Do you know what never disappoints? A visit to Roger Williams Park Zoo with your family. At its most basic, without any extra bells and whistles, the historic Providence landmark is an absolute delight.
But who doesn’t love a bell or whistle or two, am I right? RWPZoo is currently offering “Dragons & Mythical Creatures,” an immersive experience featuring more than sixty life-size, animatronic monsters and legendary beasts sure to delight lovers of fantasy, folklore and things that go “bump” in the night.
I brought my son (8) and niece (5) to spend a sunny day during April vacation and all three of us had a blast. Dragons & Mythical Creatures is an add-on experience in addition to zoo admission, and I purchased our tickets online in advance to make sure the event wasn’t sold out when we arrived. (The zoo is a BIG destination for families all the time, but especially during school breaks).
Once there, our admission was quick and easy thanks to a zoo membership, and we made our way to the trail entrance, checking in on the cheetahs, giraffes, and other furry and feathered friends along the way.
I wasn’t sure what to expect in terms of size, but the creatures loomed large on the sides of the trail, which made them more imposing and impressive to my little ones (some were warily observed from a safe distance by the five-year-old). Some roar, some breathe smoke, and almost all interact in some way. The smooth movements of some of the creatures made them seem positively life-like and some were downright cute. While the herky-jerky animatronic movements of other monsters came “alive” suddenly without warning (I’m looking at you, creepy troll!). I wasn’t sure what to expect in terms of size, but the creatures loomed large on the sides of the trail, which made them more imposing and impressive to my little ones (some were warily observed from a safe distance by the five-year-old). Some roar, some breathe smoke, and almost all interact in some way. The smooth movements of some of the creatures made them seem positively life-like and some were downright cute. While the herky-jerky animatronic movements of other monsters came “alive” suddenly without warning (I’m looking at you, creepy troll!).
The immersive experience is thoughtfully organized so that you’re travelling through little mythological worlds tied together by culture and geography. You’ll find dragons, a Unicorn, Kraken, Griffin, Kirin, and many, many more magical beasts – including a section of local legends featuring one of Providence’s own H.P. Lovecraft’s creations. Children who are fans of Harry Potter (like my eight-year-old) will enjoy running into creatures that inspired some of the fantastic beasts of that series. All the giant snake monsters on the path reminded me of Rowling’s Basilisk, and there are Phoenixes in various stages of life, death, and rebirth. Each creature has a plaque with its name, place of origin, and very brief description (the Kirin is from East Asia and the “Herald of kings and sages” for instance), and a QR code you
can scan to do a deeper dive into each legend. It’s not only a fun stroll (and it is definitely fun), but it’s educational and interesting for visitors of any age. It’s also great for photo ops! I have loads of fun and funny pictures of the kids posing and interacting with (and in some cases running from!) various creatures along our journey.
There are three rides at the end of the trail that are part of the Dragons & Mythical Creatures experience: kids can drive little motorized jeeps around a dirt track; large, tall beasts to sit on as they make noise and move in place; and smaller animatronic beasts (think pony size) to ride around another track. All rides provide cute dragon and unicorn helmets (that are sprayed down after each ride, yay!), and require tickets that can be purchased at the booth next to the Soaring Eagle Zip Ride.
Once we’d had our fill of dragons and mythical creatures, we enjoyed some ice cream (from a booth conveniently located next to the track with the beast rides), and then headed to the always-fun Hasbro’s Our Big Backyard. It was a gorgeous day for the sprinklers and water play, and dozens of children were enjoying everything the Big Backyard has to offer. After getting completely and happily soaked, my little ones headed for the giant treehouse and then the cave, where they chased each other around and around until it was time to leave.
Roger Williams Park Zoo is always a fantastic way to spend the day, and the addition of Dragons & Mythical Creatures made it even more fun. Don’t miss your chance to spot Nessie or yell, “Release the Kraken!” Check it out between now and August 11th.
Know Before You Go:
1. Dragons & Mythical Creatures tickets must be purchased online in advance.
2. Tickets are $9 per person, $7 for zoo members, toddlers one and under are free.
3. Dragons & Mythical Creatures takes place rain or shine.
4. The last entry on the trail is 3:30PM.
5. The trail is wheelchair-accessible, and strollers and wagons are allowed as well.
6. The Zoo offers Dragon Sensory Friendly Mornings an hour before the trail opens to the public (see website for dates and ticket information)
7. The Zoo is hosting two exclusive, after-hours Dragon Family Fun Nights (see website for dates and ticket information)
Written by: Nancy-Jean Fox Vachon
