National Zoological Park

My friends are planning to go here to celebrate a very special occasion. I'm excited to come here and have some fun.

i love this zoo. it is a wonderful oasis in the city. The best part of it all is that it is free! That's right, free! They have everything, from great animals to a great location. The one downside is that parking can be tight so taking the Metro is probably the best way to go. In addition, joining the FONZ will give you free parking, and discounts at the zoo store and concessions stands there. bring lunch and make a day of it!

The National Zoo is a great place to spend a day with a friend or the family. Even though certain animals have to be kept in cages and away from the people, the Zoo tried to create a much more "natural" habitat for the animals. There are a lot of trees and paths that are very enjoyable to hike. You can usually get up and close to the animals. Some areas even allow the animals to come and go freely. There are plates and signs to tell you about the animals, and some exercises and games to get you closer to the animals' lives. It's really fun and educational. There are also food and drink stands for you to take a short break. The visitor center offers activities and events. You can also get event calendars and maps from there. The Zoo offers rental for strollers and wheelchairs (free). The admission to the Zoo is free, but the parking is not cheap. The Zoo offers a "Friend of the National Zoo" (FONZ) program. If you sign up for a membership (with several different levels at different annual fees), you can get free parking - but only if there is still parking available. The bigger problem is the parking lots are not very big, so you can't even find a place to park if you get there in the late morning. The FONZ program also allows you to participate in special events, such as preview of the panda cubs. The membership fees are pretty expensive, because this is also a way to support the Zoo.

PROS: Enjoyable environment, educational games and information.
CONS: Small parking lots, no free parking for non-members.

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.