Eugenio, Chris Dvm

Polar bears high five at the Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium. Bring the family for a fun-filled day where you can get nose to nose with a giraffe, cagey with a wild cat, high five a polar bear and even ride atop a camel. Dive deeper into nature when you find exhibits and attractions like the 24,000-gallon Lagoon swimming with sharks, octopus and all kinds of sea creatures.

Book a royal romantic getaway at Thornewood Castle. Escape to one of the few genuine private castles in the United States and the only one on the West Coast. Spend the night at the English Tutor Gothic mansion in the Grandview Suite with 16th century stained glass windows, and a beautiful view of the rolling gardens and scenic lake.

Immerse yourself in the world of art at the Tacoma Art Museum, located in the heart of Tacoma's cultural district. Stroll through the sparkling new museum to see national and international collections highlighting American, European and Asian art. Afterward, enjoy lunch at the Relish Café and purchasing souvenirs at the Museum Store.

It's coming up roses at the W.W. Seymour Botanical Conservatory in Tacoma. Meander along the pathways of the historic glass conservatory with its twinkling central glass dome made up of three thousand panes of glass, allowing gleaming sunshine to beam down on thousands of colorful blooms and plants.