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Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium
Categories: Active Life Zoos Active Life Aquariums Zoos, Aquariums [Edit]
5400 N Pearl StTacoma, WA 98407
(253) 591-5337
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 8:30 am - 6 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
74 reviews for Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium
74 reviews in English
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Review from Julie E.
Tacoma, WA
2/3/2012
Our family is a big zoo kinda family. We had a membership in Hawaii which was one of the best things we ever invested in. Decided to check out Point Defiance once we moved to town as it is only a few miles from our house.
Memberships are a bit more expensive than I thought necessary but still a deal if you are going to hit the zoo at least a few times a year. I would say we go at least once a month, so it's a must. We got the family membership that was $96 a year I believe, that includes a couple of guest passes as well. There is no additional discount for military, which I was a bit disappointed to hear. (my comparison is the military family Honolulu zoo membership which was $35 a year!)
Everything seems well taken care of, the animals and the grounds. Employees all seem invested in their jobs whether they are caring for the animals or prepping food in the cafe. I enjoy taking the kiddos here often and they love it. We are able to easily spend a few hours walking around each visit. -
Review from Leland S.
Irvine, CA
12/26/2011
I came here for Zoolights and the experience was quite exquisite. Aside with the good company the lights was eye-pleasing and some exhibits were still open, such as the aquarium. Also I admire their efforts towards sustainability and how they are educating the visitors on how to why and how they can become more sustainable.
Food: The hot cocoa was good even though it was water based. The candy cane capped it off with a nice pepperminty zing at the end. The kettle-corn was quite off though. First it's fine as it is crunchy and sweet, but later dissolves into an odd plain flavor. -
Review from Tom B.
12/25/2011 1 Check-in Here
This place has come a long way in this generation, and it certainly deserves full credit for that. It's not quite all the way there as a major metropolitan attraction, but it's hard to beat for a lazy weekend morning's entertainment, especially if you're toting kids that day.
Let's start, though, with the evening portion of the entertainment: Zoolights. Zoolights is worth the drive, for starters. But you can do a couple things to make it a better experience. First, go on a weeknight, to avoid the kids, if you can. Also, if possible, go around 8. You won't need more than an hour to tour the grounds, at least the decorated part of them. And at that hour, even more kids will be home in bed. Try to go more than a couple days before Christmas.
And for the absolute maximum effect, try to work it out so you can go on a foggy night. The place seems a lot bigger, and the displays unfold more individually, if the place is shrouded in fog when you go. If you wait until the last minute and go on a weekend night, you'll be hemmed in with kids and strollers and crowds, and probably end up waiting in line for a school bus to take you back and forth from the satellite parking lot.
Now, recommending fog as a desirable component of your visit here applies only to Zoolights. Because visiting the zoo itself is done well on a clear day when you can see the views. From the entrance down to the main lawn, you can't help but notice the fact that you're on a hillside, commanding the sweep of much of Commencement Bay. It's spectacular.
As you move in, the prices are zoo-standard (i.e., kinda jacked) on admissions, concessions, and gifts. The displays aren't bad. You get to see a bunch of interesting animals in relatively convincing facsimiles of their habitats. I don't love seeing animals in cages, but I sure do love seeing them.
When we were little and came here on field trips and family visits, this place wasn't much. Feeding the penguins stands out as a highlight--arctic marine life has always been a focus here, and the walrus display is still great. But that penguin tank years ago was like penguin San Quentin. Just cinder block walls stacked up around a cement tank with a cement platform perch next to it, some crappy driftwood scattered around. You and your dad and your uncles could have built it, if you read the instructions carefully on the cement bag. We'd throw herring, or whatever, to the poor birds, and try not to let them know how good life was on the outside.
What stands out most for me these days by far is the shark tank. They have a floor to ceiling plexiglass wall in the viewing room that makes you feel like you're shoulder to shoulder with some fifteen-foot beasts--beasts with teeth big enough to take your arm without even trying, or even meaning to. It's exhilarating to be so close to them. You feel bad for how dead-eyed they look, how bored and restless, and then you remember that's how they always look on the Discovery Channel, too...until somebody upends the chum bucket.
In western Washington, you essentially choose between Woodland Park, Seattle Aquarium, Northwest Trek, and this place. Ultimately, they're all worth at least one visit. I don't know if I would recommend any single one of them for a tourist; this isn't the San Diego Zoo. But if you want a lazy day in the park with your zoo trip, this is the clear choice. If you want to move on to more cosmopolitan activities later in the day, Seattle wins out for breadth of choice--but you can plan that day here in Tacoma too. -
Review from S T.
