If you are an animal lover, or seeking a fun outing for the whole family, the Cape May County Park & Zoo is the perfect choice! Located in Cape May Court House, just inland from Avalon and Stone Harbor, the zoo is home to 200 different species, including snow leopards, river otters, giraffes, and two new baby capybaras that were born in late October of this year. Every corner of this zoo reveals an adorable new animal to discover, as well as countless opportunities to learn interesting facts.
As you first enter the zoo, you will be greeted by pigs, cows, and goats, which you can feed and interact with up close. As you wander through this curated habitat, you’ll come to the North American Prairie exhibit, where bison roam around. Next up is the African Savanna exhibit, where you can observe giraffes and zebras from a boardwalk vantage point. These are just a few examples of the many wide-ranging wildlife exhibits. Everywhere you turn, diverse animals await, from mammals and primates to the snakes and frogs of the reptile house. At the “Snow Leopard Conservation” exhibit, you can watch the playfulness of snow leopards. As you explore, you may also come across Helmeted Guinea Fowl and Indian Peafowl that roam around freely. This is just a glimpse of all the types of animals the zoo has to offer.
In addition, there are fun facts all around the zoo with helpful information on the animals, plus some fun interactive activities like “Spread Your Wings.” This is a kid-favorite, in which they can extend and measure their arms to compare with the birds’ wingspans. Besides all of the natural photo opportunities throughout the zoo, there are numerous photo stand-in opportunities where you place your head in a cutout and become a zoo animal, perfect for remembering your great times at the zoo.
The zoo also offers much more to do than typical zoo-related exhibits. As soon as you walk in the main entrance, the carousel greets you with fun animals to choose from for your ride, along with a mining sluice where you can discover and find gems. The extremely popular seasonal “Tree to Tree Cape May” features obstacles and a zip line where you navigate from tree to tree on an exhilarating above-ground course. In addition to the more active and adventurous options, you can enjoy walking the nature trails. Plus, there is a playground with slides, swings, and other fun amenities. There are activities for all interest levels and ages, creating an environment to welcome all zoogoers, with multiple options to choose from.
Make sure to check out their upcoming holiday events. On Nov. 29, 2-6 p.m., stop by for the tree lighting and, of course, an appearance from Santa himself! The event includes vendors, a holiday drone show, a bouncy castle, an obstacle course, an ice sculpture demonstration, a wild light train, and much more fun. This is the perfect event to kick off the season and bring some holiday cheer, while enjoying all the zoo has to offer.
From exploring and learning about animals to enjoying all the other interactive activities, plus the upcoming holiday events, the Cape May County Zoo is an ideal trip for you and your family. Creating memories of fun and laughter, this may very well become a new family tradition to stop by while enjoying the charm of the shore towns. The zoo has been bringing friends and family together with joy and adventure for many years and will continue to do so. Make sure to stop by and mark your calendars; you won’t be disappointed.
Photos by Marcella Curcio
