The Bronx Zoo

I do believe that the Bronx Zoo is one of those places that is always packed, always teeming with families and people of all shapes and sizes.  During the school year it’s popular with school groups, the summer for the vacationers, the weekends for the weekenders and every holiday in between by those lucky enough to have off.  Large enough to accommodate the crowds, but never making it any less anxiety ridden with children who would prefer to roam free, seemingly more so in response to those poor creatures who are not as fortunate on the other side of the fences.

We went on a Wednesday, which allowed us to pay a “suggested donation” rate.  General admission is regularly $16.95 and a “Total Experience Ticket” varies from $29.95-$33.95 depending on the time of year.  Certainly not inexpensive if you choose to go on a regular admission day, there are also a slew of $5 exhibits such as a bug carousel, butterfly garden and monorail.  We entered and purchased the Wednesday Total Experience ($14.95) to be able to have all access to the $5 extra exhibits.  (Under 3 is free, so we only have to purchase one for the adults).

Once owned by Fordham University, the land was sold for $1,000 in the latter part of the 19th Century for the purpose of creating the zoo.  The Botanical Gardens was also part of this deal and the two created a natural buffer between the university and the urban expansion that was beginning in the area.  First opened in 1899, there were 22 original exhibits that were created in buildings in the beautiful Beaux-Arts style that we are so able to appreciate today.

Did you know that in 1906 they set up an exhibit around a Mbuti pygmy?  The man whose name was Ota Benga lived in the exhibits at the zoo on display for all to see.   Very disturbing but fascinating that this could have happened only a little over 100 years ago here in America.  Very sad story if you are interested in reading further.  (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ota_Benga#Bronx_Zoo)

There is so much to see and explore at the zoo, there was something for everyone to enjoy.  Pretty chilly and rainy on the day we went, John was cozy under his blanket in the front of the stroller.

Empty when we arrived, the boys were able to walk ahead…if you notice the crowd in the distance, this is when we had to strap everyone in!

We came out of the rain and visited the butterfly exhibit.  The boys loved seeing the beautiful insects flying above their heads.

Too bad it wasn’t a real fish and frog, the friendly faces of the sculptures were a happy sighting.

The carousel was a beautiful attraction to break up the constant walking of the day.

One of the beautiful Beaux-Arts pavilions.

 

 

One of our favorite sights from the day was watching the Sea Lions swim around.

The zoo has so much to see and explore, there is something for everyone here.  I feel as though we only got a small taste of it!

 

The Bronx Zoo

2152 Crotona Pkwy

or

Boston Rd

Bronx, NY 10460

Monday – Friday 10:00AM – 5:00PM

Weekends & Holidays 10:00AM – 5:30PM

April 5-November 2, 2014 (Monday-Friday)
10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Weekends & Holidays
10:00 a.m.-5:30 p.m.*

http://new.bronxzoo.com

Fire Island Lighthouse and Milk and Sugar Cafe

Traveling across the Robert Moses Causeway on our way to the Fire Island Lighthouse, your world is surrounded by the oblivion of the Great South Bay below you and seemingly on all sides.   I am not sure if I had never looked before, but for some reason the crisp winter weather seems to add something to the journey that you don’t quite get in the summer.  I think I could be happy driving back and forth in appreciation for the experience that living on Long Island allows us to do.

We had started our morning at the Milk and Sugar Cafe in Bay Shore.  We arrived slightly before the appropriate time that is considered to be lunch, and we were happy that we did.  The tables had only started to fill, and we had our choice of seating.  We chose our own little living nook, with two couches and a coffee table to dine on.  Surrounded on three sides by walls, it was the perfect setting for Daniel, allowing him to wander as he pleased with his stock of cars he brought with him.

He first examined the utensils, lining them up and letting them drop with a loud ping on the distressed wood floors.

Always curious, he studied my tea bag before it was swallowed up by my teacup.

Grilled cheese on brioche and french fries were just what was needed to keep us going on the adventure that lay ahead.  Daniel loves dipping sauces, especially ketchup.  He dips and it inevitably is sucked off the end in one swift slurp, only to be reused for another dollop.  Double dipping to the extreme.

We left and headed out across the bay.  Walking the pathway we were able to go only about halfway.  The other half of the boardwalk was blocked off for repairs.    A gentle reminder of the distruction caused by Hurricane Sandy, over a year ago, still evident in this place.

The lighthouse is a beauty.  The present 168 foot tall structure was built in 1858.  It served as a navigation device until it was decommissioned in 1974 and has remained as part of the National Park Service ever since.  Walking through the structure, pictures on the walls remind you of what once was on Long Island.  The fishing and boating communities that prospered and that began the foundation of many of our communities are remembered here.

We took our time exploring the outside, running up and down the ramp that led to the interior.  Daniel had a wonderful time touching everything he could get his hands on.

We found the front door, still decorated from the holidays.

Inside is a museum, showing the old lighthouse as it once stood and how its existence has contributed to the history of Long Island.  Daniel enjoyed the miniature model of the lighthouse, land and boats.

Old lights are housed within.  We were minuscule in comparison to their grand size.

Daniel found a children’s table and easel, equipped for play and drawing.

Daniel didn’t want to leave once he saw the steps, and climbed up and down until we posed for our picture taken by one of the lighthouse volunteers.

Tower tours are available during hours of operation.  Being able to climb the winding stairs is a treat.  Stepping out onto the lighthouse landing, out in the open overlooking the water, the view is breathtaking and definitely worth the cost.  We weren’t able to head up this time as children must be 42″ tall to climb.

