Whether you will be visiting Washington Dc with your kids or not, you should take time to stroll down the Washington DC National Zoo. You will be inspired with the animals that live in this zoo and you will certainly have a good time watching the animal display.

There are three important things that you should know about before you visit the Washington Dc National Zoo. First is that you should know when they are open. You can visit the zoo at any day. They are open from 10 in the morning to 6 in the evening in the months of April to October. From November through March, they are only open till 5PM. If there are special events or occasions, the zoo will close early.

Second is that you should know about how to get to the attraction. The easiest is through the Metrorail. There are two stops here that are closest to the National Zoo and they are the Cleveland Park and the Woodley Park. The latter is only a few distance away but the walk is slightly uphill. Cleveland Park on the other hand is downhill.

With regards to parking, the lot at the zoo is 10 dollars for an hour while it is 15 dollars for two to three hours. You will have to pay $20 if you will be parking for more than three hours. If you are a FONZ member, parking is free. It has been advised though that you should take public transportation because the lots fill up fast.

If you are visiting Washington DC on vacation or holiday, there are several breathtaking sightseeing destinations that you simply must not miss. The Washington DC zoo is one such destination that proves to be an absolute delight from the moment you step through the gates.

Often simply known as the National Zoo, this famous destination covers 163 acres of land and is located within the Rock Creek National Park itself. Not surprisingly, what make this zoo so popular are its amazing residents. There are more 400 different species of animals that inhabit at the Washington DC zoo and it a treat for the eyes to see them up close in such wonderful forms.

Washington DC National Zoo

http://dc.about.com/cs/familyactivities/a/NationalZoo.htm

It is almost a crime to miss out on any of the animal's closures or exhibits at Washington Dc Zoo. Admission to the zoo is completely free though you will have to pay for parking charges for your vehicle.

The wide range of animal population list at the zoo includes exotic species such as lions, tigers, sea lions, monkeys, giant pandas, giraffes etc.

New Babies at Washington DC National Zoo

http://endangered-species.suite101.com/article.cfm/new-baby-animals-at-the-washington-national-zoo

But apart from looking at the animals, you should also not miss the various programs and shows that are put up by the zoo officials for the visitors every day. Keeper presentations, feeding demonstrations and animal training are all part of the everyday programs offered at the zoo.

A number of special program and events are hosted by the zoo officials and its partner, Friends of the National Zoo (FONZ), throughout the year. These events are simply amazing and should not if be missed. The programs are named as:

Join FONZ

http://nationalzoo.si.edu/JoinFONZ/Join/default.cfm

This is a very poplar program at the zoo that gives the proceeds earned from the event to the development of various sections of the zoo. Organized by the Friends of the National Zoo (FONZ), this event promises an evening of food, wine, music and entertainment for all.

National ZooFari

http://nationalzoo.si.edu/ActivitiesAndEvents/Celebrations/ZooFari/default.cfm