Live Like A Local: Getting to National Zoo

One of the best activities, in Washington, DC, is visiting the National Zoo. This past weekend, I stopped by and even in the winter month's, the zoo is still an awesome place to visit. No trip to DC would be complete without a visit to the zoo and the most famous pandas in the US. Oh, the price can't be beat either...its free. (Your Federal Tax $$$s at work).

If you were coming to the zoo, would you get off at this metro stop:

or this metro stop:

If you choose the Woodley Park stop, you would be like the majority of visitors  However, by choosing this stop, you will encounter this long walk up a hill:

Just imagine walking up this hill in 100% humidity, during the Summer, with a stroller. Its a sight that you can see almost any day. However, I would like you to avoid this trouble.

The better stop is Cleveland Park. Once you get off the top of the Metro escalator, you will have an option to go "East" or "West":

You want to take the "East Side."Once you get outside, you should see the metro elevator and a PETCO (as of 12/2012) directly in front of you:

Walk in the direction of the Elevator to get to the zoo.

   

If you see a Subway and Walgreen's, you are on the wrong side of the street. Turn around and walk away from the Subway Sandwich shop towards the Uptown Theater.

The Subway Shop you want to avoid!!!

The sidewalks are somewhat small in the Cleveland Park neighborhood  but if you pass a row of restaurants and bars, you are in the right direction:

You will need to cross over a bridge into a residential neighborhood with some amazing old architecture like this building:

A few more minutes, you will be at the front of the National Zoo.

Walking from the Cleveland Park stop to the zoo took me 10 minutes (with me stopping to take photos). On the way home, walking down the hill to the Woodley Park stop took about 8 minutes (with me stopping to take photos).

I hope this tip helps make your visit to the National Zoo even better!!!