The lighthouse hosts a good many themed tours for the seasons.  There are early morning tower tours, art show events, ghost story tours and family seaside adventure tours, to name a few.  Check out their website for the complete list.

The Fire Island Lighthouse

4640 Captree Island

Captree Island, NY 11702-4601

information: 631.661.4876

http://www.fireislandlighthouse.com/index.html

Milk and Sugar Cafe

49 West Main Street

Bay Shore, NY 11706-8307

(631) 969-3655

• Breakfast is Served

• Monday – Friday9:00 am – 11:00 am
• Saturday9:00 am – 12:00 pm

• Sunday Brunch

• Sundays9:00 am – 1:00 pm
• Closed for Private Parties after 1pm on Sundays

• General Hours

• Monday – Thursday9:00 am – 10:00 pm
• Friday & Saturday9:00 am – 11:00 pm

http://www.milkandsugarcafe.com/index.html

Cold Spring Harbor Fish Hatchery and Ideal Cheese

Closed as a New York State fish hatchery over 30 years ago, the Cold Spring Harbor Fish Hatchery reopened its doors as a non-profit educational center by the Friends of the Cold Spring Harbor Fish Hatchery, Inc.  It’s goal to remain as an educational environmental facility and aquarium has been realized as the center it is today.  Funded by private donations and government agencies, the enthusiasm of the cause to educate others of the importance of the freshwater ecosystem is present by the many school and recreational programs offered.

Located alongside Route 25A, the cars seem to disappear, their sound almost drowned out by the lapping of the water in the fish enclosures.  It is positioned in front of St. John’s Church.  The church looming at the top of a hill, the view beyond seems to disappear, dropping from sight, leaving only the sky remaining.

We went with cousin Ben and his friend Audrey.  We purchased fish feed for $4 per bucket that we were able to throw in each of the outdoor water tanks.  The resulting excitement of each handful thrown into the water, was one to laugh at.  The fish, practically throwing themselves out of the water for a bite of the pellet morsels, splashed up at us.  It was a frenzy of activity captured in the cool waters below.

We fed the fish and walked the grounds, discovering the freshwater ecosystem present here at the Hatchery.

Daniel ran around, happy to be out on the sunny and cool autumn day.

One of the water tanks held fish that dwarfed all the others.  The children were amazed at their size, some as long as them!

We had run out of our first bucket of fish food, but all agreed that these had been fed quite enough, and our second bucket purchase was reserved for the smaller fishies.  These fish weren’t enclosed like the others.  Their large size left them not as candidates to be plucked from the sky from a flying predator from above.

There were two indoor aquariums.  Beautifully decorated for the holidays, one got the sense that the pride and time taken for the upkeep and presentation of the facility was evident.  We roamed the aquariums, pointing at the assortment of fish and amphibians that made their home in the tanks above.  In one of the aquariums, there was a room dedicated to creating crafts and coloring aquatic pictures.  It was great to me to see an unmanned room, plentifully filled with craft supplies, left for exploration through art.  Free with your small price of admission, its presence was a reminder that not everything has a price tag on it.

Reading the sign as left the aquarium, it was incredible to learn that the facility is completely self sufficient in terms of their water supply.  Artesian wells, dug about 80 feet underground, allows 320 gallons per minute (!!!)  to be pumped into the existing water tanks  at a constant 52 degrees all year round.  The pressure from the ground alone acts as a pump, and this, along with water pumped from an adjacent freshwater spring serves as the only water source.

Heading toward our car, that looming church on the hill seemed ready for exploration before we left.  We headed up the steep steps and came upon the most beautiful sight of the day.  Situated alongside a lake, the view was breathtaking and we spent our remaining minutes at the Hatchery chasing birds along the water’s edge.

After leaving the Hatchery, we traveled into the town of Huntington, a 7 minutes journey according to my GPS.  We visited Uncle Will, who works in the town before heading to Green Cactus for a lunch of burritos, quesadillas and nachos.  On the way back to our car we stumbled across the Ideal Cheese shop.

Started over 56 years ago in NYC, Ideal Cheese carries over 250 cheeses from 17 different countries.  Having a specialty shop like this with such a small town vibe is exciting to me.  Open only two weeks in this location, its presence speaks volumes for small businesses as well as the existence of specialty foods from all over the world available to us locally.

Priced as specialty items, you are paying for quality and import, but the taste far exceeds expectations and is well worth the money spent.  Customers can taste test all of the cheeses sold.  The green cheese called our names and as we chose to take a taste the green wasabi cheese, a pesto cheese and a horse radish cheese. We left with the horseradish cheese as well as the pesto one.  Visions of a creamy pesto pasta danced in my head as we exited the store, our purchases in hand.

Not only a retail store, the back contains tables and chairs available for dining in a quaint and charming atmosphere.  Be lured in by the cheeses and stay simply to dine under those fantastic chandeliers!

Cold Spring Harbor Fish Hatchery

1660 Route 25A

Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724

Open Daily, 10-5

Admission: Adults: $6

Children: $4 (3-12)

Under 3: free!

*Check out their site for a full list of programs and special events.  They even do birthday parties!

http://www.cshfha.org/

Ideal Cheese

278 Main Street

Huntington, NY 11743

631-923-3434

(Check their website for their Manhattan location).

http://www.idealcheese.com/