Boston is a city that reconnects the old and the new; it is a city where the historical buildings and tales of the American Civil War live side by side with the modern art and culture, academia and vibrant nightlife. Boston is many things to many people as it is a truly multifaceted modern city. It is considered by many to be the unofficial capital of New England because it is the city which has the largest economy and the most cultural impact on the region.
In being such a vibrant, modern metropolis, the city will no doubt have many attractions for the visitors. These range from historical monuments and interesting architecture to chic restaurants, art galleries and museums. Among all of these interesting things to do in Boston, a visit to the Franklin Park Zoo is one that many families would love to experience.
The Franklin Park Zoo is one of the largest in the region at a land extent of 72 acres; it is operated by Zoo New England, which also manages another zoo in the state. It is located on the northern part of Franklin Park, which is named after the illustrious Boston-born Benjamin Franklin. This is also important as it forms the last part of the Boston Emerald Necklace – which is a network of public parks that form a semi circular green belt around the city.
At the inception of the Franklin Park Zoo in 1912, the creators envisioned it to be a zoo where the animals would be kept in open enclosures mimicking their natural habitat rather than the traditional zoo concept which restricts them in cages. Over the years, the site has had many makeovers but the core concept has always remained the same.
Today this site has many exhibits, the most popular ones being the Tropical Rainforest, the Serengeti Crossing, Kalahari Kingdom and the Outback Trail. Another popular section is the Children’s Zoo which includes farmyard animals such as ducks and horses and also two very rare Russian Amur Leopards.
Visitors can access this attraction from many Boston hotels as it is well connected via public transport. This is an interesting attraction for guests who want to explore the city while staying at a luxury hotel in Boston such as The Langham Boston.