3 Best Places To See in Tacoma, WA

Expert-recommended Top 3 Places To Visit in Tacoma, Washington. All of our places to see actually face a rigorous 50-Point Inspection, which includes customer reviews, history, complaints, ratings, satisfaction, trust, cost and general excellence. You deserve only the best!

9+ YEARS IN TBR
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POINT DEFIANCE ZOO & AQUARIUM

5400 North Pearl Street,
Tacoma, WA 98407 Directions

Since 1905

Specialty:

Zoo Admission Aquarium Admission Animal Habitats Keeper Chats Animal Encounters Educational Programs Conservation Programs Private Tours School and Group Visits Field Trips Event Bookings Weddings Picnics Zoolights Company Events Functions Groups Reunions Animal Programs Close-encounter Programs Education Center

" Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium is a 29-acre zoological park that was established in 1905 and attracts about 700,000 visitors a year. The 700-acre Point Defiance Park offers views of Mount Rainier and Puget Sound, with over 520 different animal species, a vintage carousel, and Zoolights. You can get an individual Zoo membership for $90 and a Combo membership for $160. An expert staff biologist can introduce your group to one of the Zoo's resident animals and describe how they survive in the wild. The zoo is one of the most popular tourist destinations, bringing in over 600,000 visitors per year.

2026 Highlights: Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium offers rental spaces for company events, reunions, and picnics. "

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License #916066667

Price:

Online Tickets
Adult (Age 13+) $32
Youth (Age 3-12) $22
Senior (65+) $30
Infant (Age 2 & Under) Free
Front Gate Tickets
Adult (Age 13+) $32
Youth (Age 3-12) $22
Senior(65+) $30
Infant (Age 2 & Under) Free
U.S. Military Or Pierce County Resident (Front Gate Only)
Adult (Age 13+): $25
Youth (Age 3-12): $17
Senior (65+): $23
Infant (Age 2 & Under) Free
Zoo Members
Adults (Ages 13 - 64) Free
Seniors (Ages 65+) Free
Youth (Ages 3-12) Free
Infant (Age 2 & Under) Free

Discount:

10% Off for food and beverage purchases for members

10% Off in the gift shop, both in-person and online for members

50% Off for Zoolights tickets View Coupon

Contact:

(253) 404-3800 (253) 404-3823

Mon-Fri: 9am - 3:30pm
Sat & Sun: 9am - 5pm

TBR® Inspection Report:

11+ YEARS IN TBR
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LEMAY-AMERICA'S CAR MUSEUM

2702 East D Street,
Tacoma, WA 98421 Directions

Since 2012

Specialty:

Automotive Exhibits Rotating Exhibitions Educational Programs Field Trips Guided Experiences Racing Simulators Slot Car Track Family Activities Special Events Private Events Museum Rentals Café Storytime and Art Family Zone Exploration Guided Tour Self-guided Exploration Scouts Family Zone Summer Camps Youth and Family Programs Gift Shop Signature Events

" LeMay-America's Car Museum is designed to protect history and celebrate the world's automotive knowledge. The museum's collection consists of automotive artifacts, 250 automobiles spanning over 100 years of history, with approximately 100 cars on exhibit on loan from private collections. ACM is a stunning, four-level, 165,000-square-foot museum that features 12 rotating exhibits, five annual signature events, and an educational center for students of all ages. The spacious facility houses up to 350 trucks, cars, and motorcycles from corporations and private owners. The LeMay collection garnered a Guinness World Record of over 3,500 transports in the mid-'90s. The museum's premier event galleries overlook downtown Tacoma and Commencement Bay and can accommodate up to 500 guests.

2026 Highlights: LeMay-America's Car Museum offers various school programs including virtual, in-person, and outreach programs. "

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License #601820038

Price:

General Admission
Adults (13-64) $24.50
Youth (5-12) $17.50
Seniors (Age 65+) $22.50
Active Duty Military Veteran (With Valid Id Card)$22.50
Child (4 And Under) Free

Discount:

10% Off in the ACM gift shop for ACM’s Museums for All membership View Coupon

Contact:

253-779-8490 877-902-8490

Mon, Thu-Sun: 10am - 5pm
Tue & Wed: Closed

TBR® Inspection Report:

11+ YEARS IN TBR
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MUSEUM OF GLASS

1801 Dock Street,
Tacoma, WA 98402 Directions

Since 2002

Specialty:

Contemporary Glass Art Exhibitions Live Glassblowing Demonstrations Hot Shop Programs Artist Residencies Educational Programs Fused Pendant Workshop Docent-led Tours Museum Store Museum Cafe Group and School Tours Private Events Memberships Chihuly Bridge of Glass Glass Tile Workshop Mosaic Workshop Special Events Hands-on Opportunities

" Museum of Glass is a 75,000-square-foot art museum that has a diverse indoor and outdoor glass-art exhibit, along with a cone-shaped studio with working artists. In its 16th year, the museum has built a reputation for hosting impactful, engaging artist residencies, organizing nationally traveling exhibitions in its galleries, and creating unique programs for its visitors. Each year, over 100,000 visitors explore the museum, sampling all it provides. The Hot Shop Amphitheater, located inside the 90-foot-tall steel cone, fulfills that description today. The museum was envisioned as a center that would nurture artists, celebrate the dramatic new Studio Glass movement, and encourage creativity. This vision is realized through the exhibitions in the galleries, the art installations on the outdoor plazas, the hands-on art studio, the museum’s diverse educational programs, and the Hot Shop.

2026 Highlights: Museum of Glass encourages visitors to create their own art with a variety of hands-on workshops inspired by the Museum’s current exhibitions. "

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License #3601601058

Price:

Admission
Adults $18
Seniors (65+) $16
Military (Active and Veteran, With ID) $16
Youth (6–18) $9
Children (Under 6) Free
Museum Members Free

Discount:

10% Off in the MOG Store for members

10% Off in the Café for members 15% Off at the MOG Store for Circle Membership

Contact:

253-284-4750 (253) 284-3009

Wed-Sun: 10am - 5pm
Mon & Tue: Closed

TBR® Inspection Report: