Attractions

Carousels, playgrounds, virtual reality and more! Don't miss these exciting attractions throughout the Smithsonian's National Zoo.

A child sits at the top of a slide sculpted to look like a bee hive overflowing with honey at the Smithsonian's National Zoo's Me and the Bee playground

Me and the Bee Playground

On this pollinator-themed playground located next to Kids' Farm, children of all ages can “shrink” to bee-size!

Visitors ride the Zoo's carousel. In the foreground, a young girl with one hand in the air sits atop a giraffe seat while her parent holds her in place.

Speedwell Conservation Carousel

Take a ride on the wild side! Located across from the Zoo’s Lemur Island, the Speedwell Foundation Conservation Carousel features dozens of custom-carved and hand-painted animals.

A kid playing in a rocky beach environment.

Squirt Zone

Come stomp in the shallow waters of American Trail's Tide Pool, weather permitting.

Artist Matthew Willey paints a bee mural on the Smithsonian's National Zoo's Great Ape House

The Great Ape House has received a makeover—with a mural of hand-painted honeybees! The mural is part of Matthew Willey's The Good of the Hive initiative, which raises awareness about the importance of pollinators.

Virtual Reality Safari

Enter the world of the wild and see elephants, leopards and gorillas in their native habitats from the safety of your VR Transporter.

This wall mural by artist Wyland shows sea turtles, fish, an octopus, and various types of coral in an underwater setting. The marine animals are brightly colored, but the water and rocks are darker shades of blue.

Wyland Mural

Thirty years after painting his first mural at the Zoo, marine muralist Wyland returned to paint a new mural raising awareness about a different group of magnificent sea animals: coral.

Attractions

Me and the Bee Playground

Speedwell Conservation Carousel

Squirt Zone

The Good of the Hive Mural

Virtual Reality Safari

Wyland Mural

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