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Point Defiance Park, Tacoma

4.8
#1 of 59 in Things to do in Tacoma
Aquarium · Zoo
Create an itinerary including Point Defiance Park
An urban park that welcomes more than 3 million visitors a year, Point Defiance Park is home to an old-growth forest. The park's expansive grounds feel far from the surrounding city. The ancient trees in this 284 hectare (702 acre) park are accompanied by a rhododendron garden, rose garden, and beaches, all accessible from the many trails and the boardwalk. A boathouse protects private vessels from the elements, and ferries transport visitors to Vashon Island. The city's zoo and aquarium call the park home, as does Fort Nisqually. Put Point Defiance Park at the forefront of your travel plans using our Tacoma trip itinerary planner.
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Point Defiance Park reviews

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TripAdvisor traveler rating
TripAdvisor traveler rating 5.0
1,256 reviews
Google
4.7
TripAdvisor
  • The walk through the garden is a nice break from the city. Beautiful flowers and magnificent Sequoias. The bridge and overlooks are great , but the botanical garden is spectacular. 
    The walk through the garden is a nice break from the city. Beautiful flowers and magnificent Sequoias. The bridge and overlooks are great , but the botanical garden is spectacular.  more »
  • What a beautiful place. So much to see and do. If you want to be active there are many trails. If you want to relax there are nice Japanese gardens and quiet benches. Free parking. What place has... 
    What a beautiful place. So much to see and do. If you want to be active there are many trails. If you want to relax there are nice Japanese gardens and quiet benches. Free parking. What place has...  more »
Google
  • Always love this park, lots of beautiful changes. The normal entrance to Owen beach is closed to cars and is open only for walking & biking traffic. The entrance to Owen beach is just a few feet more, where the exit only was before is now both entrance and exit. Bathrooms were clean and stocked. Beach very clean. Hiking still as awesome as ever.
  • A wonderful place to dress up and take photos. Plenty to do, plenty to see. I would recommend this place to anyone, locals and visitors alike. Unlike many places in Tacoma, this place has an aura of cleanliness and refinement. Somewhere that you can take a picnic basket and dress well for a weekend out with the family like one would see almost 100 years ago. Check out the flower garden, ladies can get their rose and flower fix there while wondering about. There are nearly domesticated deer that wander about all over the park so keep a wary eye out for them. All this culminates to the beachfront area where you can relax in the sun with the water lapping at your feet. During low tide, you could walk along the shore and explore some of the caves and sea shelves that can be found along the coast. Lastly, the renovations they have made were very tasteful and make the whole experience that much better.

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