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Smithsonian National Zoological Park
Rating Details »
Neighborhood: Woodley Park
3001 Connecticut Ave NW
(at N Hawthorne St)
Washington, DC 20008
(202) 633-4800
3001 Connecticut Ave NW
(at N Hawthorne St)
Washington, DC 20008
(202) 633-4800
- Nearest Transit:
-
Woodley Park-Zoo|Adams Morgan (Red)
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
129 reviews for Smithsonian National Zoological Park
I haven't been to the zoo since I was a kid, but a recent animal communication project had me back here.
I forgot how much I love this place. Truly. Aside from some trouble finding parking later on in the day (and also paying up to $20 for 4+ hours), the day was thoroughly enjoyable. And yes, the park is a big hill, but with some tennis shoes and a littler determination, it's not hard to do.
I love all the houses: Great Apes, reptiles, small mammals (where I spent most of my time- see my pictures of the tamarins), etc. The volunteers there are surprisingly on their game, and more than happy to bring out pictures or bones, etc. to show curious kids.
Of course the elephants, pandas, and big cats always gain lots of attention, and are still some of my faves, even as an adult.
The awesomeness of your day can really depend on which time you come, the weather, and what condition the animals/exhibits are in. Check out their websites if you have any questions or want to check up before you stop by: it's kept relatively up to date.
All in all, a great place to visit with kids, out of town friends, or a whimsical day trip.
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The reason I made a trip to DC, amongst other things like visting friends and getting out of town, was the zoo. Not sure why. Anyways, I like zoos, poo smells and cluster-f and all. Cool panda exhibit, are they real or robotic stuffed animals? I'm not sure.
One minus is the fact that I think some of the animals are so tired of us staring at them that they hang out high in their cage thing to get away. Or they do the panda thing and sit with their back to everyone. Hard not to end up with a complex with people always staring at you. "What? Why you looking? Do I have something on my face?"
PS. One of the poll questions at the bottom of this review is "Good for Kids"? It's a zoo, if this isn't good for kids, nothing is.
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LOVED:
The Pandas and Small Mammals
The Indoor Houses
The Variety of Animals
The Free Admission
HATED:
Finding a Parking Spot
The Rain
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I really enjoy visiting this zoo...maybe not as much as when I was a child...when they had polat bears once upon a time. Today was especially nice as I took the kids. My son is old enough now he is enjoying looking at the animals.
The zoo is free to get in...parking ranges from $10-20 depending on how long you stay. Although if you are a FONZ member it is free parking! :)
Concessions are expensive...but they always are in these types of places.
The zoo is rather hilly so you will get a nice workout too. :)
One note parents of toddlers: They do not have straws to drink out of. My son has mastered the straw and the sippy...but is not quite ready to drink out of a cup. Make sure you pack your sippy cup if you plan on purchasing drinks there! :)
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I've been telling everyone that when you're in Washington D.C., there is always something to do! I always say that "the enjoyment of an activity is correlated with the price you paid." Since the Smithsonian National Zoological Park is gigantic and completely free; you'll leave here completely entertained, educated and wishing that there was more time in the day.
I was shocked at how huge this zoo was and I felt appreciative for all the donations, taxes and volunteers that keep this place free & available to the public. Even though I only had less than 2 hours to tour this zoo; I was running around the whole park, huffing & puffing like a kid again to check out as many of the animals as I could. Based on their map, you can easily spend a whole day or two to check out all of their exhibits!
As for the Pandas, their exhibit blows away the San Diego Zoo! Their habitat for the Pandas and viewing area is a lot bigger than the San Diego Zoo's exhibit. If I lived in the D.C. area, I can totally see myself coming here on multiple occasions. If I had friends from out of town, I would definitely take them here. I needed more time here and I will absolutely visit this zoo again!
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This place is a real treat, and, as a Washingtonian, it's sometimes easy to forget it exists in Woodley Park.
