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Woodland Park Zoo
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 9:30 am - 4 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
271 reviews for Woodland Park Zoo
271 reviews in English
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Review from Sovannary O.
Seattle, WA
What did the Tiger say to the other Tiger? RAWRRRR!!!
I am so in love with the Woodland Park Zoo. I've been to many other Zoos in other cities and states but nothing compares! I come to this zoo a lot and I am still not tired of it, there is always something new to see or do here.
I love that the whole park looks so natural and it really feels like you are walking into the jungle, safari or tropical rain forest! It's amazing. I get so giddy walking through all of the exhibits.
Woodland Park Zoo is so big that it's hard to for to do all in one say, I get overwhelmed because I want to see everything and watch every feeding and every show. So I do this Zoo in parts. One of the reasons I keep coming back is because of all the different and new things they have going on, it keeps the Zoo a great point of interest for me! -
Review from Shannon H.
Seattle, WA
Beautiful zoo. Animal welfare and education are cleary the forefront of the zoo's main objectives. The animals are provided clean and lush spaces, plenty of privacy and appear to be healthy and well cared for.
The zoo itself is very child friendly and handicap accessible. I recently visited with 20+ family members of all ages and mobility ranges, and even on a rainy afternoon we were able to enjoy almost all the exhibits in a few hours. I was surprised how many families still came out to the zoo on a very drizzly, grey Sunday. They usually offer a rainy day special at 50% off, although this was not in effect for some reason last weekend.
I love seeing the landscaping and exhibit changes they have made over the years. I'm glad Seattle has such a gorgeous zoo to show off to tourists! -
Review from Aaron J.
I visited here from Los Angeles and was really impressed by this zoo. Besides being very clean- yeah I know that my baseline is LA- this zoo seemed to be a first class operation all around. It didn't even smell like a zoo. They have lots of friendly volunteers walking about that are more than happy to answer questions. I like how the park was divided up by continents. Since it was Easter weekend, it was a bit crowded, and we still got in with relative ease and for a bargain price too. Even parking was too easy here. We found a spot on the street right across from the zoo.
I didn't get to see everything, since I had kids with me and they were busy doing Easter egg hunts in the park area- which looked a little too nice for a zoo. I was very impressed. I did see white wolves, bears, elk, and raptors in the Pacific NW section, which I really enjoyed. We also hit Africa and saw lions, giraffes and zebras. I will have to go back for sure, because this zoo offers much more. It will likely be a must do for my family whenever we are in town. We had a great time at Woodland Park. -
Review from Z H.
Seattle, WA
Until yesterday, I hadn't been to the zoo in ages. It's changed a good bit since I was last there, but some of the areas were just the way I remembered them. My wife and I had a great time snapping pictures, eating (really overpriced) ice cream and getting in a good walk with our 4-month-old. We grabbed a couple of passes which were reasonably priced for a year (~$45-55 per adult). We plan on going again this Sunday with some friends.
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Review from Kathryn E.
Marysville, WA
Fantastic Zoo! Beautiful grounds. I did it in about 4 hours with a baby and a toddler. Lots of places to stop and play, lots of shade. Love the Gorillas and the Elephants! Really beautiful jewel in Seattle. Plus I checked in using Yelp and got a cute bobble head in the gift store. I would come back to the gift store at Christmas for hard to figure out people. Really beautiful stuff.
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Review from Henry L.
woodland park zoo is a world class zoo, all of the major exhibits are award winning. Check it out on a sunny day and go early! There are many things to see and do when visiting
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Review from Kevin B.
Pretty much hidden gem. I had never heard of a zoo in Seattle before, so when I went with a group of friends we were expecting something tiny we could see in an hour or two. It ended up coming close to the San Diego Zoo in terms of size and variety of exhibits, and blowing it away in terms of value. Admission for adults is $12 (this may be seasonal), but we managed to find a coupon for $2 off at our hotel. The San Diego Zoo is amazing, and Woodland Park Zoo doesn't have some of the animals they do, including Pandas and more exotic, lesser-known creatures, but for $10 a person and at least 4 hours spent, it was a great deal.
