Reviews of Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium (Zoo)

Rachel Losey

Big fans over here! As ongoing members, we frequent this zoo as often as we can. The zookeepers are kind and knowledgeable, the park is kept clean. I realize some people just don't like the concept of animals in enclosures, but I think it's evident this park cares for the welfare of it's animals and is providing an excellent educational environment for the community.

daniel yoshida

This zoo is amazing. It's very clean and well maintained. It's big enough for animals to not be totally enslaved, but small enough for humans to get around to everything. And the two aquariums are worth spending all day in. I went off season, so the parking was no issue. I could imagine parking being harder in peak season, but the amount of parking seems sufficient for the size of the zoo. If you really want to fight crowds in the zoo, one could always park and ride the bus there. And among the 4 or 5 people in Seattle and Tacoma area that I spoke to, local prefer this zoo. No one apparently takes Woodland Park seriously (unless they want to see reptiles). And the Point Defiance park around the zoo is also really cool. Well worth stopping here if you find yourself in Tacoma.

Elliott Standish

My son and I had a great time on the school field trip to the Point Defiance Zoo. We especially liked the wildlife show they put on. It's amazing how many animals are in the show. They brought enjoyment to our day. Can't wait to visit the zoo again soon.

Danielle Settlemyre

They've done a lot of cool stuff to the zoo. It's a great place for family fun. I would suggest tryi G to go when it's warmer. Most of it is outdoors. A little pricey for food so maybe bring some snacks.

Sam Schmidt

Its ok, but for price of entry I wish was better, good location love the area, new aquarium was a bit of a disappointment though my grand kids seemed to have a good time, it will get better I'm sure. Maybe was just not a good day for the zoo. I will try again ....

Sara Lengenfelder-Cha

We love it so much. We go at least 4 times a year. It's such a fun day with the kids. The new Aquarium is so awesome too! They have Tacoma resident free days or I definitely recommend the season pass if you're local! We love that we can bring in our own food too and picnic!

Laurie Shourd

Wonderful zoo to visit with the kids/grandkids. Lots of playgrounds, hands on activities and great animal exhibits. We didn't get to see it all but we bought a pass so we will be back.

Emily Blackwell

Always love going here as a kid and now I get to take my little girl. However, the new aquarium is not what I thought it would be. Still fun though!

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!

Rachel Losey

Big fans over here! As ongoing members, we frequent this zoo as often as we can. The zookeepers are kind and knowledgeable, the park is kept clean. I realize some people just don't like the concept of animals in enclosures, but I think it's evident this park cares for the welfare of it's animals and is providing an excellent educational environment for the community.

Sandee Parker

The new aquariums were great really enjoyed them. Which the zoo had been a little more together it was kind of under construction just about everywhere. But it's going to be really nice when I get done

Ryukyu Okinawa

An informative place of combination of both outdoor zoo and indoor aquariums, which also requires a lot of walking. We spent almost 3.5hrs visiting all the exhibition halls with our 2.5yr n 4.5yr. They fell asleep almost half way through, so better bring your own stroller. If not, you can also rent it at the carousel. My sons were really having fun at the bird garden, it was their first time feeding these cute little parakeets. They were a bit afraid but looking forward to interact with these birds.

Buckminster Reed

The new aquarium is nicer than the old one was, but it's still only a pretty good Zoo rather than a great one. Woodland Park is much nicer, and about three times as large with many more exhibits. Unless you have small children or limited mobility for some other reason Woodland Park is the clear better choice, however Point Defiance has two species not found at Woodland Park, the red wolf and the elephant.

Crystal Wagener

One of my favorite zoos of all. Love the environment for the animals and the views are epic.

Michelle Howrad

It's a very well maintained and clean Zoo and Aquarium. The entrance fee is quite reasonable given the amount of animals you see, It's about 2 or 3 hours worth of sightseeing and fun.

Cheryl Gustafson

This is a wonderful place to visit. Beautiful flowers and we loved the jellyfish & red will displays. The staff are friendly & well informed.

Sharon Smith

We were a group of seniors - way too much hilly walking especially with walkers. Didn't feel the map was very clear. Just too many different paths. Plus we saw very few animals. The landscaping was beautifuul! Cafe was also good. The aquariums were also very nice. Staff were very friendly.

Sunny Stanley

Great little zoo for small kids! We love the aquarium addition, the tigers, polar bear and play area, among other things! It has a beautiful view of My Ranier and the Sound on a clear day.

Ryan Barnes

A really great place! I'd never seen a polar bear before, and getting up close and able to see the otters was really cool! A really good place for kids to experience so many animals from all over the world.

Annie Riley

First time to Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium with hubby, nieces & nephews. It's a beautiful park with an aquarium. Yesterday when we went, it was a gorgeous beautiful sunny day!! The place is well maintained & is expanding. Some parts have construction & is blocked off. There's a section for people to ride the camel. How cool!! Because we came late, we didn't get a chance to watch the show and try the ice cream and the food section, they were closed. The kids had an a awesome time though. We were able to pick fresh apple from a tree there. The zoo sits above a hill with a gorgeous view. You can see the ocean or lake? Sorry I'm new to WA state. LOL! As we proceeded to leave the zoo, we noticed there was a wedding arrangement overlooking the view. it was a pretty sweet up. R had so much fun with the family. We definitely plan to come back again!!!

flute happens

I hadn't been in years, and am so glad we all stopped by a few weeks back. The animals were very active; we saw the new red wolf pups wrestling as well as the tiger prowling before settling down close to the glass. The new aquarium is gorgeous, and a significant improvement over the old one in just about every way, from variety of the exhibits to design and accessibility.

Levi Dennis

This is a beautiful and fun zoo. The kids love it. There is an awesome kids play area and the exhibits are clean. The new aquarium exhibits are incredible.

awkward loser

This is my little brother and I's favorite place to go. The place is always clean and beautiful, with amazing animals and staff. I recommend stopping by! I have included some photos, and those are only part of the amazing events. Visit around the time that they are mentioning a light show at night and you will be bedazzled by the brilliant lights. Enjoy!

