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Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium

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Tacoma, WA 98402

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(253) 591-5335
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Best

The aquarium is great. Nice place to go with kids

Worst

Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium is both a Zoo and Aquarium and consequently neither the Zoo nor Aquarium is on par with others that specialize in one area or the other. The groun...

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Great for kids 10/1/2015

The aquarium is great. Nice place to go with kids more
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Tacoma Zoo 8/14/2009

I agree with the other reviewer, it's smaller than the Seattle zoo, but still has a lot to offer. The Tacoma zoo is great as an afternoon get-away (we live in Gig Harbor, so it's a short drive) My 7yo daughter had much to say about the 'smelly' farm animals, but beyond that she had a blast and got very upset when it was finally time to leave. OH! We saved some money with the coupons on zoocoupons.org . We can't wait to go again. :) more
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Just right for a day trip with the tikes 6/29/2006

Pt. Defiance Zoo is a hidden secret overshadowed by its Seattle attractions, Woodland Park Zoo and the Seattle Aquarium. Although hilly a places, I liked the play area, the kids enjoyed the Beluga whales and the size of the zoo. It's manageable with plenty of open space. Plus the views and location of Pt. Defiance is breathtaking. When I went, it didn't seem too crowded. Also, I believe there might be a 2-for-1 coupon in the Entertainment book. more
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Packs a big punch for a little zoo! 4/1/2006

I took my family to this zoo when we needed a break from the Woodland Park zoo last fall and we were all pleasantly surprised! It's much smaller than the Seattle zoo, but has a nice selection of animals - we especially enjoyed the beluga whales and the walrus! The zoo is in a beautiful area, and it worth the drive, if you're coming from Seattle! The aquarium part could use some updating, in my opinion. more
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Great place! 3/19/2006

Coming from Seattle and having gone to Woodland Park Zoo many times as a child and now as a mother, I thought, that little Tacoma zoo can't be much. WRONG! Not only is this nestled in the beautiful Pt. Defiance Park, but it's built on a hillside that overlooks the water. The have pumped a lot of money into the zoo to make it world-class. I enjoy walking around, and it's super easy to get around. It's always clean too, which I appreciate. It's much more modern, open and clean than the dirty old Seattle zoo. The amphitheatre is a great place for kids to learn new things about animals, and they have an aquarium right in the middle of the zoo! Granted, it's pretty small, but when you're small, you don't care. The new KidsZone is FANTASTIC! My kids just love it there. I'm so glad that we have a membership there, since I feel that it's much more of a worthwhile investment than what we spent on the Seattle zoo. It's close, lots of FREE parking, easy to get around, stroller friendly (and they have great strollers to rent too), great exhibits, friendly staff, beautiful setting, and the biggest factor - my kids love it! more
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Great place! 3/19/2006

Coming from Seattle and having gone to Woodland Park Zoo many times as a child and now as a mother, I thought, that little Tacoma zoo can't be much. WRONG! Not only is this nestled in the beautiful Pt. Defiance Park, but it's built on a hillside that overlooks the water. The have pumped a lot of money into the zoo to make it world-class. I enjoy walking around, and it's super easy to get around. It's always clean too, which I appreciate. It's much more modern, open and clean than the dirty old Seattle zoo. The amphitheatre is a great place for kids to learn new things about animals, and they have an aquarium right in the middle of the zoo! Granted, it's pretty small, but when you're small, you don't care. The new KidsZone is FANTASTIC! My kids just love it there. I'm so glad that we have a membership there, since I feel that it's much more of a worthwhile investment than what we spent on the Seattle zoo. It's close, lots of FREE parking, easy to get around, stroller friendly (and they have great strollers to rent too), great exhibits, friendly staff, beautiful setting, and the biggest factor - my kids love it! more
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Point Defiance keeps improving! 3/5/2006

