Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle, WA 98103

This world-class zoo covers nearly 100 acres of exhibits and open space, including a rose garden and a children's playground. You could easily spend an entire day at the zoo. Award-winning exhibits include the outdoor orangutan habitat at the Trail of Vines, with its boardwalk that makes visitors feel as if they're at treetop level, and the standout Northern Trail, with its awe-inspiring underwater view of a pair of grizzly bears.

The zoo has many educational programs on-site throughout the day, including animal contact experiences and feedings. Check the locations and times of a given day's programs at the entrances. The entrances also post which zoo babies are on view that day.

If the children in your group grow tired of walking, set them loose in Zoomazium, an all-season play space that offers kids a place to explore nature by crawling through a cave, climbing a fig tree, discovering a bird's nest, listening to stories, doing arts and crafts, and watching live animal demos, videos, and theatre performances. Another kid favorite, the Habitat Discovery Loop, is a naturalistic playground west of the South Gate entrance that features a giant spiderweb for climbing, a cave to run through, a bronze winter wren nest big enough for kids to sit inside, and more, set among a stream and native trees.

Hungry guests will find concessions scattered throughout the zoo. The Rain Forest Food Pavilion offers indoor and outdoor seating, and a range of kid-pleasing restaurants inside. Groups that pack their own lunches can sit in the pavilion, or search out one of the many picnic tables, or the broad, sunny North Meadow, for picnicking.

Stroller/wagon rentals: Wagons and strollers are available at the South Gate; the North Gate and West Entrance also have strollers for rent.

The zoo offers a full monthly calendar of classes and workshops for kids and adults. These fill up quickly. At the Zoo Overnight Adventure, groups spend the night at the zoo, talk to zookeepers, have hands-on animal encounters, and enjoy snacks and a continental breakfast. [206.548.2662]

Birthday party packages are offered Fri-Sun for parties of 10 or more people. Packages include reserved space in the Rain Forest Food Pavilion or in the historic carousel; lunch; animal-themed paper products and décor; a crown for the birthday child; and an animal souvenir sipper cup. Gift bags are also available for an additional charge. Advance reservations and pre-payment required. Download a birthday party order form to email, fax, or mail from the zoo's website.

The zoo is a CityPass attraction.