Aquariums, Zoos, & Farms
Aquariums
Audubon Nature Center & Aquarium............... 949-5454
The Audubon Environmental Education Center is a state-of-the-art aquarium and natural history museum.
Peer inside a life size Right Whale, discover who lives in Narragansett Bay, observe our new Red-tailed Hawk
and play in our Nature Nook. The Center's interactive exhibits feature local habitats and fun ways to enjoy nature.
Situated on the 28-acre McIntosh Wildlife Refuge, the Environmental Education Center has walking trails with a
¼ mile boardwalk that winds through fresh and saltwater marshes to a majestic view of Narragansett Bay.
The refuge is along the East Bay Bike Path allowing bikers and walkers access to the refuge's natural beauty.
The Center offers guided tours, nature walks, special family programs and much more throughout the year.
The facility and trails are handicapped accessible
Biomes Marine Biology Center ............... 885-4690
6640 Post Road, N. Kingstown
Rhode Island's largest aquarium and education center. Open to the public seven days a week noon to five.
Field trips and birthday parties by appointment.
Mystic Aquarium ............... 860-572-5955
Exit 90 off I-95, Mystic, CT
Open daily except Christmas and Thanksgiving Days.
Save The Bay Exploration Center ............... 324-6020
175 Memorial Boulevard,
Easton’s Beach, Newport.
Some of the Bay’s best marine educators make learning feel like a day at the beach (and since the Exploration Center is located right ON the beach, they should). The Save The Bay Exploration Center and Aquarium is an interactive, marine-science learning center and aquarium that dozens of exhibits featuring more than 140 species of local marine life, all caught in the waters of Narragansett Bay. Three touch tanks give visitors the chance to get up close with spider crabs, sea urchins, skates, dogfish sharks and more, while story hour, the crafts table, flatfish guessing game, and sand box engage children in activities that make learning about Narragansett Bay exciting. Open to the public 10-4 daily, Memorial Day through Labor Day, and on weekends year-round. Contact us for school and group programming.
Zoos
Buttonwood Park Zoo ............... 508-991-6178
425 Hawthorn St.,
New Bedford, MA www.bpzoo.org
Open year-round, only 3- minutes from I-195.
Capron Park Zoo ............... 774-203-1840
201 County St., Attleboro, MA
See animals from North America, Africa and Asia, as well as a tropical rain forest exhibit and more. Open daily in the summer 10-5; winters 10-4, weather permitting.
Roger Williams Park Zoo ............... 785-3510
1000 Elmwood Ave., Providence
Discover WILD Family Fun for Everyone!
Roger Williams Park Zoo is home to over 160 rare and fascinating species from around the world including a Komodo dragon, as well as zebras, red pandas, African elephants, Masai giraffes, snow leopards, bears, anteaters, flamingoes, sloths, and more! For something slightly out of the ordinary, try the Explore and Soar area offering an exhilarating zip ride and train excursion through the woodlands
The Zoo is open daily April – October 9 from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm; and Thursday – Monday, October 10 – March 31 from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. The Zoo is closed Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
Southwick’s Zoo ............... 800-258-9182
Southwick’s Zoo is home to hundreds of animals, like chimpanzees, lions, giraffes, mandrill monkeys and many endangered species including white rhinos. Popular venues at the zoo include: The Earth Discovery Center, elephant facts and fiction, animal rides, Bird Talk, kiddie rides, petting zoo, Woodland Express, Skyfari Sky ride, deer forest, picnic grounds, a play park, food venues, and the Purple Peacock Gift Shop. Along with the entertainment you will find stunning, large, naturalistic habitats for the Zoo’s animals. Southwick’s Zoo is open each day from 10 am- 5 pm, mid April – mid October and is located at 2 Southwick Street, off of Route 16 in Mendon, MA.
Farms
Casey Farm ............... 295-1030
2325 Boston Neck Rd., Saunderstown
Originally the center of an active plantation, the 1,750 homestead is now partially open to the public. The property is operated as an organic, community-supported farm. Call for details about community farming, special events, workshops, or camps.
Confreda Greenhouses and Farms ............... 827-5000
2150 Scituate Ave., Cranston
Farmer’s market and greenhouses open daily. Bakery, gift shop and ice cream too. Weekday farm tours in the fall for groups of 15 or more.
Coggeshall Farm Museum ............... 253-9062
1 Coggeshall Rd., Bristol
Prepare to get your hands dirty exploring the lives of ordinary tenant farmers living on the edge in 1799. Meet rare-breed livestock, tend heirloom vegetables, and explore 48 acres of fields, woods, and salt marsh.
Dame Farm and Orchard ............... 949-3657
91B Brown Ave., Johnston. A mult-generational family farm business offering fruits and vegetables grown on our farm. June thru Nov. With tours and horse drawn wagon rides available by apt. or on weekends Aug thru Nov for walk-ins. Open year round, dawn -dusk. Also, pick your own strawberries, apples and pumpkins in season.
Newport Butterfly Farm ............... 849-9519
www butterflyzoo.com
Tiverton. Open only June, July and August. (Closed rainy days). Walk
among tropical butterflies in their natural environment.
Prescott Farm ............... 849-7300
2009 West Main Road, Middletown An important Revolutionary landmark, which includes General Prescott’s guard house, an 1812 windmill which still grinds meal and an 18th century country store which contains a collection of farm implements of the period. Lots of friendly ducks and geese, too. Guided Tours. Walking trails opening this summer. Grounds free.
Watson Farm ............... 423-0005
Historic New England’s Watson Farm is located at 455 North Rd. in Jamestown. 265 acres, 100 head of cattle, 80 sheep, work horses, chickens, ducks and more. Also vegetable and flower gardens. The land was first farmed by the Narragansett People. Today it is a working family farm where visitors take self guided tours along trails overlooking Narragansett Bay, through pastures, hayfields, and woodlands to the shoreline. Special events. Open June 1 - October 15, Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday, 1-5.
Woodvale Farm Day Camp ............... 874-8200
W. Alton Jones Campus, 401 Victory Highway, W. Greenwich. An old-fashioned farm experience for ages 5-8 set on a 19th century farm with rocky pastures, lush gardens, and a country barn. Campers care for sheep, chickens, pigs, rabbits, cows, and goats, plant seeds, collect eggs, harvest fresh vegetables, make ice-cream, and swim. Late June-Mid-August.
