Creature Encounters for All Ages at the Woodland Park Zoo

I had a rather disturbing experience at the Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle, WA when my boys were little. We were in the reptile house when I noticed a couple pointing at one of the terrariums. I wandered over. What I saw still creeps me out a little when I think back on it. 

A snake, no thicker than my pinky finger, had darted into the water and snagged a goldfish. The snake worked its way up a branch to the top of his enclosure and just held the fish in his mouth. I’m guessing he was suffocating it to death. I grabbed my oldest son and our friends to check it out. 

The kids in our group could have cared less. 

Here was the circle of life in action and the under four years old set could not be bothered. It just goes to show the zoo is not just for kids, but for adults to appreciate the wonders of the animal kingdom as well. 

Why We Love the Woodland Park Zoo

The zoo was our very first “kid” activity with with my oldest son after he was born. He was 4 months old. It was a cold and gray day in Seattle, nothing unusual there.

My husband and I were determined to get outside. We had a kid after all. We needed to be doing all of these fun kid things, and get him fresh air everyone kept telling us kids needed.

Plus, you know, we wanted to go to see the snow leopards. My husband LOVES snow leopards.

Now, since he was an infant, we were more entertained than our son when looking at the animals who call the Phinney Ridge neighborhood of Seattle home. The only thing he noticed were fish in the Riverhouse in the Living Northwest Trail.

We quickly learned that the Seattle Aquarium was a better spot for babies because they could actually see the movement of the animals. Fish constantly swirl around are easy to spot, while a lion sleeping off in the distance is hard to pick out from a crowd, especially when your attention span is that of a gnat.

Even with a short attention span, we got a zoo membership on that first visit. I knew it would pay off since we lived so close, and it did.

If I wasn’t sure how to entertain my son, and later his little brother, on any given morning we would go to the zoo. Rain or shine, cold or hot, we were there. It got us all out, and as a new mom, I could meet up with other mom friends, get in a good walk, and be home by nap time.

How did this all play out as they got older? We always found things to do at the zoo, no matter their age, and even if we had family visiting with a range of ages we could all enjoy this Seattle attraction (and yes, it is on the Seattle CityPass, which I highly recommend if you are visiting and want to hit some of the coolest sites in the Emerald City).

Things to do at Woodland Park Zoo by Age

What to do with Babies and Toddlers at the Zoo

As a baby, the boys mostly stuck to the stroller. If they saw an animal- great, but if no, it was OK. We were all outside and socializing with friends and animals. The zoo grounds have excellent paths for strollers, and miles of trails, many of which are in shade that parents can enjoy if they need a little workout.

As my boys turned into toddlers who wanted to run, there was plenty of space for them to wander. They could meet the farm animals and livestock in the Family Farm next to the Temperate Forest section of the zoo (when you enter the south side of the zoo, head left) before running around the Habitat Discovery Loop.

The zoo also has several statues that children are welcome to climb all over. While parents might hope to get a photo of their kids on an animal statue, just remember that you loved to climb random stuff too. It’s a protected play space for your kids, usually surrounded by wood chips in case your child falls, so let them play.

Exhibits your baby and toddler will love

• Humboldt Penguins (near West Entrance)
• Riverhouse (Living Northwest Trail)
• Giraffes on the African Savanna
• Gorilla House (edge of the Banyan Wilds near the Tropical Rainforest)
• Orangutang House (Trail of Vines)
• Zoomazium (indoor toddler play area)

Whenever family comes to visit we head to the zoo. It is small enough to catch a lot of the animals in a morning or afternoon visit, but still large enough to necessitate a return trip to see everything.

My parents loved exploring all of the special features and just seeing the look of wonder on their grandsons’ faces when they were toddlers. We explored the animals in the Tropical Rain Forest, Australasia Willawong Station and African Savanna, which only reinforced that people of all ages really do love the zoo.

What to do with kids ages 5-10 at the Zoo

As my boys got older, we would spend more time at the zoo, often with a reward of burgers from Red Mill Burgers (our favorite Seattle burger place for the past 15+ years!). In grade school, the kids could focus a bit more, wanted to know more about the animals and could interact with the zoo staff who were happy to share fun facts about the locals. 

