point defiance park and zoo

accorn55

Not too big for little ones who tire quickly, not too small for more seasoned zoo goers. Good-sized aquarium and a camel-ride too!

fireflies

I feel so lucky to live in a city that has a park such as this. I can honestly say there are not many cities in the county with a park this lovely, not even Seattle!

Skyy419

nice zoo I do really wish they would make the walrus habitat bigger I always feel bad for those guys it's too small and the elephants should be somewhere more like San Diego where they have room to roam.....I love the conservation projects they do though and the education and hands on learing for the kiddos makes it go far above and beyond a normal zoo

LisaI63

Perfect size zoo for everyone in the family. Great combination of aquarium and zoo creatures. The hands on exhibits delight both young and old. The touch tanks and exhibits in the aquarium are something we look forward to each visit. Budgie feeding area is a huge hit as well :) The free parking is a huge bonus. Grounds are always well maintained year round.

JanKnmotion

The lights made me smile it is all very festive. We were there on a clear night which made it especially enjoyable. We saw people of all ages especially families with children.

Marie_Claude155033

Really nice experience at the zoo! perfect size for a family since it is not too long to walk around. Lots of different species of animals. it was possible to pet some animals when we were there and it made the day of the kids.

12thumper34

This zoo is good especially for little kids. The zoo it self is kind of small. The kids love it though. The zoo lights are fun for the whole family. That's probably the best.

Sarah_SQ6334SQ

I have gone to this zoo since I was a young girl & now I take my children. I have heard some complain that it is too small, but in my opinion, it is perfect for young children. They get tired after four hours or so anyway, so a bigger zoo would just be too much for them to see before getting tired. I have always enjoyed it.Take cash with you for the old-fashion carousel. (I believe this is the only form of payment accepted there.) It is only $1 for a ride.The restaurants are expensive so we like to bring a picnic lunch. There are plenty of areas to eat a sack lunch (and some under cover for rainy days).Aside from all the animal exhibits, there is a large children's play area with slides and some educational areas.Try to avoid the "Tacoma Resident Free Days" & beginning of June when many school groups will be there for field trips. Other than days like these, it's not usually crowded.

Macanudo

Point Defiance is overlooked by many because of it's location on the far end of Tacoma. The whole park is a gem. My kids loved being at the zoo and we took full advantage of the great annual pass. Owen Beach is a great place for a walk and the trails on the far north end are fun to walk.

larkleeskis2014

The perfect one-day trip: spend 3-5 hours at the zoo, grab a bite to eat, then explore the rest of the park on foot, in a car or best yet, on your bicycle!

DrHedrick

This has always been a nice zoo with an awesome aquarium. I used to come here when I was a kid.Took a youth group to the Christmas zoo lights. Over half the zoo was closed so it was a little disappointing. The lines were long to get in.The lights were cool though. We might do this again next year.

SandraS101

Our grandchildren always enjoy visiting Point Defiance Zoo because there are so many trail options and things to do for any age.

rocketman55

We did not have as much time as I would have liked in Tacoma or we would have stayed longer and done more with the park and zoo/aquarium. I read some bad reviews about size of animal areas, animals looking stressed or something, but I did not see it. I'm no expert on animal feelings but i know when my dog is sad. What I saw was a beautiful, clean zoo with normal healthy looking animal residents. took both my boys (10 and 17) and spent about four hours enjoying the sights and the info. They have some shows they do and you get a chance to see some of the animals closer and learn more about them. Really a nice experience and I would recommend to anyone. Price was ok to get in-kicking myself for not doing the online option to save a few bucks. Cafe inside zoo is reasonably priced and we thought the food was good too!

262marilyns

This park has a beautiful setting with all varieties of flowers and greenery native to the area with gorgeous walking trails that are also handicap accessible.The zoo is very friendly for all to enjoy with several exotic species.Very enjoyable day!

PhotographVagabond

Within the city limits and on the point overlooking the Puget Sound is this park complete with beaches, a zoo and aquarium, wooded trails, large duck pond, tennis courts, Ft. Nisqually living history museum, picnic grounds, boat launches, dining, a Japanese garden, rose garden with dahlias and other flowering plants, and breath-taking vistas. You can feel like you are out in the woods and easily spend the day enjoying every minute regardless what you choose to do.