The exhibits were well put-together and very informative, and while some of the enclosures were kind of small, the animals looked healthy and well cared-for. They were in the process of building a bigger tiger enclosure, but we still got to see them in their smaller pen. One thing that was nice is that you could easily see a lot of the animals, whereas at some other zoos they're a little hard to spot. The staff were all very friendly and informative and offered a lot of interesting experiences, from educational talks to feeding penguins.
The food court was pretty good too, with a variety of cuisines and animal-friendly (litter reducing) use of actual cutlery and plates as opposed to disposable plastic. The cheeseburger I had was actually quite good for cheap food court fare, as were the waffle fries. Lightly seasoned, crispy on the outside, fluffy and potatoey on the inside, perfect!
Even the gift shop was pretty great, it didn't seem as overpriced as these tourist places often are, and they offered a sizeable selection of fair-trade items, which was admirable.
One small negative was that they seemed to close pretty early - a lot of the exhibits started shutting down at 4:30 on a Saturday. But it could be a seasonal thing, I'm not sure. Parking is also really difficult, their lots just don't seem to be big enough, especially because it seems to be shared with the surrounding park area. We ended up finding street parking a few blocks away and walking.
If you love animals or are looking for something to do in Seattle, Woodland Park Zoo is a great place to go. I know sometimes families have a hard time finding affordable activities, but with the great admission prices it would make for a perfect afternoon outing. -
Review from Richard T.
Bellevue, WA
Wow!! It has been many years since the last time I can even remember coming to the Woodland Park Zoo. The place has been vastly changed when I last went and the exhibit's has all been improved.
One of my favorites were watching the big brown bears up close and seeing them swimming and splashing around in the water. There were also fish inside the tank
area for the bears to catch if they could get to them. Some of the fish had close encounters with the bears as they had scars on their bodies.
Another exhibit I enjoyed were the sea otters swimming around with each other, but you could also see them chasing down small fish for food.
Overall a very enjoyable day, but the only downside were the long lines to purchase tickets. We had to wait at least 15 minutes before we got our tickets and once you got inside, the food concession lines were also very long. If you can I would suggest to just bring some food to pack along with you. -
Review from Lauren M.
Seattle, WA
We love to go to the zoo. We live quite close by and gooften, especially once the weather gets warmer. The animals have lots of space to roam and there are plenty of employees around to ask questions about the animals. Everyone seems to love there job.
My son is a preschooler and there are plenty of things for him to climb, which he loves. Also there are so many great exhibits here. It's hard to see everything in one visit. Some of my favourites are the Grizzly Bears (great to see them eating their lunch or sitting down looking like big teddy bears). The African dogs are also beautiful and like nothing I've seen before.
I'd say it's just as fun for adults as it is for little kids! -
Review from Romeo S.
Seattle, WA
The zoo took down the dino exhibit. Bummer. We spent $42 for admission, $35 for lunch, and $13.10 for sunglasses.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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8/29/2011
On Aug. 24th, Syuzy & I went to the zoo with seven (7) kids. It cost around $78 for entry. We… Read more »
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8/29/2011
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Review from Sam T.
Edmonds, WA
The zoo has made a few upgrades over the past few years and has a nice new entrance. My favorite will always be the gorillas as well as the other various primates. The siamangs are pretty entertaining. The jaguars and lions are always impressive. Great place to spend a few hours in the summer.
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Review from Sterling K.
Seattle, WA
A great zoo to visit in Seattle! I went here twice and I went to every attraction both times. I don't even remember what animals I saw, but I still remember it being awesome.
The first time I went with a friend and the zoo was about to close. We hit up the gift shop before leaving and we ended up leaving in the wrong exit (can't re-enter), which caused us to circle the whole zoo to find my car! Probably my fault though. -
Review from Darci W.
Marysville, WA
Pay for membership if you plan on more than one trip a year. Be ready to pay lots for food. So its a good idea to bring your own, and rent a wagon to use with a kid/cooler. :) We learned the hard way. Great zoo, don't forget your camera! :) So much fun for the kids, remember to bring the stroller or rent one. Lots of walking.
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Review from J. G.
Atlanta, GA
Great zoo. It's large and well kept. Go when you have a full day to see everything.
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Review from Sarah F.