Don’t miss these exhibits with your school-age kids

• Snow Leopards in Australasia
• As your school-age children learn about the Pacific Northwest, the Living Northwest Trail drives home the ecosystem we live in.
• Hippos on the African Savanna (my personal favorite)
• Introduce your kids to the zoo’s conservation efforts in the Assam Rhino Reserve
• Zoomazium (indoor section for older kids)
• Reward your kids for all of their walking with a ride on the Historic Carousel

What to do with Teens and Tweens at the Zoo

As any parent knows, teens and tweens are some of the hardest people to impress. Happily, the Woodland Park Zoo still manages to capture my boys attention, especially when they have special exhibits like WildLanterns and the annual ZooLights.

ZooTunes (AKA concerts on the lawn) are finally a thing we can all do together too. While they may not want to stare at the brown bears or hang out for hours in the gorilla exhibits anymore, there is still something for everyone. 

If you want to go to ZooTunes to see bands like Violent Femmes, The Roots, Nora Jones, and The Decemberists, you need to book fast once dates are announced. These shows always sell out.

Animals of the Woodland Park Zoo

While the zoo has always had an impressive collection of animals, thanks in part to its status as a wildlife conservation organization and conservation leadership in the industry, you may notice a few animals missing that you tend to see in other zoos and safari parks, and a few you won’t see anywhere else in the country. 

Seattle Zoo Animals Highlights

• Humboldt Penguins Exhibit
• Assam Rhinos Exhibit

African Savanna

• Hippopotamus
• Giraffe
• African Lion
• Patas Monkey
• Zebra
• Ostrich

Australasia

• Emu
• Kookaburra
• Snow Leopard (part of the international breeding program to grow numbers of this dwindling species)
• Wallaroo/Wallaby

Tropical Asia

• Malayan Tiger
• Langur
• Warty pig
• Siamang
• Malayan Tapir
• Orangutan
• Asian small-clawed Otter (you might even see otter pups!)
• Sloth Bear

Living Northwest Trail 

• Gray wolves
• River otters
• Brown bears
• Canada lynx
• Western pond turtles

Temperate forests

• Red Pandas
• Chilean Flamingo
• Hornbill
• Red-crowned Crane
• White-naped Crane
• Maned wolves

Family Farm

• Kunekune Pig
• Mini cows
• Donkeys
• Chickens
• Goats
• Sheep

Bug World

• Beetles
• Tarantulas
• Scorpions

Trail of Adaptation

• Komodo dragon
• Indian flying fox
• Egyptian tortoise

Assam Rhino Reserve

The Assam Rhino Reserve is where this endangered wildlife is sharing why they are so special and why it is so very important that we stop poaching and protect these creatures who are hunted only for their horns. Located in the Trail of Vines where the elephants were once housed, the exhibit is one of the few spots you can see these beautiful animal species in the United States. 

What Happened to the Seattle Zoo Elephants?

If you visited the Woodland Park Zoo a decade ago, you know that they used to have a huge elephant compound, which housed the largest land mammals, the African elephant. After the sad death of Chai (age 37) at the Woodland Park Zoo, activists rallied to have the elephants moved to a different facility.

While many wanted the animals sent to a California sanctuary, it was decided that the remaining elephants would move to the Oklahoma City Zoo in 2015.

Educational fun

Wandering the zoo paths and animal exhibits isn’t the only fun that can be had. The zoo has several scheduled feeding times and lectures throughout the day that teach kids even more about the animals they are visiting.

Volunteers and handlers can be found near many of the sections of the zoo to show off a wild dog skull and touch orangutan hair during your visit. Each area of the zoo also has an exhibit about the humans who call that part of the world home. You can drum in the African Savanna or pet a sheep in the Family farm, all while connecting nature to your kids lives, many of whom have only seen these animals in TV shows.

Zoomazium on a rainy day

Zoomazium is a favorite spot for parents to hang out on rainy days, especially if a downpour hits. Drizzle I’m fine with, but when it starts splashing back up at me I like to escape to the indoors.

This play space is for infants on up to 8 year olds. I love that the smaller kids have their own section to play. Big kids climbing the giant strangler fig tree won’t trample baby crawlers and walkers.

Exploring is encouraged. Daily programs highlight the environment and natural world of the animals. Bead making is just one of the many activities available for kids and parents when you duck into Zoomazium, so be on the lookout for more crafts and learning opportunities.