Tacoma, WA
2/4/2012
Not as big as that in Seattle. Didn't really like the display in the aquarium. I was expecting MORE of a selection, but they had a GREAT kid area for touching rays, etc. so it's great for kids. The playground is nice for kids, loved that. The views are awesome, the animals are usually always present and picture worthy. It's an easy walk throughout the zoo with plenty of resting spots. Right next to Point Defiance Park on the Sound's edge and next to many other interesting attractions, so making a day of it is always nice.
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Review from Riss J.
12/5/2011 1 Check-in Here
This review will be for the annual ZooLights special exhibit, not the zoo during normal operations.
This last weekend, I had the pleasure of taking in a "road trip" to Tacoma with Kristin and Corrina, with the sole purpose of taking in some good food (Southern Kitchen) and checking out the zoo lights.
I hadn't been to this annual Holiday event since my kids numbered only 2 and were still stroller bound.
And.
Well.
It was the same.
Which, makes me sad. I remembered a huge portion of the light "shows" they offer. The eagle diving for a fish, the various things. And I was, in that respect, disappointed. It's been...10 years? I would have hoped for a few more, a few different, a few upgraded.
I knew the zoo itself is primarily "closed" during this time. (a product of the weather/time of year and for the poor animals sanity) but it was cool to get to walk through the aquarium. There is *so* much to look at in the sound exhibit, and the longer you look the more you realize how much is living in there.
The sharks are also pretty cool. Though, an odd side effect of the majesty and ingrained fear of sharks, is that I wanted to touch them or swim with them *so* bad. I wanted to be more scared!
I had a great time with the ladies, it is a different perspective with just pals than if it were with children. Though for the size of the zoo and the relative static nature of the display ..I think it is probably best designed *for* children who are old enough to be wowed by it all, or a fun little excursion with a date.
If you keep the mindset that you're strolling through a beautiful park gussied up for the Holidays, instead of at a zoo, I think you'll find it a much better experience and won't be disappointed the zoo isn't in full swing.
The parking is free, though a caveat. The entrance and long windy drive through the park before the actual zoo is DARK. And has a rape cave. If you are unfamiliar with the area, it is a little bit off-putting to just be looping through the dark trees on a narrow road wondering if you are ever going to make it your destination.
They did have the camels out, and giving rides. Photo ops (both free and $5 ones with Rudolph), the snack bar was open and throughout the park there were booths selling various glowing/flashing/light-up toys for the kids. -
Review from Corinne K.
Seattle, WA
12/28/2011
Not being a huge fan of zoos to begin with this place is decent. I am totally against animals being in captivity in small enclosures. Makes them unhealthy. I understand the benefits that CAN come from conservation in zoos. But they need more space. If you have ever seen what goes on in the background and the health issues these animals have you'd understand my view more.
Anyways this place is fun friendly and easy to follow. Woodland park zoo is confusing but this place is smaller and the layout makes sense. The peacocks that wander around are amazing! Parking is easy and free if I remember correctly. I remember the entrance fee for this zoo and every zoo for that matter to be a good chunk of moolah. But they have to support the upkeep somehow. -
Review from Kristin C.
Redmond, WA
12/6/2011 1 Check-in Here
I have been to the Point Defiance Zoo a couple of times. Most recently I went for the Zoo Lights. The lights were all really cool, but I was hoping we were able to see more animals, although I guess it being winter, at night, it makes sense that they were inside where its warm. The only place we were really able to see was the aquarium. The fishies and sharks were cool though. The lights were really nice, but I was kinda sad at how small it all was. It only took about an hour to see everything.
Overall though it's a really nice zoo, in a beautiful park. You could definitely make a day out of it. Spend a few hours at the Zoo, go to the park, have a picnic lunch, watch the farries. It's a lot of fun. You can also tell the zoo is fairly recently updated, it's not all sad and pathetic. The first time I went was during Halloween and they had pumpkins for animals to play with, it was lots of fun seeing the wolves and tigers, including baby tigers, playing with pumpkins.
Overall, it's a great zoo, and it's a lot of fun whether you have children, or if you are just an adult wanting to act like a child. -
Review from Michael K.
