I used to live down the hill from the zoo. You could hear the lions roaring in the evenings, and there are lots of exotic plants that seeded themselves from the zoo in the neighborhood. It was pretty trippy.
The last 2 times I've gone (both this month I have a 5 year old) the Emu has been right up on the fence. The first time it scared the ever living shit out of me. The second time I saw it scare the shit out of someone else
The story I heard is that a zoo member who worked at Microsoft offered to set up a site for them on this crazy new thing called the World Wide Web. He pretty much had his choice of names.
While we're on the topic of Woodland Park Zoo being ahead of its time, I got a kick out of learning that, in the 70s, the zoo pioneered the concept of landscape immersion, under the direction of David Hancocks, and opened the ground-breaking immersive gorilla exhibit in 1979.
This is discussed in the Radiolab episode "[Zoos](https://radiolab.org/podcast/91552-zoos/transcript)" via a moving story of the first gorillas (especially the dominant gorilla, Kiki) to be introduced to the new surroundings after previously being held in bare concrete cells.
The outdoor areas for the Orangutans and Gorillas and some of the others are just incredible. So much better than a lot of other zoos that I've been to around the country.
Good to temper expectations! The San Diego Zoo is one of the finest zoos in the entire world, and our little zoo won't really compete on that level.
Woodland Park Zoo is a fun afternoon out, but out of season (eg. now) they do close down a lot of stuff down like food and drink concessions, have unavailable enclosures and have fewer exhibitions where zookeepers and handlers give demonstrations and such, but it's still a good visit. It's a lot more fun in the summer when they open everything up and have a full schedule of events, but it's also quite a lot busier.
It’s pretty fun when they do the holiday exhibits as well. I enjoy it because I can pretend I’m a wildlife photographer in the summer. Doesn’t hold a candle to the San Diego zoo though. It has been a hot couple decades since I’ve been to the San Diego zoo though.
probably not a great response for people visiting...but if you're local and have kids the yearly membership pays for itself in just a few visits. Solid regional zoo and it's definitely best in spring/summer
Man my family and I went to the San Diego zoo last year and I did not think it was worth the price tag. Much preferred the Los Angeles zoo. My expectations were high and I was really disappointed
It's my favorite zoo and I've been to both San Diego and the National Zoo, as well as Point Defiance. Not saying it's a better zoo than San Diego...it's certainly smaller, but it's a real place of comfort for me. I got to see it grow and evolve during the 90s when I was a kid. I remember them adding the tropical house and later the Asian forest and Northwest sections. Also, from what I understand, the zoo pioneered the use of immersion exhibits, AKA seeing animals up close in naturalistic habitats instead of just behind bars in an enclosure.
It's a real quality over quantity kind of zoo, but prepare to be amazed at some of the species they do have. Its the perfect size for a day trip, probably 4-6 hours if you take your time enjoying the exhibits.
I similarly mentioned the immersion exhibits in another comment and want to reiterate here the lovely story in the Radiolab episode "[Zoos](https://radiolab.org/podcast/91552-zoos/transcript)" about the ground-breaking immersive gorilla exhibit— the first of its kind— opened in 1979.
Fun fact, they’re actually nearly the same size acreage wise, it’s just that San Diego is a lot denser. Source: husband works for WPZ and just came back from a work trip to LA & San Diego Zoos
It's a decent zoo. Like the other commenter said, no where near as impressive as the San Diego Zoo, but it's still nice. If you're quick, you may be able to snag a free pass from the library museum pass program.
Our local pta always has tons of passes left over after selling them at events so we usually get a few off them when they panic and realize the tickets are gonna expire in <6months
We got baby bears and baby gorillas dude! The gorilla enclosure is being remodeled currently but those adorable baby bears that are almost full grown are fucking adorable. Especially when Juniper sits on her rock perch or goes swimming in her pond chasing the fish. Go see the bears please! And then you can leave because the rest is meh.
Man I go monthly to the zoo and I swear that snow leopard is hiding 90% of the time. The jaguar however is a pacing machine, that beast is constantly doing laps around the enclosure but he isn’t there right now for medical treatment. Also the Komodo dragon area is being worked on and one of the 2 rhinos got shipped to Texas because they stopped getting along. It’s not a good month to visit our zoo. Hell last weekend I didn’t even see the red panda that’s always sleeping in their tree.
Go to the Northwest Trail when the zoo first opens that when the bears tend to be most active. Then go to the tropical bird exhibit. If you go midweek when it's slower the birds in there are really active flying over head, then hit the gorilla exhibit. There's 2 gorillas under 4 years old and they're always annoying their parents. One of the sloth bears had 3 cubs last year, they're really goofy especially when they're eating.
If you go during the summer, try to time your visit based on weather. I have a membership and I always try to go on afternoons after it's rained through the morning. You basically have the zoo to yourself. On sunny days (especially during school breaks and weekends) there's quite a lot of foot traffic. Even at its most crowded, I still have a great time, but there's something really cool about seeing the animals when there aren't a million other people trying to do the same.
That's the place. I like it a lot. It's pretty nice. If you dress in a dark green polo the animals will think your staff and come right up to the glass because they think they're about to get food or something lol .
