The drive to the off-leash dog park is awesome beautiful lots of overlooks you pass by the fort theres so many things to do at Point Defiance Park but the off-leash dog parks very nice its huge it has tables to sit at it has the poop bags theres a rain barrel for water so sometimes you might want to bring your own for your dog. Went there today and everyone was social distancing and had a mask on it was a beautiful day at the park today all the dogs were very well behaved. It was actually kind of nice to be able to chat with someone from a safe distance

It was quite a beautiful day out for a short walk. Lots of people out, most of them in compliance with the mask rule! But its spacious enough that you can be with just your own family. Lovely area.

Great zoo and the aquariums are great too. The set up during Covid19 is done well. There are arrows you can follow to keep the crowds to a minimum.

Wasnt very pleasant, when a lady told me to put on a mask while walking peacefully in the woods. This is America people!!! The land of the free!! If youre that scared stay home!!! I want to be able to smell the pines and the forest. But besides that its a amazing and beautiful park. Live in Faith not Fear.

Beautiful park with a first class medium sized zoo. Also Fort Nisqually and Owens Beach are family fun. As you enter the park keep right and park by the new foot bridge,take a scenic stroll across the bridge to a brand new series of slides. Fun for all ages. Make sure and do five mile drive. You may see small wildlife, plenty of turn outs with spectacular views of the Puget Sound, the new and old Narrows bridge and if you’re lucky you may see a whale pod passing through.

We had a great time havent been here in forever. Its a long drive but we went first thing in the morning on a weekday. Make sure to read the rules about the new ticket process and dont be late. We had a wheelchair to push and there are hills. The Animals and Aquariums were Awesome only the polar bear wasnt out his buddy passed yesterday so I was surprised it was open. Were used to WPZ and this place is tiny so it took us 2 hours taking our time and having a snack. We will definitely go again. Oh and the masks arent just for you alot of animals are susceptible to Covid 19.

Hello All. Well, has a little bit of history. Enjoy coming here since I was a child. When I was 9 years old I use to ride my bike around the 5 mile drive. Many things to enjoy in the park. Plus, picnic tables, plenty of parking, beautiful natural scenery trees in the Pacific North-West. Oh, dont forget to visit the Fort Nisqually 1855 cabins.

We werent at the park, just the ferry terminal dropping off the oldest daughter. Last time I checked to see if you could go in the zoo you had to wear a mask, outside. So we opted out of doing that. We parked down by the boat launch and ate our taco bell waiting for the boat to arrive. Not much going on there.

I love this park. It has hiking trails, paved trails, beach spots, and more. I could spend a whole week here. Really recommend for a day or weekend trip, plenty to see and do. The zoo and aquarium is also a must. Lots of cool animals and exhibits!

Point Defiance is one of the prettiest urban parks in the continental United States. There are trails everywhere, and water views abound. Tennis courts, fishing, boat launchs, minimarts, restaurants and the ferry to take you to Vashon Island where there are fabulous shops, cafes and bars.When you are at Point Defiance take the five mile drive, or better yet, get out and walk it! Or, grab a walk on the almost mile long promenade along the water.

Very nice aquarium and zoo. Nicely laid out with one way paths and easy to follow arrows. The animals were out and fun to watch!

Loved this park. The rose garden was fantastic and we didnt even go at the peak time for garden not to mention they didnt have the normal volunteers to help take care of it thanks to the pandemic. We also got to see to deer that were not so scared of people.

Great place to take a morning walk, even on a foggy day. Grounds are well kept, and the only issue youll run into is finding parking on a nice day. That being said, Ive always been able to find parking when Im persistent.

Loved it. Kid friendly. There is a Japanese garden and a rose and dahlias garden. Great for walks or picnic

A wonderful place to enjoy nature without having to drive far! The drive through the park is beautiful, we stopped at the beach and also walked over the foot bridge by the marina, all beautiful spots especially on a clear day, but still worth it on a foggy day too.

Point Defiance park is a must visit if youre new to the area! Its the 2nd biggest city park in the nation, just behind Central Park in New York - but in my opinion much more beautiful. The park offers endless adventure in the form of trails, beach walks, rose gardens and multiple view points of the Puget Sound and the Narrows Bridge. Natural wildlife can also be found every way you look from Deer and birds to seals and the occasional killer whale at the right time of the year! The park also has several play places for small kids, the Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium, and Fort Nisqually camp which can be toured. There are also large tennis courts to play on, a beautiful Japanese pagoda with surrounding zen garden and.... Well Ive mentioned enough - just see for yourself!

Point Defiance Zoo is one of my favorite zoos. Although it is small it is very well laid out. They have some very interesting animals. I always look forward to seeing the huge walruses, the polar bear and the penguins. Although Covid is still a concern I felt comfortable with all the precautions in place. Even the aquarium had limited visitors being allowed to enter at one time. It was easy to keep your distance. The rose garden which is outside the zoo area was gorgeous with all the bushes in bloom. We had a great time.

