Animal lovers of all ages won’t want to miss the Central Park Zoo. A pioneer in re-creating natural habitats in urban environments, the zoo is home to some favorite species such as sea lions, brown bears, snow monkeys, snow leopards and red pandas. If you’re bringing along little ones, don’t forget to visit the Tisch Children’s Zoo, where they can feed and pet friendly live animals or play (and learn) in a variety of simulated animal eggs, shells and habitats. The zoo also offers outdoor and tented event space for private functions.