Anyway, my favorite two antidotes about the place:
First, the enclosure surrounding the newly renovated panda exhibit remind me of the veloiraptor cages in Jurassic Park.
Second, many of the larger predator animals--lions and tigers, etc.--are placed in pie-slice like sections of large circular enclosures, all of which is sounded by a moat. I remember one of these pie-like enclosures had a gazelle in one slice, and a cheetah as a neighbor on one side, and a hyena on the other. I got a kick at how the gazelle was centered in the geometric center of the slice.
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I love this zoo. But it's got too many damn hills.
This zoo is designed not only to promote conservation and interest the kiddos but to reduce American obesity. It is a proven scientific fact that walking around the zoo will burn a bazillion and two calories and result in peacefully napping children upon exit... A perfect way to spend a lovely spring afternoon.
My best zoo experience has not actually been in the spring or summer though. By far, the coolest visit was for Boo at the Zoo, the annual Halloween trick-or-treating extravaganza. For non-FONZ members, the tickets are $25 each, $10 less if you're members, which is pretty steep... But considering that the zoo is free everyday AND this event gets you treats that are presumably not poisoned, AND you get to see the nighttime rumblings of the animals... it's worth it.
Hearing the loud roars of the lions and tigers at twilight was awesome compared to their usual daytime routine of sleeping and pretending not to exist. We also saw the pandas happily licking their frozen fruit popsicles outside before the sun went down.
But even without the special events, the zoo is an amazingly interesting time and it's hard to fit it all in one day. Every time we go, I feel like I'm discovering a part of the zoo I hadn't seen before... and I've been going since I was a child.
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Man, I cannot beleive I have not reviewed the zoo, I go there all the time with Things 1&2 and Soccerballgirl.
Last week I was sitting in the back reading a newspaper and Soccerballgirl ( she's 5) comes out to me:
"Daddy, can I have a zebra?"
- no, you can't have a zebra
" but please Daddy, we can get one a the zoo and we can keep it in the back yard"
- who is going to clean up the poop? they make a lot of poop
"Daddy, I will clean up the poop, I clan up Ellie's poop and Guinness' poop"
( that's the dog and the rabbit)
- No Lily, you cannot have a zebra.
There is a pause. She is thinking. I am waiting for the 'you never get me anything, the boys get everything and I get nothing' routine
"Daddy, if I get you a beer from the 'frigerator can I have a zebra.?"
- OK, then you can have a zebra.
The zoo is fabulous, of course the kids love the pandas, and the oranguatans, and when you see the oranguatan on the walkway it is really cool. Soccerballgirl is crazy about that little Russian horse off to the side. They are fellow travellers.
My favorite is the wolf. When you see that wolf skulking through the woods a chill will run up your spine. You are not in a zoo. Just for a millisecond you have travelled back in time and it is just you and the wolf and the forest. There is something primal, elemental and visceral about that bloody wolf.
Join FONZ as you get free parking and at $12 a pop that adds up.
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Just say no to animal prisons! Those fences and bars are there for a reason. To keep the animal imprisoned. Visit Africa to see plenty of animals in natural, unrestricted settings.Yes, Africa is far, far away from DC, and, No, i haven't been to Africa. And just because I can't make it to Africa, I won't be visiting captive tigers, bears, and who-knows-what-other creatures the wardens captured for their prison.
The zoo doesn't even show animals as they would naturally behave in freedom. It's shows captive animals. To see, not in person, but to see animals in their natural habitats rent one of many good documentaries. I just watched the documentary Long Way Down about two chaps who ride motorcycles through Africa and see many, many animals in their natural settings - 100s of monkeys moving across a hill, elephants eating just about everything, families of zebras, gorillas in the mountain tops and more. It's beautiful to see all these animals living as they should be. Support animal freedom. Avoid the animal prison (aka, the Zoo).
Things I love about the National Zoo:
*It's Free! Except for parking ... you pay for that.
*Exhibits are absolutely beautiful!
*Panda's ... they have multiple Panda's. Everyone loves panda's.
