Activity Overview
A day with the family in the 64-acre Oregon Zoo means a day of seeing more than 1,800 species of animals, birds, and reptiles. The zoo is located inside Washington Park; the forest surrounding the animals' enclosures makes the visit an even more exciting experience for the family.In the summer, the zoo together with sponsors, organizes concerts held inside the zoo's perimeters.
Things to Do
- Get a zoo map and start navigating towards the exhibit areas such as Fragile Forests, Great Northwest, Asia, Pacific Shores, and Africa. You can spend the entire afternoon meeting all the zoo animals— bears, giraffes, lions, elephants, the birds in the aviary, and the pond and swamp animals.
- The zoo organizes several events that's perfect for the entire family. Check their website for the schedule. Sample programs include Halloween Safari, Winter Break Day Camps, ZooSnooze (a night at the zoo), and the holiday program, ZooLights.
- Sign up for any of the Behind The Scenes tour and get to know how it's like to take care of the animals on the other side of the enclosure. Feed the giraffes or learn about breeding penguins.
- Kids will surely need refreshments along the way. Stop by any of the various food stalls inside the zoo to grab snacks and drinks. There's Cascade Grill, Africafe, BearWalk Cafe, and Black Rhino Hut.
- Visit the zoo store to purchase plush toys, writing pads, or any souvenir from your trip.
Oregon Zoo Insider Tips
- Hard to find a parking spot. Parking fee is metered too. If possible, take the train instead.
- Check the zoo's website for special admission rates like the Second Tuesday promo.
