorites.” Well, I do have a favorite, and this park is it. This is probably the most amazing zoological park in New York. We had an incredible time at this park. Aside from just being able to feed giraffes, camels, water buffalo, zebras, and goats (lots of babies, by the way), the entire complex was full of the most beautiful animals I have ever seen. They literally have every big cat imaginable. The best part…we were able to hold a baby kangaroo! It was amazing!
During the winter, The Wild Animal Park offers special encounters: Make a reservation to interact with either a sloth, an otter, a rhino, a penguin, a capybara, and a giraffe. We enjoyed both the otter encounter and a capybara encounter and they were both fantastic! My kids just loved it.
Binghamton Zoo at Ross Park
The 5th oldest zoo in the United States, the Binghamton Zoo at Ross Park opened in 1875. The zoo is part of the Survival Species Program designed to educate and promote the survival of endangered species. This zoo has had major renovations in the last year, making it that much more incredible.
Guest can participate in some incredible once-in-a-lifetime encounters. Reservations are required in advance as these encounters. The most popular encounter is the Red Panda Encounter which often needs to be booked months in advance. The New World Tropics lets visitors get up close and personal with a two-toed sloth and a prehensile-tailed porcupine. If you really want to walk on the wild side, you can participate in the snow leopard experience.
We participated in the Red Panda Encounter and it was one of the most incredible experiences of my life. We were able to feed and pet one of these incredibly beautiful creatures.
The Animal Adventure Park
Animal Adventure Park is a privately-owned zoo that has a number of exciting animals encounters. Visitors can purchase food to feed some of the animals in the zoo, such as carrots to feed the giraffes and camels, lettuce for the tortoise, and grapes to feed the monkeys, lemurs, and parrots. Purchase a lunch pail to be able to feed them all. The best animal experience at the Animal Adventure Park is feeding the sloths in the Sloth Encounter.
Utica Zoo
The Utica Zoo might just be about the most amazing place on this list for animal encounters. They have some seriously incredible ones. This zoo is part of the Species Survival Plan dedicated to working against extinction. They have 6 encounters that are just about the incredible experiences you can have anywhere in the entire state. The Animal Ambassador Encounter lets visitors interact with several of the zoo’s animal ambassadors. Hand-feed Red Pandas, Nigerian Dwarf Goats, or Bactrian Camels. Learn how to give commands to Californian Sea Lions or get an up-close and personal encounter with the Zoo’s Lions.
Adirondack Region
Adirondack Animal Land
This wildlife park in the Adirondacks features a safari ride and a petting zoo. Kids can feed baby animals as well as visit the zoo, which has a multitude of animals, such as wolves, capybaras, and Watusi. The park also features a breeding center for rare and endangered animals.
Have you visited one of these great destinations? Have you personally had an animal encounter? Do you know of any encounters that we haven’t included? We would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave us a comment.