Enjoyed a beautiful walk with my family. Loved all the flowers in the gardens and wild life, i.e. geese,ducks, turtles, butterflies, bees, and even a deer. I had been here once before during the winter when it was cold and everything was dead. It was nice to see the change of seasons and all the different colors

Tacoma treasure with breathtaking views. Wonderful botanical gardens, zoo and aquarium, beaches and trails.

Awesome place to spend family time together! Lots of picnic places around 5 miles trail, have fun!

Always a beautiful park to visit, rain or shine! Love the 5 mile drive!

Gem of a zoo that has large variety of animals. My favorites are Clouded Leopard and Red Wolves. In fact it was the first time I even heard or saw red wolves. The history behind that animal is tragic and Point Defiance is pioneer in resurrecting that species. They won awards for conservation of this species. So you know this is a legit, hard working place that cares about animals.All the enclosures are clean and well maintained with enough view ports while giving privacy to animals. The only enclosure that I felt were too small were for the langoors and arctic fox. I hope they remedy the situation.Apart from that, everything is exactly what you want in a family outing place. Aquarium is top notch too. After you have seen the zoo, you have access to the beach and numerous trails. Parking space is ample and very convenient.Overall, a great place to visit with kids and guests and spend a whole day comfortably. Highly recommended.

We had a great time at the zoo and park. During this pandemic, the activities at the zoo were obviously limited which was a bit of a bummer. But overall we had a good time.

Beautiful piece of nature right in the city

It has sculpted dunes to walk up or climb up. I especially like the view out over the waterfront. Spotted several seals today.

So many great little spots to stop along the loop. You could easily spend a day exploring.

Love this park. Every time I go, I find a new adventure and wildlife! I feel safe, can walk towards the water or 5 mile drive. For the most part it was paved. I havent ventured off to the dirt trails yet... The rose garden is beautiful once in bloom!

I love Point Defiance Zoo. My whole family loves to go there. It is always clean. The view is breath taken beautiful. We ended up purchasing membership, since we have three kids plus their friends all the time.

It was fun some animals werent out to hot for them but it was ok.some areas were closed because covid-19 sucks but understandable..

Beautiful place. I found peace for a moment among all this chaos..

The trails are kept amazing and for it being almost 5 miles, it felt much shorter due to the beautiful scenery.

Loved the walk through the forest from. The zoo but got a little turned around trying to find where to start, end or get back. But it was a perfect day to be out an about and we just said screw it and got a little lost exploring knowing if we see the zoo we can follow it back to our car.

Its a big park, beautiful old growth forest overlooking the Puget sound. Great biking, great hiking, a five mile loop, Fort Nisqually, the zoo, and a rose garden too. Watch out the geese can get frisky.

Giving it 5 stars just because its a neat place to go and look at the water. Keep in mind I was only there once and only for 10 minutes and it was night time but the water was so clear you could see the bottom.They have a ferry that takes you to some island but we just missed their last run. The dock worker said to ride the ferry was somewhere around $5-$6 if you board on foot. Not sure how much to bring your car. I think we were there at 11:30pm and the last round trip was I believe at 10:30pm.

Beautiful. The trail was not marked very well so you have to pay attention or use alltrails or Google maps

I like this place, there are nice spots along the drive around the park. I went to Owen beach and the dog park. The beach was busy but it was a nice walk from there to the marina. The dog park is small as far as the off-leash boundaries, and if you have a dog that likes to wander and doesnt listen well, I would be careful since it isnt fenced all around. Lots of lizards too I would recommend checking out what this park has to offer if youre feeling bored.

Lots to take in here whether you are going fir food, fishing or taking in the sites. Its getting chilly here now and the winds coming inland can be kinda challenging if not prepared. Bring your layers and you wont be disappointed

Beautiful Flowers, lovely walk around native plants. Relaxing educational great for the entire family, I recommend packing a lunch and having a picnic.

I love that it has two dog parks and a zoo and endless trails AND waterfront beach area!

I had a wonderful day with my kids here. You have to schedule an arrival time in advance. Wear masks. Social distance as much as you can. They arranged a cart for me due to my mobility issues, and I was able to enjoy the day and see everything.

Five mile drive is closed. Bathrooms are closed. Natural beauty is still there

This park is GORGEOUS. You have choices of walking around a large pond filled with ducks, geese, and even turtles! Other parts have a great view of the bay and trails that take you by small creeks and Japanese stone sculptures. I love taking my dogs here to relax and take in the sun.

The new aquarium is definitely a good place to visit! Love the tunnel tank!!

