The Oregon Zoo (oregonzoo.org) is just west of downtown Portland in Washington Park. If driving, take Highway 26 west to the clearly marked turnoff for the zoo at exit 72. Follow the road to the right and then follow the signs to the parking area, which charges a per-vehicle fee. If you'd rather take MAX, Portland's light rail system, to get to the zoo, take a westbound Red or Blue line train to the Washington Park exit. Hold on to your MAX ticket until you get to the zoo's ticket booth. Each person who shows a ticket receives a $1.50 discount off admission. You can also take Trimet bus line 63 to the zoo or bus line 83, which loops around the Washington Park area during the summer. Trimet bus tickets also get you the $1.50 discount.
The Oregon Zoo continually upgrades its exhibits to make them as close to the animals' natural habitat as possible. Upon entering, you come face to face with several mountain goats climbing over their own rocky landscape. Farther into the zoo, you'll come to the Pacific Shores exhibit where you can watch sea otters, sea lions, penguins and polar bears take a plunge in their own pools. One of the zoo's largest areas is the African section where you can step into a wild bird aviary, walk through the humid jungle to see crocodiles and hippos and then emerge into grasslands where zebras, gazelles and giraffes roam together. The Oregon Zoo takes great pride in its Asian elephants and the elephant breeding program. At Elephant Overlook, you can watch the herd interact as the juvenile elephants play. To bring awareness about the diversity of animals in the region, the Oregon Zoo has a special exhibit focusing on native Northwest animals, from wolves to elk and hawks to beavers. Before you leave, also check out the zoo's bears, big cats and primates.
As long as you allow only humans to consume the snacks, you're welcome to bring your own food into the zoo. Plenty of picnic tables provide places to eat, or you can spread out a blanket in the concert lawn near the elephant habitat. If you don't want to lug around your lunch, you can stop at one of the small snack carts that dot the zoo or grab something at the zoo's cafes. The Oregon Zoo makes its displays fully accessible for wheelchairs and strollers, which you can rent if needed. Since the weather in Portland can be difficult to predict, the zoo has plenty of shady areas and indoor displays when you want to escape the sun or the rain.
In addition to its many animal exhibits, the Oregon Zoo hosts several educational programs and special events throughout the year. Each April, the zoo celebrates the birthday of one of its most famous residents, Packy the elephant, who was born at the zoo more than 50 years ago. Throughout the summer, the zoo hosts open air concerts in the evenings and day camps for kids. Around Halloween, the zoo puts on its Howloween events where kids can trick or treat and take part in scavenger hunts. If visiting in December, don't miss the ZooLights display when the zoo is covered in more than a million lights and holiday displays. Although some events are free, others have a cost in addition to admission.
