A Visit to the Long Island Game Farm

I can still recall my visit to the Long Island Game Farm when I went there as a kid with my family.  Through a child's eyes, the place seemed larger than life.  Having never been to a zoo before, there was no basis for comparison.  The years have passed, and I've since been to larger zoos like the Bronx Zoo and San Diego Zoo, so the recent trip with my children to the Long Island Game Farm was a bit of a shock. 

In my mind, it was a large zoo that we spent the whole day exploring.  In reality, it is a fairly small zoo, which can be experienced in about three hours including stopping for lunch and bathroom breaks.  The day started out as a surprise for my son.  We figured that it would add some adventure to the experience.  He was excited to find out where we were going, but didn't seem overly enthused upon learning about where we were when we arrived.

The parking lot is unpaved, consisting mostly of gravel and grass.  We went on a day that wasn't crowded, so the zoo was fairly easy to navigate around, even with the stroller for my little one.  Before arriving at the zoo, we stopped into a CVS Drugstore to pick up a copy of  Newsday's magazine - Long Island Parents & Children, because the magazine has coupons that are good for a half price ticket for each child with a full price adult ticket (approximately $19 each).

Upon arriving at the gate, we purchased our tickets and proceeded directly to the tiger show performance that happens twice daily.  It is very cool to be up close and personal with a group of tigers, but the show is fairly short and there wasn't much to see.  At the end of the show, they bring one tiger into a glass cage so that people can stand next to it and take pictures.  We were about to line up to take a picture next to the tiger, when we were told that it would cost us $10, so we passed.  Taking a picture with our camera is one thing, but paying to have them take a picture was a waste of money (in my opinion), so we started our journey around the zoo.

Since we were near the food concession stand, we decided to have lunch before proceeding, as we knew that the kids would start asking for food sooner rather than later.  The biggest mistake that we made was not stopping to pick something up for lunch.  There are picnic tables, and you are allowed to bring whatever food and drink you would like into the zoo.  I strongly suggest doing so if you are planning to visit.  We ended up spending nearly $25 for the family on food that was marginal (at best).

Once lunch was over, we walked around the zoo, stopping a few times to allow the kids to ride on the tea cup ride and then on the train ride, which we all went on together.  Everything is much smaller than I remembered, but I'm sure it was because I am no longer a small child.  We saw everything that the zoo had to offer (monkeys, zebras, parrots, a buffalo, an alligator, a giraffe, lemurs, kangaroos and more).  We visited the nursery where you could pet and feed the baby goats, which was fun for the kids.

Before long, we had made our way through every area of the game farm, so it was time to head home.  Had my little one not been so cranky, the day would have been a bit more enjoyable, but that is life with a toddler.  On the way home, we stopped to get ice cream, and it seemed to be the highlight of the day for both of the kids.

If you are looking to see some interesting animals without having to plan a trip to the Bronx Zoo, it is worthwhile to spend a few hours at the Long Island Game Farm.  If you went there as a kid with your family or with a school field trip, and you remember it as a large zoo, you will be a bit disappointed. However, if you set realistic expectations, bring your own lunch, and avoid going with a cranky toddler, the Long Island Game Farm can be a fun day out with the family. 

Remember to pick up your coupons before visiting, as it can save you a decent amount of money.  For a list of where the coupons are published, please click here. 

For directions to the Long Island Game Farm, please click here.