Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium, Tacoma (must see)

Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium began in 1905 with a simple bear pit and gradually grew into a combined zoo, aquarium, and garden setting focused on Pacific Rim habitats. Its earlier history also includes Dub Dub, a popular harbour seal from the 1930s waterfront aquarium, now recalled by a bronze animal statue near the entrance.

The zoo’s land habitats are designed to feel varied rather than static. In the Asian Forest Sanctuary, a system of gates, tunnels, and connecting routes allows keepers to rotate animals through different areas, giving species such as tigers, gibbons, and bears changing spaces to explore. Rocky Shores features North Pacific animals such as seals, sea lions, sea otters, puffins, and walruses. Nearby, Arctic Tundra offers underwater viewing, showing large northern animals moving through deep pools.

The aquarium side gives the visit a strong marine focus. Pacific Seas Aquarium presents coastal and Pacific habitats through marine tanks, touch areas, jellyfish, and colourful sea life. Smaller highlights include grunt sculpins, which hop and crawl along the sea floor, and a sponge that grows on hermit crab shells, forming a living protective cover.

The Tropical Reef Aquarium adds warmer-water habitats, sharks, rays, and reef species, and the zoo has also offered close-up shark experiences for visitors who want a more direct encounter. Beyond the exhibits, conservation remains central to the zoo’s role, especially through its long work with red wolves and other threatened species. Seasonal events add another layer to the visitor experience, most notably Zoolights, when the grounds are filled with large illuminated animal and marine-life designs during the winter holiday period.