Mill Mountain Zoo
http://www.mmzoo.org/
Overall Rating: 4 out of 5
Overall the zoo is mostly accessible. Parking at the bottom leaves a long hill to push a wheelchair up. I do believe you can drop off at the top though, but this isn't feasible for parents traveling alone with a handicapped child. Throughout the zoo, they have put in ramps to get from one level to another, but it came later, leaving a few design flaws. There are few spots where you get to the end and the only choice is steps, or to turn around. Group outings end up separated since those with wheelchairs, and strollers have to re-route or muscle up the stairs. Mill Mtn. Zoo is a small zoo, which makes it easy to go see everything in just a few hours. This leaves you with plenty of energy to climb the hill, and walk back down it. For just a few dollars you can ride the Zoo Choo...which takes two short circles around the zoo. Its fun. Seating is unsupported, so be prepared to ride with your little one to hold on.
Two paws up for Mill Mountain Zoo...just remember the big push to the top.
National Zoo
Overall Rating: 3 out of 5
The zoo parking is iffy. It gets really busy, real fast. We were stuck in an awkward curb spot, that wasn't even a spot. If we had to unload a ramp, it wouldn't have been possible. I am sure though if we said something, they would make a change for us that day. The zoo is pretty much all paved, making it very easy to negotiate with a wheelchair. There were several big hills to push up and down, a little exhausting for us all. A few exhibits were too tight to get in with a wheelchair, which was a little disappointing. Some had tiers with stairs, also not accessible. The gift shop was not accessible either. You had to go up about 7 or 8 steps to the room, with no elevator choice. Many of the exhibits with stairs did have an elevator choice, however they are so out of the way. Indoor bird exhibits had several doors to negotiate, with no automatic feature. We watched a woman in a power chair struggle to get in on her own, until we got there to help hold the door. Unfortunately, with many zoo exhibits, the visual sight for those in chairs is blocked by gates, fences, etc. They are built for more of a standing approach, leaving line of sight blocked. Also a challenge, other visitors are sometimes pushy and rude about respecting someone in a wheelchair.
One and a half paws for the National Zoo.
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