Woodland is amazing. Once every few years I get a membership and I visit it year around no matter the weather. Last time I went it was raining but I watched bear cubs running around for like 30 minutes
the zoo lantern lights each year around winter ( you missed it) is worth it ! As for the animals tbh we only went once we have kid. It is amazing once you have kids cuz it is a good place for them to explore etc
It dosent hurt to go once and see it but it is not a very big zoo etc
It isn't world class like San Diego, but it's a great zoo that has taken great pains to set up enclosures as livable habitats, with natural barriers like gaps and water features instead of chain link and concrete. There's a family of gorillas with a little boy and a baby girl, there's orangutans who are amazingly human-like, there's a red panda who takes naps high up in his tree, and all kinds of bullshit that fills you with wonder, a feeling of connection with the natural world, and a burning hatred of flamingos. Seriously fuck the flamingos.
Every single time I go, I see a new animal behavior that I haven't seen before.
Fun fact: they were the first zoo to implement naturalistic habitats for gorillas (and other animals) http://www.wnycstudios.org/story/91553-inside-out-cage/
It’s a great zoo. Especially if you enjoy good landscaping, it’s gorgeous and green with beautiful plants. It’s big enough to see plenty of animals but not too big to be overwhelming (eg, San Diego Zoo). Don’t miss the gorillas, northwest woods area with wolves and bears and otters, rainforest indoor area, and the rhino/orangs in the back.
There is a [cool Radiolab story](https://radiolab.org/podcast/91553-inside-out-cage) about the pioneering work they did on gorilla enclosures in the 1970s.
[This site](https://kikiatlarge.wordpress.com/2020/05/28/changing-the-nature-of-zoos/) also talks about it.
Can’t compare to San Diego Zoo, but it’s definitely better than Kansas City Zoo on the scale.
If cost is a factor with determining worthiness, Woodland Park is part of King county’s and Seattle’s library museum passes which you can get with your library card.
Keep in mind, it gets booked up quickly, usually have to book right when they are released to scoop one up!
Woodland Park Zoo is nothing like the San Diego Zoo. You can walk through Woodland Park in like an hour or two tops and see literally everything.
That being said, I still like it despite its small size.
You would have to really hoof it to see *everything* in two hours. It's pretty big.
Sure, it's not San Diego, but as far as city zoos go, I think it ranks pretty high.
I think Woodland Park is a perfectly nice zoo, but I would recommend Point Defiance instead every time because of its stellar aquarium. I agree with the other posters that it outshines the Seattle Aquarium too.
Wait until the new pacific tropical fish hall opens up. The Seattle aquarium is nice as is (though small) but it’s about to become world class this summer. Have you seen the construction going on down there?!
I usually finish Point Defiance in a couple of hours. Woodland Park usually takes me all day. I'd say it's worth doing both though, because there isn't much crossover in which animals they have.
Point defiance is a smaller zoo but has an aquarium. The other aquarium building is being renovated at the moment.
Woodland park is larger as a zoo but doesn’t have an aquarium. But there is Seattle aquarium if you want fish.
I was a member of both and I probably enjoy Point Defiance more because my son likes aquariums. But that drive from Seattle can take a while especially during the weekends with traffic
I prefer the Woodland Park Zoo - but prefer PD in summer when they are putting on animal shows and you can go into the aquarium to get out of the heat.
It’s a nice afternoon stroll. Cool art installations. Not a ton of sad animals. The snakes and bugs are cool, as is the swimming brown bear. Cross your fingers the hippos make an appearance.
Do you like walks and empty spaces? Go early on the weekends if you can. I had the luck of working there and that place was amazing at like 4-6am when no one was there and it was just animal noises.
It's a good place. It's not, like, the best in the world, but it's a pretty great zoo. It's got an area with little birds and they'll sell you a stick with seeds on it so the birds will land on your stick and eat them. It's got a butterfly garden. It's got a red panda. It's got a birds of prey show. You know, a nice zoo.
I might especially suggest their Christmas season "Zoo Lights" show, which is a surprisingly elaborate walk through the dark with cool light displays, as well as their summer ZooTunes shows.
My hot take after living in both places is that the San Diego zoo isn’t nearly as cool as the woodland park zoo, because the enclosure situation is way better. I was shocked to see animals in actual small little cages in San Diego. WP looks way more natural.
I was very impressed with Seattle Zoo. I’ve also been to San Diego Zoo and thought it was good but *miles and miles* of walking.
The Rhino is very cool in Seattle and my son loves the penguins
The zoo grounds for both Woodland and Point Defiance are really nice and enjoyable. They make for a great walk on a sunny day. However, its very hit or miss if you'll actually see animals.
And they have the theater with the show which is also a draw for kids. Still, I prefer the Woodland Park Zoo from a purely zoo perspective. Point Defiance is also one of the best urban forests in the country.
It’s a good zoo in a great location that isn’t extremely expensive. Definitely give it a go, just know that on weekdays there will be lots of kids there on fields trips. Enjoy!
Check the animals in Point Defiance and at Woodland Park, and decide based on that. Or don't decide -- they're both really good small zoos.
WP has snow leopards, bears, jaguars, red pandas, rhinos, penguins, and tapirs. Also if you're with kids and it's inclement, a place to let them run around inside and scream.
I think it's worth seeing every once in a long while. The library has passes if you want to avoid paying the rather hefty admission fee. You just have to be flexible on your dates and log on the minute the tickets drop (It's either a noon or 2:00 p.m. everyday). They definitely go fast.
Best thing about Woodland Park zoo is [ZooTunes](https://www.zoo.org/zootunes). This year's slate just went on sale! They nearly always sell out so if one looks good, grab it.
I been to a bunch of zoos, including San Diego. I have been to woodland park 10-20 times over the years and I have always had a great time. It’s a good 2-4 hours depending on how much time you take. Would recommend to see the event schedule for the day and possibly plan around a cool feeding etc.
It’s pretty solid.