Oh Woodland Park... my favorite Washington zoo! The zoo of my childhood and the image that comes to mind every time someone says "zoo."
Pros?
-The food at Pacific Blue is quite tasty and reasonably priced!
-All the helpers here seem to be passionate about their jobs
-Lots of animals to look at!
-This place is huge- there's a lot to see and do
-Wheelchair accessible but also lots of walking for the adventurous
-A good variety of indoor/outdoor to suit different weather conditions (though if you don't like rain or cold.. don't plan to come on a non sunny day
-Reasonable admission prices, especially in the winter
-Many of the programs produce profits that go to good causes (versus only a tiny amount of the money going to good causes)
Cons?
-They recently got rid of the night exhibit :-( my favorite...
-The food in the Rain Forest Food Pavilion is mediocre at best (and it's the only place open year round) -
Review from Rudi T.
Kirkland, WA
By far the best zoo I've been to. I always had a childhood memory of zoo having unpleasant smells but hardly noticed any smell here until at the farm exhibition and that one is not a wild animal section. Plus I got a free tiger bobble head after finding out about the special thru Yelp check in so check in often for other Yelp only specials.
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Review from Stephanie B.
Des Moines, WA
My daughter and I love the zoo. Their membership package is a real bargain if you like to go a lot, which we do. We go at least twice a month.
This zoo is kept extremely clean (no trash on the ground, enclosures look well-maintained) and the animals seem to be content in their exhibits. Their staff and volunteers are very knowledgeable and will answer any questions you might have.
The raptor show is my favorite "talk" that they offer. It is amazing to see birds of prey up close and in flight. The caretaker will stick around after the show to answer any questions you might have and even offer a little bit of a closer look at the birds. -
Review from Amy B.
5 star for the easy walking. I've been to zoos where the walking is horrendous and for being in Seattle it is the flattest zoo I've ever been to.
The exhibits could have been larger but hey thats just being picky. Definitely worth a visit. -
Review from Andrew H.
Bow, WA
Love the Zoo! Great weather, took all 6 kids, the only downside was the offhand lady at the front counter when signing up for a family pass. Gave me the run around about how many kids I have and seemed very uninterested in taking what to me seems like a large amount of money! Be more gracious!
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Review from Natalie L.
Maple Valley, WA
Love the Woodland Park Zoo! I have gone to so many field trips and family outings here and I also went here for an anniversary a year ago. The best time to go is on a cloudy day, that's when all the animals come out and there's also less people, which is probably why the animals are out...
My favorites are the penguins and sea otters, I could watch them all day long. I'm also into giraffes in a big way so I love watching them too.
I'm super sad the night exhibit is closing though :(
So many childhood memories! I will for sure be back to this zoo. -
Review from Heather M.
Bainbridge Island, WA
This is a nice zoo. The trails are green and a bit narrower than a single-lane road which makes it seem like you are on an adventure instead of a cow following the herd. Nice selection of cool animals (red panda! Hippo!). There was a lot of "this exhibit is empty" and "coming soon" which was a bummer. But, all in all, good bang for your buck. I don't recommend the soft-serve ice cream though. Unless you get straight vanilla, they use some weird flavored syrup that tastes yucky. Even the chocolate, which you'd think is hard to mess up.
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Review from Jammy L.
Awesome zoo. A lot of animals to see and special displays. The zoo was busy when I visited but the design of the zoo was pretty good and was able to accommodate the crowd. There is no where I find it difficult to find a spot to see the animals.
Gift store is cool and has some pretty nice merchandises.
Only downside is the parking is HORRENDOUS. Expected to drive around the neighbourhood CAREFULLY, as streets are narrow thanks to the parked cars, and people may not drive in very friendly manner when they are also frustratingly trying to find a spot to park. -
Review from Lisa H.
Seattle, WA
A co-worker had told me that the Woodland Park Zoo is often better in the winter than the summer to visit, and she was right. I took my 3 year old daughter here yesterday and we had a fantastic time.
The park was almost empty and we were able to see the animals as close as the exhibits would allow, no jostling through huge summer crowds and trying to find a hole in them for your small child to catch a glance of the animals through.
