Wildlife, riverside landscapes, and cultural attractions come together in the Bronx. The Bronx Zoo is home to more than 11,000 animals, while the Bronx River offers opportunities for nature watching and paddling. Museums and historic sites offer a different focus. As you plan your trip, you can first decide whether wildlife encounters, outdoor activities, or art and history should take center stage.

Wildlife at the Bronx Zoo

More than 11,000 animals live at the Bronx Zoo. The seasonal Children’s Zoo gives children the chance to encounter prairie dogs, North American porcupines, and fennec foxes up close. If you plan to visit this area, check the seasonal information before your trip. JungleWorld brings visitors into close contact with animals such as tree kangaroos and Indian gharials. The two attractions therefore differ in their focus: the Children’s Zoo is specifically aimed at children and is seasonal, while JungleWorld presents its own selection of animals.

Riverside landscapes and nature watching

The Bronx River runs through the New York Botanical Garden and provides habitat for wildlife. Animals occasionally found there include river otters and beavers. The Thain Family Forest is the largest remaining portion of the old-growth forest that once covered most of New York City. For getting to the Botanical Garden, the Botanical Garden Station on Metro-North is directly across from the Mosholu Entrance. Check transit conditions and station access before your trip.

The Bronx River Greenway offers opportunities for biking and walking. Recent projects in the Bronx River Forest have improved trails and nature paths and added boardwalks and viewing points. The forest also offers the chance to observe birds and other wildlife. Paddling offers another perspective: visitors can canoe or kayak along the 23-mile-long Bronx River, from its wooded northern reaches through the industrial Bronx and into its tidal areas. Many paddling trips are also suitable for participants with no previous paddling or swimming experience. This offers a choice between activities on land and on the water.

The Bronx River Foodway in Concrete Plant Park is described as New York City’s first “edible forest.”

Art and history

The Bronx Museum of the Arts is a contemporary art museum with a permanent collection, special exhibitions, and educational programs. It is easily accessible by public transportation; check current transit conditions before your trip.

The Edgar Allan Poe Cottage was built sometime between about 1810 and 1830. It is a landmark of New York City and New York State and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. A permanent exhibition presents multimedia content about Poe’s life and literary work during his time at the cottage, from 1846 to 1849. The Hall of Fame for Great Americans is the first hall of fame in the United States. Since the early 20th century, 98 bronze busts have been installed there to honor notable Americans.

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