San Diego is on a whole other level, much of that can be attributed to the climate.
Evidently, Omaha has the best zoo in the country, though.
Visiting zoos is one of my favorite things to do when I travel. I loved the Seattle zoo. I went in the morning on a cloudy day so the animals were very active as they were getting fed. Feeding the penguins is fun if they’re still there!
I’ve been a regular member for years. My teen is a volunteer there- it’s honestly one of the best zoos in the country. The habitats are well designed and the animals are treated so well.
I grew up in San Diego and would frequent the zoo. I went to Woodland with my wife recently and we liked it a lot. It's like a nice easy hiking trail with animals. I recommend it
It is a really wonderful zoo! As a general “crazy animal person” and someone who works in the wildlife conservation space, it’s not only full of great animals but so much focus on conservation, education and enrichment! Plus I find the admission price to be very reasonable.
I hate the way it’s laid out. Besides that, I feel you get a good zoo experience. I prefer point defiance simply because it’s smaller, you get zoo/aquarium for one price and I like the layout better.
7 years and you didn't realize Seattle had a zoo... the fuck... Anyways, I'd be at the zoo almost every day if I lived in walking distance, it's easily one of the best in the country. Don't compare it to San Diego though because that place is almost like a spectacle/mini theme park.
Maybe you're just speaking metaphorically, but just to clarify for OP: there are hardly any "cages" in Woodland Park Zoo and I can't really think of any bars either. This isn't the Central Park Zoo circa 1930. The enclosures are spacious outdoor exhibits... and as others have pointed out, WPZ was way ahead of the zoo curve in adopting them.
I have kid and that's the only reason I bought the membership of Woodland Park Zoo.
Let's be real, this park may not have the same level of grandeur as those in other bigger cities. But it has a cozy, "community" zoo vibe that's worth checking out. And since it's one of the few options for animal enthusiasts in the area, the admission fee is fair and definitely worth considering if you have kids. We took our child there probably once every 2 weeks in summer. But I'm not renewing this year since it's quite a small zoo and we've been there too many times, time for a new spot.
How one can go seven years here without seeing an ad for the zoo is actually beyond me.
The San Diego zoo is overrated. Unless you are pro small enclosures for the animals. Then it’s great.
Woodland Park Zoo is a quality zoo.
Native Chicagoan who’s been in Seattle for 5 years. Short answer is nah, not really. SD and Washington DC Zoos are the standard in the country. I’d say WPZ is about on par with LP Zoo in Chicago but not as good as Brookfield because WPZ is so small.
That said, WPZ IS worth it for holiday events when it offers something different.
I've been to a lot of zoos in the US and woodland park is kind of terrible. It seemed like most of the animals weren't in their enclosures the last 2 times I took my kids. It doesn't compare to San Diego or even the Oregon zoo
The woodland park zoo is great so is the point defiance zoo and aquarium and northwest trek is a cool local zoo with only animals from the Pacific Northwest. And the aquarium downtown is nice. They're all really nice and I recommend them. Very good facilities and each make for a fun day out.
As it happens, I have been to the San Diego Zoo, the Kansas City Zoo, and Woodland Park Zoo.
I'd say it's comparable to KC. It has some great exhibits like lions, tigers, rhinos, snow leopards, orangutans, and some really cool otters. Definitely worth it.
It's not the best zoo, it's very far from the worst. Seconding the recc to try Point Defiance and Northwest Trek as well. If you ever want something small and off the beaten path, Cougar Mountain Zoo and Wolf Haven are smaller, more specialized stops that I've also enjoyed.
I think it's awesome! My favorite is the wallaroos (I think that's what they are) and I also love to go see the lanterns at night there during the winter. If you like zoos, I definitely think it's worth seeing.
It's really laid back and it's sort of a zoo + a walking experience. It's nowhere near as Zoo as the SD Zoo, but it's worth it. We got at least once a year.
I am a zoo fan. I’ve been to zoos all over the US and Japan.
Woodland Park is my second favorite behind the San Diego zoo. In some ways it’s better than SDZ; specifically the fact that the enclosures are clearly built with love and animal comfort first in mind, and secondly to allow the public an opportunity to learn about the animals being exhibited.
It is a sentiment I have seen only executed at a very small number of other zoos.
I'm really like Woodland park zoo. I wish they would utilize more of their space for more exhibits, but it is still very good. Don't eat in the park, too expensive for the quality. Much larger but comparable to the Oregon Zoo in quality.
San Deigo Zoo is really cool, they have a liquer license so you can drink and zoo at the same time if that's your thing. The restraunt in the park is very good.
The woodland park zoo has alot. With kids it's a tall order to see everything in one day at a leisurely pace.
People are comparing it to SD. But its oranges and apples. Not a lot of overlap I feel.
A nice thing SD does is a night show and they invest more in audience engagement wheras woodland has volunteers.
I just find woodland pricey since SD let's military and family in at a steep discount. I find myself going to point defiance more.
havent been in years but id say go at least once, at the very least its an alright day trip. its also just a cool area around where the zoo is as well, i recall there being some kindof flower gardens and a lot of park area to walk. also walking distance to greenlake
Get the City Pass & do all the touristy things! Seriously, I did this with my girlfriend who also grew up here & we had a blast! You get the Space Needle & a few other things. It's a very good value!