I've been going to Pt Defiance since I was a small child, and the Zoo as it is now has no resemblance to the way it was then. The improvements are amazing! My favorites are the underwater exhibits, especially the Shark and Beluga exhibits, but I also enjoy the others as well. The hills are steep, but pleasant walkways and benches have been installed to make it as painless as possible. A really fantastic feature is the annual Zoolights exhibit during the holidays, when they outline the main Zoo area with strings of colored LED lights in the shapes of various zoo animals and Christmas images. The little gift shop by the entrance has a huge variety of zoo-themed items and stuffed animals for sale, all of animals or fish that can actually be found in the Zoo. While it's true that the Zoo lacks some exhibits that can be found in Woodland Park, it does have larger areas for the animals and a PNW theme. more
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Great zoo! 1/28/2006

Coming from Seattle and having gone to Woodland Park Zoo many times as a child and now as a mother, I thought, that little Tacoma zoo can't be much. WRONG! Not only is this nestled in the beautiful Pt. Defiance Park, but it's built on a hillside that overlooks the water. The have pumped a lot of money into the zoo to make it world-class. I enjoy walking around, and it's super easy to get around. It's always clean too, which I appreciate. It's much more modern, open and clean than the dirty old Seattle zoo. The amphitheatre is a great place for kids to learn new things about animals, and they have an aquarium right in the middle of the zoo! Granted, it's pretty small, but when you're small, you don't care. The new KidsZone is FANTASTIC! My kids just love it there. I'm so glad that we have a membership there, since I feel that it's much more of a worthwhile investment than what we spent on the Seattle zoo. It's close, lots of FREE parking, easy to get around, stroller friendly (and they have great strollers to rent too), great exhibits, friendly staff, beautiful setting, and the biggest factor - my kids love it! more
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HIGHLY underated! 12/22/2005

its worth the drive down to point defiance. its a hidden gem. its definitely a better value than the Seattle zoo-aquarium combo. less crowds, tons of parking and huge. theres less animals per space, but good exhibits. nothing super unique, but solid in every way. cheap to get in too, less than $10 per person. more
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Best of both worlds! 10/29/2005

This zoo and aquarium is the best of both worlds. It's not a huge zoo like Woodland Park or a big aquarium like the Seattle aquarium. You just get a taste of both. We're able to go as a family and not feel exhausted when we're done. Our favorite parts of the zoo are the underwater viewing areas. The aquarium has a neat place where you walk down hill and it looks like you went from the beach to underwater in the tropics. There's also a shark tank where the sharks are swimming right beside you through the glass. We also enjoy their wildlife show that they added last year. They have some zoo animals that are trained to do certain things on stage and "zoologist" teaches us about their habits and where they live. It's very fast paced and entertaining to kids. more
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Very nice zoo 10/22/2005

This is a nice zoo that is just a little bit south of Seattle in Tacoma. The animals are wonderful. They have a beluga whale, which is one of the white ones. They also have polar bears and when we were there, we got to see some Ocelots (or other big cats) being walked on leashes as they were taken from one place to another. There's alot to see here, and Pierce Co. residents get a discount (sorry King County folks!). Very nice way to spend a day and drive down to Tacoma to see this lovely aquarium and zoo. more
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Great zoo - perfect size! 10/14/2005

This is a perfect place to take your kids! It's not too big or too small. You can see everything in a half day. They have a wide range of animals, including some marine - sharks, beluga whale, and dolphins! The Shark Exhibit is awesome! They have places to eat that are priced just right. Not too overwhelming for little ones either. more
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Visit others in the area instead 10/6/2005

Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium is both a Zoo and Aquarium and consequently neither the Zoo nor Aquarium is on par with others that specialize in one area or the other. The grounds are rather hilly and can be challenging with a stroller or small children. The exhibits are somewhat interesting but are limited – especially in comparison with Woodland Park Zoo or the Seattle Aquarium. I’d go to these instead unless you just need a change of pace. more
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Fun times for all! 9/2/2005