The penguins were a real treat! We were the only two people watching the jaguar for almost 10 minutes, it was spectacular. We also saw flamingos, bears, tucans, snakes, screamers, turtles, and bugs.
If you dress for a winter day, wear a coat with a hood or bring an umbrella, and don't expect to see all of the animals because of the cold weather, you'll have a memorable day at the zoo. My daughter had almost free reign of the entire zoo to herself for 3.5 hours.
We left happy and found a great way to spend a winter day in Seattle. -
Review from Yvonne M.
It never gets old. Always a treat to see the animals in their habitats.penguins are great!
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Review from Matt L.
We really enjoy this zoo and have visited almost 1/2 doz times in the last couple of years. Each time we visit, I am reminded of the fine conditions for both humans as well as the animals (it seems at least!).
Most recently we went on a rainy and cold day in November. I was dragging my heels about going, as the last thing I wanted to do on a day like that was spend it outside. I was very much relieved after discovering the zoo has a rainy day itinerary that focuses on exploring the covered exhibits (nocturnal, birds, playground, northern animals, etc), and this helped improve our mood immensely. In particular, in the nocturnal/reptile exhibit we were treated with the opportunity to hands-on exhibits of snakes and bugs, and these shows were staffed by very knowledgeable individuals.
On nicer days visitors to the zoo can also enjoy the opportunity to see a large selection of mammals that are native to North America (bears, wolves, foxes, river otters, etc) as well as non-native ones (tigers, zebras, leopards, elephants, gazelles, etc) all presented in enclosures that seem roomy while making it easy for the patron to easily see the animals. An occassionally, for small additional fees ($1-2 IIRC) zoo goers can feed animals like giraffes and penguins if they choose! -
Review from Poulina K.
Kirkland, WA
The only reason I didn't give our Zoo 5 stars, is because I always feel animals do not belong in captivity. I always feel a little sad seeing some of them looking around, trying to calculate possible escape routes.
With that said, Woodland Park Zoo has done a fantastic job of keeping the place clean and creating large, open air exhibits that resemble the animals natural habitat as much as possible. Animals also look well cared for.
Presenting a good variety of exhibits and creatures to check out most days. Some species like to sleep during the day, so your best bet to see more animals is coming here in the am if possible.
General adult admission is $17.50 which is very reasonable, plenty of parking for $5 or free on the surrounding streets.
P.S. I adore orangutans, and the ones at Woodland are so fun to watch!Listed in: Show off your Emerald City
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Review from Becky G.
We took the girls here this past Sunday, and really enjoyed ourselves. The weather was overcast and chilly, but this meant that the zoo wasn't crowded. For my husband and I, plus our 7 year old (2 year old was free) it only cost 16.50! That is ridiculously cheap. This included a military discount, and I'm not sure if the discount was more since it was Veterans Day weekend.
Anyway, the animal exhibits were great. They have a lot to look at. Surprisingly, the animals were out and about and active. The grounds are really nice. There are some sections that have the sidewalk going through dense foliage, with a canopy overhead, and it feels like you are walking in the forest. Really cool. They have a huge reptile house with so many cool creatures.
The girls had a great time, so did my husband and I. We spent about 1.5 hours there, which was sufficient to see everything. We will definitely be returning here again! -
Review from Sunshine M.
This zoo is heart-grabbingly wonderful. It was designed with animal's in mind. The exhibits mimic the animal's natural habitat's, thus they are a lot more active than in other animal parks we have been to.
I would not mind if my group just left me with the Penguins as I could gladly watch their antics all day. Still, there are so many amazing animals to see...from Tapirs to Tigers to Falcons. You can even help to feed some animals (like the Penguins!) and chat with keepers.
The grounds are beautiful also. My husband is not someone who would normally pay attention to landscaping, but he was blown away by the quality of paths and gardens. A very uplifting, interactive place to spend the day, just make sure to get there early as it does not stay open in the evenings.
Tip: Very Friendly for Kids and Wheelchair -
Review from Jessica B.
Seattle, WA
I've been a proud, card-holding zoo member for the last 2 years! (If you're a single adult that goes more than 3 times a year it's totally worth it)!