Grace Ramey

Absolutely fantastic! The park is kept clean, well maintained, exhibits are incredibly educational, the show is fantastic, the staff is crazy friendly and knowledgeable, and this park is FANTASTIC for kids! They have playgrounds, sand boxes, etc! You can tell that they truly care about the animals and educating the public. Family friendly and an absolutely great experience for a family!

Shalonda Rogers

It's not that big but big enough for kids to explore and parents to feel tired. The animals were cool but upset we didn't get to see the tiger. I would recommend this place for a nice outing but if possible don't go on the weekend. Super busy.

Erin Milholland

Great place to take kids on a dry day! Lots to do and see, just be prepared to walk a lot! New aquarium is pretty neat too! You can just sit on the bench and watch the sharks, fish and sea turtles swim over your head.

Michael Rodgers

Very nice zoo wish it had better viewing points for some of the animals. The aquarium gives it a feel of extra trip in one. The zoo flows nicely in and out of other exhibits. Definitely recommend going ..JUST NOT ON FATHERS DAY PARKING WAS HELL

Brian Gomez

It was my first time. I went an whim with my 9 yr old niece and we were surprised at how much fun we had. They had a full schedule of of zookeepers on hand to explain pretty much all of the animal exhibits. It was a total shock considering that it was a Tuesday. They had an entertaining animal show. I was surprised that we filled out the whole day considering that it is such a small zoo and aquarium. I highly recommend for kids under 12 years of age.

A Toaster

One of the best zoos I've been to. Not only is it clean, it's just plain pretty to walk through. Perhaps we got lucky, but all the animals were out and about and made the experience even better. The only super disappointing thing when we went was that the red wolves weren't around, but we'll be back for sure to try and see them.

jose escobar

The animals looked happy and well taken care of . Place was clean and provided Ramps for all the areas. :D (stroller friendly for me but people with handicaps will seriously appreciate this) . I'm from Texas but am here for work definitely loved this place.

Shell Nixon

The zoo and aquarium was amazing. We enjoyed every minute. The gardens where extraordinary and well keep.

Me Notyou

It’s a decent day it’s pretty cheap the shark exhibit is pretty decent but there’s a better one on the other side of the park truthfully much bigger sharks

Kelsey Jones

Expensive entry fee. Small zoo, not many animals. But gets the job done if you're wanting to see some animals and marine life. Beautiful view. Great location- near the ferry for Vashon Island, and a scenic park right outside the zoo.

Heather Lahue

Great zoo if you have little ones! It's relatively small, so it doesn't take too long to see everything. They have two little playing areas for kids though that are wonderful. You are also able to bring in food and coolers to have picnics.

Jessica Ward

We meet some friends there. It was not over crowded. We walked the entire zoo and got to see a lot of animals out enjoying the day.

Daniel Snyder

Great environment, friendly staff, and clean bathrooms. Was a little upset about seeing the animals though. We went on a Tuesday afternoon and paid full price to get in. We were unable to see the tiger, polar bears, and red wolves. I understand that the animals need their space and it's unlikely to see them all each visit. Just check your expectations, as you will have to take this into consideration. We did have a great time at the aquarium, Pacific aquarium, and with other animals such as the penguins and ocean otters! The otters were impressive and seemed to enjoy the interaction with people.

Rhema Neas

One of my favorite places to go on a date. Especially with the new ocean exhibit with glass ceilings. It reminds me of the Georgia Aquarium, which if you haven't been or heard of it, it is the biggest and craziest aquarium in the U.S.A. it is nice to see us expand like that. The volunteers are always nice and helpful, and the animals are always well kept. The herpatologists even helped me with my own snake set up at home! Short red hair and black rimmed glasses. She is very nice and knew a lot about reptiles. I love the hammerhead sharks. Hands down fave exhibit. I also like how there is lots of walking! Good for the body, but also wheelchair accessible. Been going since I was a kid. Love it.

daniel yoshida

This zoo is amazing. It's very clean and well maintained. It's big enough for animals to not be totally enslaved, but small enough for humans to get around to everything. And the two aquariums are worth spending all day in. I went off season, so the parking was no issue. I could imagine parking being harder in peak season, but the amount of parking seems sufficient for the size of the zoo. If you really want to fight crowds in the zoo, one could always park and ride the bus there. And among the 4 or 5 people in Seattle and Tacoma area that I spoke to, local prefer this zoo. No one apparently takes Woodland Park seriously (unless they want to see reptiles). And the Point Defiance park around the zoo is also really cool. Well worth stopping here if you find yourself in Tacoma.

Leonard Tompkins

A fantastic place for children and adult animal lovers alike! The new aquarium is truly a sight that will capture the imagination! Walking through the park you will be take to jungles and forests to see rare animals from around the world. Keep an eye out for the elusive peacock wandering the grounds. This is a great place for kids to see these animals in the flesh and get them away from their tv and computer screens!

Oleg Moskalensky

Great zoo. Also a very pretty aquarium. Many exhibits, definitely worth visiting.

Savana Branford

This zoo if so good. I could believe the new aquarium! The zoo contains a amazing amount of animals plus 2 aquariums. The jellyfish exhibits were my absolute favorite! All of the food and snack there are pretty expensive but we’ll work it. Got to have kettle corn while walking the zoo.

Mrs.A'Ro

Another great trip to the zoo with the babies. This time we were able to watch a live show. It was about not using plastic bottles or bags and how it harms the environment. The kids watched the entire show which is amazing considering they were all under 3. Also the animals were very lively today. Maybe the overcast and cooler temps. Either way it was nice to see all the animals and hear them communicating. It felt like we were in their environment, instead of them being in ours. We purchased the Seed Sticks this time for the Budgie area. $2 for non members, $1.50 for members . The kids loved to have the budgies up and close. Parking was easy, bathrooms available. Aside from zoo I encourage the explore the new point defiance area. I will post on that later. Also 5 Mile drive is a beautiful drive. Great for picnics ,going to the beach, kayaking at Owen Beach, photography, walking, biking and hikes.

