Get in touch with nature this summer at not one, but TWO DISTINCTLY DIFFERENT ZOOS that are just a short car ride from the Seattle area. These amazing sister zoos are both operated by Metro Parks Tacoma and carry local and national reputations for animal care and conservation.
At Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium in Tacoma’s beautiful Point Defiance Park, you can stare massive sharks in the eyes; get up close to a 1,000-pound polar bear, diving it his pool just on the other side of a glass; watch walruses swim in what looks like a beautifully choreographed ballet – despite their massive size; see some of the precious few Sumatran tigers left on the planet; marvel at the majesty of red wolves, Asian elephants and other endangered species; feed a goat, touch a reptile, ride a camel, take a spin on an antique carousel and much more!
Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium is the only combined zoo and aquarium in the Northwest, so it’s a treat for visitors to see such a wide array of animals from huge mammals to tiny fish. You can feel the velvety flesh of stingrays, touch small sharks, and check out sea stars, urchins and other touchable sea life. And if you want to dive with the sharks, get information on how to get into the water with them through our Eye-to-Eye Shark Dive program at www.pdza.org/dive. For general information about the zoo, including hours and admission prices, go to www.pdza.org. It’s the best ticket in town for a great day of family fun and exploration!
Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium is located at 5400 N. Pearl St., Tacoma, WA. 253-591-5337
And at Northwest Trek Wildlife Park near Eatonville, get so close to a moose you can almost smell its steamy breath; thrill to the sight of herds of American bison and Roosevelt elk; watch grizzly and black bears lumber through their natural Northwest exhibits; listen for wolves howling; laugh at the antics of beavers and river otters at play; and bring the kids for hours of fun at the brand-new nature-inspired Kids’ Trek playground. Northwest Trek is dedicated to showcasing native Northwest animals, and there is no other facility like it in Washington. Every ticket to Northwest Trek includes a 50-minute guided tour aboard a tram through the Free-Roaming area, where you watch from the comfort of your seat as the bison, elk, bighorn sheep, caribou, deer and other animals wander through meadows and forests. Plus, spring and summer are wonderful times to visit and watch this year’s bison, elk and caribou calves and bighorn sheep lambs as they grow.
And if you’re seeking adventure, look no further than Northwest Trek’s Zip Wild complex of zip line/challenge courses. They’re situated in the tree canopy, high above the rest of Northwest Trek, and they contain challenges and thrills that are just right for people of all skills and abilities from ages 5 and up. Go to www.nwtrek.org/zipwild for more information on the zip line and challenge courses. Go to www.nwtrek.org for tons of facts about the wildlife park.
Northwest Trek is located at 11610 Trek Drive E., Eatonville, WA, just about an hour’s drive from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. 360-832-6117.
