Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium

What a delightful zoo - beautifully landscaped for the animals' well-being. Fantastic educational billboards throughout encouraging animal & nature conservation. Perfect size for a lovely afternoon, not so big to wear yourself out. Knowledgeable, passionate keepers and volunteers at each exhibit kindly answering all my obscure questions. I would become a member if I lived in the area. Simply wonderful, for the entire family!

We had a wonderful experience at this zoo. The aquarium is absolutely beautiful — thoughtfully designed, immersive, and very well maintained. It’s a pleasure to walk through and observe the marine life up close. The territory is very large, which makes it perfect for a relaxed and enjoyable walk. You can take your time, explore at your own pace, and truly enjoy the atmosphere without feeling rushed. The animals look healthy, well cared for, and genuinely happy. It’s clear that a lot of attention and love goes into maintaining their environment and well-being. Overall, it’s a fantastic place to spend the day. Highly recommended for both adults and children.

Zoo admission includes the 2 aquariums on-site. I was able to see everything in one day. You can attend feeding times and ask the staff questions, so be sure to inquire about this if it's something you're interested in. They have a huge stage area for the children at the front of the zoo. One of the aquariums allows you to touch the star fish. My 1st time hearing of and seeing a "chocolate chip" star fish. In the kids zone you can feed the goats. It's a nice place to spend your day. They have some exhibits that they are working on filling. I plan to go back once completed. On a clear day you can see the mountain from the entrance platform. I recommend visiting if you're in the area!

We arrived right at 9:00 am. The cafe was not open! Ahrgg!! That said, we basically had the park all to ourselves. The aquariums were wonderful, even for a 2 year old. The penguins were being fed, such a treat. The tigers were sleeping on their heated mats. Overall a good time. I suggest the annual pass if you plan on attending more than 3 times a year.

Amazing place to bring kiddos with plenty of space to run around. At each stop their was someone explaining the animals and giving facts it was very interesting and my kids loved it. Amazing view of the city scape as well. Definitely returning ✨

This integrated zoo and aquarium is a perfect adventure - unusual animals (like a guitarfish!) in habitat settings and an experience just big enough to fill half a day without being overwhelming. There are goats and sea stars you can pet, and friendly zoo keepers and aquarists eager to answer questions during or after the chats. Winter was a surprisingly good time of year to go with active animals and fewer visitors. I also highly recommend the separate zoo lights experience during the holidays!

One of the best zoos in the United States. It is a small local zoo with a big international impact. The conservation work they do here is incredible. The exhibits here feel more like habitats, and you can tell the animals benefit tremendously as a result. The autonomy of the animals is respected- they aren't forcibly paraded around for visitors' amusement. Their privacy is respected. You can tell the staff are so passionate about these animals, and put a tremendous amount of effort into animal welfare and enrichment. My partner is a zoologist and a professor studying animal persecution, and even he was impressed! This is also a great zoo for the kiddos - lots of places to learn and play. If I lived in the area, I would definitely have a yearly membership! It isn't a super gimmicky or touristy place - there is one small gift shop. It doesn't feel like visitors are being milked for their dollars. In my mind, this is the standard that all small zoos should be striving for. Thank you to the staff who are providing such a wonderful experience for both visitors and animals. I recommend buying tickets in advance online, because you can shave $5 off each ticket that way.