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Sammamish Families: A Road Trip to Tacoma Offers Aquarium, Museums and a Zoo

Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium and several museums are among the many family-friendly attractions located less than an hour away from Sammamish.

Now that the sun has finally arrived, you might be in the mood for a family road trip. My family visited the Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium recently to check out the adorable clouded leopard cubs. I was reminded of all the great attractions Tacoma has to offer, just less than an hour from our home on the Eastside. There was the zoo, several museums, great dining options and easy access to beaches on Puget Sound.

Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium – Close up Animal Encounters and Conservation Education Make Visits Special

My family loves the Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle, but most of the zoo’s animals are off limits for close-up encounters and the zoo's staff can be engaged with taking care of the animals, not educating the visitors. In contrast, on our recent visit to the Port Defiance Zoo and Aquarium, my son was able to hug a camel. We also met a lizard on the zoo's lawn and examined a walrus tusk up close, while learned how the animal uses it.

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Our kids enjoyed voting on names for the clouded leopard cubs on the iPad that a zoo employee used to educate us about the cubs. We watched visitors volunteer to feed fish at the aquarium under the watchful eye of aquarium staff, and a zoo guide explained how the otters used their "pool toys" to learn and have fun.

The zoo is nationally recognized for its program of conservation and reintroduction of the endangered red wolf. Throughout the zoo there are suggestions on how you can get involved with making a difference for endangered animals. Even the Pearl Street Sea Grille, one of the zoo's on-site dining options, emphasizes that they serve only sustainable seafood.

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Tips To Make the Most of Your Zoo Visit

  • Take a stroller if you have a child under 5 years old. The zoo is spread out over several sloping acres, which means lots of stairs and walking around on sometimes steep paths. Little kids get wiped out quickly if they can’t take a stroller break. You also can rent strollers for $7 to $9.
  • Bring sunblock and hats. I saw several kids and adults turning pink with sunburn on our recent visit. Unlike Woodland Park Zoo with its numerous big trees and shaded areas, this zoo has many open spaces without shade. So, use sunblock on kids and yourself before you go.
  • Pack a backpack with water and snacks. The zoo has some great dining options. There are carts with ice cream, several cafes and machines with cold beverages. But you are allowed to bring in your own beverages and snacks, which are great for keeping your family’s energy up as you hike around the zoo.
  • Yes, you do want to pay the $10 for the camel ride for your kid and souvenir photo.
  • Bring some quarters and pennies. The zoo has a great giftshop. If you want a fun, inexpensive set of unique do-it-yourself souvenirs, look for the “crank the penny” machines throughout the park with numerous zoo themed designs. They cost just two quarters – and the penny your child transforms.
  • Use discount coupons or bring your AAA card. Visiting the zoo is not cheap. Adult admission for non-Pierce County residents is $15. 25. For kids ages 5 to 12, the cost is $11.75 per youth. For 3 to 4 year olds, the admission price is $7.75. We used a coupon from our Chinook Book for a discount. We also could have received a discount of $2 off each admission by showing our AAA card. The Seattle Entertainment book also has a coupon for the zoo.
  • Check out the Kids Zone, which replaced the farm-style petting zoo in 2005. The area features a special play and rest area for toddlers and babies, a water play area open until October, slides and a play structure. There is an area where kids can help care and feed some of the zoo animals. Kids also will like riding on the nearby vintage 1917 carousel. It costs $2 for a ride.
  • Go early for plenty of parking and no lines to see the leopard cubs. Parking is free at the zoo but it fills up quickly on a sunny weekend. The zoo opens at 8:30 a.m. during the summer, seven days a week. We were glad we arrived early. By the time we left, cars were parked on the side of the street leading to the zoo and drivers were dueling for our spot.

Other Family-Friendly Tacoma Attractions

Toddlers to 10-Year Olds Will Love the Children's Museum of Tacoma

If you want to make a full day of Tacoma fun, take in the zoo in the morning, stop for lunch and then head over to the Children’s Museum of Tacoma. The museum is located at 936 Broadway Ave. in downtown Tacoma. Admission for adults and children is $6 each and babies under the age of 1 year are free. From Monday to Friday from 3 to 5 p.m., you can visit the museum for half price.

The museum is small but offers a delightful mix of hands-on activities including an “urban garden” where kids can actually “rake dirt” and learn about produce. There is a fabulous art studio with hands-on activities offered daily. Kids can paint painting and have fun at an indoor playground that helps kids build pre-math and science skills. Plus, there's a stage where kids can put on costumes and use props to put on a show.

Tweens and Teens Will Like the Museum of Glass

If your child is too old to enjoy the Children’s Museum of Tacoma, consider a visit to the Tacoma Museum of Glass. The museum is a great place for kids of all ages, even tweens and teens, who can’t resist the lure of the museum’s Hot Shop where they can watch artists blowing glass. The museum is located in Tacoma’s “museum district” at 1801 Dock St. with parking available underneath the building. Admission is $36 for a family of up to four kids, or $12 for adults and $5 for kids under age 13. On Wednesdays, you can get a special rate to visit both the Museum of Glass and the nearby Washington State History Museum. It's $22 for an adult and $18 for a youth, age 6 to 18.

While you're visiting the museum, if your child is 12 years old or younger, encourage him or her to draw an idea for something they would like the Hot Shop artists to make from glass. You can enter it into the monthly Kids Design Glass Program and your child might be invited back to watch the design be transformed into glass.

Dining Options

Tacoma has a host of family-friendly dining options. There are several Red Robins and an Anthony’s at Port Defiance close to the zoo. Our family likes the waterfront Ram Restaurant at 3001 Ruston Way. My son loves the kids menu, especially the “Dirt Cup” dessert featuring gummy worms crawling out of the Oreo crumb "dirt." 

Beach Time

One of the best beaches in Tacoma for kids is located close to the zoo. Owen Beach is located within the Point Defiance park and features plenty of sand, restrooms, picnic areas and a snack bar. You also can rent small boats and kayaks at the beach.

To get to the beach, follow the signs from the park’s Five Mile Drive or park at the marina and walk over to the beach on the boardwalk. Bring a change of clothes so if your kids get super sandy or wet playing in Puget Sound on a hot day, you can have them change in the park’s bath house before heading home.

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