Seattle, WA
12/20/2011
Zoo Lights: On Friday night, we made the drive down to Tacoma (which was a little ridiculous since I managed to get semi-lost trying to navigate the 99/509 route) to experience the wonders of Zoo Lights. It was pretty busy but took no time at all to get in and save for a few areas where the path got narrow and caused human congestion, it was a lovely stroll and not over-bearing. The main 'courtyard' was the key attraction with the Narrows Bridge lit up as well as all the grass covered in blue to look like water. My favorite, however, would be the statue of the family, as the lights underneat the squatting little boy made it look like he was crapping fire! Tasteful and wonderful. Truthfully, though, it's a really nice attraction to visit each yeah, a relaxing and romantic walk, and except for the occasional child running directly into your legs, it remains peaceful and calm.
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Review from Vanessa J.
Seattle, WA
9/28/2011 1 Check-in Here
I've been to some very sad zoos. It was depressing to watch the monkeys stare back sadly at you, their eyes begging for freedom. Years later, after avoiding zoos like disease fields, I found Point Defiance.
This zoo is not like the other zoos. Point Defiance is one of the two zoos that helped re-introduce red wolves to the wild, and they have made a lot of efforts toward habitat conservation for wild animals.
The exhibits mimic wildland, going so far as to include the right flowers in the wolf pen. The monkeys are happy little buggers who sit by a creek and pluck grass, slinging their arms around each other and crooning contentedly. Right now, the clouded leopard cubs are the big attraction, and they are just adorable enough to squish your heart.
Go, get an ice cream and stroll the paths, and be happy. -
Review from David C.
Bonney Lake, WA
Pretty darn good for a smaller metropolitan Zoo.
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Review from Stacey P.
9/3/2011 2 Check-ins Here
I have visited Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium a couple of times and while I agree the price is expensive at $16 a pop it is a rather lovely zoo. It is on the small size, but take the time to enjoy it. It is very well kept, tidy, and clean. Some of the larger enclosures were a bit deceptive because it would appear empty, but then the inhabitant would move in the back. I had to wait awhile for the Red Wolves to come out into viewing distance as well as two of the tigers who were ambushing each other in the high brush in the back of their enclosure. The clouded leopard would make brief appearances when he felt like it.
Currently they have two cute baby clouded leopard cubs. See the cubs after feeding. Initially I went about a half hour before feeding and there was a massive crowd filling up the small area. The volunteer recommended that I come back after feeding when their handlers play with them. An hour later I went and the crowd was gone. The cubs were playing and I got some great pictures.
Make it worth the trip. Go see the shows. Watch the polar bears get fed. Go during an event like the polar bear birthday. It is a very nice zoo. -
Review from Michael M.
Kenmore, WA
8/22/2011 1 Check-in Here
I'm probably a little bit biased when it comes to zoos, since my "hometown zoo" would be the Milwaukee County Zoo and it is usually rated one of the best in the country. However, I was pretty impressed overall with the Point Defiance Zoo.
Overall, everything was very clean and well kept and I kept thinking to myself that they must have just done a massive renovation, because almost everything looked like it had just been built. All of the exhibits looked well kept after and everything was remarkably clean.
We went to the animal show at noon and it was pretty well done. I was hoping they would have a few more animals that would be out for show, but they were going more for a story and entertainment value for kids, with lots of punny humor for the adults as well.
Overall, I had a pretty good experience. It's no San Diego zoo, but for a what it was, it was a good way to spend a half day on a beautiful summer day. -
Review from Michelle T.
Seattle, WA
10/5/2011
My first time at PDZA wasn't a good one. I heard it's nice there so decided to take my nieces who are visiting from out of state there ... & I wasn't impress at all .. I gotta admit they did have some cool animals but most of them were either hidden, or sleeping... So it felt like we were looking at statues.
I did like that it was big though. We got a lot of exercises & was able to get my niece out of there without any crying because she was too tired from walking already!
I'm not sure if the long drive to PDZA was worth it... Maybe not . -
Review from Sarah M.
9/8/2011
The area around Point Defiance Zoo is beautiful! And once you finally find the zoo, which is a bit tricky since it's in the middle of a big park by the water, it's beautiful around there, too. However, the zoo itself was not quite as nice as I had hoped.
Sure there are the ridiculously cute snow leopard cubs. And the awesomely fat walruses. And polar bears. And puffins. Alright, you get the point. There's a ton of really cool animals here - better than Woodland Park Zoo in my humble opinion.