Things I don't like about the National Zoo:
*Finding it. The signage to direct you to the National Zoo is HORRIBLE! Every time I go to it I find myself getting lost in that Northeast DC/Maryland vortex!
*Hills. Bring a pair of walking shoes cause there are a lot of ups and downs.
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PROS: they have PANDAS! not just one.. but THREE! lots of animals. pretty park. very lovely. near by the metro.. and the zoo is FREE!!!
CONS: food is expensive.. and i couldn't take home a panda. the giraffes got traded to Busch Gardens animal park in Florida. How come there are no penguins?
great zoo. it's free which makes it even better. very clean and nicely decorated.
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All zoos should be free! I don't even mind paying $4 for a coke if I get in free. ;-)
Lots of different species, interesting displays, lots to read about. They seem to pay special attention to putting up information for the public to read. I enjoyed that part of the exhibits.
Yes, the zoo is on a big hill. Some might recommend going all the way in to the end and walk up the hill a little at a time as you go through it, but I didn't think it was that bad. It was a hill, deal with it people!
Best reached by metro - go to the Woodley Park/Zoo stop if you like walking uphill, but PROTIP: go to the Cleveland Park stop and walk DOWNHILL. Nice. There aren't any parking or admission fees if you come by metro!
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I've been coming to the zoo ever since I was a little kid. I'm still coming back now that I'm 30. What can I say? I love this place. I used to plot my jogging route through the zoo (who can think about burning lungs and legs when you're running past the cheetahs and the pandas??...nevermind, I can, but the pandas are still cute), but had to take a hiatus while tourist season is still in full swing.
Everyone has their zoo favorites. I think mine have to be the red pandas and the orangutans. I can't think of a better place in DC where you can get some great exercise and have so much fun while doing so!
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I have no idea what happened to all the animals. Went last week to take our 1 year old for his birthday and ended up seeing only a handful of furry creatures.
Really disappointed in the exhibits....
I read in the news last week that the National Hippo is being sent away to the far away land of Michigan so the National Zoo will have more room for its elephant exhibit. I felt kind of bad for the hippo based on the photo in last week's Express, which showed him reluctant and scared to get into his crate. I thought this would be a good time for me to finally go to the National Zoo and pay him a visit before he makes the long journey to the cold and dangerous North to live in a land of gang crime and auto executives.
The hippo looked pretty depressed, and it's probably for the best that it's going to a less crowded zoo. Crowded seemed to be the theme of this place. They cram a lot of animals into a pretty small space, and it seems like none of them have enough room. I've been to plenty of better zoos.
In many of the exhibits, I felt like the animals weren't far enough away from the humans. This was particularly apparent in the cheetah and orangutan exhibits. I know they build the wall based on how high they expect a cheetah to be able to jump, but I believe a very bored and highly motivated cheetah would be able to climb that wall and run free throughout the zoo if it really wanted to.
The orangutan exhibit was terrifying. They have these long poles connected by cables going all around the zoo that allow the orangutans to roam freely and dangle above the humans below. Most people thought it was incredibly cool to see orangutans swinging along the cables overhead. As a person who was once attacked and mugged by an orangutan, however, I don't think orangutans should be able to get so close to people.
It's only a matter of time before some animal in this zoo hops out of its enclosure and goes on a killing spree. I'm particularly paranoid about this, because it happened in my hometown at the Dallas Zoo a few years ago, and also because I have personally been attacked by monkeys on two separate occasions and by a great ape on one occasion.
And would it kill them to have elephant rides? I see elephants. I want to ride them! If you're going to make this zoo such a free-for-all with accidents waiting to happen at every corner, I think I reserve the right to ride an elephant.
On the plus side, it's free and metro accessible, so I'm giving it three stars instead of two, and I'll probably come back at some point in the future. Unlike other zoos, this means you can just go for an hour and come back another day to see the rest. I also believe this is the first time I've seen pandas in real life, so that was nice. Overall, I only recommend this place because it's free, and because I am not aware of a better zoo that exists nearby.
