We went to the National Zoo on Friday. So did everyone else. The place was like… well, like a zoo… on a holiday.
Exhibits open at 10:00, and we turned into the grounds, toward the parking lots, about 10 minutes after that. We were waved past full parking lots, then directed to turn round and leave again, all lots being full. Luckily, we found parking on the street nearby. There was a 2-hour limit, which would not be long enough, but I decided to risk the parking ticket (the most prominent alternative being heading straight home). The kids (6 and 3) were pretty patient during all this.
After we took in the Asia Trail and a few other exhibits, it was time for an early lunch. Given the crowds, that meant another wait in line, and sitting on a wall when all the tables were occupied. But the kids enjoyed their lunch: here they are working on the apple sauce course.
We saw less than half of the zoo – not because of the crowds, but because the zoo is so huge. I was mocked for being scared of the snapping turtle in the reptile house. A good time was had by all. And we didn’t get a parking ticket after all.