Jeremy Crumpton

Just bought our annual membership. The new aquarium is awesome! They now have hammerhead sharks with huge stingrays! I love this zoo as it has breathtaking views of the Puget Sound and Mt. Rainier. The staff could've been a bit nicer to some of the volunteers as I overheard one of them getting on to someone about not having a belt or shirt tucked in. But overall I've only had positive experiences here! Highly recommended for a good time!

quynh chi tran

3 stars for nice set up but minus stars for no animals and cheesy animal show. It is very clean, promotes earth and animal conservation which is good. Only thing we might come back for was shark diving.

Leila Lollipop

So many amazing animals. I go here with my family at least once every other month. It's da best

Krista Button

Always enjoy this zoo, but give yourself some more time than I did! Came in two hours before closing and ended up running around the zoo to try and see everything!

Brad Wake

So, I grew up going to the Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle and when someone suggested the Point Defiance Zoo I wasn’t too excited because I didn’t believe to would be as cool. I was WAY wrong. This zoo was way cooler. The aquarium alone set this place apart. Two parts in particular: the room where you can see all the sharks and the room where you get to stand underneath the water and all the fish swim above you. Definitely worth the trip for those two parts alone. We also got to see them feed the tiger which was pretty cool. The ONLY reason I gave it 4 stars is because of the penguin exhibit. This part in particular was a let down to say the least. It didn’t look very well maintained and the penguins just kinda stood on the side. This was a huge contrast to the woodland part zoo where the exhibit looked very clean (the water in particular) and the penguins were jumping in and out playing in it the whole time. This probably stick out more to me in my mind because the penguins are my favorite.

Dragonarchist

Worst parking I've ever seen in not just a zoo but any place. Many of the exhibits lack good vantage points for photos and are underpopulated (one porcupine on a giant grassy hill, obscured by tall grass, seriously?). Lacks some of the animals they falsely advertise possessing. The animals they do have are typical zoo fare you can find anywhere else. Long and unnecessary winding paths that just exhaust visitors and create the illusion that the zoo is bigger than it actually is. No actual tundra area, despite having cold habitat animals. Place is in a state of disrepair. Elevator was broken and everyone was bottlenecked on narrow staircases. Vending machines didn't even work on one of the hottest days of the month, seriously?! Feels like a cheap zoo that got big entirely by virtue of being the only one in the area. Came here on memorial day and the traffic was a nightmare. Will be my first and only visit to this terrible zoo ever.

Zach Schreiber

The new Pacific Aquarium is excellent! The octopus was very active when we visited.

Keith Hunter

A wonderful zoo and aquarium with Pacific Rim wildlife. Lots of room for the wildlife to roam. Breeding programs for endangered animals. The zoo and aquarium are located in wooded Pt. Defiance Park. Great views of the Puget Sound and Commencement Bay.

Ken Stipek

Amazing zoo and aquarium. I haven't been here since I was a child and it has only gotten better. My kids loved it too. Being right next to the park is pretty great as well. Pro tip: there is car pool parking in the front door cars with the or more people.

Jacky Takeuchi

A long drive to find out that the parking lots were full. Very very disappointed not to be able to go inside the aquarium and zoo. Went to the rose and dahlia gardens which were lovely. The park itself is beautiful. Lots of geese poop on the lawn though so watch where you are stepping.

Ryan Spragg

Freggin Awesome. Can't believe it's taken me soo long to finally check this place out.

Dylan Austin

It was a really good experience and I have to say I would definitely go there again, the only bummer about the trip was that we didn't see the animal we wanted to see

AlisaBeth Nash

Its been many years since I've been here last. I really enjoy coming. Lots to look and helpful staff. Great for the whole family. There are a lot of steps to climb so be aware of that. Have fun and enjoy.

Rajavni Amy

It's a really good zoo. It's not huge but it's really fun. They have a huge kids play area so it's good for kids. There are a lot fun fun activities and our whole family loves it there.

Zach Miller

This zoo has only gotten better over the years. The new aquarium is awesome. This zoo also has a great little play area for kids. Food here is expensive but also surprisingly good. Wandering the zoo while eating a large pretzel is the way to go!

Randy Davison

Lots of educational exhibits and displays. Didn't get to see the new Red Wolf pups because we were there mid-afternoon. Lots of things for kids to do there. Nice family outing.

Kiadaj Wildblood

I had a really great time but my boyfriend is disabled and it was rough on him for travel with a walker. This place is quite large. His complaint was that there was no cold water at the watering fountains. I wanted to be more excited about the aquarium In the Asia area but was super small and didn't have many fish at all.

Elliot Pridmore

The new attractions and aquariums are really nice. Bring snacks and water because it's quite a bit of walking.

Steve Young

I love this zoo so much. The new aquarium that recently opened up inside is simply wonderful.

Zach Cratty

Starting my second year of Zoo membership and couldn't be more excited, I think I enjoy it more than my daughter. The zoo is excellent, the keepers care for these animals and your ticket is supporting the health and wellness of the animals. I always enjoy the staff, they are wonderful with children and knowledgable for people of all ages. The zoo gets crowded from time to time but there is so much to see once you are inside you wouldn't even notice. You are able to bring food and drink inside which makes it easy to stay for a while without breaking the bank.

Jade Rodriguez

The monkeys were very friendly & so we're the otters. I got to touch sea animals & the staff answered all my questions. I recommend this place to other families make sure to bring a stroller if you have little ones or rent one it's lots of walking also a small lunch and large water and cash for the wax figures and souvenirs

Jeremy Crumpton

Just bought our annual membership. The new aquarium is awesome! They now have hammerhead sharks with huge stingrays! I love this zoo as it has breathtaking views of the Puget Sound and Mt. Rainier. The staff could've been a bit nicer to some of the volunteers as I overheard one of them getting on to someone about not having a belt or shirt tucked in. But overall I've only had positive experiences here! Highly recommended for a good time!

Lillian Vaughn

The peacock is beautiful but when you see one almost get ran over in the parking lot that's not safe! I enjoy going to the zoo and seeing animals that you can't see on an everyday basis but today's visit was sad. Animals were in small spaces.the poor tigers have to place to run. The habitats need to be more taken care of and to be honest y'all should just let them go back into there natural places. I've been going here since I was a kid ,now taking my own here. Please take better care of these animals. I know the employees can only do so much but damn.

