Day Trips From Hartford And Tolland Counties: Zoos

HARTFORD-TOLLAND COUNTIES, CT — The latest installment recommending ideas for "staycations," or day trips which do not necessarily require overnight accommodations, focuses on animals and wildlife.

For many years, travelers would venture to the Catskill Game Farm in New York state, which hosted about 150 species of animals from around the world. Since its closure in 2006, however, other zoos closer to home have enjoyed an influx of visitors.

Here are three zoos to put on your list of potential day trips, each less than a 90-minute drive from any towns in Hartford or Tolland counties.

Beardsley Zoo

Connecticut’s only zoo for over a century, the Beardsley Zoo is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and participant in its Species Survival Plan (SSP) programs. Located in Beardsley Park at 1875 Noble Ave. in Bridgeport, the zoo's mission says it is "committed to the preservation of endangered animals and are actively developing strategies that will protect species and preserve their wild habitats."

More than 100 species of animals are admired annually by more than 275,000 visitors. Among the major exhibits are the Rainforest Building, Predators and Alligator Alley.

The zoo, which opened in 1922, also features an attraction which has become rare in the state - a carousel. The grounds also include a play area, picnic grove and one of Connecticut's largest greenhouses.

Lupa Zoo

Located in Ludlow, Mass., the Lupa Zoo is a 20-acre conservation and education institution demonstrating the value, beauty and interdependence of all living things. The zoo, founded by Polish immigrants Henry and Joan Lupa, officially opened in 1996, and gained a license from the U.S. Department of Agriculture in 2002.

Among the variety of animals exhibited are pot-bellied pigs, prairie dogs, Aldabra giant tortoises, pygmy goats, bobcats, otter, American bison, porcupines, macaws and alpacas.

With the exception of some holidays such as Labor Day, the zoo is closed most Mondays, but is open Tuesday through Sunday. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Sept. 2, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. from Sept. 3 to Nov. 1, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekends only from Nov. 2 to Dec. 1.

The Zoo In Forest Park

Founded in 1894, this collection of animals and wildlife in Springfield's Forest Park was curated for three decades by Theodor Robert Geisel, father of famous author and illustrator Theodor Seuss Geisel (Dr. Seuss).

Facing financial difficulties, the zoo was demolished in 1982, leaving only a children's petting zoo, but four years later, a $1 million grant from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts led to its redevelopment and relocation within the park.

Among the dozens of species on display are African bullfrogs, bald eagles, bearded dragons, California kingsnakes, emus, iguanas, leopards, miniature donkeys, Narragansett turkeys, screech owls, striped skunks and timber wolves.

Travel Distances and Times

Here are the approximate travel distances and times to drive to each zoo from three outlying communities in the region - Mansfield, Southington and Granby.

Beardsley Zoo
from Mansfield - 76 miles (84 minutes)
from Southington - 39 miles (45 minutes)
from Granby - 71 miles (75 minutes)

Lupa Zoo
from Mansfield - 55 miles (61 minutes)
from Southington - 54 miles (61 minutes)
from Granby - 34 miles (41 minutes)

Zoo In Forest Park
from Mansfield - 31 miles (58 minutes)
from Southington - 45 miles (51 minutes)
from Granby - 24 miles (32 minutes)