New Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium Exhibits the Whole Family Will Love

Where else can you dive with sharks, touch tropical creatures, groom goats, visit twin polar bears and enjoy a live animal theater show? Not only is the Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium (PDZA) the only combined zoo and aquarium in the Pacific Northwest but it’s also a botanical garden and host to many unique hands-on and up-close experiences.

I recently visited the zoo to see all the newest features, and am excited to share all the experiences and exhibits that families won’t want to miss!

What’s new at the Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium?

After being closed for a few years, the Tropical Reef Aquarium reopened in the summer of 2024, with 95 added species. Upon entry, you’re greeted by the Tropical Shallows habitat touch tank and a sandy shoreline where you can view stingrays. At the touch tanks, my kids enjoyed the skunk cleaner shrimp’s curious approach as they tickled their fingers. Go below sea level to view some of our favorites: grouper, reef sharks, vibrant coral and puffer fish.

Spectators and participants can experience eye-to-eye shark dives in the newly remodeled Outer Reef habitat. The improved exhibit allows humans and reef sharks to interact more comfortably. This 20-minute water time experience is for up to 4 people, ages 8 and older (and costs $95 per zoo member, $115 per non-member, including admission). No experience with diving is necessary. My son turns 8 this fall and already has this experience on his birthday wish list!

The Arctic Tundra’s polar bear exhibit sat empty for about a year before welcoming polar bear twins, Laerke and Astra, from the Detroit Zoo in 2023. Visit during a Polar Bear Keeper Chat (11:45 a.m. daily) to learn more fun facts about these playful but fierce bears.

The Rocky Shores pools have an exciting new addition. The first sea lion pup born in PDZA history made its entrance on June 6, 2024. Pepper was gradually introduced to the other seals and emerged from behind the scenes in August. You can now view her spinning and swimming alongside her mom.

But wait — there’s more to come! A new exhibit, Coral Up Close, is anticipated to open in the spring of 2025. This new exhibit will highlight the diverse and busy reef communities and their importance in our world. Guests will also learn about the challenges coral reefs face around the world with our changing climate.

More to explore at the Pacific Seas Aquarium

As if one aquarium wasn’t enough, don’t miss the wonders within the Pacific Seas Aquarium. A hammerhead shark and large spotted eagle rays steal the show in the Baja Bay warm-water habitat right when you enter. As you descend into the depths of the aquarium, the “Shimmer” light installation (just one of the many incredible art pieces at PDZA) playfully invites you to advance to the next exhibit. Several jellyfish exhibits — including one of the only two jelly globes in the country — await. The colorful lights on the swirling jellies are entrancing and the continuous water flowing over the globe offers a fun sensory experience.

Several more tanks give insight into our local waters’ habitats without having to dive into the chilly waters ourselves. The kelp forest and giant Pacific octopus are some of our favorites.

The Tidal Touch Zone is open daily for “finger urchin hugs” and gentle exploration of other low tide creatures. My kids also enjoy learning more facts and testing their knowledge on the interactive touch screens throughout this aquarium.

Get your wiggles out at the zoo

Take a play break at the Little Explorers Nature Play Garden (which opened in April 2022), where children of all ages can wander winding pathways amongst native plants, balance on raised planks, take refuge in a woven nest of sticks, crawl through a hollow log, hop and climb around, and build with natural components at the Builder’s Deck.

During peak bloom in the summer, the garden is home to many buzzing bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. Don’t miss the tall bamboo chimes to make some noise — my kids liked to run through these as toddlers. There’s also a sensory garden full of fragrant herbs and different textured plants right at kid level.

We like to save the bigger play area, the Kids’ Zone, for last so we can get some final wiggles out before getting back on the road. This area has play structures among smaller animal exhibits that house lemurs, meerkats, reptiles and more.

Climb the rope web like a spider, pose at the giant shell and anemone photo ops, cool off at the small splash pad (seasonally), and zoom down the slides built into a hill. Moms will appreciate the turf surfacing, partial cover for shade, nearby bathrooms, benches, and private pod for breastfeeding and pumping.

If your kids are like mine, we can’t leave the Point Defiance Zoo without taking a spin on the iconic carousel located near the entrance ($3 for non-members, $2 for members). Note that the carousel may close early when the forecast predicts weather over 87 degrees.

Seasonal shows at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium

If you visit the Point Defiance Zoo from May–September, don’t miss the Wild Wonders Animal Show at the Wild Wonders Outdoor Theater. This half-hour show is the perfect break to sit, have a snack, and be captivated by the dashes of “magic” and the animals’ surprise performances. Our favorites are Clark the king vulture, who swoops over the audience’s heads on command, and Wasabi the skunk, who emerges for a treat and quickly “disappears” backstage.

The Little Explorers Nature Play Garden is open year-round, but in May–September it is also the stage for the seasonal Bugs Alive! show. This live bug presentation debunks scary stereotypes of bugs and teaches the important roles they have in our daily lives.

Additional Point Defiance Zoo experiences

Keeper Chats, Animal Encounters, Dive Talks and the seasonal Critter Corner are all additional opportunities to learn from the zoo keepers and get a closer look at some of the resident animals. Grab a map upon your arrival at the zoo to view the schedule of presentations and Keeper Chats.

Tucked away behind the Kids’ Zone are the beloved goats that you can pet, groom and feed (with pellets available for purchase). Point Defiance Zoo now has an opportunity to get up close and personal with seven baby goats! The “Groovy Goats: New Kids Edition” experience is a 30-minute session for up to 8 people (and costs $30 per member or $50 per non-member). Go behind the scenes to see where all the goats snack and rest. Then enter a private goat yard where the littlest “kids” play! This experience is recommended for children ages 5 and older (my 3-year-old was timid but still enjoyed this experience). My children loved grooming and playing with the baby goats as they explored enrichment activities like the spinning wheel.

There are other year-round opportunities for special animal encounters throughout the zoo and many are unscheduled, so be on the lookout! And not everyone comes to the zoo for the animals — plant enthusiasts come for the world-class gardens. The plants make the Point Defiance Zoo aesthetically beautiful and they also provide enrichment and snacks for the zoo animals. Learn from the PDZA horticulturist on a free botanical garden tour (10 a.m., first Sunday of every month). The Monkey Puzzle Tree is a prominent favorite of mine — see if you can spot it on your visit!