Joseph and Frank

This is a fun, family friendly zoo and aquarium. They have a small selection of animals, but large spaces for them to roam. This is great for the animals, but for the visitors can mean not being able to see them. They offer camel rides for the kids and have kid friendly play areas. And like most parks these days you are going to spend lots of money if you buy anything inside the gates. Parking can be a bear and I suggest you get there early to find available spaces. The best part for me was the polar bear exhibit that let's you go downstairs and see under water.

Chris

The aquarium is a pretty cool spot to walk thru. You can touch the manta rays and they have huge tanks throughout. Pretty small zoo so you can see everything pretty fast in a few hours. Suggest bringing your own lunch or snacks. Not that many food options there

Po Ling

Great exhibits, a moderately sized zoo. Great if you have kids-- my group of adults saw the attractions in a couple of hours so not too long for kids.

John Lux

Remodeled aquarium looks great. I would recommend checking this out. I also recommend coming to check out their show. There are lots of little shows and presentations to check out

T C

We love coming here, now they opened up the new sea aquarium & it's amazing. The staff is very friendly, and knowledgeable about the animals. If I could give more than 5 stars I would.

Javier Alonzo

I love coming here... On busy days, use their extra parking and take the shuttle. It is worth the time saved by not circling the lot a hundred times.

Sarah Randall

Smaller zoo with variety of animals. Scenery and landscape was beautiful. The aquariums are great and could have watched the ocean life for hours. In regards to land animals, many were not out or able to be seen especially in the Asian Forest.

Chris Bartlett

Nice zoo, get there early before all the traffic. They didn't have a lot of the larger animals I've seen at other zoos, but the aquarium was cool and neat to view. Camel rides are a joke though, pass it up.

Daniel kim

Great zoo! Really nice zoo to bring the family. Well maintained and access for handicap and strollers. They built a new aquarium which is very nice. Not a not of animals but they are usually all out in view and next to point defiance park so easy to go for a drive to the park or hike.

Vanessa Dilley

A tad on the small side still. I really enjoyed the touching of the stingrays and sharks, also the touching of the starfish and other water creatures. Really glad there are hand washing stations in those areas. It’s a clean zoo but even some of the animal areas seem kinda small. That’s a zoo for you tho I guess. It is a beautiful zoo at the same time. Family fun but wish there was a tad bit more. Also, there’s literally not enough parking....

John M Franklin III

Girlfriend, kids and I had a great time yesterday. I highly recommend this place over Woodland Park. Zoo Staff is always available to assist with questions pertaining to the zoo animals and aquarium fish, etc.

Riel A

The animals are great and the detail to the landscape truly is what makes things feel better. The added Oxygen from the trees help breathe life into the experience. This being positive to the animals too. As an adult I do enjoy bringing my family here. If you've never been, and you enjoy zoo & aquariums you will be impressed with how much they fit into a small footprint while still giving a rather accommodating environment. IME

Götz Hollain

A lovely made zoo, especially for kids. I have spent a good there. If you like, you can touch the shark.......

Danielle WhatsIt

Jad a blast at the PD Zoo! I went with my mom and best friends amd it was pretty cool and so fun! Their Aquariums were my favorite, so beautiful and dull of ocean life. ❤

Michael DeVore

Very nicely presented aquarium and zoo. One thing could be improved...a person with Windex needs to be hired to constantly clean windows.

William Fulton

We had a great time at the zoo. The campy animal show was very entertaining and funny. Our daughter loves being able to meet some of the animals up close. The new aquarium was very nice with several rooms where the water displays surround you. Overall, it was a great day and a great way to spend time at Point Defiance.

Aileen Salle

Fun zoo with a lot to see. We spent a nice afternoon wandering between the exhibits. The keepers were extremely friendly and knowledgeable amd you could tell they love their animals. This zoo is really nice for families during the day as it was not extremely crowded. Location was gorgeous!

Alpomutt

My kids love viewing the animals and how the variety can change on a daily basis depending on who is sleeping, and who is not. They love the new aquarium and of course the carousel. We have a membership and it pays for itself every year with how often my kids want to go.

Ashley Darling

This zoo is wonderful! It is perfect for younger children as you are able to get closer to many of the animals. The new aquarium is amazing as well!

Jennifer Delzer

This is a pretty nice zoo. Some of their exhibits are older and could use some updating, but others are fairly modern. We loved the aquatic exhibits and the red wolves- also seeing the penguins out in open air was real fun!

Izzy

Was really modestly priced and a well kept zoo. Made a great day trip. Loved the Red wolves and tapirs!

Terrence Thomas

Just an overall great place that has the zoo and the aquarium. Where a grown up can be a kid again!

Irene Bymers

Very much enjoy this zoo. They have a great children's area. The new aquarium is very nice. They are doing a great job of updating the zoo.

Jason Liu

Amazing place for the family. Have only been to woodland zoo in Seattle and never visited here so didn't expect too much. We ended up having a great time! Camel rides, centre stage shows, feeding birds. A great mix of northwest animals and exotic animals. Highly recommend it!

Grafton DeKoster

So much fun. Place was clean and animals looked healthy. Much smaller then Woodland Park Zoo but much cleaner and animals were taken better care of. At least that's how it looked.

Stephanie Rybicki

Wonderful zoo, very clean and animals are well cared for, it appeared a few of the exhibits only had 1 of the animals (tiger, elephant) that seemed sad so why only 4 stars. Loved the new aquarium, especially the large tank with the over head view, I could sit there for hours watching the sharks and rays swim past.

Jonii Bryant

We had our staff in service day at the education center today and it was really good. It was really lovely to be able to walk around in the fresh air on our lunch hour and the new aquarium was pretty amazing.