However, that being said, when we went on a random Wednesday, NOTHING in the zoo was open. Exhibits were closed, concession stands were closed - it was a bit disappointing. I'm sure they don't open them during the week for cost purposes but it made the zoo feel empty and desolate.
$16 a ticket...at least there's a decent amount to do. We managed to get in and out in about an hour/hour and a half (and we don't have kids.)
The crowd that comes here is a bit odd. Lots of missing teeth. Just saying. -
Review from Mei D.
Bozeman, MT
While the zoo was not as large as I expected, we did have a great day there. We almost missed the shark exhibit, which would have been terrible as we ended up spending almost an hour there. I was a bit behind the times, and was very disappointed that there were no beluga whales there. We did really enjoy the walruses though!
FYI - the animal show does not run after the last weekend in September, but they do a presentation/practice behaviors that is interesting.
Overall, we found this to be an enjoyable way to spend the afternoon, the animal habitats are really nice, and the zoo is small enough that you can do several laps - giving the animals a chance to wander into the exhibits for you to see. -
Review from Rachel G.
6/14/2011 1 Check-in Here
Take my review with a grain of salt because I am a single person with no kids, who goes to the zoo alone on random Tuesdays.
This was my first time at Point Defiance. The drive in was really nice and pretty. I was pleased to find free parking, but the admission fee was a whopping $16 so I don't know if it was "free" parking or more like parking is included in the redonkulous admission price. The ticket also serves as a coupon for a 2 for 1 at Northwest Trek, which I am planning on going to later this week, so that was a nice surprise.
The zoo itself isn't that great - on the small side. It's nice and clean and has a nice view of the water, but the animals were a little sad and pathetic looking and lot of the exhibits were closed. The aquarium part was probably my favorite, along with the walruses. Who knew they were so gigantic? I did not. I'd say the people watching was up to par though. Almost like a social experiment, I like to watch how families interact and wonder why the hell none of these people have to work. -
Review from Peter K.
7/13/2011
This place is just fantastic. They are constantly improving the facility and the habitats are wonderful. I always feel so relaxed when I go here and have such a wonderful time seeing all the wonderful animals.
The staff and volunteers are super friendly and always full of knowledge of the animals. The place is super clean and peaceful. You have to check it out. -
Review from Erin H.
Medford, OR
7/21/2011
My first visit to PDZA was 15 years ago and I wasn't impressed then. I decided to give it another go since a lot can change in 15 years; unfortunately nothing did.
The zoo is really small and there isn't a whole lot to see. We were done in less than an hour and half and at nearly $16 a person, I felt ripped off. I always feel that hefty prices at zoos are worth it because it goes to caring for the animals, but not so much here. Despite the red wolf breeding program, I don't see much else going on.
In retrospect I wish we had gone to the Woodland Park Zoo again. -
Review from Vivian T.
Lebanon, OR
10/29/2011
Its quite a drive through the park to get here but the scenery is really nice. This little zoo and aquarium is pretty stinkin' cool! We were there today with our baby for his first trip. It was not very busy which I really liked for navigating around with a little one. He was also able to run around a bit without too much worry. The exhibits themselves were also quite neat. It has been a long time since I have been to a zoo or aquarium but I thought that this zoo was very cool for setting up animal co-habitats so to speak. They had a few animals from the same area of world together in one big exhibit! If you're not a fan of crowds or have a child that you are bringing, I suggest going in the off season like we did, although the cool shows seem to happen in the nicer weather. We saw every animal-- none were just hiding or sleeping and had a great time!
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Review from Paul A.
8/17/2011 1 Check-in Here
A very good zoo. Nice variety and layout. Loved feeding the goats.
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Review from Cheryl R.
1/12/2011 3 Check-ins Here
Oh how I love, love, love this zoo! It's small-ish (by comparison to the LA or San Diego Zoos, which are the zoos I grew up with), but it is beautifully laid out! Each enclosure is well-labeled, with lots of docents and other staff wandering the grounds just waiting to educate visitors about this critter, or that.
There is also a GREAT playscape for the little kids in your entourage to get their energy ya-ya's out on, with a water feature for hot days. There is a Carousel near the main entrance of the zoo, which my daughter loves (they can also accomodate birthday parties here), and a pretty decent gift shop is on the opposite side of the main entrance. As well, there are many flat grassy areas to picnic and/or take a little rest on, full shade or sunny, depending on your preference.
