Which is the better zoo-Seattle or Tacoma? (Enumclaw, Woodland: camps, restaurants)

[Luke9686]

Planning on taking family to a zoo this weekend. Which do you guys think is better? The Seattle zoo or the Point Defiance?

Thanks

[Ira500]

Point Defiance has the aquarium right there attached to the zoo, so you can do more, and Point Defiance park is huge and pretty spectacular, one of the largest city parks in the US.

[allforcats]

I haven't been to the Point Defiance zoo, but I love Woodland Park zoo! It's large, and the animals are surprising -- a white Arctic Wolf! among others. Show-off -- okay, exhibition -- activities out on a lawn most afternoons with a variety of owls and raptors. Penguins! Bears! And on and on.... in a lush park, with lots of places to stop and sit, a couple of them magical. Decent restaurants. Could be difficult to park so get there by 11AM. It's already May, and I think the butterfly exhibit starts in April -- delightful.

[sean98125]

The Woodland Park Zoo is huge. The African, Asian and Northwest Trail sections are pretty cool. I think the exhibits here are a bit more naturalistic than the ones in Tacoma.

The Point Defiance Zoo is nice, and marine mammals are a little better represented. They are opening up a new children's exhibit this weekend, so be prepared for big crowds if you go that way. Point Defiance itself also has other things to do - you can go to Owen Beach and walk along the water. You can take a short train ride at Camp Six, a recreation of an old logging camp. You can also go see the re-enactors at Fort Nisqually.

Another place you might consider is Northwest Trek, near Enumclaw. There's a fairly decent area with predators like cougars, wolves, and bears to walk around, and also a 1 hour tram tour that goes through the open roaming area. That area has buffalo herds, elk herds, deer, moose, mountain goats, dahl's sheep, etc. Saturday the 17th is also Bear Awareness Day. The last time I went then, they set up a campsite in the bear pens and the bears spent all day tearing it apart.

[doulamama]

Well I would have to say Point Defiance Zoo in Tacoma. I like how there is an aquarium there as well. You get to see more for the money too. Im not really a big fan of Tacoma, but I'll go there for the zoo. Woodland Park Zoo is good too though, I enjoy going there as well. Oh Point Defiance is also less crowded.

[wannabeaTexan]

I prefer Woodland Park Zoo. But I haven't been to Point Defiance for years. PD seemed like a ghetto zoo compared to Woodland.

[Iniaow]

I know this post was from a while ago but I can't help adding my opinion for anyone who happens to be searching on this topic. Yes PD has a great park and you can spend a lot of time in the gardens, trails and beach without spending any money. The zoo itself is much smaller and plainer than Woodland. I personally don't believe in keeping whales in captivity- I don't think you can make an exhibit large enogj for them. If you want to see fish and such you should go to the Seattle aquarium. It is wonderful and their mammals and birds are all either rescued and injured animals or captive bred. The Woodland park zoo is very elaborite and extensive with large exhibits. It will take the entire day to see everything... If you run. I have done the entire PD zoo with two toddlers by myself including potty breaks and snack beaks in under three hours. That can be a plus for some people. They also have a new play area with a meercat exhibit that is pretty cool. When we went the meercats were more interested in looking at me baby than she was in looking at them.
*I have been to all three of these places during the last year.

[BellevueGuy]

Point Defiance is newer and smaller.

Woodland Park Zoo is larger with more animals, but more run-down.

I personally prefer Woodland.

[Haakon]

Originally Posted by sean98125

Another place you might consider is Northwest Trek, near Enumclaw. There's a fairly decent area with predators like cougars, wolves, and bears to walk around, and also a 1 hour tram tour that goes through the open roaming area. That area has buffalo herds, elk herds, deer, moose, mountain goats, dahl's sheep, etc. Saturday the 17th is also Bear Awareness Day. The last time I went then, they set up a campsite in the bear pens and the bears spent all day tearing it apart.

NW Trek is a great place, better than either Point Defiance or (especially) Woodland Park, but it's near Eatonville, not Enumclaw. It's a good hour drive away from Enumclaw. Much better views on the drive to NW Trek than the drive to the other zoos too.