This zoo has a great idea - combine zoo and aquarium in one place! A wide variety of animals and exhibits that any and everyone will enjoy! They have tigers, primates, elephants, wolves, birds, aardvark, reptiles, and more. Their aqua friends include beluga whales, walrus, sea otters, and puffins in one habitat, and a full aquarium with both north and south Pacific marine life such as sharks and octopus. There is something at this zoo for everyone. In addition there are plenty of educational opportunities either hands on marine displays or educational discussions and shows. The cost is very fair ranging from free (kids age 3 and under) on up to $8.75 for adults. I highly recommend taking the kids, or some other family or friends, and spending the day enjoying these great creatures! more
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Small zoo with huge appeal 8/23/2005

This is a great zoo -- especially for younger children who might be overwhelmed with a mega-zoo experience. The new Asian Forest exhibit is fabulous and the shark tanks with underground viewing remain a favorite. The new Kid Zone provides hands-on fun for kids, but I do miss the old petting zoo. more
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Nice Aquarium, OK Zoo 8/22/2005

Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium is a good destination for families with younger kids. The zoo itself doesn't have that many animals. But there are polar bears, monkeys, reindeer, foxes, owls, etc. The aquarium (both are included in one price) has some great stuff though. There are beluga whales, walruses, penguins, dolphins. There is also an excellent part of the aquarium devoted to sea life of the Puget Sound. There are even separate tanks with various local displays, like sea life of the San Juan Islands, the coast, Vashon, etc. There is also a "fun zone" area for little kids that is very popular and has water games, a petting zoo, etc. All for under $9. Plus, the location is very beautiful, in a tree covered park with nice views of the sound and the Olympics. more
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A vastly improved zoo 8/19/2005

If you haven't been to Pt. Defiance lately, you haven't been. Thanks to voter-approved bonds, the zoo has made astonishing improvements as well as adding significant new features. Don't miss the show on the new main stage -- it's kind of cheesy, but you'll find yourself gasping as the birds fly right over your head. And, of course, if you have little ones, the new Kids Zone is a must-stop. On hot days, be sure to bring a change of clothing for your tot, as they will surely want to join in the fun at the water-spouting play area. There is dry fun to be had, too, but you can't blame them for wanting to get wet when the mercury is soaring! more
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Good way to pass the time 8/19/2005

I've actually been here twice. Once as a family, and then as a chaparone for one of my daughter's classes on a field trip. The zoo is too big (considering I'm used to the National Zoo in Washington, DC), but it has all the animals you come to see in a zoo. With the recent addition of the outdoor ampitheatre, I think it makes for a nice, quick trip away from home when you find yourself bored with nothing to do. The kids will enjoy all the interaction with the animals during the outdoor shows, and you will get a kick out of the peacocks that come right up to you while you're eating outside. It's not too crowded and you can easily see everything in 3-4 hours. more
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Zoo/aquarium has a litte bit of everything 8/17/2005

The point defiance zoo and aquarium has a little bit of everything - Various marine life, wildlife animals, cafe, gift shop. It is good change of pace compared to Woodland Park Zoo in seattle. They have a new asian animals exhibit featuring tigers and elephants. My two year old nephew had a ton of fun here, expecially feeding the little goats. He thought that was totally funny. I recommend this for elementary school age kids more
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We love this zoo and Aquarium 8/4/2005

They have made some major upgrades to this zoo in the last couple of years. There is a new Kids Zone that just opened in May. It has the petting zoo there, a huge playground and lots of learning opportunities for the kids. They even have a little water fountain for the kids. The shark tank is my son's favorite, by far. They often times have employees walking around with some of the animals allowing the kids to see them up close and pet them as well as ask questions. They open at 9:30 everyday but I am not sure when they close. The prices are 9.00 for adults but the best thing to do is buy a yearly pass ..the cheapest one is 41.00 and that gets 2 adults in the entire year. I love this zoo. more
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