It took having a child to make me realize a number of things. Never take a hot meal for granted. West Elm white couches are a serious waste of money. Cardboard boxes and k-cups make the best toys. Showers now belong on to-do lists. It is possible to destroy an entire room with half a cup of pasta in red sauce.
And now, never underestimate the power of a zoo that sits right down the road.
I had heard of Franklin Park Zoo, sure, but something about its city location always had me assuming that it housed a few reptiles and sheep…a cross between a mediocre aquarium and petting zoo was all I ever pictured. Thirteen years I’ve lived in Boston, and not once did I consider that lions and warthogs were but four miles from me.
Guys where have I been? Franklin Park Zoo is home to giraffes, zebras, exotic birds, lions, a tiger…pretty much everything in Eloise’s beloved Animal Friends book minus the unicorn and jellyfish, thankfully so.
This weekend, we masked up for our very first outdoor activity since March. I haven’t even been inside a grocery store, so I was obviously skeptical of a trip to the zoo, with so many littles running around. But Zoo New England, which also manages Stone Zoo in Stoneham, is doing everything right:
- Face masks required for all adults and children over 2
- 6-foot distance markers
- Clearly marked one-way path through the zoo (no backtracking or re-entry)
- Required reservations and timed entry with a cap on parties per time slot
With Ellie still in a stroller—and 85-degree heat making us less enthusiastic about wearing her in a sweaty carrier—we’ve struggled to find many walking areas outside of our neighborhood, especially as the squares are getting more and more crowded as businesses reopen. This was the perfect destination: Flat, wide walkways with plenty of room to stay away from other families, not to mention the literal safari of animals which we, unsurprisingly, would have had so much fun with sans baby too.
Our tiger and red panda pals were missed on this trip, so I’m obviously already bugging M to take Ellie me back, as well as to Stone Zoo which boasts flamingos, snow leopards, and reindeer(!!!).
Franklin Park Zoo is open 10-5 on weekdays and 10-6 on weekends and holidays this summer. Reservations are required, as are masks.
( Which are, like, also required for literally everything you’re doing outside the house right now. )
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This post was created in partnership with Zoo New England. All opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that support shell chic’d.
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