The zoo sits right in the middle of Pt. Defiance Park, which is lovely in its own right (rose gardens, buddhist shrines, sandy beaches, hiking trails, a train museum, and a fort, etc.), and all with drop dead GORGEOUS views of Commencement Bay.
Zoolights are an additional (and totally awesome) experience, held after dark during the "holiday season" from Thanksgiving to New Years. Just be sure you bundle up, it's COLD after dark. Also, don't expect to see any animals. They're all sleeping. Suggestion would be to spend a few hours at the zoo late in the day, then have a little dinner nearby, and return to the zoo for Zoolights. Or, if you're a member of the zoo like we are, just make the drive down on a separate visit.
NOTE: if you are in a wheelchair or disabled in any way, the paths ARE accesible, but some might find all the hills to be cumbersome, which makes getting around all of the zoo grounds a little more challenging.
Also note: The Beluga whales are no longer at Pt. Defiance Zoo. One of the animals died in 2009, and the other was moved to another zoo for breeding purposes. I'm not okay with whales in zoo captivity anyway, so I don't feel this is a great loss, but I know many people really loved seeing the Belugas here. Just thought you should know they're gone!
The Red Wolf exhibit, which is new (as of late 2010) is fantastic! Can't wait to watch how it all pans out w/ the animals there once they've acclimated to their enclosure.
Our most favorite exhibits to linger and spend time at are the tigers, the elephants (their barn alone is worth the trip) and the Walruses. I could watch them for hours!
Living in West Seattle, we really like to take our time getting to/from the zoo by going via Vashon Island and the WA State Ferry system. Definitely makes it a fun-filled day, even in bad weather, but especially on clear/sunny days.Listed in: Kids Stuff
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Review from Dub T.
Tacoma, WA
5/20/2011 1 Check-in Here
Love the zoo. If you haven't been then you should definitely check it out. I've been going to this zoo since I was in elementary school and now I enjoy taking my kids. The location is outstanding and if you don't enjoy the animals then you're sure to enjoy the surrounding scenery.
I was fortunate enough to receive a family membership to the zoo as a gift and we've been using it often. Their membership packages are well worth the money.
This zoo isn't one of the largest in the country but it is well maintained, has plenty of interesting animals, and has a wonderful staff that is always willing to answer questions. The aquarium is great and there are lots of neat sea creatures to be discovered.
I would recommend that you get on their website and check out their schedule of events and the times for some of the exhibits. There's nothing worse than spending money to take the kids to the zoo just to find out that the one exhibit you're looking forward to isn't open during your visit. -
Review from Rona L.
12/31/2010
- Zoolights Review -
I had so much fun at Zoolights! Pretty cheap - four people got in for about $32. It is open around the holiday season and their hours are usually between 5:30pm-9:00pm (after the zoo has already closed). They light up almost the entire zoo and you are still able to check out the aquarium and ride camels - though all of the other animals are safely inside and out of the cold
After about two hours, our group felt like we had seen everything but $7 isn't bad for two hours of entertainment. They have a food place open so you can buy snacks and hot cocoa and enjoy your food while walking around.
This was my first visit there, but it just may turn into a yearly tradition. -
Review from Cristina L.
Sierra Vista, AZ
8/8/2011 1 Check-in Here
Had a great day here! The Zoo is just the right size to enjoy yourself and see nearly everything-not bad at all for a local Zoo! We really enjoyed the otter exhibit. During the time we visited there was also a discount for Pierce County residents. I'd go again.
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Review from Becky G.
7/30/2011
This was our first visit to Pt. Defiance and we were pleasantly surprised! The parking was a bit ridiculous, drove around for about 10-15 mins looking for a spot, but it was a rare, beautifully warm day, so it's understandable. The grounds of the zoo are really amazing, there are open fields to have picnics on, hills to overlook various areas from, and plenty of exhibits. It's nice to have an aquarium and zoo rolled into one. The aquarium is not that big, definitely not as big as the Seattle aquarium, but it was nice. They currently have a hilarious exhibit, "The scoop on poop", the kids and husband really enjoyed it. Look forward to returning, they also offer military discounts of $2.50 per person.
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Review from Shy A.