Ragan G

Where to start. Finding parking was the first obstacle. On a Saturday morning in July, it took fifty-eight minutes to get a parking spot. In fact, we had given up and it was only on the way out that we were lucky enough to get a spot. After walking nearly a mile and dodging several drivers not paying attention we made it to ticketing. That was another forty minutes of standing in line. By the time we were in the crowded zoo, we were already questioning the decision to come. Many people were standing idly in paths and staring endlessly into their phones making me wonder why they were there to begin with. The zoo itself is a wonderful place and is well kept. Staff are polite and happy to share knowledge. I only hesitate a recommendation due to the overwhelming number of people in attendance.

Alex Pruss

The place is small, couple hours were enough to see everything. Good thing it was free for our family cause we are Tacoma residents, all others pay $14 per adult and 10 per child. The exhibits are large and animals were out, so we could actually see them walking, playing, swimming, etc. Would visit again some day.

Larry Brooke

Love the Point Defiance Zoo. We had a fantastic time however we did go early in the morning so not much of a crowd yet. We attended one of the shows that played in the early afternoon and had a lot of fun watching the different animals brought out that were part of the skit. They had a huge script with content concentrated on recycling. Parents around us commented on the relevence and rated the recycling script as 1 star.

Jeannine Harris

Point defiance zoo was amazing! Haven't been here in 15 years. The upgrades are amazing and the food has been improved tremendously. Although some of the bathrooms are oId and outdated. They were clean. I did notice that the gift shop has items for a decent price. Definitely recommend!

Chris Urban

This is not a giant zoo\aquarium but that's what I really like about it. Located in point defiance park the entire site is nestled in the woods near the water. Being a smaller place I think you get more attention from the staff whom are very knowledgeable. The new aquarium is awesome!

Aaron Beals

Huge park. You can do the drive around, or park and see things. There are areas outside the main attractions as well - such as the rose gardens and more! You can easily spend a few hours here just going through the animal attractions. Put on your walking shoes and bring a camera :)

Jeff Potts

Love the zoo! You get animal's and the aquarium for one price. The annual membership is affordable and a great choice for locals.

Mike Cloutier

Nice zoo. Beautiful grounds. Animals appeared to be well cared for.

hannah holmes

they closed ar 4, which seemed early! it was very quiet and llwe saw several animals though!

Rachel Mcelheran

Lots going on today when i arrived. Even the little store was open selling ice cream... Though there prices are pretty spendy. Besides that i know you can rent a kayak here.. Seems pretty neat. Beautiful view... Sometimes i see seals swimming around here. Great place to have a summer party.

nikki

First visit since I was a young kid! Really good to come back after so long. It was a long winded journey to get to some exhibits and most of the handicap accessible places were closed for repairs, but overall, GREAT trip. Completely worth it.

deanna hogan

Had so much fun. Animals and sea life very well presented and the landacaping was outstanding! The view of the Sound and Mount Rainier were stunning.

Georgia Bohm

Outstanding place with beautiful exhibits as natural as possible for the animals and with educational features to enhance the experience with nature. I love this place as an adult, but of course the kids love it all, too!

Natalie MacMillan

This zoo is a great place. Bring comfortable walking shoes and maybe snacks for littles. There is a good variety of animals and everything is conservation focused. Consistent in cleanliness and friendliness

Ashley Johnson

Although there is still room for improvement in some of the animal enclosure sizes (the elephants, walrus, and otter exhibits, for example) and some of the quality of enclosures (the seals seem very underestimated) in general the zoo has improved quite a bit in recent years. We have seen how several of the animals are in a bigger and more stimulating environment (hopefully soon it will be the case for all of the animals!). We loved the conservation themed show, the pollen garden, the playground, the new aquarium, the clean bathrooms, and the staff.

Coinrott

Lovely zoo, glad I bought a membership! Can see the sound from it. Has good facilities for the animals

Kimberly Enriquez

Had a lot of fun at this zoo! Better than the woodland zoo in Seattle! It’s small but the exhibits are very nice and clean! They have a playground for the kiddos and a lot of the animals are visible. Will definitely be coming back before we leave in the summer!

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.

Gregory Olson

A great place to take our 7 year old. They keep making well planned improvements. The old carousel is also a must.

Ingrid Martinez

This is a very nice zoo, not huge but plenty to see and do. The animals are easily seen and there are quite a few talks given around the park every hour. The people giving the talks were very patient and answered questions from the children. The zoo also has a nice play area. The aquariums are well done with a touch tank for the kids to touch live starfish and stingrays. You can feed the goats, all the kids (pun intended) loved that!

Linda Evans

We drove by. We did not stop because we were trying to make it to Bainbridge to spend the night. From the outside it looks like an interesting place. Point Defiance is full of activities and interesting stops if you did it all it would take more than one day.

Toby Casey

Awesome service. Great exhibits. Super informative about the ecology and sustainability of modern life. Killer Zoo

BaneDraconis

This is a wonderful place to go by yourself, with a friend, with the family, no matter the weather. Their new exhibits are amazing, and the staff are still as helpful and informative as ever. When you're done, take a drive along the Five Mile Loop and visit Fort Nisqually. Take some pictures along the way. Well worth the drive.

Daniel J

We have An annual membership since we live so close and because our son has special needs, we need the flexibility of being able to come and go so we can accommodate for him. The only hard part is the length of the wheel chair ramps and location of them is really inconvenience and this is why it is only 4 out of 5 stars. Other than that, we find it worth buying the Annual membership for both the Zoo and NW Trek as it gives us variety as well as different settings for our son. Good value over all!

Amber Lane

This place is awesome. So much to see and do. Loved every second of it, even though my kids were being brats. The aquariums are awesome and seeing some animals we don't have at the Oregon Zoo was great.

Gilbert Darisse

Great time at the zoo today. And the new aquarium is fantastic! Kiddo had a great time at the touch tank and make sure to catch the animal show!

Josh Musick

So much fun! The animals are well taken care of and the zoo is a great affordable place for kids and adults alike!

Sharon Gideon

It is a small zoo but it has plenty of animals and educated curators. Very educational and entertaining

Alex B.

It was easy to navigate and the staff were super friendly. Unfortunately many of the exhibits were being worked on and were unable to see several of the animals. Perhaps call in advance if there is something particular you look forward to seeing

Cristi Jacoban

Took my grand daughter for her birthday. It was a lot of fun the have a new aquarium with hammerhead sharks and sea turtles.