This is a wonderful park with trails, rose garden and water.a few bathrooms open and most people around garden wear masks.

The great place for walk and rest. Two way for choice inland road or coast walk.

This park is a true gem for the city! Whether you are looking for a walk on the waterfront, a walk in the woods, beautiful gardens, a Japanese garden, or hoping to come upon interesting wildlife (otters, seals, eagles, turtles, raccoons, & deer are all common sites), this park has it all. We are so fortunate to have this land dedicated to public recreation.

You just cant beat the views in this park its the second largest urban park after Central Park, but our views are by far the prettiest. The 5 mile drive is limited to weekdays from 9am to 2pm sharp, but well worth it.

If you are looking for a good place for a day outing on a nice day... it is beautiful here. There are many gardens and a little drive you can do. There are plenty of green areas and even the zoo area. Take some time by yourself or with others. Bring some water just in case you are walking for a bit and need something to quench your thirst.

Being born and raised in Tacoma, Pt. Defiance was a prominent part of my life in childhood and continues to be as an adult.From the Rose Garden to the Boat House. From the Pagoda to Fort Nisqually. Owens Beach to the Zoo...miles of trails and scenic driving routes, wildlife, and educational opportunities abound.I love this park and I think you will, too!

Point Defiance has the BEST off leash dog park ever! The pier fishing is also really good. This is one of my go-to fishing spots.

Lovely park in Tacoma! Be sure to check the schedule for the 5 mile scenic loop before going, it’s not open on the weekends. And bathrooms close for the winter.

The aquarium was the best part. Loved the sea life.

Lots of options for the anyone! Biking, walking paths, Rose garden, playground, waterfront the ZOO! Love it there.

Just went there yesterday. Really disappointing. Lots of empty space with NO animals. The elephant looked like it was in JAIL with just a branch on the floor it was picking at. Im SO glad I didnt bring my child. $40 to look at nothing or just sad sad animals caged up alone. I used to love the ZOO. Ill never be going back to THIS one for sure. Not ONE person who worked there asked if we enjoyed it or anything. All around waist of money and time.

Was a little empty of animals and sea life this time around. No activities for the kids. Relaxing walk tho.

I always enjoy this zoo and Aquarium. I know it isnt the zoos fault when it it is hot, but many animals werent out or just sleeping. With so much of the park closed, while fun, it is a quick trip around. They did have a keeper come out with an owl for a makeshift show, so that was cool that they accomodated some of the closed attractions for people.

Escape to a magical mystery ride. So many things to discover. Beauty and the Beast. Peaceful surroundings and wild escapes. So many adventures to explore. From Beaches to Forests. Please dont fall off a . . . Carousel horse. Do experience the Zoo! Nothing disappoints, a Bucket List of Joy!

A beautifully big park with lots of trails. We went there for a picnic and bbq last summer. There were a bunch of people but it was not crowded by any means. The place we went to had hardly any people there and that was perfect. The place went sat at had a sink with running water, and a restroom not too far away. Perfect for washing your hands before you start cooking. The trails are well maintained without litter and has fresh gravel. There was one area that was closed due to a land slide, but that is to be expected when safety is considered. I recommend this place for hiking, walking, picnics, dog walks, and even just relaxing with friends and family.

Nice zoo, we did the groovy goats. It was fun spending 1/2 with the goats brushing and feeding. Zoo passes included.

The light displays was amazing and the staff who put up the lights for Xmas did such an amazing job ! Great place to bring the family for sure !!!!

Great place to get away that is close. To forget all about work & everything & enjoy the local beauty that is so close & peaceful

Love it super beautiful during spring and summer.

We have a season pass for the zoo and we love it! We went to the aquarium and Zoo the other day, my three-year-old son enjoyed himself very much. We are also big fans of the beach access, duck pond and Rose Garden. If youre in the area definitely stop by and check something out. Duck pond and Rose Garden are free and the zoo is very reasonably priced.

The new Dune Peninsula Park at Point Defiance (just over the new bridge from the main park) is just fantastic. It is so much larger than it seems. Plenty of open green space, gorgeous views, lots of walking paths. It’s been very busy, so if you’re wary re: COVID, I’d suggest visiting during the work week and earlier in the day rather than later. If you’re there before lunchtime the sea lions are perched on the rocks barking away. It’s quite entertaining. As always, Point Defiance Park (whatever part of the Park you’re in) is a winner - and we are lucky to have it here!

Point defiance is always a great experience!!! Love taking our family there!!!

Its a place for the whole family. Kids can play, adults can walk, ride and enjoy the water view. A good picnic spot

Is such a breeze visiting and walking the strip of this park, atmosphere is light and the surrounding area is fun!!