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I have a really hard time understanding why people love this zoo so much. I feel like every time I go that not only are there rediculous crowds (admittedly, not the zoos fault) but that there really isn't anything to see. I know they're doing a ton of construction right now, but the last time I went I don't remember seeing very many animals. Even in some of the indoor attractions half of the pens are empty or there are multiple pens of the same animal.
I suppose I'll have to give an update after they finish construciton.
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This is one of the only places in DC you can see a hippo or a monkey, enough said. its freakin awesome.
As a FONZ member and unofficial Zoo specialist, I must say that compared to certain zoos in the US, the National Zoo is slightly disappointing. It's free, which is wonderful, but it feels free. Unlike zoos where you're paying an entry fee, the National Zoo has a strange, open, disjointed feel. It doesn't feel like a cohesive "park," and this makes the National Zoo both unique and less festive (may not be the right word...). Let's just say, if it cost money to enter, I don't think people would be as zealous fans of the National Zoo.
Layout and mood aside, I love Zoos. So I love this Zoo.
I've never been to a zoo with a "monkey house" -they've all been outdoor exhibits- but now I understand Tim Gunn's "monkey house" analogy in the Season 4 Project Runway Finale. Phew! Holy CRAP... the monkey house is so stinky that I seriously considered not staying to see the baby gorilla. I went outside, then heard people talking about how cute the baby gorilla was, put my scarf over my face, and braved the stench to see little Kibibi.
The mom, Mandara, was holding Kibibi and facing away from the crowds, but in true classy style, she got up and sat right in front of me. Were there no glass, I could have reached down and touched them both (and then probably been mauled by the angry mama). As soon as she walked away, I got the F out of that nasty foul monkey house. It's too bad, because gorillas are usually the most interesting to look at for awhile.
The pandas were cute, but they were in museum-like glass exhibits that felt moderately depressing. And don't get me wrong... I am a total proponent of zoos. They teach the public, raise money, and foster interest in animal rights. Still, the pandas looked the saddest.
There's lots of construction going on right now, so hopefully we'll see improvements in the near future!
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A free ZOO? Washington DC pulls out all the stops and makes this BEAUTIFUL zoo. The paths are beautiful and lined with many types of trees, shrubs, and other plants. Some of the animals have much large places to roam and play, while others have smaller habitats, but still well decorated.
The panda exhibit was so much fun since the panda was very active during our visit. Still very crowded, but with the open space of the zoo, there was enough space to move around, although there wasn't always enough space in the enclosed exhibits. The workers/guides there were all very knowledgeable, friendly, and willing to engage in conversation about the animals.
Great place to visit!!
I love this zoo! I went on a hot summer day, and would reccomend going in the fall, because many of the animals did not want to be out in the heat. They did have mister stations set up which was a nice. Also be sure to check what time the exhibits close so you don't miss anything. It is a great place to spend the afternoon, they're so many interesting things to see.
PS- There are a lot of hills!
Zoos are awesome. Free zoos are awesomer. This zoo is particularly awesome because of its size, its location, and its free-ness.
First, its size. This zoo is pretty huge. It has all the cool animals like lions, tigers, and bears (oh my!), in addition to less common ones like the octopus. It's also one of the only North American zoos to have giant pandas (others being Atlanta, Memphis, San Diego, and Mexico City). And I love me some giant pandas.
Bonus points awarded for metro accessibility, ample bathrooms, and decent food (usually park food SUCKS. Theirs is at least edible).
Be forewarned, this place gets extremely crowded during the warmer months, as it's in the middle of one of the biggest tourist cities in the world. However, it's open year-round, so check it out in the winter. More animals are out then anyway, and they're a lot less sluggish.