Kaylee Orrell

This is a great place for a family to spend the day. The animals are in enclosures that are well designed for visibility, so even the youngest of kids can see them. There are two different aquariums that people can visit, and the sea life in each is unique. Finally, there are camel rides, and a play ground. The food is very good, but rather expensive, so I reccommend bringing your own.

Adriana O

Been there twice and we enjoyed it every time. I do recommend going on a weekday to avoid it being overcrowded and being able to find parking

Fatima Smith

I used to go here as a child and I got to take my daughter to it for the first time! She loved it. It’s a little different since I was a kid but clean and easy to navigate. Plenty of attractions to entertain everyone for an hour or so but not so large you can’t see everything. Food selection was actually really good at the cafe they have, a lot better than some zoos and aquariums.

Avery Ellison

This place is beautiful. Their conservation efforts are amazing. Their shows and activity are awesome. They've taken a lot of steps to age down their animal population in the last few years. I love that I can go and see fish, sharks, and animals. Highly recommend the family pass if you're in the area and have small children. It is really nice to be able to go for an hour instead of feeling like I have to spend all day to get my "money's worth." If you do spend the whole day for the day fee, it felt worth it to us when we went.

Yoshi Yellow

A lovely, educational zoo. Well laid out with beautiful grounds and welcoming staff. Educational talks throughout the day and lots of learning about conservation and sometimes rescue of animals. They have a really fun playground for children as well. Bring a picnic as there are many places to sit and enjoy the park. Outside food is allowed and water refill stations are plentiful. Parking is good and free. The property is a bit steep ( on an incline) yet people on scooters and wheelchairs are able to get around on the many ramps and a few elevators. We spent about 6 hrs there as we wanted to see everything.

BRANDON HARRISON

This is a fantastic zoo! I went in the early morning, and took me no more than a few hours. The new aquarium was great, with all the new hammerhead sharks and sea turtles,which was super cool. The aquarium had a great flow so we got through in plenty of time. The care for the animals was great, with friendly staff willing to answer my questions. Super great view of the sound and Mt. Rainier as a bonus!The only thing wrong was the size, it was a pretty small zoo. Great experience and I will (do) come again!

Patrick Sullivan

The family & I haven't been 2 the zoo in a long time! I was happy 2 see all the new exhibits! Kids had a blast! I guess they have a new aquariumb along with a spot for children 2 b able 2 touch rays, starfish, & urchins! The. Thought that was cool! Best of all it was free zoo day! Didn't cost me anything!!! Bonus...

Synth Surber

Really pretty and peaceful. Get to see the Vashon Ferry coming and going. Sign says you can swim in the water but way too cold for me!

kathleen mckeegan

Lovely grounds, cool aquarium. Great play ground area for little kids. But the parking situation, waaah! Total chaos. We came on a busy day and waited 30 minutes for our lunch, after placing the order. Super slow for adequate but very basic burgers and fries. Would pack food if you can. There are plenty of benches and picnic spots.

Bryan Foster

Longtime members of pdza. Great zoo and new and improved aquarium. Tons of different animals and regions to see. Enclosures are decent. You’re not as close to the animals like the San Diego Zoo but still good visibility. Highlights are tigers, elephants, budgies you can feed, new aquarium, walrus, polar bears, red wolves, and roaming peacocks. Great play area for kids as well.

Victoria Rivera

This zoo is beautiful and has so much around it to do. My daughter had a great time. I will say I hated the aquarium, just way too many people at once and there was a plus size family of 4 all lined up against the glass blocking the view for at least 6 minutes. Let’s be a little more courteous to the children who would like to see as well. Other than that it was a nice experience.

Roseann Michelle

Interactive and fun! We enjoyed all of it. I think our favorite part was the aquarium!

Nicole Eileen

The new aquarium is cool. It's not a huge Zoo but weve always had a good experience for the most part and it's beautiful, always pretty clean etc. The one downfall if the lack of places to eat and the only food court is small, slow and not many options.

Aijah Thompson

Skip the crouds, combine seattle aquarium and portland zoo in one and you have point defiance. Zoo is very clean, animals are active, exhibits are set up nice and animals actually have space to roam. Aquarium was done very well lots of exciting fish to see ! Will be back again.

Fatima Smith

I used to go here as a child and I got to take my daughter to it for the first time! She loved it. It’s a little different since I was a kid but clean and easy to navigate. Plenty of attractions to entertain everyone for an hour or so but not so large you can’t see everything. Food selection was actually really good at the cafe they have, a lot better than some zoos and aquariums.

Scott Kennerud

Love the combo of aquarium and zoo, beautiful well-kept, well designed grounds. New woodland theatre was enjoyable but overzealous about recycling, reuse... would have preferred higher percentage of presentation to learn more about animals. Easy to navigate, get to variety of exhibits. Shared kettle corn definitely the best food deal given the movie theater pricing (I don't begrudge their fundraising this way, just be aware). My favorite is the aquarium view from underneath tank, watching sharks, sea turtles, and rays glide by. Bring water, snacks and a smartphone/camera!

Cherly North

I love what they have done with the new aquarium! The layout is easy to follow. The turtles like to swim in top but you can see them as you walk in. Haven't seen the wolf pup yet but can't wait.

Kathy Kellar

Always enjoy the zoo, every season, any time of day. Perfect spot to take the grandchildren, it's fun, it's educational and it's relaxing. Loved the giant sand sculpture, however, I do miss the sculptures made from the debris taken from our waterways. Every time we went was an incredible learning experience for the youngsters, a time to discuss waste, littering, and the effects on marine life.

Steven Friedrichsen

The zoo has a nice mix of exhibits, beautiful landscaping and very kid friendly. They never get bored. .nor did the adults.

Kolbe Lee

Great place to visit, with excellent staff and lots to see. I really enjoyed my time here. Plenty of parking and great for families.

Anthony Spelts

Cant beat a year pass to go to the zoo when your bored. The new pacific aquarium exhibit it awesome!

