National Zoological Park

This zoo is HUGE, but it's also free so you can not feel at all guilty taking it in one bit at a time. If you're visiting DC and will only have one day to see the entire zoo, be prepared for a looong day. The zoo is pretty convenient to the metro, but be prepared to climb 4-5 blocks up a pretty steep hill to get to the entrance. There's a nice visitor information center/ gift shop at the entrance. The park is well marked, so it's easy to find your favorite animals. There are a couple of food facilities, but when I went on a weekday in May most of them were closed. The food is standard zoo fare, and pretty expensive. I saw many people eating their own food at the picnic tables, so if you can carry it in I recommend that. more

Well, growing up in the suburbs of Washington, DC, you could just not go to the zoo at least once a year. As a child, we always took field trips in school here; and as an adult, one just seemed to gravitate back to their roots here. This zoo is absolutely wonderful! It is absolutely huge...and you will definitely be tired out by the time you are done! You truly need a full day to be able to enjoy all the animal exhibits. The best thing...it is free! Yeah, you probably have to pay for parking if you can't find a spot on the street, but that's a drop in the bucket. Kids of all ages will enjoy the pandas, lions, tigers, and much, much more. A definite must see while in our Nation's capital! more

I just went here with family and we had loads of fun. This Zoo is part of the Smithsonian Institution and is a vast 136 acre park. The best part is that admission is totally free. You just have to pay for parking. Even that can be avoided by taking the Metro Rail to Woodley Park or Cleaveland Park and walking from there. There are many sections inside the Zoo like African Savanna, Amazonia, Reptile park, Bird House etc. You can get a map of the Zoo near the entrance. The Giant Pandas and the Cheetah are the best attractions here. Many summer camps and activities are held now and then and its best to check them out and register for them through the Zoo's website. Its a great place to take the kids and also good for school trips. more

Everybody likes free stuff. This is great if you're in marketing, but it's a lesson that becomes painful when you're shoving your way through the crowds at the National Zoo. A word of advice: don't go at midday on a summer weekend. It's painfully hot and there are screaming children everywhere. It is a testimony to this zoo's great attraction that we stuck around anyway and were amazed. It's a wonderful zoo. The outdoor exhibits do not disappoint; right now, they have the most adorable baby panda (though you'll have to be very lucky to catch a glimpse and there's sometimes a half-hour line). The animals indoors are beautiful and fun to watch. Especially interesting is the small mammal house (look out for the lemurs and for the mouse deer). I also liked the giraffes - you get to see them very close up, staring at you balefully with those doelike eyes, and it's very neat. It is an incredible experience to be in the middle of a huge city and suddenly to see so many exotic and beautiful creatures. You must go at least once. But try to go off-peak! more

You're in DC, you've got kids, they need to burn off some energy before bedtime and the museums aren't cutting it. What to do? The zoo. See the real bat cave. Watch an elephant try to mate with a giant dodgeball. If you take the metro, you can really exhaust your kids by getting off at the Zoo stop and walking uphill to the zoo, then, when you leave the zoo, continue to walk uphill on Connecticut to get to the next stop. Try and plan your visit so that it coincides with the birth of cheetah cubs. They are adorable! Not like those crazy kids. more

This zoo is very cool. The exhibits are tons of fun because they are more creative than most zoos. If you have only been to the Baltimore Zoo in Baltimore, MD then you will have much more fun at this zoo. From the second you walk in you are surrounded by animals. At the entrance are wires that monkeys cross over the road on. It’s a very cool place to visit once in a while. more

This is one of the best zoos I have ever been to. They have a wide variety of animals in a beautiful setting. There is lots of street parking around, plus it is within walking distance of the metro. It is of course very kid friendly - on any given day you will see many many kids around. But it is also a lot of fun for parents, a group of friends, or even a date. The best part is that it is free! I would highly recommend paying a visit to this zoo. more

One of the best things about the National Zoo in DC is it is FREE. Yes, free. This place is huge. The exhibits are are open type and are awesome. Most people come to see the pandas, but everything is awesome. This is a difficult walk if you visit the entire zoo in one day, especially with kids. It is laid out throughout a hilly area of town, so going up hill can be difficult if you are not in shape or have a disability. There is parking at the zoo, but you are also close enough to the metro to walk there. Lots of other great things in the area to enjoy as well. Well worth a trip if you are in the area. When we lived close by we would go there a few times a year! more