Things to Do in Portland: The Portland Zoo

Located in Portland, Oregon at 4001 SW Canyon Rd in Washington Park, at exit 72 off of Highway 26 West - The Portland Zoo, also known as the Oregon Zoo, was founded in 1887 and is the oldest zoo in the United States west of the Mississippi. It was originally created when a local Portland pharmacist with a hobby for collecting animals donated his collection to the city of Portland.

Throughout the years, the Oregon Zoo has undergone a number of changes including location and format, but currently resides in its hilly and forested Washington Park location. The zoo has a wide range of animals and exhibits, and attracts more than 1 million visitors each year.

When you first enter the zoo, one of the first exhibits that you have the opportunity to explore is the Northwest Animals exhibit which features various animals from the Pacific Northwest in naturalized settings. The paths are winding and tree covered, which in Portland with it's large amount of rainfall, makes the zoo accessible even on rainy days. Residing in the Northwest exhibit are bald eagles, black bears, cougars, and playful otters among other Northwest natives.

As you and the kids explore more of the zoo, you'll find an African safari exhibit which is really popular with the kids because of the resident zebras, lions, giraffes, and hippos. The safari exhibit is right near the elephant home which is home to a number of Asian elephants - including the new popular baby elephant born in 2008. The elephant exhibit includes a large outdoor play yard as well as an indoor room where parents and kids can get up close and personal with the elephants as they come inside to sleep, be examined by the zookeepers, or feed.

The Portland Zoo is also known for it's penguins and primates - though they don't reside together! The primate exhibit is being remodeled and should be newer, bigger, and more exciting during the spring of 2009.

Another popular must-see exhibit for the kids is the Lorikeet Landing. This popular bird exhibit features a walk-through bird sanctuary with hundreds of brightly colored birds and parrots. At the entrance of this exhibit you can purchase small paper cups of 'nectar' which the birds will actually fly up to you, land and drink from while you watch. It's a great interactive exhibit that the kids are sure to get a real kick out of as they are able to interact with the birds in a way that most exhibits don't allow.

And when you get tired of chasing the kids through the zoo, you can take a ride on the zoo train which travels through the zoo's various exhibits and gives you and the kids a perspective of some of the exhibits from a different angle that you can only get on the train. You can even stop for a bit at the Washington Park playground and let the kids run around for a bit before catching the next train back into the zoo.

The Portland Zoo is open year round and features a number of different special events, including the popular Zoo Lights at Christmas time. It is definitely a must see for any family traveling to or living in Portland.