Everybody likes free stuff. This is great if you're in marketing, but it's a lesson that becomes painful when you're shoving your way through the crowds at the National Zoo.
A word of advice: don't go at midday on a summer weekend. It's painfully hot and there are screaming children everywhere. It is a testimony to this zoo's great attraction that we stuck around anyway and were amazed.
It's a wonderful zoo. The outdoor exhibits do not disappoint; right now, they have the most adorable baby panda (though you'll have to be very lucky to catch a glimpse and there's sometimes a half-hour line).
The animals indoors are beautiful and fun to watch. Especially interesting is the small mammal house (look out for the lemurs and for the mouse deer). I also liked the giraffes - you get to see them very close up, staring at you balefully with those doelike eyes, and it's very neat.
It is an incredible experience to be in the middle of a huge city and suddenly to see so many exotic and beautiful creatures. You must go at least once. But try to go off-peak!
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