Animal Attractions in the Northwest
by Neighborhood-Kids.com12/17/2008 1:49:06 PM
Login to leave ratings
Average Rating : 0.0
With all that free time kids are going to have in the next few weeks, it’s a great time to organize a day trip to an out of Bellingham location (if the icy roads don’t scare you off). If your kids love animals, check out one of the following animal attractions. They’re all less than two hours (not including traffic delays and border-crossing), and offer a variety of exhibits, whether you’re interested in animals of the land, sea, or air.
A child gets up close to a grizzly bear at Woodland Park Zoo's Northern Trail exhibit.
Photo by Ryan Hawk/Woodland Park ZooWoodland Park Zoo
The Woodland Park Zoo is the oldest zoo on the West Coast. Near the end of the nineteenth century, a wealthy lumber mill owner, Guy C. Phinney, constructed an English-style estate on the undeveloped edge of north Seattle, complete with an animal menagerie. After his death, the park was purchased by the Seattle City Council in 1899. Since the turn of the century, the park has grown to house the largest live animal collection in Washington with over 1,000 different specimens. The botanical collection has also grown extensively, creating a “green oasis” on the southeastern edge of Green Lake.
The park segregates animals by their various native habitats and climates, so you’ll find lions and giraffes in the African Savanna, and bears and bald eagles along the Northern Trail. A must-see for all families with kids 8 years old and under is Zoomazium, the newest additional to the Woodland Park Zoo. The indoor facility combines multimedia features with interactive, exploratory exhibits. There are also a variety of special public programs offered daily to engage kids in learning about animals and nature. You can even take a Rainy Day Tour, which highlights park features that will keep you and the kids out of the elements at the Zoo.
The Zoo’s winter hours (October 1 to April 30) are 9:30 AM to 4 PM, open every day except Christmas Day. Admission is $11 for adults, $8 for kids ages 3 to 12, and free for toddlers. For more details, visit Woodland Park Zoo or call (206) 548-2500.
The Reptile Man, Scott Petersen, with a King Cobra.
Copyright 2008 Scott PetersenWashington Serpentarium
Love all things creepy and crawly? You might want to swing by Monroe to see one of the most comprehensive collections of reptiles on the West Coast at the Washington Serpentarium. Kids will have the opportunity to learn about a variety of reptiles, hold snakes, and see the only albino alligator in the Pacific Northwest.
Scott Petersen, also known as The Reptile Man, operates the Serpentarium. He used to be a biology teacher, but decided to take his program on the road about 20 years ago; the Serpentarium has been in operation for about 10 years. Scott is available for school presentations throughout the Northwest. His focus is to help kids develop an interest in the natural sciences and emphasize the importance of all animals in the balance of nature.
The Serpentarium is open year-round from 10 AM to 6 PM. Admission is $6 for adults and $5 for kids. A party room is available for birthdays, and you can even arrange for an in-home party, if you don’t mind snakes, lizards, and tarantulas in your living room. For more information, call (360) 668-8204 or visit The Reptile Man.
Vancouver Aquarium
To see Canada’s largest aquarium, head north to Vancouver, BC. You’ll see dolphins, beluga whales, sea turtles and more at the Vancouver Aquarium, which first opened in 1956. The facility is now home to over 70,000 aquatic species.
Exhibits at the Aquarium include displays and free daily shows. Young children (birth to eight years old) will also get a kick out of Clownfish Cove with interactive, hands-on activities and programs. You can also arrange birthday parties and sleepovers at the facility; visit Aquarium Adventures for details.
The Vancouver Aquarium Marine Science Centre is open 365 days a year; winter hours are 9:30 AM to 5 PM (open on Christmas and New Year’s from 10 AM to 4 PM). Cost is $19.95 for adults, $14.95 for seniors and students (ID required), $11.95 for children ages 4 to 12, and free for kids under 3 years old. Call (604) 659-3552 to book tickets or visit Online Ticket Sales. For more information, visit Vancouver Aquarium.