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The zoo is good place for walking and seeing some cool animals on a nice day. Expect a lot of walking so wear some comfortable shoes. the zoo is free but parking isn't. I believe it's $12 for parking if it hasn't gone up since the last time I was there. As for the upkeep there it's terrible. Sometimes I think the animals look like they're miserable. The place could use a makeover. I notice there was some construction going on so maybe they're making some improvements. Overall, it's a good place to bring the kids and spend with them. The panda exhibit is definitely worth going to see. If you have a weak stomach don't go see the orangutans because it stinks in there and one of them like to eat their own vomit...yuck!
RED PANDA ALERT:
Okay people, Shama's brother is in the small mammal house getting ready to be shipped to St. Louis or something and she has a new lover! They are super frisky and rubbing their little scent glands (read bootys) all over everything and chasing each other around.
I suggest you get thee to the zoo.... but if you see someone running, get out of the WAY!!!!!! Why is everyone always taking up the whole Asia Trail sidewalk, I need to get through!
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1 Previous Review: Show all »
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11/9/2008
Two words: red pandas. I actually run in the zoo several times a week and it is so amazing and… Read more »
Please consider that the day I went it was over 100 degrees. IE We should have not come, it was too hot!!
People everywhere looked like they were dying from all the heat!
PROS: Cool zoo. Easily laid out to find the animals.
Drink stations pretty much everywhere.
Staff is friendly.
Animals are cool and they had some cool florals too.
CONS:
Far away from the metro (Keep in mind you have to walk up hill for a while (at least .5 mile) to get to the zoo. And if it's hot, forget about it.
It was so hot none of the animals were out in the major attractions (pandas). Most retreated to their inner-cage areas where it must have been cooler.
Petting zoo closes way early.
For right now, the cut through from the end of the park to the exit has been blocked off for renovations. This means you have to walk all the way back up the hill (hill inside the zoo and out of the zoo where you have to walk from the metro), all the way to the entrance of the zoo to leave. This zoo is big. You have to walk it twice and if it's hot, then well you're going to have to deal with either feeling like you're going to pass out or needing a chance of clothes ASAP.
Now I know this may sound whiney about the heat, but people when you have been walking and on your feet for days, the last thing you want to do is walk a long way from the metro and walk the length of the entire zoo twice.
I would consider coming here only when it's cooler or right when they open when it's not so hot. Also, driving if you have a car would be your best bet.
Before I moved to D.C. I was completely unaware that black squirrels existed. My first trip to the Woodley Park Zoo confirmed they do. In California, we have the typical grey and brown..but black is just out right freaky looking. But I loved the zoo still the same. In fact, I try and visit every zoo and aquarium I can in the different cities I've lived. It brings back fond childhood memories and animals are just amazing to me.
The Zoo is located conveniently near the Red Line metro station for its name sake and best of it's FREE..and open everyday except for Christmas Day. I read a tip online that it's best to exit the Cleveland Park exit due to the hike you have to take walking to the zoo but my reasoning is you wouldn't be going to the zoo if you didn't intend on walking around all day in the first places so stop being so lazy people!! I wouldn't even recommend you visit this zoo if you don't intend on walking up inclines which are all over the zoo so it can be quite a workout.
The zoo is the perfect location to spend the day with someone special, a few kids or just to try something new alone. This is one of my favorite neighborhoods in D.C., close to Rock Creek Park and has a variety of healthily animals that are well worth the exhaustion of faux mountain climbing.
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If I really had to dig, I guess I'd say that the only thing this zoo is missing is penguins. But hey, you can't have everything. Onto the review:
To start off...the National Zoo is free. That's four stars in itself. And no, this isn't some animal park featuring a few farm animals. They've got tigers, lions, and even pandas that I've been able to see the last two times I have visited. This last week when I visited, the panda cub was even out in her enclosure munching on bamboo.
Besides the ponds that were frozen over, the only exhibit that is currently closed is the elephant exhibit, which is going through a complete renovation and looks to be the future central fixture within the zoo. There are adequate bathrooms and snack stands, as well a nice gift shop near the panda exhibit (as well as possibly other ones, which I did not visit).
