With the broad blue expanse of Puget Sound as a backdrop, Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium is not only one of the top zoos in the country, it is amongst the most beautiful. Nestled on the 29 acres inside the 700-acre Tacoma, Wash park, this zoo & aquarium brings you eye to eye with beluga whales, playful pachyderms, curious polar bear cubs, intriguing sharks, and brilliant reptiles. The Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium enjoys an exceptional reputation for its naturalistic exhibits, animal care and its commitment to wildlife conservation. While visiting, you'll encounter not one but two aquariums. The cold water North Pacific Aquarium features species native to the Pacific Northwest, whereas you'll meet an array of tropical fish in the South Pacific Aquarium.