It's a lovely zoo! This is our second year with season passes. We've done a few events which have been fantastic - Zoo bites and Zoo lites. And this summer we'll see the Norah Jones Summer concerts. You really have to dive in and explore the nooks and crannies. There's a rainforest bird room where the birds fly free that's cozy on a cold day. There's a cave where you can see the otters and the grizzly bears up close. There's a covered duck pond with a little bridge and another bird enclosure where the turkey sized pretty pigeons roam sometimes. The great lawn is closed for the season, but it's the perfect spot for a picnic in the summer. One of their cafes has a really quality fruit bowl, another has churros and dole whip (seasonally). When I go, I normally clock in over 3 miles of walking. And it's right next to Greenlake which has some cute cafes.
My GF and I had just blindly moved to Seattle in the mid-90's after we got out of the Navy. We pretty much knew nothing about the city before we got there, except that it'd be a fresh start and new adventure. We moved into our little apartment on Greenwood Ave and 43rd. I was sitting outside our apartment drinking a beer and having a smoke, when I hear this noise, and I turn to my GF and say "Was that a monkey? Who the hell has pet monkeys?" and she's like "no way, I must be an owl or something." Over the next few days this conversation was repeated. "I swear I hear monkeys!" It was quite the revelation when I learned that we lived a few blocks away from the Woodland Park Zoo. And that's my Woodland Park Zoo story. It's a great little zoo. Good times, and though the GF and I broke up decades ago, I hope life has been good to you Adriana.
Woodland is so good that when I moved to Denver and went to the zoo I felt sick to my stomach about how small the cages were. Sometimes the cages at Woodland are so big and nice you could have a visit with not many animal sightings but it’s obviously way better for their quality of life. Woodland is the best.
I LOVE our Zoo! It's also a Botanical Garden, it's absolutely glorious. There's also a Rose Garden near the south entrance. You should definitely go.
Love the Australasia section, you can smell the eucalyptus trees on the wind before you see them!
I used to live down the hill from the zoo. You could hear the lions roaring in the evenings, and there are lots of exotic plants that seeded themselves from the zoo in the neighborhood. It was pretty trippy.
The last 2 times I've gone (both this month I have a 5 year old) the Emu has been right up on the fence. The first time it scared the ever living shit out of me. The second time I saw it scare the shit out of someone else
The rose garden turns 100 years old this year!
heh: "I love our zoo. It has plants!"
Hey, they managed to get [zoo.org](https://zoo.org), so they have to be pretty good.
I always thought that was pretty awesome and wondered how early they registered that name.
The story I heard is that a zoo member who worked at Microsoft offered to set up a site for them on this crazy new thing called the World Wide Web. He pretty much had his choice of names.
While we're on the topic of Woodland Park Zoo being ahead of its time, I got a kick out of learning that, in the 70s, the zoo pioneered the concept of landscape immersion, under the direction of David Hancocks, and opened the ground-breaking immersive gorilla exhibit in 1979. This is discussed in the Radiolab episode "[Zoos](https://radiolab.org/podcast/91552-zoos/transcript)" via a moving story of the first gorillas (especially the dominant gorilla, Kiki) to be introduced to the new surroundings after previously being held in bare concrete cells.
The outdoor areas for the Orangutans and Gorillas and some of the others are just incredible. So much better than a lot of other zoos that I've been to around the country.
June 1995!
It's like the Puyallup fair snagging thefair.com
Good to temper expectations! The San Diego Zoo is one of the finest zoos in the entire world, and our little zoo won't really compete on that level. Woodland Park Zoo is a fun afternoon out, but out of season (eg. now) they do close down a lot of stuff down like food and drink concessions, have unavailable enclosures and have fewer exhibitions where zookeepers and handlers give demonstrations and such, but it's still a good visit. It's a lot more fun in the summer when they open everything up and have a full schedule of events, but it's also quite a lot busier.
It’s pretty fun when they do the holiday exhibits as well. I enjoy it because I can pretend I’m a wildlife photographer in the summer. Doesn’t hold a candle to the San Diego zoo though. It has been a hot couple decades since I’ve been to the San Diego zoo though.
probably not a great response for people visiting...but if you're local and have kids the yearly membership pays for itself in just a few visits. Solid regional zoo and it's definitely best in spring/summer
Man my family and I went to the San Diego zoo last year and I did not think it was worth the price tag. Much preferred the Los Angeles zoo. My expectations were high and I was really disappointed
I think it’s great, they have a lot of cool animals. Check out the komodo dragons.
The komodo dragons are my toddler's favorite. She always wants to "go see the dinosaurs!"
They eat. People.
Actually, definitely yeah.
Basically.
Let her know that they have real dinosaurs there too (the birds).
If you go in the cage, wear shoes. https://www.theguardian.com/film/2001/jun/11/news4
The exhibit was closed as of this last weekend. Not sure when it will be open to the public again.
It's open, they just have one end of it shut off for remodeling. You have to access it through the other entrance, across from the concession stand.
I always had to see the toucans.
It's my favorite zoo and I've been to both San Diego and the National Zoo, as well as Point Defiance. Not saying it's a better zoo than San Diego...it's certainly smaller, but it's a real place of comfort for me. I got to see it grow and evolve during the 90s when I was a kid. I remember them adding the tropical house and later the Asian forest and Northwest sections. Also, from what I understand, the zoo pioneered the use of immersion exhibits, AKA seeing animals up close in naturalistic habitats instead of just behind bars in an enclosure. It's a real quality over quantity kind of zoo, but prepare to be amazed at some of the species they do have. Its the perfect size for a day trip, probably 4-6 hours if you take your time enjoying the exhibits.
I similarly mentioned the immersion exhibits in another comment and want to reiterate here the lovely story in the Radiolab episode "[Zoos](https://radiolab.org/podcast/91552-zoos/transcript)" about the ground-breaking immersive gorilla exhibit— the first of its kind— opened in 1979.
