You’re never too old for a petting zoo.

Just an hour outside of Albany, the Adirondack Animal Land is a fun time for all ages.

The zoo is home to more than 500 animals spread across the 80 acres of farm land. Unlike a traditional zoo - where all the furry friends live at a distance behind bars - the Adirondack Animal Land allows visitors the opportunity to pet and feed a majority of animals. According to their website, the zoo has been “voted the No.1 attraction in the area for the last 12 years.”

Camels, giraffes, deer, kangaroos, and capybaras are just a few of the types of animals that you can get up close and personal with; it’s amazing how many different animals want to be your friend when you have a paper bag full of food pellets and carrots with you. You can step inside a giant bird cage where colorful birds will land right in your hands. Then you can take a trip to the barnyard style petting zoo and meet with baby goats. Pigs will eat right out of your hands. All tickets to the zoo include a safari ride where you go on a guided tour through zebra country and get an up-close look at large ostrich and emu eggs as well as meet a friendly heard of camels.

The zoo also has a number of picnic tables and a small café area where guests can purchase food and drinks for lunch. And no trip would be complete without a visit to the gift shop (I am now the proud owner of my very own stuffed version of the giraffes I met there).

The zoo also includes an animal themed playground and a wild-west play land for the kids as well as a playground. Adult tickets to the zoo are $16.75, and there is a $2 off coupon on the zoo's website. Between that and the free parking the Adirondack Animal Land is definitely one of the more affordable choices for a fun day trip this summer.