Pandas, elephants, tigers—Smithsonian’s National Zoo has them all… and for FREE. The Zoo houses a whopping 2,000 animals from 400 different species—of which close to twenty-five percent are endangered, like giant pandas Mei Xiang and TianTian. Set in Rock Creek Park, the 163-acre National Zoo attracts more than two million visitors each year and, like its sister Smithsonian museums, admission is completely free. It operates every day except Dec. 25 and its grounds are open between 6 a.m. and 8 p.m. in the summer and 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. in the winter. Many of the animals can be seen outside, such as lions, zebras and birds, while some exhibits are entirely indoors. The National Zoo is a national treasure that’s fun for the whole family.

Exhibits

Use the National Zoo map to plan the exhibits you want to see on your visit. Lions, cheetahs, gazelles and zebras are among the creatures comprising the African Savanna, while Amazonia features everything from poisonous frogs to two-toed sloths and other tropical rainforest dwellers. For a more native experience, wander the American Trail and see the gray wolf, California sea lions and the regal bald eagle. Mei Xiang and TianTian, the famous giant pandas, can be found along the Asia Trail, near the popular Elephant Trails exhibit’s four resident Asian elephants. Use your brain at Think Tank, where orangutans hang out. And for a unique hands-on approach, visit Kids’ Farm, where children can interact with alpacas, cows, donkeys and more.

The Giant Pandas!

Smithsonian’s National Zoo is one of only four zoos in the U.S. which currently house giant pandas (and a baby panda cub!). The two adult panda tenants here are named Mei Xiang and TianTian, both on a ten-year loan from China as part of a successful research and breeding program. The cub, a girl, was born in August 2013 and received a clean bill of health from the zoo's vets in September. She is not the first cub born to Mei Xiang.

In 2005 Mei Xiang gave birth to Tai Shan, who was sent back to China in 2010. The indoor-outdoor Fujifilm Giant Panda Habitat is home for these two creatures, whose species, Ailuropodamelanoleuca, literally means "black and white cat-foot.” The two giant pandas are endangered and are among an estimated 1,900 remaining in the world today (1,600 of which live in the wild in Central China). If you can’t wait any longer and have to see the pandas ASAP, head here to get a live camera look-in.

Special Programs

Seeing exhibits is a great way to experience the National Zoo, but on any given day, there are also other one-of-a-kind programs. Spend 15 minutes learning about how sloth bears eat or meet a great ape keeper and ask all your burning questions about gorillas and orangutans. For a complete list of the daily programs, click here. In an effort to inform others and to promote conservation science, the Zoo hosts a number of educational programs, like Snore and Roar Overnights, Conservation Campouts and even Friends of the National Zoo (FONZ) classes for all age groups. The National Zoo also hosts fundraisers and events, like Brew at the Zoo in summer or Halloween’s Boo at the Zoo.

Getting to the Zoo

One of the easiest ways to get to the Zoo is via public transportation. The front entrance rests between two Red Line Metro Stations, Woodley Park Zoo/Adams Morgan and Cleveland Park. Each station is about a .4 mile walk from the front gates of the National Zoo on Connecticut Avenue. Meanwhile, the McPherson Square Circulator bus ends its route at the Woodley Park metro stop. Capital Bikeshare has two docks, one at the front entrance on Connecticut Avenue and another in the rear entrance at the Harvard Street gate. If you’re traveling in a car, you can park at the zoo—the first three hours costs $16.