Bronx Zoo Holiday Lights

Bronx Zoo Holiday Lights turns the park into lantern trails for Africa, Asia, North America, Latin America, the Ocean, and the Forest of Color, with hundreds of animal lanterns. A holiday tree runs synchronized animal-themed shows, and Astor Court adds walk-through light tunnels. The Children's Zoo Farmyard opens for donkeys, sheep, goats, and alpacas, while World of Darkness and World of Reptiles stay open for a sloth and lizards. Ice carving at Giraffe Corner, a wildlife theater at Grizzly Corner, the kids' Holiday Train, and a Freeze Zone snowtube slide sit around Fountain Circle. Hot chocolate, cider, eggnog, and s'mores are sold through the zoo. The address is 2300 Southern Boulevard.

Our take: Arrive at 1 p.m. to see snow leopards, tigers, and bears in daylight, then stay as the lanterns come on.