U.S. News Names Woodland Park Zoo Among Best In Nation

SEATTLE - We love the Woodland Park Zoo as much as anyone. And while folks in Seattle may not be shy about their fondness for our zoo, it’s always nice to get some national recognition. That’s exactly what happened this week when U.S. News & World Report named our zoo one of the 30 best in America.

Here’s what the report said:

Attracting millennials and young families from Seattle's tech corridor, the Woodland Park Zoo offers annual Brew at the Zoo beer tastings, immersive behind-the-scenes tours and the WildLights holiday lights exhibit, all of which raise funds for animal conservation projects.

The zoo is organized by bioclimatic zones. Designated areas include an Alaska-inspired region with everything from brown bears to porcupines, a water-filled habitat for Peruvian penguins and a tropical rainforest where jaguars live alongside frogs and birds. Throughout all of the exhibits, travelers will find more than 1,100 animals belonging to 300 species.

Other zoos that made the list: The Alaska Zoo in Anchorage, Memphis Zoo in Tennessee, Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden and the Out of Africa Wildlife Park in Camp Verde, Arizona.

The Alaska Zoo, which has rescued abandoned and injured animals, features a facility dedicated to teaching visitors about climate change, the report said. It also promotes bear conservation.

Those who enjoy imbibing adult drinks will love the Memphis Zoo, which hosts conservation fundraisers including Pints for Pangolins, Wine for Rhinos and Beers for Bears. Because nothing says “I support animals” like tipping back a few boozy beverages.

Being named one of the 30 best zoos in the country is no small feat. According to the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, a nonprofit that represents such facilities across the globe, there are 215 accredited zoos and aquariums in 45 states and Washington, D.C.

Those accredited organizations contributed more than $22.5 billion to the U.S. economy in 2016.

Patch national staffer Dan Hampton contributed to this report.