Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium

Description:

• The focus at this unusual combination zoo and aquarium is generally on the wildlife of Pacific Rim countries, and to that end, you'll find animals from such far-flung locations as the Arctic tundra, Southeast Asia, and the Andes Mountains. In the aquarium, the Rocky Shores exhibit features marine mammals, including beluga whales. Other exhibits include a seahorse exhibit, a northern Pacific aquarium, and a tropical coral reef aquarium that's home to more than 20 sharks. The zoo's biggest event of the year is its annual Zoolights program, which each December turns the grounds into a fantasy of Christmas lights.

• © Frommer's 2013

Awards:

Frommer's

•  Highly Recommended 2010