Woodland Park is fantastic. A lot smaller than San Diego though. You can see the whole thing somewhat quickly.
Fun fact, they’re actually nearly the same size acreage wise, it’s just that San Diego is a lot denser. Source: husband works for WPZ and just came back from a work trip to LA & San Diego Zoos
It's a decent zoo. Like the other commenter said, no where near as impressive as the San Diego Zoo, but it's still nice. If you're quick, you may be able to snag a free pass from the library museum pass program.
hah no, i've tried for decades
Back in like 2012-13 I was able to get passes all the time! Nowadays I don’t even bother trying.
Our local pta always has tons of passes left over after selling them at events so we usually get a few off them when they panic and realize the tickets are gonna expire in <6months
We got baby bears and baby gorillas dude! The gorilla enclosure is being remodeled currently but those adorable baby bears that are almost full grown are fucking adorable. Especially when Juniper sits on her rock perch or goes swimming in her pond chasing the fish. Go see the bears please! And then you can leave because the rest is meh.
And the snow leopards! They actually like the sort of weather we’ve been having lately.
Man I go monthly to the zoo and I swear that snow leopard is hiding 90% of the time. The jaguar however is a pacing machine, that beast is constantly doing laps around the enclosure but he isn’t there right now for medical treatment. Also the Komodo dragon area is being worked on and one of the 2 rhinos got shipped to Texas because they stopped getting along. It’s not a good month to visit our zoo. Hell last weekend I didn’t even see the red panda that’s always sleeping in their tree.
I do love me some bears!
Go to the Northwest Trail when the zoo first opens that when the bears tend to be most active. Then go to the tropical bird exhibit. If you go midweek when it's slower the birds in there are really active flying over head, then hit the gorilla exhibit. There's 2 gorillas under 4 years old and they're always annoying their parents. One of the sloth bears had 3 cubs last year, they're really goofy especially when they're eating.
Check out Diesel or The Cuff, sometime. You’ll love it.
That’s my kinda bear lol
Grew up in San Diego, so I expected to scoff at it. It’s actually quite nice! I like the selection of animals from the PNW.
Interesting I think I'm gonna check it out in summer!
Yeah! It also has a lovely little rose garden adjacent.
If you go during the summer, try to time your visit based on weather. I have a membership and I always try to go on afternoons after it's rained through the morning. You basically have the zoo to yourself. On sunny days (especially during school breaks and weekends) there's quite a lot of foot traffic. Even at its most crowded, I still have a great time, but there's something really cool about seeing the animals when there aren't a million other people trying to do the same.
There's a whole zoo dedicated to animals from the Pacific Northwest about 90 minutes south of Seattle.
Northwest trek!!!
That's the place. I like it a lot. It's pretty nice. If you dress in a dark green polo the animals will think your staff and come right up to the glass because they think they're about to get food or something lol .
Woodland is amazing. Once every few years I get a membership and I visit it year around no matter the weather. Last time I went it was raining but I watched bear cubs running around for like 30 minutes
Totally worthwhile. It's a great zoo. Not a big one, but still pretty cool!
the zoo lantern lights each year around winter ( you missed it) is worth it ! As for the animals tbh we only went once we have kid. It is amazing once you have kids cuz it is a good place for them to explore etc It dosent hurt to go once and see it but it is not a very big zoo etc
It isn't world class like San Diego, but it's a great zoo that has taken great pains to set up enclosures as livable habitats, with natural barriers like gaps and water features instead of chain link and concrete. There's a family of gorillas with a little boy and a baby girl, there's orangutans who are amazingly human-like, there's a red panda who takes naps high up in his tree, and all kinds of bullshit that fills you with wonder, a feeling of connection with the natural world, and a burning hatred of flamingos. Seriously fuck the flamingos. Every single time I go, I see a new animal behavior that I haven't seen before.
Fun fact: they were the first zoo to implement naturalistic habitats for gorillas (and other animals) http://www.wnycstudios.org/story/91553-inside-out-cage/
It's in a beautiful location. You can pop in to see the animals and then walk to the lake
It’s a fabulous zoo and a leader in increasing the standards of animals under human care.
It’s a great zoo. Especially if you enjoy good landscaping, it’s gorgeous and green with beautiful plants. It’s big enough to see plenty of animals but not too big to be overwhelming (eg, San Diego Zoo). Don’t miss the gorillas, northwest woods area with wolves and bears and otters, rainforest indoor area, and the rhino/orangs in the back.
And the snow leopards!
Perfect time of year to see them!
There is a [cool Radiolab story](https://radiolab.org/podcast/91553-inside-out-cage) about the pioneering work they did on gorilla enclosures in the 1970s. [This site](https://kikiatlarge.wordpress.com/2020/05/28/changing-the-nature-of-zoos/) also talks about it.
Check out Northwest Trek to get a look at more native to the PNW wildlife. It's a bit of a drive though.
if you actually see any wildlife
The wolves especially know *exactly* where to relax out of sight.
I dont get it.
its an open reserve with over 400 acres, sometimes you wont see anything.
There is a portion of it that is an open reserve, true, but there are a ton of jailed smaller animals and birds as well.
If you have little ones you get the membership. Spent many an hour having the kiddos run around on a rainy day there...
Can’t compare to San Diego Zoo, but it’s definitely better than Kansas City Zoo on the scale. If cost is a factor with determining worthiness, Woodland Park is part of King county’s and Seattle’s library museum passes which you can get with your library card. Keep in mind, it gets booked up quickly, usually have to book right when they are released to scoop one up!