1/4/2011
I'm not sure what took me so long to finally draft a review about this place....It's been months since I've been. I suppose it's just me tying up loose ends before my inevitable departure from Washington. I could easily 5 star this place because I'm a sucker for zoos but there was something a bit off about PT Defiance....I loved the setting, the views are spectacular as you walk in...but, having the majority of your exhibits closed is a major bummer for this girl, especially in the middle of a warm Spring day. My BFF and I wandered, strolled around a bit and watched the Polar Bears swim. We had a lot of laughs watching the mischievous otters sunbathing and playfully attacking one another. I think that Woodland has more resources and the environment is more open but PT Defiance brings it's own cozy charm that I wouldn't skip out on.
Overall, I had a great time enjoying the animals and the scenery. -
Review from Alison V.
From all the zoos I've been to (which is a lot), I'm not overly impressed by this one. They have a great little aquarium section, but otherwise I'm not too impressed. The zoo seems to be doing a lot lately to improve exhibits and such, which leads me to believe in a few years there may be some really great items. I'm sad the Beluga whales are no longer here.
The zoo is pretty spread out and I feel like for how big the place is, there really aren't as many displays as one would expect. Maybe it's just that there are "clusters" of exhibits so you walk a long way without seeing anything, see 4-5 animals, then keep walking.
The free parking is nice and the ability to spend part of the day in the rest of the park is nice too. It's a great place for kids if you're in the area, especially if they're more interested in the aquarium part of the zoo. -
Review from Jill E.
University Place, WA
9/1/2010
Of course I'm probably biased since I volunteer at the zoo but it's an absolutely wonderful experience. It's small enough that the kids can manage it in a day but large enough that the older kids will find something they like. The zoo puts on a Wild Wonders show twice a day using animals from the zoo, including Harold the dog who was rescued from the pound. It's silly but cute and on a nice warm day, it's standing room only. Then of course there are the baby tiger cubs who are so cute you can't get enough of them, the clouded leopards and now the new red wolf exhibit. There are touch tanks in the aquarium, sharks and at different times of the day they do feedings of the fish.
It's a beautiful setting to come and bring the kids, a picnic lunch and spend the day. The little ones can pet goats and play in the kids zone on some of the really neat things they have there.
If it seems pricey, just remember that the proceeds of the entrance fee goes to the zoo to make things even better. -
Review from Joey M.
Seattle, WA
12/11/2010
*Rating is for ZooLights Exhibit*
If Christmas lights are your thing, the ZooLights exhibit is worth checking out. Admission for two adults was under $16 so plenty affordable. The lights are everywhere and makes for some good pictures. Don't expect to see any animals unless you venture inside the indoor exhibits. The hot cocoa was nothing to write home about but overall a fun affordable date for any Christmas lover. -
Review from Daniel G.
Tacoma, WA
4/14/2010 1 Check-in Here
What an experience. I went there with my
Friend because when I google searched the zoos in the state this was ranked higher than the Seattle one.
Grounds & Parking
Free Parking! That speaks for itself seeing as how I usually pay 20+ dollars for parking alone when I'm in Seattle
The grounds were well kept - no loose dirt or rocks on walk ways and aside the usual bits of garbage thrown on the ground due to careless people.
Also, I can almost guaranteed that you will have a run in with one of the many Peacocks meandering around the zoo. :)
Staff.
They were all friendly, polite, professional, and eager to answer any and all questions regarding the exhibits.
Animals.
Variety at it's best. The cold weather at the time had most of them cuddling one another for warmth or where in their heated rooms.
Sections were broken down and walking distance was very good (health nut type so I really enjoyed my walk/tour)
The Asia Region has the most breathtaking collection of bamboo from all over Asia and according to my friend, the 'cutest' animal there was the small clawed Asian otter :)
Aquarium.
Wow! Was not expecting this to be here. They have a giant tank with a lot of fish that are local to the area which is great to see.
They also have a small touch site where you can see what a see anemane feels like.
The exhibit at the time was all about Sea Horses. Good variety nice scenery attached to each different type.
SHARKS!
They had a downstairs section that I almost missed completely! So glad that I fiund it. There were many types of sharks floating in this tank and it was quite an experience seeing them stare you down as they swam around.
Plenty of information for all animals and exhibits, I would highly recommend a visit to this place if you haven't done so.
There's also a garden/5 mile drive/run path, and a small beach around the zoo grounds (very expected since the zoo is surrounded by a gigantic/gorgeous park) -
Review from Wes K.
Seattle, WA
4/15/2007
No disrespect to Woodland Park Zoo (http://www.yelp.com/bi...), but I think PDZA actually edges them out. If I could give 4.5 stars, I would. Perhaps the novelty of the experience will wear off and I'll revise the rating down to 4 stars later.