Leslie Peterson

Amazing zoo, wide variety of animals with interesting breeding and reintroduction programs. Very clean and family friendly; everything is wheelchair and stroller accessable. Prices are great for the size of the zoo and aquariums. It does get busy on the weekends but the pathways are wide. This is one of our favorite places. We always bring non locals here.

Radford Bean

Awesome small zoo with a couple of spectacular aquariums. They're one of the few zoos breeding the critically endangered red wolves. They have sharks, rays, jellyfish, and tropical reef fish. The only drawback to the zoo is the price of the food and small size of the gift shop with few items to appeal to adults.

John Wagner

This is a great facility, lots of exhibits. However 20 buck per adult is a lot for us old folks. Seniors don't get discounts untill you are 65 or older. Only four stars because of price.

Holly Couture

Love being a member here. The new aquarium is great and my son loves it! He could stay there for hours watching the fish! The play area is also great to let him run around.

Sergey O

Absolutely love this place. We go here every year with my wife. Park is always clean, admission is fair, and they always have some good to eat. They just updated some areas and they look much better now. Definitely recommend everyone. They also offer a 2 hour dive with the sharks for a reasonable price. You do have to call like a few weeks in advance though.

Jordon Day

The new aquarium is awesome. You get a discount for being a Pierce county resident. They always have something interesting to look out. Fun time with the family.

john lazaroo

The zoo itself is great! The price is a little high. $20 per adult and ~$15 for kids. I opted for the "Premium Family Membership" for $195. We can go for a year and bring 3 guests. Parking is atrocious!!! I had to find a make shift spot on the side of the road. If you're going to charge a premium make more parking!

Avery Ellison

This place is beautiful. Their conservation efforts are amazing. Their shows and activity are awesome. They've taken a lot of steps to age down their animal population in the last few years. I love that I can go and see fish, sharks, and animals. Highly recommend the family pass if you're in the area and have small children. It is really nice to be able to go for an hour instead of feeling like I have to spend all day to get my "money's worth." If you do spend the whole day for the day fee, it felt worth it to us when we went.

lorena Zambrano

That's Amaizing place aquarium and zoo together for one ticket. Really good deal.and free parking.❤❤

Mark Nickel

It's a great place. Fantastic greenery everywhere. Yes, people complain about there needing to be more animals or "better"animals. But, in some cases like the elephants, it's a great retirement home where otherwise, they might be put down.

Daniel Villa

The park was wonderful! We saw sharks and monkeys! But not in the same exhibit, maybe someday

Danielle S.

Zoo recently added a new aquarium, very cool features inside. I always enjoy going to the PDZA, if you have a membership, you're able to skip the lines on busy days. (Also plenty of Pokestops and a gym or two).

Sophia Lakhouiri

Nice place to take the kids. August is pretty hot for the animals though so many were hiding and we could not see them. Aquarium is the best part and the red wolf cubs too. Overall a pleasant place to go and didn't take a lot of time to walk through.

Bella Official

the Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium is way cool what a sweet place to visit there's lots of stuff to see here . i love this place . this place is awesome to bring the whole family to . what a sweet way to spend the day. the aquarium is amazing , all the animals at the zoo are amazing . thank you Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium

Sarah Lintakoon

I went for Zoolights during the holidays and it was a lot of fun! Parking was easy and the place is very spacious, with lots of variety of animals. The lights were especially creative; they had a giant light octopus on one of the buildings that was massive. Really a lovely location.

Yoshi Yellow

A lovely, educational zoo. Well laid out with beautiful grounds and welcoming staff. Educational talks throughout the day and lots of learning about conservation and sometimes rescue of animals. They have a really fun playground for children as well. Bring a picnic as there are many places to sit and enjoy the park. Outside food is allowed and water refill stations are plentiful. Parking is good and free. The property is a bit steep ( on an incline) yet people on scooters and wheelchairs are able to get around on the many ramps and a few elevators. We spent about 6 hrs there as we wanted to see everything.

Kevin Shannon

Love this zoo. Been taking my boys here since they were babies. Nice, helpful staff. The Aquarium is really top notch now with all the new improvements.

Rick Lear

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 if we didn't get to see both of them swimming around. They even buzzed the divers cleaning the exhibit underwater. My advice is to visit the zoo when there is not a heat wave driving the animals into cover. No red wolves, one floating polar bear sitting in water, apes hanging and lounging about, elephants and other mammals and animals taking it easy. The show put on by a couple of female performers with a Sheriff dog and other trained animals was a lot of fun, with some solid production values. Our visit was capped off by an extremely pleasant lunch that we brought ourselves, eaten under the canopy of the picnic area filled with empty tables. A cool breeze blew over us, making it a very nice and restful break from walking around under the hot sun. Zoos have gotten a very bad rap over the past couple of decades. But it struck me while watching the gibbons and the elephants: their lives are far better here than in their natural habitats where climate change, and the clear cutting of forests and jungles, are destroying those natural habitats along with the animals that still live within them. Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium remains a great place to bring the kids, or to visit if your adult kids have flown the coop.

Esther Wilcken

This zoo is beautiful! More than a full days of exhibits and things to see. They have fun environmental educational and interactive things for kids of all ages! They also have a very nice shaded outdoor play area. Food is amazingly overpriced, but quality. And you can bring snacks and refill water bottles at the refill stations throughout the park. I also appreciate that there are a lot of bathrooms throughout the zoo to accommodate those who are potty training. The biggest drawback though is the steep hills. There are stairs and ramps, not too bad for a stroller, but they would be quite difficult to navigate a wheelchair through. If you are truly disabled navigation without one would be very challenging and the hills are too steep for mechanical ones.

Vincent Ng

If you are looking for a Zoo in Seattle area, I highly recommend going to this zoo than any other zoo in Seattle. I like it because it’s not too big but still have a lot to look at and still have all the exotic animals to see. Personally, I like their aquarium a lot better than Seattle aquarium better price and better looking tanks there. My kids love the ideas that they able to touch the stingray fish and other sea creatures. They do have tiger, polar bear, elephant, monkey, tapir, lemur, birds, sea otters, sea turtle, shark, and many more. Another things that I like there’s a public park, botanical garden, and water front right next to it if you choose not to go to the zoo. It’s all in one area.

