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Smithsonian National Zoological Park

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Editor Pick

Smithsonian National Zoological Park

  • January 9, 2007
  • Rated 4 of 5 by RBT331 from Medfield, Massachusetts
Smithsonian National Zoological Park

Another FREE thing: The National Zoo. Yes, even the zoo is free.

It can be easily driven to (located on Connecticut Ave), or it is a 20-minute walk from the nearest METRO station. It was a nice March day, so we walked.

Lions... and tigers... and bears... oh my! They have those and then some. Animals are sprawling all over their expansive 163 acre facility.

The National Zoo has everything you could imagine: birds, tigers, cheetahs, pandas, aquatic life, elephants. You name it, they have it. A lot of the animals are close to people, and still yet a safe barrier protects you from any possible erratic behavior. All of the animals have small displays that discuss the history of the animal, where it can be found, and describes some of the characteristics of them.

Wear your walking shoes. There is a lot of pavement to cover. Parents... if your children can still tolerate strollers, use them. After a short while, you could end up dragging them around because they are tired (we all know what that scene looks like).

We were there on a crisp March day, so weather was not an issue. However, given that most of the area is outdoors, I personally would pay close attention to the forecasts and bring an umbrella. You don't want to be admiring the pandas when it all of a sudden rains.

This national treasure is one of the many Smithsonian properties in the District. It is fantastic that because of support from various contributors, the Zoo is able to be free to everyone. This can be simply one part of a very educational vacation for any family, and again, best of all, it's FREE.

From journal The Nation's Capitol on a Budget

Editor Pick

Smithsonian National Zoological Park

  • October 9, 2006
  • Rated 4 of 5 by grannola from Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
Smithsonian National Zoological Park

We had to go here so the 4-year-old could see a hippopotamus. She is fascinated with them, and that was the thing she wanted to see the most on this trip.

We started off by driving right through the park and having to circle around to find it again. We went to Parking Lot A, which was full, and then the next thing we knew we were back on Constitution Avenue.

We finally got parked, and when we got out of the car, the first thing we saw were the giraffes. Okay, awesome, we'll be able to find the car.

We went to visit the pandas, a major attraction after the birth of a baby panda last year. We spent a lot of time looking at birds, and then came back to see the hippos.

We found a Nile hippopotamus just outside the Elephant House. The 4-year-old was happy. We also found a pygmy hippo inside the elephant house.

We didn't have a map because we couldn't find any place to get one, but then we stumbled across one that someone had dropped. We later realized that we could have bought one for $1 just inside the park at the info desk.

We took the kids to the children's area, which had some farm animals and a "pizza garden," which explained where pizza ingredients like tomatoes, cheese, and wheat come from. It also had a big foam pizza for the baby to play on, by far his favourite bit of the zoo.

We got to see a octopus feeding in the invertebrates house. We went through the butterfly garden. We saw the monkeys. All very interesting stuff.

Mom had been to South Africa only a week before, so she wanted to show the kids all the animals she'd seen there. The lions and elephants were high on her to do list.

We stopped for an ice cream at the cafe. The ice cream was chocolate/vanilla swirl soft serve. The kids loved it. We also got a kid's meal for the baby and me to share. It came in a cute panda-shaped lunch box. It had fries, chicken nuggets shaped like zoo animals, applesauce, and a drink for about $7.

We stopped at the gift shop to try to find the 4-year-old a hippo souvenir. After much searching, we found some stickers with a cartoonish hippo included.

The kids were also working on sheets that we'd printed off the smithsonian.org website for most of the visit. The plan was to take them to the education centre when they were done to redeem them for a sticker. We ended up getting to the center about 5 minutes after they closed (at 6pm).

From journal Washington -- Smithsonian

Smithsonian National Zoo

I was really excited to go to the zoo, and I had all my friends hyped up to go see the zoo. I had checked out their website and couldn't wait to go see certain animals. I especially enjoyed seeing the cheetahs and the panda bears. The disappointment was that there were many animals missing from their areas. I guess we went at the wrong time or something. I kinda felt like we wasted most of the day when we could have gone elsewhere.

From journal Trip to D. C.

National Zoo

  • August 16, 2005
  • Rated 4 of 5 by arwsgirl from Chattanooga, Tennessee
This zoo is great. There is so much to see. I've been more times than I can count, and I still enjoy going again. There are babies being born all the time. This spring, there were cheetah cubs and just recently a panda baby was born.

From journal Summer in Washington, DC

The National Zoo

  • February 23, 2005
  • Rated 3 of 5 by aussieinva from Chesapeake, Virginia
The National Zoo is located in Washington, D.C. The zoo has a variety of animals from every continent, similar to many other major zoos in the United States. Its major feature is the great pandas that they recently obtained, and they are a popular attraction with guests.

Admission to the zoo is free, and the two most popular ways to get to the zoo is by car (there is limited parking onsite) or the Metro. The zoo has a number of gift shops and refreshment stands on site.

It is best to allow at least a few hours at the zoo, as there is a lot to see and the terrain can be somewhat hilly in areas. I recommend seeing the National Zoo if your itinerary allows time for it or reserving it as an option if the more popular attractions are booked.

From journal Family Vacation in DC

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