Now that the sun has finally arrived, you might be in the mood for a family road trip. But rather than hassle with all the planning that goes along with spending several hours in the car, why not consider a getaway that's closer to home?

When my family visited the Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium recently to check out the adorable clouded leopard cubs, I was reminded of all the great attractions Tacoma offers less than an hour from our home on the Eastside. Along with the zoo, the city also has several museums, great dining options and easy access to beaches on Puget Sound.

Where the wild things are

My family loves the Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle, but during our visits most of the zoo’s animals have been off limits for close-up encounters, and the zoo's staff has been primarily engaged with taking care of the animals, not educating the visitors.

In contrast, on our recent visit to the Port Defiance Zoo and Aquarium, my son got to hug a camel, we met a lizard on the zoo's lawn and got to examine a walrus tusk up close while we learned how the animal uses it. Our kids enjoyed voting on names for the clouded leopard cubs on the iPad a zoo employee also used to educate us about the cubs. At the aquarium, we watched visitors volunteer to feed fish under the watchful eye of aquarium staff.

The zoo is nationally celebrated for its program of conservation and reintroduction of the endangered red wolf. Throughout the zoo, staff have offered suggestions for how you can get involved with making a difference for endangered animals. Even the Pearl Street Sea Grille, one of the zoo's on-site dining options, emphasizes that they serve only sustainable seafood.

Tips for making the most of your zoo visit

• Take a stroller if you have a child under age 5. The zoo is spread out over several sloping acres, which means lots of stairs and walking around on sometimes steep paths. Little kids get wiped out quickly if they can’t take a stroller break. You can also rent strollers on site for $7 to $9 if you don’t want to haul your own.
  
  
• Bring sunblock and hats. I saw several kids and adults turning pink with sunburns on our recent visit. Unlike Woodland Park Zoo with its numerous big trees and shaded areas, this zoo has many open spaces without shade, so sunblock those kids and yourself before you go.
  
  
• Pack a backpack with water and snacks. The zoo has some great dining options, including carts with ice cream, several cafes and machines with cold beverages. You are also allowed to bring in your own drinks and snacks, which are great for keeping your family’s energy up as you hike around the zoo.
  
  
• Yes, you do want to pay the $10 for the camel ride for your kid and souvenir photo.
  
  
• Use discount coupons or bring your AAA card. Visiting the zoo is not cheap. Adult admission for non-Pierce County residents is $15.25, and kids age 5 to 12 are $11.75, with 3 to 4 year olds being $7.75. We used a coupon from our Chinook Book for a discount, and we could have also received a discount of $2 off each admission by showing our AAA card. The Seattle Entertainment book also has a coupon for the zoo.
  
  
• Check out the Kids Zone, which replaced the farm-style petting zoo in 2005. The area features a special play and rest area for toddlers and babies, a water play area open until October, slides and an area where kids can help care and feed some of the zoo residents. Kids will also like taking a ride on the nearby vintage 1917 carousel for $2 a ride.
  
  
• Go early to find plenty of parking and no lines to see the leopard cubs. Parking is free at the zoo, but it fills up quickly on a sunny weekend. The zoo opens at 8:30 a.m. during the summer, seven days a week, and we were glad we arrived early—by the time we left, cars were parked on the side of the street leading to the zoo and drivers were dueling for our spot.

Other Tacoma attractions

If you want to make a full day of Tacoma filled fun, take in the zoo in the morning, stop for lunch and then head over to the Children’s Museum of Tacoma. The museum is located at 936 Broadway Avenue in downtown Tacoma. Admission for adults and children is $6 each, babies under age one are free, and Monday through Friday from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. you can visit the museum for half price.

The museum is small but offers a delightful mix of hands-on activities including an urban garden where kids can actually "rake dirt” and “sell produce,” a fabulous art studio with hands on art activities offered every day, an indoor playground that also helps kids build pre-math and science skills, and a stage where kids can put on costumes and use props to put on a show.

If your child is too old to enjoy the Children’s Museum of Tacoma, consider a visit to the Tacoma Museum of Glass. The museum is a great place for kids of all ages because no one can resist the lure of the museum’s Hot Shop with artists blowing glass.

The museum is located in Tacoma’s “museum district” at 1801 Dock Street with parking available underneath the building. Admission is $36 for a family of up to four kids, or $12 for adults and $5 for kids under age 13. On Wednesdays, you can get a special rate to visit both the Museum of Glass and the nearby Washington State History Museum for $22 for adults and $18 for kids 6 to 18.

If it's too nice of a day to stay inside, consider checking out the beach. One of the best beaches in Tacoma for kids, Owen Beach, is located close to the zoo within the Point Defiance park. It features a sandy beach, restroom, picnic areas and snack bar. Small boats and kayaks are also available for rental.

To get to the beach, follow the signs from the park’s Five Mile Drive or park at the marina and walk over to the beach on the boardwalk.  Be sure to bring a change of clothes—if your kids get super sandy or wet playing in Puget Sound on a hot day, you can have them change in the park’s “bath house” before heading home.

If you're feeling hungry after a day of hitting up museums or other attractions in Tacoma, the city has a variety of family friendly dining options, including several Red Robins and an Anthony’s at Port Defiance close to the zoo. Our family likes the waterfront Ram Restaurant at 3001 Ruston Way. My son loves the kids' menu, especially the “Dirt Cup” dessert featuring gummy worms crawling out of the Oreo crumb "dirt."