Woodland Park Zoo Maps and Guides

• The Woodland Park Zoo website has a host of great resources for your trip. There is a free app for your iPhone with a zoo map, schedule of daily events, animal information and more.
• The site also hosts a Rainy Day Building Hop guide so you can still enjoy the animals, but get a break from the weather as you tour around.
• There is no shortage of art for parents and kids to explore. Sculptures are scattered throughout the zoo that kids can climb and offer the perfect photo moments.

Special Events at the Seattle Zoo

ZooTunes

Summers bring ZooTunes back to the zoo. In late winter/early spring the musical line up is released and it is super important that you are on their mailing list to get information on when tickets will go on sale. By April, almost every concert will be sold out, so if you see someone you really want to hear, stalk the website and book your tickets ASAP.

ZooLights

Every year around the winter holidays, ZooLights pops up at the Woodland Park Zoo. You can book special evening tickets to the zoo to wander thousands of twinkle lights that celebrate the animals and natural world. It’s one of our favorite times of year at the zoo, especially since it gets dark so early in Seattle in the winter months.

South Entrance Rose Garden 

There is a free, public rose garden on the south side of the zoo, which continues to highlight the amazing botanical collection of Woodland Park and Woodland Park Zoo.

It is free to enter even if you aren’t visiting the zoo. Seattle has a fantastic climate for growing roses and this garden really shows off its colors in the summer.

I love finding new varieties to add to my own garden in this 2.5 acre rose display. We have witnessed a wedding, played hide and seek, and even tried our hand at some gardening (not so sure the gardeners were happy with that though.)

Roses continue to bloom late into the autumn in Seattle, so you have plenty of time to see them if you don’t visit in the summer. Be sure to check it out even if you think most of the blooms are gone. You may be surprised.

West Entrance Playground

Woodland Park Zoo is inside of Woodland Park. If you park in the neighborhood north of the zoo, you will walk right past this playground. It can be very hard to get kids to pass the playground without stopping, so set expectations.

You can stop to play for 30 minutes before you go into the zoo, or you can stop on the way back. It’s your call, but the playground is great little kids.

How to visit the Woodland Park Zoo

Two zoo entrances

• South Entrance address: 750 N. 50th Street
• West Entrance address: 5500 Phinney Ave.

Zoo Hours

• September through April 9:30am-4pm
• May through September 9:30am-6pm

The zoo is open daily except Christmas Day, December 25

Admission Discounts

• Kids under age 3 are FREE
• 10% off if you book tickets four days in advance
• Seniors receive a discount off admissions
• Active and retired military receive a discount on admission
• Persons with Disabilities receive $2 off regular admission, 1:1 aides are complimentary

CityPass tickets can be booked online where go to buy individual tickets.

Zoo Membership

If you live locally a membership is worth it. If only one parent will be taking the kids most of the time, just get a one adult membership + any kids. If the other adult is able to join you once in a while, you can use your half off admission discount.

Zoo Parking

• Pay a fee to park in the zoo parking lots 
• Ample free street parking is available in the surrounding neighborhood, especially during the week. 

Hotels near the Woodland Park Zoo

• Staybridge Suites Seattle – Fremont: Pet-friendly hotel with a pool and breakfast included and just an 18 minute walk to the zoo.
• Graduate Seattle: Quirky, collegiate themed decor, just east of the zoo in the heart of the University District/ University of Washington
• Thompson Seattle: Luxury, pet-friendly hotel just a one-minute walk to Pike Place Market

Best Restaurants Near the Woodland Park Zoo

Red Mill Burger

Address: 312 N 67th St, Seattle, WA 98103

Red Mill is hands down our favorite spot to grab a bite after a morning vidssit to the zoo. I crave their Bacon Deluxe with Cheese almost every day. It is closed on Mondays, so plan accordingly. There are vegetarian options, but cross contamination can happen. The fries are also made with peanut oil, so if you have an allergy, stay far away.

Zeeks Pizza

Address: 6000 Phinney Ave N, Seattle, WA 98103

If you have kids who only want pizza, Zeeks will hit the spot. It is within walking distance of the West Entrance of the zoo, so you can always grab a pie to go and bring it to the playground to enjoy lunch before you head in.