Top 5 Zoos for Families in the D.C. Metro Area

Children love animals, and zoos are a fun and educational way to spend the day. While the National Zoo and Baltimore Zoo are the biggest in the area, sometimes younger kids do better at the smaller animal parks, where they can explore the entire zoo before tuckering out. The National Zoo is probably your best buy in the area, because, despite the hefty parking charge, admission is free. Here's a look at the top 5 family-friendly zoos in the D.C. Metropolitan area. Prices and details are current as of summer 2011.

1. THE NATIONAL ZOO

3001 Connecticut Avenue ~ Washington, D.C

http://nationalzoo.si.edu/

One of the virtues of living near the nation's capital is that admission to the zoo is free. Parking, however, will run you $15 (for up to three hours) to $20 (maximum) per car. You can also take the Metro (parking is free on weekends and federal holidays) and get off and walk from either the Woodley Park/Zoo/Adams Morgan stop or the Cleveland Park stop. The zoo is between the two stops, and your walk will be about three blocks.

Of special interest to the children is Kid's Farm, where they'll see goats, lamas, donkey, sheep, horse, and rabbits. Not far from the farm is the pizza playground, where kids under seven can play on a giant pizza beneath a shaded canopy and sniff an herb garden. Walk up the hill just a little to the groundhogs, and you'll find a series of tunnels in which young kids can crawl.

Children also like hands-on exploration at the Think Tank. And of course there are elephants, tigers, lions, bears, the reptile house, the invertebrate house, the bird house, and much more. Visit the National Zoo website the morning of your visit for scheduled feedings and other events.

The zoo building opens at 10 AM, though you can walk the grounds earlier. Parking lots fill up early, so plan to arrive either before 10:30 AM or after 1 PM, when the lots begin clearing again. Restaurants are available, but beware that the food is expensive. You may want to pack your own picnic lunch, which you can enjoy at the shaded picnic pavilion near Kid's Farm or on any of the park benches scattered throughout the zoo.

* Money Saving Tip: If you plan to go at least three times in a year, get a Zoo family membership. It costs $60 and entitles you to free parking, a package of animal crackers for each kid on each visit, and discounts on stroller rentals and at the gift shop. Also, before your visit, be sure to download and print a zoo map while you're on the website. Then you won't have to buy one at the zoo!

2. THE BALTIMORE ZOO

Druid Hill Park ~ Baltimore, MD

http://www.marylandzoo.org/

Admission is $16 for adults and $11 for children. Children under 2 are free. Parking is free. The zoo is open daily from 10 AM to 4 PM. Season passes are available. You can board a free tram to be transported to the center of the zoo. Restaurants and snack shops are available, but you can also bring your own lunch (a great way to save) and relax at a picnic table.

Be sure to stop by the KidZone between 10:30 AM and 3:30 PM, where your children can brush goats and ride a pedal tractor. For $2, you can feed a giraffe and see one up close at the giraffe feeding station. At the education center, which is open until 2 PM, kids can engage in hands-on activities. Ride a camel for $5 a person. Enjoy a train ride for an additional $3.

* Money Saving Tip: Visit Monday - Friday instead of on a weekend and save $2 on adult admission and $1 on children's admission.

3. CATOCTIN WILDLIFE PRESERVE AND ZOO

13019 Catoctin Furnace Road ~ Thurmont, MD

http://www.cwpzoo.com/

About an hour from D.C. off Rt. 15, this zoo is open in the summer daily from 9 AM to 5 PM. Adult admission is $16.95. Children 3-12 are $9.95, and children 2 and under are free. There is an additional charge for the global safari ride, which is available on weekends only.

The zoo houses over 1,000 animals including lions, monkeys, jaguar, bears, and boas. Be sure to visit the koi pond and butterfly garden.

4. LEESBURG ANIMAL PARK

19270 James Monroe Highway ~ Leesburg, VA

http://www.leesburganimalpark.com/

This small zoo is $9.95 for adults and $7.95 for children. Parking is free. Kids can pet and feed donkeys, lamas, cows, nilgai, deer, camels, goats, sheep, and pigs. Exotic animal exhibits include lemurs, African serval cats, white-handed gibbons, giant tortoises, and zebras. Pony rides are available for an additional fee. The park also features a moon bounce and kids playground.

* Money Saving Tip: Every Tuesday and Wednesday, get $2 off admission. If you plan to visit the zoo at least five times, purchase a Season Pass ($35 each person). If you plan to let your kid have a pony ride, purchase a KID'S VIP pass for just $2 more than the price of admission. It includes a pony ride and souvenir feed cup.

5. RESTON ZOO

1228 Hunter Mill Road ~ Vienna, VA

http://www.restonzoo.com/

The Reston Zoo is open daily from 9 AM to 6 PM during the summer. Admission is $12 for adults and $9 for children ages 2-12. Children under 2 are free. Pony rides are an additional $4, and, if you want to feed the animals, you can purchase a feed cup for $3 and a lamb bottle for $1.50.

One of the unique features of this zoo is that you can take a wagon ride (included with the price of your admission) to see ostrich, zebras, bison, camels, nilgai, and other animals up close. There's a petting barn with farm animals and a small reptile house and free-flight aviary as well. You can walk short paths to see exhibits of monkeys, kangaroos, alligator, tortoises, and a variety of birds.