Summer & Fall The Best of Upstate New York
Talk With the Animals By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant
Go ape this season learning about animals. Central New York abounds with animal venues, whether your kids like farm critters or would rather take a walk on the wild side. Try any or all of these animal adventure ideas. • In Alton, Cracker Box Palace at Alasa Farms (www.crackerboxpalace. org; 315-483-2493) is one of the area’s few farm animal-only shelters located on a historic Shaker farm. Rooted
in a philosophy of helping kids get in touch with the unwanted farm animals they harbor, the no-kill shelter gives a temporary and, in some cases, permanent home to nearly 200 animals from chicks to horses to pigs to goats. Cracker Box also hosts tours and special events such as Jammin’ in the Pasture and a fall festival. • Syracuse’s Rosamond Gifford Zoo (www.rosamondgiffordzoo.org; 315- (315) 435-8511) is about more
than just looking at the animals. The zoo also offers special events all year long. Check its online calendar to learn about the special days at the zoo that will pique your kids’ interests, including animal demonstrations. • Fort Rickey Game Farm (www. fortricky.com; 315-336-1930) in Rome offers a short day trip if you bring along a picnic or visit the concession stand and plan to look at all of the exhibits of atypical zoo animals: rac-
Central New York offers children plenty of opportunities to get close to animals. Photo courtesy of Cracker Box Palace in Alton.
18 • www.CNYSummer.com • 2010