I’m often torn about how I feel about zoos. While some zoos are true conservation efforts (the National Zoo in Washington, DC is absolutely fantastic in these regards), some become death traps for living things.

The Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle is not one of those zoos.

Woodland Park is filled with fun facts about the animals you see, if they’re endangered or not (and how so much). There are activities and games at every stop in the park that are meant to fuel the imagination and thunder of children. Even at 20, the sparks of wanderlust and a love for all things great and small begin to kindle in me while walking through the zoo. This is a true place to love and cherish our intelligent animal friends, which is definitely something every child should experience. I have no doubt in my mind that I will be continually bringing my children to zoos like this many times a year so they learn to respect the other living things on our earth. Woodland Park Zoo is simply great at heralding this.

The Zoo can be a bit pricey however. Adult tickets are $16.50 each in the summer time, with children’s tickets coming in at $11.00. Food inside the park is surprisingly cheap, however. Bottles of water are only $2.50 (compared to a local movie theatre, which charged $3.75). There is also plenty of snacks and ice cream, as well as traditional fair like burgers (I recommend the absolutely fantastic spicy black bean burger from the Chowder House…something about eating meat in a zoo strikes me as, well, disgusting) and hot dogs.

If you’re looking for slightly cheaper options in the Sound, Tacoma’s Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium is less than an hour away from Seattle, and features more animals (and sharks, walruses, and beluga whales!) at a far better price. Pierce County residents also get discounts to that zoo. You can explore the wildlife of our own region at Northwest Trek, located 35 miles south of Puyallup (about an hour and 15 minutes away from Seattle). This park includes bison, elk, moose, bald eagles, and many more legitimately wild animals (Northwest Trek is hardly a zoo). Those who are more ocean-minded should also explore Seattle’s Aquarium, located on the piers on the waterfront.

Woodland Park, though, is a fantastic zoo, and wonderful place for your family, and a great time. In the summer they also offer a pretty rocking outdoor concert series!