Cougar Mountain Zoo

Cougar Mountain Zoo in Issaquah is the kind of place that doesn't show up on the typical Seattle family itinerary — and that's exactly what makes it worth the 30-minute drive from the city.

It's a small, accredited zoo focused on endangered species, which means the animal roster is unusual: snow leopards, ring-tailed lemurs, Eurasian lynx, Patagonian cavies, and a herd of reindeer that are genuinely tame. The peacocks roam freely throughout the zoo, which sounds chaotic but is actually the highlight for most kids — having a full-display peacock strut up to your 4-year-old is something she'll talk about for weeks.

The zoo's intimacy is its biggest advantage over Woodland Park. Because it's small and not heavily trafficked, animals are often close to the paths. The snow leopard exhibit in particular puts you within 10 feet of an animal that most people never see anywhere except through telephoto lenses. Morning visits give you the best chance of seeing the cats active.

For families with younger kids (2-6), the scale is ideal. You can see everything in 2 hours without anyone melting down from exhaustion. The terrain is gently hilly with some gravel paths, which is manageable for most strollers but not ideal.

Practical notes: closed Monday and Tuesday, so plan around that. No food concessions on-site — bring a picnic. Parking is free. The Issaquah location means you can combine it with a stop at one of the nearby trails or the Gilman Village shops on the way home.

For families who've done Woodland Park Zoo a dozen times and want something different, Cougar Mountain is a genuinely good alternative.