This is a very pretty park and has lots of area to explore along with the 5 mile and a nearby beach I highly recommend it.this is also a great place to take your kids and to have picnics

Lots of trails. The 5-mile drive is nice. Everything is well marked, too, so its easy to get where you want. If you do make a wrong turn its pretty easy to get back on track - or, maybe youll discover something new!

Extremely friendly staff- even tho a lot of areas/exhibits were restricted due to covid, still lots of great animals to see and knowledgeable staff to answer questions. Didnt have all the animals we would have liked to see, but every zoo is different. And what we did see was fabulous!

Beautiful scenery on the way up to Mt. Rainier National Park in Paradise, WA. Make a day of it. The mountain views are amazing.

Beautiful place to visit and walk around. Sad, the road to Vashon point was closed.

Reserved admissions only, but still seemed quite busy, while being easy to social distance. Of course since if the exhibits were not available and others, like the aquariums, had long lines. Overall though a great experience!

I ALWAYS recommend this place to friends and family. They have so many different opportunities for you to enjoy nature and the outdoors. I appreciate the historical factors of the place, the visitor center, the guides, and of course everything else. Please do your research to learn about all this place has to offer and how to keep yourself and the wildlife, environment, and others safe.

Definitely cheaper than the Woodland Park Zoo a lot more Hands-On stuff to do not to mention all the zookeepers and everybody is more informative and a lot more outgoing than the Woodland Park Zoo this is definitely the best zoo in the state and a definite must to see

Such an amazing bike ride, so nice with no traffic on a large portion of it right now.

Point Defiance is an incredible hub of hiking trails, Puget sound views, and tons of activities! Whether going for an event (such as a Tacoma Eats food festival) or just to encounter the natural world, this park hosts a variety of great experiences. It includes a road (known as 5 mile drive) that loops through the park to make different points of interest more accessible. Maps are available on their website for download and easy reference of the parks fixtures (such as the zoo and pagoda) as well as the 3 main trails which are designated by color.

Great spot. We were walking for exercise. People were spaced in accordance with guidelines.Beautiful spot. Great weather.

Great park. The trails are amazing. Makes you feel like your alone but your in the middle of the city. Park is 2nd largest park in a metro city in the us.

Beautiful shady trails. Good place to walk, take the dog or kids. Cool breezes from Puget Sound.

Excellent choice. Whether you want to see the various gardens the zoo or Owens Beach. A fun place for kids and their four-legged friends.

Did our family pictures here.Beautiful. Well maintained. Clean

A wonderful zoo and aquarium! It was fun to see the tigers and elephants up close! We loved watching the sharks, fish, and rays swim in the Pacific Aquarium exhibit. The carousel and kid zone was great for our toddler too! Some of the enclosures seemed small, but its possible that I couldnt see the full area.

Was a great open area good for picnics to get your dogs and kiddos out to walk beautiful garden and right down the hill is the waterfront would go for a casual walk to smell the flowers again for sure

Awesome trails to hike or bike. Great lookout points and scenery all around. Lots of wildlife to enjoy. Beach access at Owens beach with boat rentals and food. Has bbqs for public use and picnic tables

The 5-mile-drive is closed for now, so the other roads through the park are busy all the time, but Owens Beach is open. Still a nice spot to get some fresh air.

My wife and I accidentally hiked around here for over three hours and had a blast. Would love to come back with bikes sometime.

Beautiful place. The 5 mile drive is a great. places to stop with awesome views.

First time there and I saw a fierce sunset and orcas, so I guess I set the bar pretty high, but nonetheless very nice walking path and park.

Went to take the dog for a walk. My son and I saw orca whales there is one breaking water to the left of the ferry... its hard to see im afraid.. but it was amazing!!

There is so much to see and do at Point Defiance. My favorite is to walk through the trails and visit Owen Beach. Its all absolutely beautiful.

Great!! We missed the polar bear but great experience.

Beautiful area with so many things to do.

Nice walk around the new bridge area at point defiance park.

Way beautiful scenery! The trees are amazing and the part that looks over the sound is stunning. Great place to go on a walk/hike with friends or just by yourself.

Went here just to walk around and enjoy the scenery. Great for picture taking, walking with or without pets..Ruston Point is not too far from here. Beautiful park by surrounded by eclectic neighborhood shops and houses. Loved this park.

Great place to just chill and relax. We came to visit the playground and let the little ones get their wiggles out. Behind the playground is a dock where the boats and ferry comes in and out. We took a stroll down here to view the water and watch the boats.

We had a great time. People are being patient and safe.

Nice trails. Dog park is a little on the small side and its all dirt. My dogs ball was caked with dirt after a half hour. I imagine it gets really muddy when it rains.

Such a beautiful place! Walking/hiking trails, gardens, a gorgeous beach where you can rent kayaks, views all around and easy parking. We saw many raccoons and 3 deer.