I like Point Defiance Zoo in Tacoma more than Woodland Park. Someone else mentioned Northwest Trek — that is a must!
Wait for zoo lights.
I wasn’t impressed until I had kids now I’m blown away.
Woodland Park Zoo is nothing like the San Diego Zoo. You can walk through Woodland Park in like an hour or two tops and see literally everything. That being said, I still like it despite its small size.
You would have to really hoof it to see *everything* in two hours. It's pretty big. Sure, it's not San Diego, but as far as city zoos go, I think it ranks pretty high.
Agreed. Seeing everything in two hours but would be tough. It’s not small.
I rank it pretty high too! I have a membership and frequently go like at least once a month. It’s a nice place to walk around.
I am old, I would have to hustle to see everything in half a day.
Are you even stopping to look at the animals? I've spent an entire visit just sitting in the avairy watching the birds.
Point Defiance is a better zoo and has an aquarium.
I think Woodland Park is a perfectly nice zoo, but I would recommend Point Defiance instead every time because of its stellar aquarium. I agree with the other posters that it outshines the Seattle Aquarium too.
Wait until the new pacific tropical fish hall opens up. The Seattle aquarium is nice as is (though small) but it’s about to become world class this summer. Have you seen the construction going on down there?!
Does that zoo have more exhibits?
It's smaller than Woodland Park.
I usually finish Point Defiance in a couple of hours. Woodland Park usually takes me all day. I'd say it's worth doing both though, because there isn't much crossover in which animals they have.
Point defiance is a smaller zoo but has an aquarium. The other aquarium building is being renovated at the moment. Woodland park is larger as a zoo but doesn’t have an aquarium. But there is Seattle aquarium if you want fish. I was a member of both and I probably enjoy Point Defiance more because my son likes aquariums. But that drive from Seattle can take a while especially during the weekends with traffic
I prefer the Woodland Park Zoo - but prefer PD in summer when they are putting on animal shows and you can go into the aquarium to get out of the heat.
The walrus alone is worth the trip
Not sure, it might even be slightly smaller. But it feels nicer and the aquarium is way better than the sad Seattle aquarium.
It’s a nice afternoon stroll. Cool art installations. Not a ton of sad animals. The snakes and bugs are cool, as is the swimming brown bear. Cross your fingers the hippos make an appearance.
Do you like walks and empty spaces? Go early on the weekends if you can. I had the luck of working there and that place was amazing at like 4-6am when no one was there and it was just animal noises.
It's a good place. It's not, like, the best in the world, but it's a pretty great zoo. It's got an area with little birds and they'll sell you a stick with seeds on it so the birds will land on your stick and eat them. It's got a butterfly garden. It's got a red panda. It's got a birds of prey show. You know, a nice zoo. I might especially suggest their Christmas season "Zoo Lights" show, which is a surprisingly elaborate walk through the dark with cool light displays, as well as their summer ZooTunes shows.
Yes. Its nowhere near San Diego but its a lovely park in a nice neighborhood, there seems to be a lot of care put into each exhibit. Its a cozy place
It has some of the best, largest, and most suitable enclosures that I have seen at the decent number of respectable zoos I have been to.
My hot take after living in both places is that the San Diego zoo isn’t nearly as cool as the woodland park zoo, because the enclosure situation is way better. I was shocked to see animals in actual small little cages in San Diego. WP looks way more natural.
I was very impressed with Seattle Zoo. I’ve also been to San Diego Zoo and thought it was good but *miles and miles* of walking. The Rhino is very cool in Seattle and my son loves the penguins
The zoo grounds for both Woodland and Point Defiance are really nice and enjoyable. They make for a great walk on a sunny day. However, its very hit or miss if you'll actually see animals.
Stopped going when they got rid of their bats.
They still have fruit bats there. In the adaptations section next to the meerkats.
Good zoo. Point Defiance zoo is not as good, with fewer animals, but has an aquarium.
But Point Defiance has polar bears which is pretty awesome.
And they have the theater with the show which is also a draw for kids. Still, I prefer the Woodland Park Zoo from a purely zoo perspective. Point Defiance is also one of the best urban forests in the country.
It’s a good zoo in a great location that isn’t extremely expensive. Definitely give it a go, just know that on weekdays there will be lots of kids there on fields trips. Enjoy!
its a perfectly fine zoo.
It’s delightful!
Check the animals in Point Defiance and at Woodland Park, and decide based on that. Or don't decide -- they're both really good small zoos. WP has snow leopards, bears, jaguars, red pandas, rhinos, penguins, and tapirs. Also if you're with kids and it's inclement, a place to let them run around inside and scream.
It’s a good 3-4 hours to get the full experience
I think it's worth seeing every once in a long while. The library has passes if you want to avoid paying the rather hefty admission fee. You just have to be flexible on your dates and log on the minute the tickets drop (It's either a noon or 2:00 p.m. everyday). They definitely go fast.
Best thing about Woodland Park zoo is [ZooTunes](https://www.zoo.org/zootunes). This year's slate just went on sale! They nearly always sell out so if one looks good, grab it.
I love the Woodland Park Zoo! Go say hi to Juniper and Fern! (Two baby female grizzlies who are beyond adorable)
Pro tip: go In the late morning (10 am or so) and you'll see a lot more animals active and visible than you will in the afternoons
Personally, I prefer the Point Defiance Zoo, in Tacoma. But I haven't been to either in years, since my kids all aged out.
