Animal Encounters

PA Zoos & Aquariums

From giraffe and bison feedings, to close encounters with sharks and seals, to 360-degree exhibits where the animals roam freely around you, Pennsylvania is home to some of the oldest and most spectacular animal enounters in the country. We’re working on visiting as many of them as possible – see where we’ve been and what we’ve discovered at the aquariums and zoos of PA.

Elmwood Park Zoo

Date of Visit: September 2, 2023

Located in Norristown, Montgomery County, the Elmwood Park Zoo is a small but mighty attraction that allows guests up-close encounters with animals from across the globe. Highlights include giraffe and bison feedings, big cat sightings in the Trail of the Jaguar exhibit, and the immersive Birds of Paradise enclosure.

giraffe taking lettuce from a woman's hand at Elmwood Park Zoo

ZooAmerica

Date of Visit: March 1, 2022

Just outside HersheyPark, ZooAmerica has been welcoming and educating visitors for more than 115 years. All of the animals at ZooAmerica are native to North America, including bobcats, bears, and the playful prairie dogs.

Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium

Date of Visit: September 24, 2020

From African elephants to creatures of the deep, the Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium has one of the largest collections of animals in PA. Explore land and sea with interactive exhibits and incredible animal encounters.