Woodland Park Zoo or Houston Zoo

Better how?
Collection?
Exhibit quality?
Weather most days?
Food?
Potential for devastating hurricane?
Potential for devastating earthquake?
 
Do you like collection or exhibit design? I doubt you could pick two more dissimilar zoos.
 
Of course, it's subjective and the answer depends on what you like. I've been to Woodland Park Zoo twice and Houston Zoo three times. Both are large, well done, and have nice collections.

To me, the deciding factor would be when are you visiting? Seattle is wonderful in spring and summer, not so much in fall and winter. Houston is never really wonderful, but the weather is much nicer than Seattle in the winter and is miserable in the summer.

If you are into bird watching and are coming in spring, Houston is about an hour from High Island, an amazing spot for migrants.

Also, if you have time for any side ventures, Houston is four hours from Dallas/Ft. Worth where you can find two excellent zoos and a nice aquarium. Seattle has a lot of other things to offer, but I am not aware of any other nice zoos that are close.
 
I agree: for me the decision about such a trip would be about more than just the zoo.

But as to zoos: Woodland Park is one of the temperate zone's premier immersion style zoos. In fact, the whole landscape immersion concept was refined there. If you are used to UK zoos, then Woodland Park will be a huge change for you.

Houston, on the other hand, is a zoo in transition. Moderate sized older exhibits are being replaced with new more spacious enclosures. In general, the animals are more easily spotted than at Woodland Park because the landscape approach is less Immersion.

Hope that helps
 
Houston hands down for reptiles, extensive bird species migrates a bonus added when there, large elephant exhibit, watching young one play in the water priceless! Loved the puma exhibit too. New gorilla exhibit very nice also.
 
Seattle Woodland Park Zoo is to politically correct. Say what one want's about those immersion exhibits animals most often difficult to see! Seems these type zoo's cater to the crowd that doesn't get outside much to experience the wonders and joys of nature. I've give you first hand thought on those window up close experiences. Having done some volunteer work in Yosemite National Park and seeing visitors egg their children to get as close to WILD animals as they can is bloody scarey ! If one believes there is nothing wrong with close encounter with a predator at zoo exhibit window please then go into the wilderness and try it. It's one thing to try and educate folks the importance and love of nature, it's another animal ( per se' ) being outdoors and believing wild animals are just as placid. Seen this happen both in Alaska, and California.
 
Different zoos; I've been to both and the explanations above of those differences are fair. The Point Defiance Zoo in Tacoma is worth a trip if you're in the area and there's a small Cougar Mountain Zoo with a good tiger exhibit.
 
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