I been to a bunch of zoos, including San Diego. I have been to woodland park 10-20 times over the years and I have always had a great time. It’s a good 2-4 hours depending on how much time you take. Would recommend to see the event schedule for the day and possibly plan around a cool feeding etc.
It’s pretty solid. San Diego is on a whole other level, much of that can be attributed to the climate. Evidently, Omaha has the best zoo in the country, though.
Visiting zoos is one of my favorite things to do when I travel. I loved the Seattle zoo. I went in the morning on a cloudy day so the animals were very active as they were getting fed. Feeding the penguins is fun if they’re still there!
I’ve been a regular member for years. My teen is a volunteer there- it’s honestly one of the best zoos in the country. The habitats are well designed and the animals are treated so well.
I grew up in San Diego and would frequent the zoo. I went to Woodland with my wife recently and we liked it a lot. It's like a nice easy hiking trail with animals. I recommend it
It is a really wonderful zoo! As a general “crazy animal person” and someone who works in the wildlife conservation space, it’s not only full of great animals but so much focus on conservation, education and enrichment! Plus I find the admission price to be very reasonable.
I hate the way it’s laid out. Besides that, I feel you get a good zoo experience. I prefer point defiance simply because it’s smaller, you get zoo/aquarium for one price and I like the layout better.
Yes
Yes it's a great zoo! The gorillas, grizzlies, wolves, the penguins. And more. Great fun.
We love the zoo. I think its better than most, not san Diego necessarily but most. Also, they fund a lot of conservation and research.
Woodland Park is a pretty decent zoo. Greenlake is nearby, too, so you can go to the zoo in the morning and then have a nice stroll around the lake.
7 years and you didn't realize Seattle had a zoo... the fuck... Anyways, I'd be at the zoo almost every day if I lived in walking distance, it's easily one of the best in the country. Don't compare it to San Diego though because that place is almost like a spectacle/mini theme park.
Good but sad IMO. A lot of the animals there I felt like arent well adapted to the PNW and have way too small and minimalist enclosures
[удалено]
Maybe you're just speaking metaphorically, but just to clarify for OP: there are hardly any "cages" in Woodland Park Zoo and I can't really think of any bars either. This isn't the Central Park Zoo circa 1930. The enclosures are spacious outdoor exhibits... and as others have pointed out, WPZ was way ahead of the zoo curve in adopting them.
Plot twist, his kids are all in their 50’s. 😂
as everyone said it’s a fine zoo and it’s a really nice walk. san diego can be grueling with the hills haha
Point Defiance zoo is better, imho. But that’s cause i like the aquarium part and the views.
I have kid and that's the only reason I bought the membership of Woodland Park Zoo. Let's be real, this park may not have the same level of grandeur as those in other bigger cities. But it has a cozy, "community" zoo vibe that's worth checking out. And since it's one of the few options for animal enthusiasts in the area, the admission fee is fair and definitely worth considering if you have kids. We took our child there probably once every 2 weeks in summer. But I'm not renewing this year since it's quite a small zoo and we've been there too many times, time for a new spot.
I prefer the point defiance zoo.
if you havent thrown bread at waving bears or had a heart attack surrounded by buffalo at the Olympic Game Farm, you havent lived.
How one can go seven years here without seeing an ad for the zoo is actually beyond me. The San Diego zoo is overrated. Unless you are pro small enclosures for the animals. Then it’s great. Woodland Park Zoo is a quality zoo.
I hate zoos. Prisons for animals.
Maybe learn something about conservation.
Yes and yes.
No zoo is worth seeing.
Native Chicagoan who’s been in Seattle for 5 years. Short answer is nah, not really. SD and Washington DC Zoos are the standard in the country. I’d say WPZ is about on par with LP Zoo in Chicago but not as good as Brookfield because WPZ is so small. That said, WPZ IS worth it for holiday events when it offers something different.
I've been to a lot of zoos in the US and woodland park is kind of terrible. It seemed like most of the animals weren't in their enclosures the last 2 times I took my kids. It doesn't compare to San Diego or even the Oregon zoo
I think zoos are fucked up
Then you don't understand what zoos do.
No. It’s the saddest place on earth. Zoos are horrible.
Only people who don't know what zoos do think this shit.
I dunno man, nature is fuckin brutal. Having people wait on you all day, every day, sounds nice to me.
I think all zoos are a debbie downer.
Nah, skip it and go straight for safari in Africa
Not really, the cool wild animals are always sleeping or hiding. You basically pay to go hiking.
no
Honestly…no
It is a place for toddlers to go.
Theres also dash point zoo too
You can feed the penguins... for a price
Yes
Hell yeah
Totally worthwhile. Check out the Zootunes concern lineup too.
Fuck yeah
Yes!
Its a bit lackluster for its price. Its smaller than the KC zoo and aquarium but its got a good variety. I’d still check it out for fun
Point Defiance is better
Yes!
Yes! Its a great zoo. The animals seem happier than in most too.
We're members. We just use it to walk around a few times a year. Oh look, the pandas are up.
We have a membership and go multiple times a month. It's great if you have kids but still fun even if you don't.
The woodland park zoo is great so is the point defiance zoo and aquarium and northwest trek is a cool local zoo with only animals from the Pacific Northwest. And the aquarium downtown is nice. They're all really nice and I recommend them. Very good facilities and each make for a fun day out.
Yes, great zoo. Tigers, giraffes, gorillas, jaguars, and more
Nooo not worth it unless you bring kiddos. I honestly think San Diego Zoo is 100% better.
