We took my mom and the boys to the Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium (& Aquarium is important, apparently) in Tacoma today and it was really nice. I had never been there before but was, in my opinion, much better than the Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle. PDZA was cleaner, the exhibits were much more natural looking, and even the grounds were in better shape.
We got there just as the park was opening, and there weren’t too many people there. I figured that it was because it was a slightly overcast day, but it never rained. Not bad, at least, and only near the end of our day at the zoo. I love how they had peacocks walking all over the grounds, which was especially nice for the boys since it was one animal they could get kind of close to.
First we went to the aquarium side of the zoo, and the boys got to play in the play-tidal pools and touch starfish, sea cucumbers, and sand dollars.
I was surprised at the size and number of sharks they had in their aquarium. And the tropical island exhibits looked awesome. It looked and felt like a real tropical setting; humidity and all.
One of the highlights for Evan and Bryce were the Asian elephants. That is, once Bryce noticed them.
Near the end of the day, however, the boys were getting tired and hungry, so we took a little break at the one decent snack shop that they had open (my only complaint about the zoo at the time) and then we hit the petting zoo and playland area of the zoo. They had a great time on the slides and feeding goats.
After about 4 hours of elephants, penguins, sharks, and goats we packed everyone up and headed home, but it was a great trip and one I am sure we’ll do again.