If you’re one of my closest friends, or have been reading this blog for awhile, then you are well aware of the love and obsession I have with animals (specifically kittens). With that, it should come as no surprise that one of my absolute favorite days spent in Washington D.C. was Friday; the day we visited the Smithsonian’s National Zoo.
The Smithsonian Zoo is massive, it is sectioned off into various trails and pathways that lead to the different genres of animals that live there. It was SO hard to choose which trail to go down first, I just wanted to see everything. All at once.
Like good tourists, we grabbed a map of the Zoo and made great use of the giant signs and maps located around the park.
I admired the elephants for the longest time. They were so full of personality and I enjoyed watching them walk closer to us to see who we were, as if we were on exhibit too. Although I know these animals are treated well at the Zoo, part of me always can’t help but feel bad for them.Mike had to practice the art of persuasion to finally get me away from the elephants and onto the next group of animals.
It seemed like the lion cubs were posing for us!
The rainforest exhibit (below) was my second favorite to walk through because you were able to be up close and personal with the animals. They roam freely in the exhibit (you can’t touch them of course, but it feels like you’re in the wild with them!).
This monkey. Can’t even (Ashley, I hope this photograph makes you die laughing as much as it makes me. I took it with you in mind!).
I loved the Zoo and encourage you to visit if you are ever in Washington D.C. – it takes a lot of walking to get around the park, but its 100% worth it.
What’s your favorite Zoo animal?!
Shared with: Travel Tuesday.
My favourite zoo is the one in Edinburgh, Scotland! Not only because you can see koalas there but also because it is beautifully situated on a hill from where you can see on the city from above!
What a neat place! I would love to visit the zoo up there sometime. Have a good week!
Thank you, Kelly! You too.
I love the smithsonian’s zoo! It’s such a fun place! First time I saw pandas, I’ll never forget!
The panda exhibit was awesome – except the baby panda was hiding up in a tree the whole time we were there, so we couldn’t see too much of her!
My husband has been trying to get me to go to D.C. specifically to see the zoo…I think you may have sold me. 🙂 I, too, have an obsession with animals…and I have a zoo post (Cincinnati) coming up soon!
-Ash
http://www.thenashvillianblog.com
I think my favourite animals to watch in the zoo are Meerkats or Gorillas. I find myself getting a little bit sad when I see so many animals locked in cages though
I’m the same way, its hard not to feel bad and wonder what it must feel like for them. On another note, the meerkats were adorable. Thank you for stopping by my page!
Great photos! It looks like a great Zoo!
Such a great Zoo. Those monkeys are too cute! The Cheetahs are so beautiful.
Now, this is a ZOO. I am an expat living in Dubai and you should see the zoo here.. it’s horrible! I felt sorry for the animals. Instead of having fun, I felt depressed!
Such gorgeous pics of the animals!!