Van Saun County Park / Bergen County Zoological Park, Paramus

Paramus mini zoo great for all families. Just be prepared to wait on line and do some much needed walking for the waistline so wear your most comfortable sneakers or shoes. The line there can be HORRIBLE but if you're that person with extra patience, you will make it in to have a good time with the kids. Parking lot at peak times (the weekends or weekend holidays) is absolute madness. My honest tip if you really want to come here is to come super early at opening or on a weekday when others are working. Anything after 11 am you're on your own. The surrounding park is very beautiful so if you can't get in, the day is not totally wasted.

Great for kids to play and enjoy themselves... Walk a bit and there's the zoo. Nothing phenomenal there. But toddlers thoroughly enjoy the animals. There's a train and the line for is tends to be long. As far as food and drinks... There's a food truck that sells hotdogs and fries. Kids meals are $11 (dog, fries and a drink). Vending machines throughout the area have bottles of water for $3.15. So BRING ALONG SNACKS OR PICNIC.

Besides that Van Saun Park has so many different things to do for people of all ages, it has always been my "zen" place. Yes, I've been to the kiddie section many times with my nephews & niece; played on the swings, slides, many educational, hand-eye coordination based "rides", the carousel, even the train ride in the zoo & always have fun when there. However, there are sections where people can barbeque & have occasions there & also has a section where people can go horseback riding too! There's a tennis court, a baseball field...just so much there to do. But, like I stated in the beginning, my favorite section is the section where the walking path is around the lake. I frequent there to write, draw, read, walk around the lake for some exercise, place my beach chair on the grass & take the sun & listen to music, or just sit there & enjoy nature surrounding me. I do some of my best thinking there most of the time because I've been going there for years & it has just become my "zen" place. Now, as much as I love it, there is one down side (at least it is for me anyway), the ducks can be quite annoying by coming up to you constantly & they poop all over the place...the walking path, the grass, etc... So, that's the only down side I can think of. Otherwise, go by yourself, with your significant other, or your family, & you'll definitely have a fun or relaxing time; whatever you choose! Enjoy!

Great 1)Park/Cook Out 2) Brand new Playground w/ water splash area 3) Zoo 4)Train ride & Merry go Around 5) Soccer fields 6) Horse rides....... Does get super crowded on the weekends and lines get long in the heat of the summer....... great for families.

Great smallish zoo for young kids. The zoo has a train and just enough animals for their short attention spans, and the carousel is a great currency when the melt downs start from all the walking. Park next to the carousel an save it till last.