But for now, PDZA is looking pretty good. Of course, it's a little unfair that they're packing both a zoo and an aquarium into the same package. I suppose if you took the Seattle Aquarium (http://www.yelp.com/bi...) and smashed it together with WPZ, then you'd be talking about a fair fight.
And we didn't even get to the aquarium side of PDZA today. But boy, the walruses, beluga, polar bear kick some serious butt.
PDZA vs. WPZ--both have:
- A kiddie play area.
- Proximity to a really large park.
- Loud peacocks.
- Penguins.
- Elephants.
- Many other animals in common.
PDZA pluses:
- Free parking.
- One-stop shop zoo plus aquarium.
- Walruses, beluga, and polar bears--oh my.
- More reasonable food prices.
WPZ pluses:
- So close to our house that we can sometimes hear the siamangs in the morning.
- Possibly fewer crows attacking unattended food.
- Actually saw the Violent Femmes there during the summer concert series.
Hmm--maybe it's four stars for both after all...Listed in: This Is Why We Can Never Go…
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Review from Carly L.
8/14/2009
Color me underwhelmed.
I won't compare this zoo to Woodland Park, as they are two different animals, so to speak. :) I remember coming here as a child when visiting relatives and thinking this place is small! (to note, I grew up going to the San Diego Zoo)
So my sister and nephew wanted to check it out so we decided to make the trek. It's quite a drive from Seattle. Granted, the view from the zoo is top notch. Blue water, greenery, perfect Washington backdrop. But that's where my adoration for this place ends. The exhibits are lackluster at best. The only exhibit I really enjoyed was the walrus. We were lucky enough to go during feeding time. One of the them weighs 3000 lbs! My nephew hadn't seen a walrus before so he was enamored. Everything else wasn't that great.
If you want to see beautiful surroundings, head to Point Defiance. If you want to go to a good zoo, I may suggest elsewhere.Listed in: Parks, Zoos, Let's get our…
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Review from Jacky A.
7/8/2010
This park is big, giant, huge! I had fun walking around and I can spend a whole day within the park.
It was fun walking around, relax, and alot to do.
Like:
1. Polar bear
2. Tiger
3. Couple new born big cats.
4. Unexpected peacock outside the ZOO GATE and fly back into the zoo
Dislike:
1. Polar bear habitat was too hot, he just lay down and I cant see it well
2. Too big, I have a hard time walking around under the sun
I think $13.5 is worth it, I am sure you will find things interesting within the zoo, there must be something you like.
I dont want to mention alot since it should be a place where you discover it :) Hope you will enjoy it. -
Review from Jennifer K.
Olympia, WA
10/5/2008
Absolutely beautiful zoo -- the walkway layout and landscaping is very aesthetically pleasing, and most importantly of all, the animals have large, diverse, clean and interesting habitats. Most of the exhibits feature some sort of water element, often changing form within the habitat from shallow rocky stream to deep pool. Neat! All animals looked very happy, especially the Beluga whales. (Although that might be because Belugas just look like they're smiling all the time anyway.)
I thought the Beluga/walrus/puffin exhibit was very well constructed, giving both above-water and below-water views of the animals, but still providing for refuge areas, especially in the walrus habitat.
Restrooms were clean, and parking is free. (Yay!) -
Review from Katherine I.
Seattle, WA
11/2/2007
We loved this zoo! I especially loved the Beluga Whales and how close you could get to them.
The set up is a little hard on ones knees (the hills!) but it's well worth it. I loved the more natural setups for the animal habitats than I have seen in previous Zoo's and that some of the older Zoo's are moving towards (think Philadelphia - if you haven't been - GO!). The presentations they do every few hours were great, I actually got my daughter to sit through an entire show!
There were a couple of downsides. One being that I felt the Whales didn't have enough space in their display tank. Another one is that there are very few benches to sit and rest along the paths. A rest room at the far end of the Zoo would also be nice, especially since a lot of moms and mommy groups go there and sometimes it's not worth it to go back to an exhibit when you have to go so far to change a dirty diaper.
Other than that, I love PDZA! -
Review from Rosie R.
10/11/2009
Point Defiance park itself is a beautiful setting for a zoo. Walking down from the parking lot, you are met with a vista filled by the zoo underneath, and the rest by a stunning view of south Puget Sound.