First of all, they have GREAT staff. Maybe not greater than other big zoos, but certainly great enough to keep my questions answered! I love standing by exhibits where a zoo employee is and having them answer my questions! I've learned a ton about hippos and elephants and bears, etc. that way! Always so nice.
Great maps. Seriously. They have nice "road" signs on every walkway, easy maps, and a phone map ap! This can streamline your zoo adventure if you dont have time to meander your way to all the exhibits. It's also nice to keep you from missing key areas.
My favourite area is the temperate rainforest - Sometimes I read by the waterfowl pond since it's less of a kid-zone. There are also birds of paradise, hornbill toucans (not to be confused with toucans in other areas of the zoo), Cranes, etc!
The petting zoo always makes me sad. It's 1/16th of it's former size, only has like 5 animals at a time, limited hours, and you cant feed them :( So sad... but I still pet the nonchalant goats.
LOVE this zoo. Lions, giraffes, wild dogs (fun!), lemurs, red pandas, zebras, hippos, bugs, kea!!! Ah happiness.
If you're into zoos, I reccomend this one. I also HIGHLY recommend the Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium. I go there less because I live in Seattle, but it's totally worth a jaunt down to Tacoma. -
Review from Corinne W.
Seattle, WA
This beautifully designed and lushly landscaped zoo has two things holding it back from a 5 star review. The sad elephant situation (google it, I don't feel Yelp is the appropriate place for controversial info) and the defunct nocturnal exhibit. Seattle misses you, Night Exhibit!! You were a sweet sweet oasis of quiet and calm.
But, here are some awesome and still operational must-see Woodland Park Zoo highlights:
-Tropical jungle room where the colorful birds fly *uncaged*!! around you. So amazing enough to risk being pooped on.
-Grizzly bears that swim in a trout filled viewing pond! Also, a peek-a-boo view into their cozy bear den. Grizzly bears are so BIG.
-Giant Dreyer's waffle cones in the food court. Other than that, you'll want to pack in your vittles.
-Warning signs that pictorially depict the danger of crows pilfering snacks from unattended strollers.
-Last year the lion caught and ate a duck. Even when they are not hunting duck, the Woodland Park Zoo lions are super cool.Listed in: Visiting Seattle?, Drunk in Public, Good Places to Read
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Review from Amy C.
Woodland Park Zoo is a small, but well-designed zoo with a lot of active animals. It's so nice to go to a zoo and see a pack of wolves playing with each other, giraffes awkwardly running, orangutans happily eating some kind of orange treat, an armadillo busily scurrying all around the exhibit (apparently she builds tunnels under the tortoise exhibit) and a lady lion scratching her back on a tree. The whole zoo has a natural feel to it with its shrubbery and the small (yet stroller and wheelchair friendly) trails that lead you through the exhibits.
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Review from Keith C.
Columbia, MO
When we approached the zoo, our hopes were low. The entrance was small and unassuming, and having entered to the entrance hub, there wasn't a lot to see. As we went through the (strangely deserted) African village to look over the giraffe area, our hearts lifted. By the time we had walked counter clockwise to the tigers, we were hooked. There were just so many animals to see, including many that my zoo-loving family has never seen, such as wolves and elk. The exhibits were all very modern and beautiful.
Having grown up in San Diego, it's common to think that we have the best zoo, but considering the value (especially with CityPass), variety, and number of exhibits, the Woodland Park Zoo trounces SD's offerings. Consider one case study: the giraffes. At the San Diego Zoo, they live in a limited dirt enclosure with a concrete and metal shelter. At the Wild An--- Safari Park, they are free to roam but a lot of the turf is torn up. At the Woodland Park Zoo, the giraffes live in a large space with a lush lawn. If I was a giraffe, I'd definitely want to be in Seattle.
There are only a few cons. One is that the non-linear nature of the paths that causes a lot of backtracking past already-seen exhibits. The map added to the confusion by being a little inaccurate. Also, as other reviews have pointed out, sometimes the foliage obscures the exhibits both from human vision and from photography. A little more zealous attempt to curb plant growth in key places would help greatly. -
Review from Joshua B.