BRANDON HARRISON

This is a fantastic zoo! I went in the early morning, and took me no more than a few hours. The new aquarium was great, with all the new hammerhead sharks and sea turtles,which was super cool. The aquarium had a great flow so we got through in plenty of time. The care for the animals was great, with friendly staff willing to answer my questions. Super great view of the sound and Mt. Rainier as a bonus!The only thing wrong was the size, it was a pretty small zoo. Great experience and I will (do) come again!

Alexander Tan

It was wonderful, very reasonable entry fee. However, as typical with establishments of this sort, the food was of poor value, nutritionally and finamcially. Irrespective, this is a great zoo, but, I would recommend bringing a packed lunch!

Patrick Sullivan

The family & I haven't been 2 the zoo in a long time! I was happy 2 see all the new exhibits! Kids had a blast! I guess they have a new aquariumb along with a spot for children 2 b able 2 touch rays, starfish, & urchins! The. Thought that was cool! Best of all it was free zoo day! Didn't cost me anything!!! Bonus...

Sandra Smith

I haven’t been to Point Defiance Zoo for 40 years and I was very pleased to see how it developed. There were lots of places to sit down and being a senior this is something that is particularly important and a deciding factor on whether I return to a business or not. We had lunch at the Pearl Street Grille and the fish and chips were delicious and as reasonably priced as anywhere on the outside. The staff seemed to be short, rushed and a little overwhelmed. One thing that surprised me was the beautiful gardens. I’ve seen some of the same plants in the New Orleans and the San Diego zoo. I am curious as to how they survive our climate. I did see some plants with id’s but many without. The animals looked well enough cared for. There were a couple exhibits that they couldn’t be spotted. Then it dawned on me as a bunch of very loud children walked by that no wonder....or they were just sleeping. The restrooms were clean and the staff friendly. The carousel was lovely and renting a scooter was easy. I liked the fact that it wasn’t that big as it seemed cozy. I’m impressed enough I already want to be there again and think I’ll get a membership.

A Girl U Should Know

Manage your expectations! The zoo isn't bad when you look at the overall size of the city/county. However it is spread out and while we were there at least several exhibits were not active. The biggest disappointment though was some of the furnishings of the zoo animals. Some of them had toys in the pen, that were just pieces of plastic, almost felt like there was garbage in the pen. They did have some great exhibits, the tigers were awesome, and some of the smaller exhibits were nice. It is worth a visit every few years, but if the price makes you hesitate, you might want to save and go to the Seattle Aquarium or the Woodland Park Zoo for a bigger bang for your buck.More

Joe Sena

Price of admission is great. I suggest getting tickets online unless you want to wait for a good while getting them onsite. Also recommend getting there early parking is limited. The zoo itself is very fun. Super kid friendly. The exhibits are good with a great variety of animals to look at. Its laid out great you can start left or right and do a big circle and catch everything!!! Great day all around.

No Name

Been to this zoo several times over the years and it's a must see and a family friendly area. Good for groups of any size. AAA discount. I come here a lot as a single and I suggest to come before 10 am if you want parking. 10 am might be pushing it.

Natasha Botkin

Grew up with Point Defiance Park and zoo in my backyard. Have enjoyed this zoo and aquarium many, many times. It's a great place to visit no matter the age. There's so much to enjoy from elephants, tigers, polar bears, aquatic animals and so many much more. You can bring a picnic lunch or partake in one of their many food kiosks or restaurants.

Rachel Sizemore

Lovely variety of animals and interactive shows. Some of your zoo assists (not the talk leaders or biologists) could be a little more enthusiastic. They all seem very uninterested. Maybe add a few more benches as well.

Louisa Muskovits

The staff is amazingly patient. There are beautiful and detailed sand sculptures here and one of the employees in the sand play area helped my 6 year old daughter create her own sand castle. We had a tour of the veterinarian area where the animals get operated on. The employees were very attentive and tirelessly answered countelss questions. We went on a members only day so the lines weren't as long as a regular day. The zoo is clean and organized. The staff is amazing. I am so glad my family has annual passes because we always have a blast here.

Shorty Doll

This is a super small zoo. It can be completed in a couple of hours. Recommend going when it isn't so hot out. You will see more of the animals. The new aquarium is nice but you're only allowed to go through it once while there. You are given a separate ticket to get into it at the gate so make sure not to misplace it.

Cran Berry

It was beautiful, my grandkids loved it. There were a few things that were closed like the petting Zoo, aviary. We had lunch at the café by the entrance gate it was very good.

Paula Ketchem

Nice zoo. Not everything is open in the fall so it's best to go in summer.

frank flores

Lots of animals very good exhibits the only issue I have is the last 4 years the elevator to go down and see the polar bear underwater is still broken. we've received an email before saying that it takes a long time to find somebody to fix it I don't understand that, nor do I believe it. why can they spend $$$$ on a new aquarium, but not fix one thing that would help some children and adults wheelchair bound, have a greater experience. You should fix it by now fix it let all people enjoy it.

Sammii Sierra

Not many animals out when we went. Aquariums are nice. Be prepared to walk up hill a bit.

Lisa Hooper

Nice, clean little zoo and aquarium with a good collection of animal species. Piper gave a great handler presentation at the Asian elephants enclosure! Great value at $20 online!

Sanjay Patel

Nicely maintained zoo with a few unique animals. 2 aquarium buildings. Nicely shaded walkways. Play area for smaller kids.

Jeff C

My family and I love this zoo due to its size and location. Point Defiance (PD) is 1/3 the size of Woodland Park Zoo but PD use their space efficiently and there is a lot to see. PD also has a newer play area for kids. The Aquarium is small but very nice, it has a nice big tank in the middle with lots of fish to look at. Recently went to Woodland Park Zoo with my daughter for a different adventure. After fighting the traffic to get to Woodland Park it was a very underwhelming experience. Much bigger zoo than PD but not a lot to see. So, if you live on the South end of Puget Sound like me (Auburn), save yourself time and the hassle of Seattle traffic and visit PD instead.