National Zoo (Washington, D.C.)

I have been to 10 different zoos around the country and this is still my favorite and as of this date it is still FREE (paid for by your federal tax dollars). Very busy on weekends in the summer!

For the price you can't go wrong (free). Loved seeing the Pandas. Very nice zoo. Would like to go back.

The National Zoo is one of the great attractions in Washington DC. It has had some problems with its maintenance and questions about its animal care over the past few years, but the Smithsonian seems to be taking steps to address these issues. The new Asia Trail boasts a new habitat for the zoo's 3 giant pandas, as well as new displays for several other Asian species. The zoo is also working on an Elephant Trail for its Asian elephants. The improvements will make the zoo much nicer for both the animals and guests. The zoo is free! You can walk right through it like it was any other park. Its hard to beat that type of experience in my opinion.

Wow, this should be #1, after all it's the only zoo in America that has pandas.

We saved the National Zoo until the last day of our vacation. Seeing several zoos, I was very disappointed during our visit in October 2005. Many exhibits were being renovated or signs stating temporarily upgrading exhibits. The male panda was outside sleeping, the female and newborn were viewed via closed circuit television; the lion and lioness were sleeping; the newborn cheetahs,as well as all the cheetahs, were also sleeping. We read the signs were it states the "cats" sleep 20 hours a day but 80% the animals from 9:30-2pm. I was surprisedto see some animals alone without other interaction of same specied animals. There is one tiger, one zebra, one ape. They looked bored and unhealthy. The best part of the zoo happened in the first twenty minutes of arriving at the zoo. We watched the elephants bathe and the hippo get fed. Most animals were lounging and inactive. I would not recommend this as a stopping place on things to see in Washington DC.

This is one of my favorite places on earth -- the best time to go is early in the morning when before all the 'stupid' people show up. Make all the rounds to the outdoor enclosures to see all the animals either just waking up & active -- many times in the middle of feeding. Sometimes the keepers will show you how to feed them and etc. Then when you finish the outdoors, go back the same way you came by visiting all the indoor 'houses' just as they open up at ten am. By the time you finish, you'll have beaten all the stupid people and whining children, with no lines to the bathroom, AND just before the zoo becomes filthy from the visitors through out the day. Even though there are areas to be improved, it's still just a pleasant place to visit and enjoy and one of the few zoos left in the country that is free of charge to visit. Parking is pretty cheap too, and it has a Metro that pretty much drops off at the front door.

the pandas look miserable

It's big but far from the best. For some strange reason (unbeknownst to me as to why) the nations top 3 zoos in my opinion are in the state of Ohio (CIncinnati,Toledo & Columbus).

I hate zoos (and circuses), so perhaps I am the worst person to rate them. I just feel bad for all of the animals in them that have to live in close quarters and not be able to run free, and do as they like. I know, I live in a fantasy world, and a lot of poachers would kill them anyway. Maybe for them, they would prefer that. The national zoo was the most depressing place I have ever been. The elephants packed into small, cement floored areas that smell constantly of pine sol. Just the fact that this is in the nation's capital is just awful.

The reptile exhibit is good. . .biggest plus is that it's free. It's also in a good location near the subway. The only problem I have with the place is that I thought it was a little dirty for both human and animal alike.

This zoo smells to high heaven. This place literally stinks and is very dirty.

The best zoo/aquarium attraction I've ever been to, it is a HUGE zoo with beautiful exhibits for their animals. If you like zoos, this trip can be an all-day affair, there's just that much to see. Easy to get to (there's a nearby Metro stop, use the Red Line, though it takes a bit of walking to get to the zoo. But, since you're going to the zoo, I guess you'll be expecting to walk, anyway). They have their well-loved Giant Panda exhibit, currently housing Mei Xiang and Tian Tian, their female and male pandas. Their elephant house showcases their baby elephant Kandula (he's REALLY adorable); the small mammal house is mostly Golden Lion Tamarins (which is nice, but I was hoping they'd have a wider variety); The Reptile Discovery Center was probably my favorite indoor exhibit, with a GREAT variety of snakes, turtles, tortises and other creatures with a wealth of informative, interactive displays. The Think Tank was excellent, too, posing the question "Do Animals Think?". I was look... Read more

Really good, and it's FREE!!

Excellent zoo! Second only to the Bronx Zoo in New York. Well worth the visit if you are in the D.C. area.