"National Zoo" National Zoological Park by Ewingjr98

The National Zoo is located between Woodley Park and Cleveland Park in Rock Creek Park.

My first visit to the National Zoo after dozens of trips to DC and even four months living in the area. We cut our visit short due to lack of time, so we only saw about a third of the park, but I already have plans to come back in a month! During this shortened visit we started with the cheetahs, one was sitting in her cave eying us while three others paced restlessly. Then we moved on to the Pandas, both your giant variety and the small red pandas that seem more like raccoons. After that we spend a good deal of time in the bird area, until we realized the majestic birds of prey were located in a different part of the zoo. Our second last stop was the under-construction elephant and hippo area, and we ended this visit at the great ape enclosure which featured a month-old baby gorilla, as well as several orangutans.

Officially known as the Smithsonian National Zoological Park, this zoo was founded in 1889.

Entrance is free, and it attracts about two million visitors a year.

The zoo is easy to travel to via the Metro's Red Line, either Woodley Park or Cleveland Park Stations. Parking is available, but is very expensive. Throughout the park there are plenty of restrooms, souvenir shops, and snack stands, and there is a good-sized visitors center at the park entrance on Connecticut Avenue.