If I had to find something else to knock, I'd say that the design of the zoo could've been improved. Instead of the main path running in a circle, the zoo has a front side and a back side, meaning that after walking through the zoo, you must retrace your steps to return to the entrance. Keep that in mind, especially if you have young ones. For visitors (such as myself), the convenience of the zoo being located about a quarter-mile off the Metro is priceless. Now you've got no excuse not to visit.
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I have applied for a job at the National Zoo about four or five times now, just so I can get paid to be surrounded by animals for eight hours a day. And simply because I have no background or experience in biology or zoology shouldn't discriminate me from working there... what if I love animals THIIIIIIIISSS much??
The zoo is very large and can seem intimidating, but once you become familiar with it and know what you want to see, it's very manageable. There is no entrance fee, so you don't have to feel bad about going in for your daily panda fix or your giant arapaima fix. The Amazonia exhibit is really impressive, and cleverly designed, with huge tanks filled with piranhas and sting rays that you can eventually view from above when you walk through the "jungle" (where monkeys often sit two feet away from you). I also appreciate that the National Zoo has exhibits on invertebrates, which, sadly, often get overlooked by many others. Octopi and hissing cockroaches need love, too. Be sure to check out the golden orb spider corner, where there is nothing separating you from the webs!
In the summer, the zoo hosts Sunset Serenades, free concerts on Lion/Tiger hill every Thursday. It's kind of hokey, but great for families in the community to come out and dance.
Oh, National Zoo, just hire me already!
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My husband and I decided to visit the zoo on a whim on a unseasonably warm Saturday afternoon this past fall. Admission is free and the zoo is close to two Metro stops, so getting here is fairly easy. The zoo was busy (as expected) but it was not impossible to get through the different exhibits. We got to see nearly every animal that inhabits the zoo, including the red panda and the panda cub. The tigers and lions were entertaining to watch and the sea otters are quite cute.
The zoo is well-maintained and there are snack carts around the park in case you get hot or hungry. Bathrooms are easy to find and staff is friendly.
A must see.
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Being mid October, the red pandas were either hiding really well or weren't out. It certainly wasn't cold, but it was a disappointment. Naturally, the giant pandas were out and eating sticks, as is to be expected. The zoo's pretty nice. I haven't been to many so I don't really have a lot of points of comparison, but it was certainly enjoyable, especially for the $0 it costs to get in! They have all the animals you'd expect: lions, tigers, elephants, pandas (of course), and a wide variety of small mammals, reptiles, and invertebrates. I really liked the various tamarinds in the small mammal house, as well as the rodents. I think my favorite part was the bird house, which naturally was full of birds.
It's on a hill, so either come in the lower end or expect a hike uphill on the way out.
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I came here on New Years this year and it was a pleasant part of the day for myself and my husband. The zoo was not too hard to find and our main reason we wanted to go: FREE ENTRY. How sweet is that?? After realizing DC isn't as warm as I imagined and buying a $20 sweater by the white house I told hubby we have to do something I want, which means Museums or the like. This was right up my alley.
If you can't walk uphill then you should probably park at the bottom liek we did so that you can enjoy walking down on the way back to your car. They closed around 5 I think and a quarter of the exhibits were closed but we still very much enjoyed ourselves.
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I always loved visiting the Smithsonian National Zoo since I was a child, but I hadn't gone for quite a while until I revisited it a couple summers ago with some college friends. The zoo is pretty large and you can see a good variety of animals, and best of all, admission is free!
Although the summer months can get pretty hot for walking around the zoo, the warmer season is definitely the time to go check it out. The pandas always seem to be everyone's favorite; "Butterstick" is quite an attraction. (Although this "baby panda" was not quite a baby anymore by the time I saw it.)
The zoo is definitely a gem in the DC metropolitan area, and will always hold a special place in my heart.
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MY FAVORITE!!!!! I love love love love love love love the zoo. I've loved it since I was a small child, and I'll love it until my last breath. All the animals, the well maintained trails, and I have been fortunate enough to see behind the scenes at the zoo!
