Founded in 1887, the award-winning Oregon Zoo is the oldest zoo west of the Mississippi. The zoo’s 64 acres are home to animals from all corners of the world, including Asian elephants, Peruvian penguins and Arctic polar bears. From the mist-filled Africa Rain Forest to the majestic new Great Northwest exhibits, the zoo encourages visitors to understand and experience the natural world. Committed to conservation of endangered species and their habitats-both locally and around the globe-the zoo is a center for wildlife preservation and field research. The Oregon Zoo’s award-winning education programs serve more than a half-million people both at the zoo and at schools, senior and community centers around the region. A summer concert series, seasonal events and the zoo railway help this popular Oregon attraction draw more than one million visitors each year. The Oregon Zoo is all of this, but it is also a safe place for families to share moments of discovery and fun.

Tips: Make sure that you wear comfortable shoes when visiting the Oregon Zoo, and give yourself some extra time. During the summer it can be busy, and make sure you dress for the weather conditions, as it’s an open air attraction. Grabbing a map at the entrance is also helpful, as it’s easy to get turned around in the 64-acre zoo. If you can, make time to ride the Zoo Train and eat at one of the different restaurants inside the zoo.

What to bring: Some of the exhibits are back away from where people are, so make sure that you bring a camera that can handle a little distance. You may also want to bring some binoculars for some of the bigger exhibits - the monkey area is rather large and they can hide in the back of the display.

Hours: 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. September 16 - April 14
9 a.m. - 6 p.m. April 15 - September 15
the zoo is open every day except December 25.

Getting there: The zoo is located five minutes west of downtown Portland on Highway 26. Watch for the signs. The zoo is the first exit from this highway.

For more information about the Oregon Zoo, contact them at 503-226-1561.