My boyfriend and I took my 3-year old niece for a play date with the animals. We enjoyed the elephant talk, the otters, the polar bear, and several other characters. There is a great play area for kids here they can spy meerkats and lemurs and climb on some playthings for awhile. We did enjoy the walk through the meandering paths, though my niece's toddler attention span kept asking "When are we going to see the penguins? When are we going to see the penguins?!"
A word to the wise: we went after 2:00 and because it was fall the park closed at 4:00 (mostly because the boyfriend and I are not morning people). This had its perks and it's drawbacks. We missed any shows on the big stage, and the budgie barn was closed (we were hoping to let my niece hold a popsicle stick full of seeds and have some friendly budges fly up to her and feed--she would have LOVED that). But, we did get to see so many animals at feeding time like the otters, and we saw the polar bear get up from a nap and walk over to the feeder for his late afternoon meal. I think polar bears are usually pretty sedentary if they don't need to hunt to feed their young. Also, it was not crowded at all.
I was disappointed to know the Beluga whales have moved form the neighborhood. I was so hoping to see their peaceful and serene smiling faces.
I will agree with other Yelpers--at the risk of anthropomorphizing--that many of the animals seem genuinely happy here. There was even a resident peacock that struts across the grounds, even the parking lot, and you can get great shots of or with him.
I still prefer Woodland Park Zoo to PDZA, but it is good to know we have a couple of great options in our area. Plus, I was able to use my AAA discount here and save a couple bucks off of each admission.Listed in: AAA-Discounted,…
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Review from Michelle U.
Seattle, WA
12/22/2009
I haven't been to Point Defiance since I was little, but happened to make it back this year for Zoo Lights.
At $7.00 a ticket, it's a pretty good deal too. The zoo is completely illuminated with lights. There's even Egyptian pyramids with camel rides for the kids, and a remake of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge complete with red and white traffic lights.
We enjoyed our stroll through the chilly night and lights, some animals are still on display, but not as many as I'd hoped. This definitely seemed like a family outing, we were among the few patrons without strollers in tow. -
Review from Seth L.
Tacoma, WA
11/12/2007
I love this zoo. I grew up in Portland and spent a lot of time at the Washington Park Zoo (now the Oregon Zoo), which is one of the great US zoos. PDZA takes the best of the Oregon Zoo and others and distills them into a very walkable, very family-friendly zoo that can hold the interest of everyone from 2-year-olds to 80-year-olds.
Some of the highlights:
- the new carousel
- kid zone
- ET the walrus
- the view of Mt. Rainier and Puget Sound
- free-range peacocks
- the walking paths
Grab a family membership and don't forget to add on the Northwest Trek membership, too. -
Review from Mindy W.
Seattle, WA
6/17/2010
I recently spent a nice sunny Sunday afternoon at Point Defiance.
Pros:
- Free parking!
- Nice variety of animals
- The park itself was well maintained, clean.
- Food didn't cost an arm and a leg. I got a spicy bean burger with fries and a soda for around $8, which is about the same as a normal restaurant.
Cons:
- The gate price seemed a few dollars too expensive for a second tier zoo. Why come here if I can pay a dollar or two more to go to Woodland park and get twice the zoo?
- The layout of the park was obnoxious. If you ended up going on one of the loops, say the one with the walrus/polar bear, etc, you're stuck on this walking path until the end. There are no shortcuts in the paths. I guess this didn't matter too much to me, but if I had kids or something happen and needed to get to the exit pronto, it would have been an issue.
- While not as bad as say, the Portland Zoo, the exhibits themselves were a bit small for the animals.
Overall, I had a nice time, but I don't think I'll ever go out of my way to go back there. It's worth checking out at least once though. -
Review from nancy c.
5/10/2009 2 Check-ins Here
Love this place! Used to be a member of Woodland Park but since we moved down South we have been members here. Parking is free and if you plan on going more than once (or plan on going to zoo lights - which is awesome - but was closed due to weather most of Holiday 2008) BUY an Annual Membership. The membership is so worth the price!
It is a fun couple of hours going to the aquarium and zoo and you can easily do the whole place (unlike Woodland Park Zoo) in a couple of hours (I'm not one for spending my entire day somewhere). Our favorite is the beluga whale (but unfortunately 1 died after our last visit and the other one is being moved very soon to some sort of whale refuge). We will definitely miss the whales and hope that they get new ones soon!
