https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 19 May 2026 11:31:18 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/national-zoo-and-stroller-recs#post-2743958 Mon, 05 Jun 2017 15:04:27 +0000 Foodnerd81 2743958@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks for all the recommendations. You all have convinced me to bring it. We are also meeting friends there now so even better to be able to move quickly as needed too. @mediagirl: it's supposed to be pretty hot so that's a good point. Plus the shade on the stroller willbe good.<br /> @littlebug: I am not at all afraid of someone stealing this stroller- it is so beat up I'm sure there will be nicer options to steal 😆 I'll look for that lot at the bottom, thanks for the rec! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/national-zoo-and-stroller-recs#post-2743730 Mon, 05 Jun 2017 09:50:30 +0000 yoursilverlining 2743730@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It’s hilly but not insanely so. I walked to the zoo from several block away, all around the zoo and back to our hotel wearing my LO when she was 2 without any issues and I’m not wonder woman or even in particularly great shape! So, my vote would be for the small stroller and just plan to wear the little one some; or carry either kid some here and there. </p> <p>Second the rec of making sure to spend time at the same mammal house – that was my LO’s favorite! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/national-zoo-and-stroller-recs#post-2743702 Mon, 05 Jun 2017 09:08:08 +0000 mediagirl 2743702@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Take the big stroller. There is a huge hill on the way to the zoo, depending on which way you enter, and that can be a killer. My husband took our 3 year old last year and she rode in the stroller the whole time. It was also a million degrees out so that didn't help. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/national-zoo-and-stroller-recs#post-2743687 Mon, 05 Jun 2017 08:46:02 +0000 littlebug 2743687@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We just went this past weekend. We took our sit and stand stroller and I'm so glad we did. There is quite a bit of walking and it's built into a hill, so at some point in your day, you'll be walking uphill. D (4yo) would never have made it through the entire zoo if he had to walk the whole time. You do have to park strollers outside the indoor exhibits, but everyone does it, so I had no concerns about it. </p> <p>If you plan to park, reserve your spot as soon as you know what day you're going. I tried to reserve mine on Thursday for a trip on Saturday, and 2 of the lots were already full. We ended up in the VIP lot, which is the bus lot. It was really nice to just coast in, park, and not have to stress about finding a spot or having the cash on hand to pay for parking. The VIP lot was nice, but I'd recommend the lot at the bottom (lot D, I think). That way you're starting your day going uphill, and ending it going downhill when you're hot and tired. Pushing that double stroller up the hill was tough at the end of the day!</p> <p>You can pack food to bring so you're not spending a fortune on zoo food. We brought PB&amp;J sandwiches, applesauce pouches, and a couple other snacks, plus water bottles for the whole family. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/national-zoo-and-stroller-recs#post-2743655 Mon, 05 Jun 2017 07:31:32 +0000 erinbaderin 2743655@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Foodnerd81: For me it is, especially since you're saying your zoo is pretty hilly. But I tend to err on the side of better safe than sorry, and with the wide open spaces of the zoo it's not like the bulkiness is going to be too much trouble (going through doorways, etc). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/national-zoo-and-stroller-recs#post-2743603 Sun, 04 Jun 2017 21:24:03 +0000 caterw 2743603@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We live 2 hours away and go pretty regularly. I like to take the double stroller so both kids can sit at once and they can trade for naps if we stay for a long time. My 3 yo doesn't sit a lot but she does need to rest her legs. The rest of the time I put the diaper bag in her seat so I don't have to lug it up the hills. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/national-zoo-and-stroller-recs#post-2743569 Sun, 04 Jun 2017 19:19:12 +0000 nana87 2743569@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Foodnerd81: it is really hilly, but I wouldn't say it's that much walking, at least compared to other zoos. If you come in the side from the metro, it seems like farther to walk because the animals are a bit further from the Connecticut ave entrance than from the parking lots. Also, we've never taken lo to see everything-- it's free (besides parking) so we don't feel bad about just going for a short bit. I mean, I'd def take a stroller for the big kid but if it's comfortable to carry, I'd use that. We've always taken lo1 in an umbrella stroller (we have a gluxe) but she then ends up walking exhibits. </p> <p>Her fave is always the small mammal house, btw-- a lot of the big animals are often asleep or hiding but the meerkats and tamarins are usually very active in that exhibit! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/national-zoo-and-stroller-recs#post-2743567 Sun, 04 Jun 2017 19:10:55 +0000 StrawberryBee 2743567@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Foodnerd81: I'm sure D.C. Bees can weigh in way better than I can. We used parking panda to reserve a space in the VIP lot, since they're all the same price ($31?). One thing to keep in mind is that the zoo is on a hill and the VIP lot is the top of the hill. If you're spending all day there you'll have to push the stroller UP the hill to get back to your car (not to mention little legs getting tired). Also, I think the petting zoo is at the bottom. For us the VIP lot made sense because it was near the panda exhibit and that was when the baby panda (bao bao? Too lazy to look it up 😅) was still there. Can't remember if I had any other reasons than that. E was young enough to still use a stroller and she was the only kid.</p> <p>Edited to add that when we went, there were a lot of cars being turned away at the parking lots. We were grateful to have guaranteed parking, despite the higher cost! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/national-zoo-and-stroller-recs#post-2743565 Sun, 04 Jun 2017 19:05:50 +0000 Foodnerd81 2743565@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@nana87: I've never been but I've read it's a lot of walking and very hilly. I've been to Bronx zoo but not since I was a teenager so my experience would be very different now anyway. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/national-zoo-and-stroller-recs#post-2743561 Sun, 04 Jun 2017 18:58:06 +0000 nana87 2743561@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'd just take one (prob the smaller one) and the carrier. If I'm remembering right (it's blurring together in my brain with the bronx zoo, we've gone to both many times, though Bronx is way bigger...) you have to park strollers outside all the indoor exhibits. Plus, it isn't huge so not that far to walk in between exhibits. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/national-zoo-and-stroller-recs#post-2743560 Sun, 04 Jun 2017 18:51:04 +0000 Foodnerd81 2743560@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@erinbaderin: so even though the older one walks most of the time it's worth it to have the extra seat, considering just how big it makes the stroller overall? (We have the older model). That's sort of how I'm leaning, I just hate how big and cumbersome it feels with the rumble seat if we aren't really using it.</p> <p>Also we won't have tons of room in the car, but we should be able to fit it if we really want it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/national-zoo-and-stroller-recs#post-2743556 Sun, 04 Jun 2017 18:45:12 +0000 erinbaderin 2743556@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our kids are about the same age and when we go to the zoo we take the Uppababy with both seats. It's convenient to be able to put them both in seats to have snacks. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/national-zoo-and-stroller-recs#post-2743553 Sun, 04 Jun 2017 18:32:10 +0000 Foodnerd81 2743553@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We are visiting DC next week and plan to spend a day at the National Zoo. Since we are driving we have some options on strollers. We are also planning to pay for parking near the zoo and avoid taking the metro that day. </p> <p>Kids are 3.5 (almost 4) and 1.5. Stroller options are Uppababy Vista with one seat or one seat plus rumble seat, or single Mountain Buggy Nano, plus a baby carrier (prob wear the baby on the back). </p> <p>Would you bring the big double stroller so the big girl can sit down for a while? Or just bring he baby carrier and the MB nano and put the baby in carrier and the 3 yo in stroller if she needs a break? Possibly I could borrow a buggy board if that would be a better option. </p> <p>Also, any suggestions on best parking lots? We are planning to reserve in advance. </p>