My mother's friend worked here for quite some time, so I was able to see the lions when I was about 5 years old (I swear they looked like they were going to eat me), I've fed the pandas, and for my out to work day in 8th grade I worked with the primates and hung out with Big Al in the Think Tank, as well as the camels and then went down to Amazonia and got to pretend I was in a rain forrest.
Love the zoo... love love love. Perfect way to spend your day off or a day on the weekend.
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I finally saw the red panda! SO CUTE. This zoo is really nice. The maps are plentiful and easy to read, the animals are cute and sometimes visible. What's really nice about this zoo is since its a Smithsonian, its free. Some zoos I feel like I'm in the beginning of Jurassic park where they never see any dinos and just ride through jungle. Luckily since I live here and its free I can go back to try and see them anytime i want!
The bathrooms are clean, the people are nice, the animals are plentiful, and while I don't have kids, I feel like this is one of the more kid friendly zoos I've been to with lots of things to touch and see and play with.
I REALLY think they should signs at the top of the zoo with a warning about the long hill you will be walking down, especially for families who just walked from the metro which isn't super close either. I have seen too many older visitors/young children, struggling to make it back up to the top. Its a pretty significant hill.
I'm excited for zoo lights closer to the holidays!
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I usually don't enjoy zoos mostly because I leave feeling depressed for the caged animals, but I decided to go here anyway. Why not? It's free!
Because of my general aversion we decided to go on a "perfect fall day." The likelihood of that happening while we weren't busy wasn't very good, but one Sunday was actually perfect zoo weather - 65 and sunny. We set out for our trek up to Woodley Park and I was pleasantly surprised.
The biggest draw for them is probably the pandas. I never really understood the whole "Oh! I love pandas!" thing until I was at the zoo and thinking, "That's the cutest thing ever." Yes, I officially got a taste of panda fever.
Besides for the pandas we saw cheetahs, elephants and wallabies. We left most of the park for another day (that may or may not ever come) because my roommate's hangover was epic and not cooperating any more.
Overall it's a fun zoo and the habitats are large and well maintained so that it wasn't quite as depressing. If you get sick of the urban lifestyle and want to see some wildlife, although not in the wild, this might just be the place for you!
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I freakin' love this zoo.
I've been a number of times, but one excursion in mid-October really stands out as the closest I'll get to a safari for a while.
I went to the zoo for a Primatology class in order to study patterned behavior of a primate of my choice. I wasn't expecting much action, as the animals were fairly inactive every other time I'd gone, but I was proven wrong on this early Tuesday afternoon. I went to the golden lion tamarin exhibit in the small primate house and found that the zookeepers had introduced a new feeding method to the animal just a few minutes before I'd arrived--interesting primate study, check! After getting data to write a kick ass paper, I wandered around for a bit. Boy, were the animals awake! The pandas were running and playing, the bonobos and chimps were swinging from ropes, and the elephants were bathing themselves in their pool. Heck, even the tortoises seemed lively. I felt lucky to experience the animals in this capacity, and I finally understood the awesomeness of the zoo's many creatures.
Upon leaving, I stopped at the gift shop. I bought a stuffed panda for about $8, which my friend and I subsequently named Anderson Cooper. Our train of thought? Pandas are black and white. Newspapers are printed in black and white. News is now on TV. CNN reports the news. Anderson Cooper works for CNN. Logical, clearly.
I'd recommend the zoo to anyone--especially if you want to save some money but still be entertained (like all Smithsonian institutions, the zoo is free!). Also, take advantage of non-peak hours; that way, you'll get a better appreciation for what the zoo has to offer.
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As a zoo, the National Zoo is really not that impressive. The Asia Trail is wonderful but the Big Cats enclosures are profoundly awful.
However, as a green space with cool animals in the middle of a city, it's phenomenal. It's also part of one of the best running routes in the area--there's something so rewarding about huffing and puffing your way up a long hill to find a sloth bear hoovering away at termites at the top, or to cheat and take a little break to watch a zookeeper feeding the Nautili.
