You can go to the top of the Space Needle 100 times, and the view (albeit stunning) is always the same. You can hop on The Great Wheel 50 times, and it’s the same ride over and over again. That’s not the case with Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle. The place is always changing (and animals are highly unpredictable), so every trip to the zoo is never the same.
Simply put, Woodland Park Zoo (map) is our favorite Seattle family attraction. Tove and I get just as excited to visit the zoo as our kids. It’s easily the greatest place around. We renew our zoo membership every year. Yes, we LOVE the zoo.
There’s a reason we love Woodland Park Zoo so much. It’s home to more than 1,100 animals representing almost 300 different species. The creatures range from tiny insects to monstrous grizzly bears. The zoo is only a short drive away, but you feel like you’re in a different world when you’re there. It’s amazing to see some of the planet’s most amazing beasts in one place.
The animals at Woodland Park Zoo are grouped into the different areas they’re found around the world. The Northern Trail features grizzly bears, sea otters and mountain goats; Tropical Asia highlights orangutans, tigers and komodo dragons; the African Savannah showcases lions, hippos and giraffes; Australia shows off wallabies and emus; the Tropical Rainforest has jaguars, lemurs and colobus monkeys; and the Temperate Forest features red pandas, flamingos and several other different types of birds. The list of animals at Woodland Park Zoo (which also includes penguins, snow leopards and wolves) goes on and on. My personal favorites are the sloth bears and gorillas, while Tove loves the giraffes, and our kids can’t get enough of the Family Farm.
If seeing animals isn’t enough for you, feeding animals may do the trick. No, I’m not kidding. You can feed giraffes for a small fee (just $5) during the summer months. The feedings typically only happen once a day for an hour, so be sure to check the Woodland Park Zoo website for more information.
The fun doesn’t stop there. The zoo also has a bug world, a nature-inspired indoor play space called Zoomazium (among other outdoor play areas), shows, restaurants, picnic tables, and even a historic carousel. In other words, there’s plenty of entertainment at the zoo.
Woodland Park Zoo isn’t just fun; it’s also very informative. Every exhibit contains extensive information about the animals, and there are also employees and zookeepers around the zoo who are ready and willing to answer your questions. On top of that, there are several classes, camps, and programs for kids and adults throughout the year.
Is that still not enough for you?! There are also several special events at the zoo throughout the year, including ZooTunes, Brew at the Zoo, and WildLights.
While the special events come at their own cost, normal entry into Woodland Park Zoo varies throughout the year. Click here to buy tickets and see zoo pricing. If you’re visiting from out of town, we highly recommend the Seattle CityPASS. It saves you 43% on Seattle’s biggest tourist attractions, including the zoo.
Have you ever visited Woodland Park Zoo? If not, what in the world are you waiting for?! What is your favorite animal to see at the zoo? We’d love to hear from you! Please leave your comments below or connect with us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Don’t forget to also visit Seattle Bloggers for more fun attractions around the Emerald City.
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