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Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium, Tacoma

4.2

#2 of 10 in Parks in Tacoma

Aquarium Zoo

• ©

Covering nearly 12 hectare (29 acres) on the shores of the Puget Sound, Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium houses more than 9,000 animals. Explore the park's wide variety of exhibits divided into themed areas, such as the Asian forest sanctuary, Arctic tundra, red wolf woods, and rocky shores. The 367 different species of zoo residents, many of which originate in the regions surrounding the Pacific Ocean, have lush living areas designed to replicate their natural habitats. Don't miss the multi-level aquarium exhibits, devoted to creatures of the North and South Pacific, including sharks, tropical fish, and a giant octopus. Check the zoo's website for information on special talks and events. Plan your visit to Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium and a wealth of other attractions, well-known and undiscovered, using our Tacoma trip itinerary planning website .

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Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium Reviews

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TripAdvisor Traveler Rating

940 reviews

Google

4.5

facebook

4.5

137,666 likes

• By Rick L

  My wife and I have not been here since our grown kids were young enough to take here. It's still a very enjoyable zoo. We looked forward to seeing the new aquarium with the two sea turtles--and dang i...  more »

• By Hal72

  The zoo had undergone a lot of remodeling, with the new centerpiece being the aquarium. The animals look to be in pretty good condition and have room to roam. Many of the exhibits are somewhat "natura...  more »

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Google

• By Derek Jeffries

  This is a great zoo and aquarium combination. There is a huge variety of animals here to view, and the layout is pretty good. It's great that you can go to both the zoo and aquarium at the same time. By the same token, the overall layout is pretty small when compared to the overall size of Woodland Park Zoo and The Seattle Aquarium, which also can both be done in the same day. Still, this is a great place to spend a day with friends and family.

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• By starryeyedaries

  Kids had a ton of fun. I highly suggest going as soon as it opens to skip the crowd. Kids area was great, they loved feeding the goats. Both aquariums were pretty cool too, though the South Pacific one was way smaller than expected after walking through the Pacific aquarium first. Overall we had a great time!

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