On a lazy, sun-dappled weekend morning, it's just wonderfully idyllic to lean on the fence by the small-clawed otters' enclosure, watching chubby, focused little bumblebees raid the foxgloves for pollen.
As someone who acquires facts about wildlife the way Britney Spears inhales Frappuccinos, I think the Smithsonian does a cracking job at educating people about animals and the environment. I love to see people get excited about learning and, crappiness aside, I think the National Zoo gets the job done.
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One of the great free zoos in the country. The walk back uphill after seeing everything is a bit rough, but still worth it.
Highlights: Red Pandas, Orangutans, Small Mammal House.
I actually really enjoy the walk from the adams morgan metro stop to the main entrance. It's much more relaxed area of town compared to the rest of DC.
The zoo gets only an o.k. from me compared to others I have been to. The cost factor (free) gives it a star, but the layout and overall amount of animals and exhibits is disappointing for being in the Nations Capitol. You would think that being in DC they would have it all, but I guess given the amount of politicians in the area, you cant cage all the animals.......=-)
Holy Mother of God was it HUMID!
Is this ENTIRE ZOO UPfreakinHILL?
then
Oh my gosh! Is that an orangutan above us? IT IS! A live freakin orangutan is walking across cables and... holy cow! He waves BACK at you when you wave!
This is AWESOME!
Ok, ok... I can make the humidity. I can do this. I can trek up all the hills in the heat and humidity because there's a
BABY PANDA!
YESSSSSSSSSSS!
He runs and plays and rolls and performs for all the admiring humans on the other side of the glass as we cheer and squeal with glee and clap.
That just made the trek worth every step.
Well, that and the orangutan and the pygmy hippo. Yep. Well worth it.
I wish I were still in school simply so I could write my paper on what I did this summer.
Me?
Yeah - I saw FREAKIN BABY PANDA! What did you do?
Oh, and it's free.
The maps are $2 and the parking... sweet Jesus.... yeah, that bad.
However, it's all worth it.
BABY FREAKIN PANDA! *and orangutans that wave at the humans. awesome stuff!
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I've only been to the Baltimore Zoo before coming here so my zoo-visiting experience is fairly limited. With that said, this zoo rocks!
Like several others have mentioned, there is no entrance fee, whereas there is a fee for the Baltimore Zoo. I still wonder about that because the National Zoo is much larger. There are way more animals to see and you don't need to fight your way to the front of the exhibits (at least, it wasn't particularly crowded when I went). When I say there are more, I'll explain it by saying we didn't get the chance to go to all the buildings in the several hours we were there.
It's open every day except Christmas. There are varying hours on some days specified on their website, but for the most part they're open in the summer from 6 a.m. - 8 p.m., the buildings open from 10 a.m. - 6. p.m.
I really liked the buildings. Maybe it's because it was air conditioned and you could sit right in front of the exhibits, or maybe it was because they displayed some of the oddest creatures I've seen. The Invertebrates building even has the hissing cockroaches of Fear Factor fame. As a forewarning, the Invertebrates building has what I think to have been an open spider section. I had a little difficulty passing it.
If you come across a day of having nothing to do, try visiting~ It's metro accessible, either by walking or using a bus transfer, and for places to eat, the nearby metro areas are Cleveland Park and Woodley Park. With the entrance being free and all, I went out to eat instead of eating their own overpriced junk.
On the downside, there were quite a few repeat exhibits of the same animals, while other animal exhibits were closed. I mean, it's interesting to see the difference in the characters of several animals of the same species, but there must have been 20 tamarins in the Small Mammal building. I didn't get to see any lions, tigers, or bears... unless I wasn't looking hard enough... which reminds me, navigation can be a little difficult without a map and you actually need to pay for it when you get inside the zoo. I'd print one out beforehand from the site if you're the type that likes to go by maps.
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