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

[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.