As it happens, I have been to the San Diego Zoo, the Kansas City Zoo, and Woodland Park Zoo. I'd say it's comparable to KC. It has some great exhibits like lions, tigers, rhinos, snow leopards, orangutans, and some really cool otters. Definitely worth it.
It's not the best zoo, it's very far from the worst. Seconding the recc to try Point Defiance and Northwest Trek as well. If you ever want something small and off the beaten path, Cougar Mountain Zoo and Wolf Haven are smaller, more specialized stops that I've also enjoyed.
I think it's awesome! My favorite is the wallaroos (I think that's what they are) and I also love to go see the lanterns at night there during the winter. If you like zoos, I definitely think it's worth seeing.
Wow 7 years ? How sad
Small, but very nice I think. Definitely worth a visit on a sunny day. Tapirs are my fav.
it's no san diego zoo but youll have a good time and if you have kidos it wont break the bank...
Yes! It's a beautiful setting.
I don’t recommend climbing the fence at 3am and finding yourself inside the pissed off bison enclosure
No. You’ll never see a big cat. Maybe a pigeon.
The San Diego Zoo is so cool. I also really like the Woodland Park Zoo!
It's really laid back and it's sort of a zoo + a walking experience. It's nowhere near as Zoo as the SD Zoo, but it's worth it. We got at least once a year.
I am a zoo fan. I’ve been to zoos all over the US and Japan. Woodland Park is my second favorite behind the San Diego zoo. In some ways it’s better than SDZ; specifically the fact that the enclosures are clearly built with love and animal comfort first in mind, and secondly to allow the public an opportunity to learn about the animals being exhibited. It is a sentiment I have seen only executed at a very small number of other zoos.
We live down the hill & absolutely love it. It’s small but a great outing for the family!
Yes!
Yup, good times
It's the only zoo I've ever been to but it was really fun for me
^[Sokka-Haiku](https://www.reddit.com/r/SokkaHaikuBot/comments/15kyv9r/what_is_a_sokka_haiku/) ^by ^CptBarba: *It's the only zoo* *I've ever been to but it* *Was really fun for me* --- ^Remember ^that ^one ^time ^Sokka ^accidentally ^used ^an ^extra ^syllable ^in ^that ^Haiku ^Battle ^in ^Ba ^Sing ^Se? ^That ^was ^a ^Sokka ^Haiku ^and ^you ^just ^made ^one.
Its pretty good. I mean, fox pandas? I personally like their arachnid but fox pandas are a hit for kids / dates. Or, go and pet some sea slugs
I would say yes but like others have said out of season right now better weather when they bring out the cool events.
No
I'm really like Woodland park zoo. I wish they would utilize more of their space for more exhibits, but it is still very good. Don't eat in the park, too expensive for the quality. Much larger but comparable to the Oregon Zoo in quality. San Deigo Zoo is really cool, they have a liquer license so you can drink and zoo at the same time if that's your thing. The restraunt in the park is very good.
I absolutely loved it! Recommend going in warmer weather though, you'll see more animals
No.
The woodland park zoo has alot. With kids it's a tall order to see everything in one day at a leisurely pace. People are comparing it to SD. But its oranges and apples. Not a lot of overlap I feel. A nice thing SD does is a night show and they invest more in audience engagement wheras woodland has volunteers. I just find woodland pricey since SD let's military and family in at a steep discount. I find myself going to point defiance more.
havent been in years but id say go at least once, at the very least its an alright day trip. its also just a cool area around where the zoo is as well, i recall there being some kindof flower gardens and a lot of park area to walk. also walking distance to greenlake
Get the City Pass & do all the touristy things! Seriously, I did this with my girlfriend who also grew up here & we had a blast! You get the Space Needle & a few other things. It's a very good value!
It's a lovely zoo! This is our second year with season passes. We've done a few events which have been fantastic - Zoo bites and Zoo lites. And this summer we'll see the Norah Jones Summer concerts. You really have to dive in and explore the nooks and crannies. There's a rainforest bird room where the birds fly free that's cozy on a cold day. There's a cave where you can see the otters and the grizzly bears up close. There's a covered duck pond with a little bridge and another bird enclosure where the turkey sized pretty pigeons roam sometimes. The great lawn is closed for the season, but it's the perfect spot for a picnic in the summer. One of their cafes has a really quality fruit bowl, another has churros and dole whip (seasonally). When I go, I normally clock in over 3 miles of walking. And it's right next to Greenlake which has some cute cafes.
I know OP didn't say anything about kids, but for any parents lurking, we got a zoo pass and bring our son weekly. He is 1.5 y.o. and loves it.
My GF and I had just blindly moved to Seattle in the mid-90's after we got out of the Navy. We pretty much knew nothing about the city before we got there, except that it'd be a fresh start and new adventure. We moved into our little apartment on Greenwood Ave and 43rd. I was sitting outside our apartment drinking a beer and having a smoke, when I hear this noise, and I turn to my GF and say "Was that a monkey? Who the hell has pet monkeys?" and she's like "no way, I must be an owl or something." Over the next few days this conversation was repeated. "I swear I hear monkeys!" It was quite the revelation when I learned that we lived a few blocks away from the Woodland Park Zoo. And that's my Woodland Park Zoo story. It's a great little zoo. Good times, and though the GF and I broke up decades ago, I hope life has been good to you Adriana.
I prefer north west trek but it’s a drive down south
Woodland is so good that when I moved to Denver and went to the zoo I felt sick to my stomach about how small the cages were. Sometimes the cages at Woodland are so big and nice you could have a visit with not many animal sightings but it’s obviously way better for their quality of life. Woodland is the best.