Leo was in Argentina last weekend for a wedding so I had the boys to myself. The weather was divine and since we woke up to a sunny sky and no plans on Sunday, we decided on an adventure to the Bronx Zoo. The boys do great on the road, both in the car and in crowds, and the zoo is only 45 minutes away. It always felt like a big production leaving the city but our drive from Long Island bypasses Manhattan altogether and is an easy, quick trip.

We arrived to the zoo shortly after the park opened. Since it's still early in the season, it wasn't crowded at all. The weather was perfect and the kids were thrilled to wander around in search of their favorite animals. I'm not a fan of wild animals in captivity but the Bronx Zoo is a far cry from Sea World and Ringling Bros.

The Children's Zoo is closed until the end of the summer which is a bummer but it might be a blessing in disguise because we always end up spending most of our time at the petting zoo. I'm happy the kids got to explore other areas.

It was a picture perfect day and we were home by 4. My tips for visiting the Bronx Zoo are the same as for all NYC attractions: buy tickets online, arrive early, and visit early in the season, if possible. If you frequent the local zoos often, an annual Wildlife Conservation Society membership is the way to go. With admission, parking, merchandise, and food/drink, you make back the investment in one or two trips.