I love this zoo. Started coming here when I was a little kid with my mom and for field trips when I was in school. It gets better each time and they always seem to have something new added. Now it's time to start taking my daughter so she can experience it like I did growing up. In the summer time May 1 thru September 30 it's $17.75 for adults, children 3-12 are $8.50 and toddlers are free and it's even cheaper from Fall to Spring. If you want to go without a bunch of people there then go when it's cloudy or in the Fall to Spring time. It seems like most of the animals are out and about and you don't have to deal with the big crowds. I defiantly can't wait to go back.
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Review from Lisa W.
This Zoo is probably one of the best Zoos I have ever been to. Every time I am there the animals are very active and you rarely miss out on seeing anything.
The Jaguar is very entertaining, always close to the glass and making noises. Such a beautiful cat.
The Bears! OMG the bears! Such a great experience, the bears wresting in the water just inches away from the glass. What an awesome way to get up close and personal with them. -
Review from Michelle W.
Los Altos, CA
This is a very pleasant zoo, but small and not well planned for walking. The Northwest section was the best, with a grizzly bear exhibit that looked like it was in the wild, like you just came across it on accident.
I saw a few animals pacing in their enclosures, a sure sign of stress. The pathways make thesedead-end loops so you end up walking twice as far as if it was a contiguous path.
I have been to other big city zoos and this one is definately small for the size of the city, but each exhibit seems pretty well planned. We especially liked the otters and the penguins.Listed in: NW Washington
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Review from Sasha B.
Just as another reviewer said, I kept low expectations on my first visit to the zoo.
Nevermind that we decided to go ahead and buy a membership - I mean, if you go more than twice, you've saved some money doing it, so why not? It's just that, I've been to quite a few excellent zoos, and I figured, a zoo in Seattle, where houses are piled on top of houses, and there's hardly a foot of Seattle that hasn't been developed into some towering mixed-use building, couldn't be that great.
Yeah, I was wrong. It's delightful. I kinda felt like frolicking.
Next time I go, I probably will frolick. If you see some frolicking adult with a moronic grin on her face...
Hi, I'm Sasha - nice to meet you. -
Review from Michael O.
Bothell, WA
I'm not Sure Winter is the Best Time to visit a Zoo, But I had a Great Time. I Love the outdoors, & its been a Long time Since I have been to a Zoo.
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Review from Kathie s.
Ah a fun day at the zoo on a sunny Sunday. Nice weather, but the animals were doing there fair of sunbathing and napping in the nice weather and were not super active. Here are some quick tips:
1. Don't try and park in the first lot you see when coming to the zoo, the lot is full many times.
2. check your entertainment book, as there is a two for one coupon in the book and really cuts the cost of admission
3. remember that you can bring your own food and water into the zoo which cuts down on what you spend
4. If you go ofter, a zoo membership does not only support the zoo, but will save you money after three visits.
5. Pay attention to the different exhibit times and shows.
Word of caution, I split open my toe while walking around in my sandles, dumb shoes to where I know......bring band aides with you, the first aide station may be far away, unfortunately I learned the hard way. -
Review from Deborah F.
Seattle, WA
Just went to the zoo yesterday after a long 4 years. I liked that they had made some updates, but I really disliked that they got rid of the nocturnal exhibit, as it was my favorite part.
Overall I would say that it was a good experience. My friend and I didn't have to pay because our friends who were in town had purchased a city pass and they weren't able to use everything in the booklet. I see other reviews talking about $17.50 admission prices for adults which I think is outrageous, and for what is in the zoo, I'm glad we didn't have to pay.
Everything was clean, no garbage anywhere which was nice. I felt as though some of the exhibits enclosures were just too small for the animals which made me feel sad for them. One of the zoo volunteers was nice enough to inform us of the baby ocelot so we were sure to check that out, super cute!!
I think this is a great place for kids and families,but I can't see myself going back until I have children of my own.
I haven't been to many zoo's in other states/places so I really don't have anything else to compare it too, however I just feel like it could be better. -
Review from dub n.
Seattle, WA
It was Sunday and busy with lots of booger-eating children, but it was large enough to accommodate all and I still enjoyed myself.
The layout is great and everybody gets great views.
I love the grizzly bear and otter the best.
When you go please dont be the jerk that taps on the glass, caged animals cant defend themselves
-BEWARE PARKING SUCKS
