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2.5 Stars - 68 Opinions
Observation Platform, Walkway & Olympic Mountains
simple bridge over Puget Creek in Puget Park
Grandview Trail and view out to Puget Sound
Paving Stones of Marvin Alan Klegman Memorial
We'll be arriving in Seattle at 8:10 a.m. on 7/25. We want to see as many sites as possible with our 2-day Go Seattle cards. Because the Space Needle opens at 9, we're heading there first and our 3 kids, 14, 17 and 20, will have to decide between the EMP, etc. By 12:30 we'll either head to the Odyssey Maritime Discovery Center for an hour or possibly the Tacoma Museum of Glass and/or nearby museums. Which one(s) would my kids enjoy the most? They're all included on the Go Seattle Card. Unfortunately, we took a vote and have to go to Wild Waves Amusement Park the end of the first day (it's open until 7 whereas all the museums on the pass close at 5). That's why I'm thinking of checking out some things in Tacoma beforehand since it's so close to Wild Waves. Any suggestions on any of the above or what's a waste of time would be greatly appreciated. I realize we'll be doing a lot of backtracking but it appears unavoidable. We're staying 2 nights in a hotel about 7 miles north of the Space Needle because it's so much cheaper.
That's a really big first day.
I really like the Museum of Glass and the younger ones there seemed quite content. There's even a kids area that the teenagers may even enjoy.
Not much else in Tacoma. The museum is across a bridge from the Downtown area that has a few shops and is pretty nice to walk around. There are coffee shops, boutique and clothing stores and even a brewpub. Just up the road, Old Town Tacoma is nice, but it wouldn't be interesting to teenagers.
Keep distances in mind though. Tacoma will take you over an hour from Downtown Seattle with light traffic. That long a drive plus all of these museums are going to take a toll.
Can I make your life more complex. Don't rush the Space Needle and the museums in the park. When you are done, your kids will enjoy Pike Street Market. Take the mono rail downtown, it is a short trip and you get off at the end and walk downhill to the market. Then head of the back entrance, downhill again and have a bit to eat at the waterfront.
Don't try and drive to the Glass Museum during rush hour, it took me an hour the last time I did that. Wild Waves would be the bottom of my list.
I wouldn't waste my time at the glass museum - they have a hot shop that is fun to watch, but the exhibits are not worth the price of admission (even if it is free). I'd agree with the other answer - see Pikes Market instead - also if you make your way to pioneer square (trolley ride from downtown)there are some glass galleries there where you can watch the glass being made for free. The underground tour is also fun for all ages, and that leaves from Pioneer Square.
Actually on Day 2 we'll be doing the 9 a.m Boeing tour, then visiting Pike Place Market and the Underground tour before catching the 4:30 Blake Island dinner/cruise. Any suggestions on where it's the cheapest to park on Day 2 once we get to the Pike Place area around 11:30 since our cruise won't be over until 8:30? Do the free buses go from Pioneer Square close to Pier 55 where our cruise leaves? How late do they run and how frequently?
Orignally designed in 1893, according to the principles of the City Beautiful movement, and inspired by the great Italian palazzi of the Renaissance, the Tacoma City Hall is a respected architectural landmark. Designed by E.A. Hatherton of San Francisco, the City Hall is now used as a private office structure. 7th and Central, at the northern edge of the central city.
Officially, the Camp 6 logging museum is listed on the National Registry of Historic Places and explains the late 1900's and early 20th century Steam Era of Logging. To me. the logging museum was a mildly interesting excursion. The outdoor part of the museum has a steam locomotive, buck houses and other elements of an early logging camp. The railroad, I believe, is operational and runs between the logging sites. I skipped this part. The indoor part traces logging history from the early days of ox and donkey carrying to the arrival of the locomotive.
Its a free museum and worth at least a brief stop to see the locomotive outside.
Please note that this is located inside Point Defiance Park, which has a large number of activities and attractions. For basic information on Point Defiance Park, please see my Point Defiance tip which gives a basic introduction to the park, and links to the various other attractions and activities inside the park.
Running northwest from the ferry terminal for the Vasion Island Ferry is a broad concrete promenade. The land side of the promenade has a soft gravel section as wide as the concrete part for those who would rather not kill their feet by walking on the concrete. The promenade leads past the "boat house" and Anthony's Restaurant to Owen Beach, making it about 3/4 of a mile (1 km) in length.
The beach along the promenade is small gravel rather than sand. Owen Beach area features picnic tables and benches, and a fairly good sized parking area. The Owen Beach area also features a small section of open grass for those who would like to picnic at the beach without getting onto the beach.
The concrete that makes up the sidewalk of the promenade has been engraved with poetry and other sayings in various places along its length.
The prominade and beach feature views north and west to Vashon Island and various other parts of Puget Sound.
Erected in 1903, the Tacoma Totem Pole was considered to be the "Grandest Totem Pole in the World" at the time. It was carved by Alaska natives visiting Tacoma as at the time it was illegal to export native made artwork out of Alaska.
It stands 82 feet above ground, but the entre length of the pole is 105 feet.
The pole sits at the far southern end of Fireman's Park, near the intersection of 9th and A streets.
The Lobster Shop has the best seafood I had in Tacoma…at a price. There are actually two different Lobster Shop locations; the one I have been to, is located on the Waterfront (Ruston Way). The restaurant has an upscale yet relaxed atmosphere and servers the best fresh seafood around. The steamed clams are a great start, as is their crab dip.
If you enjoy rich bisques, the lobster bisque is a rich as they come but very tasty.
Salmon cooked on alder wood or cedar planks is the best way to prepare salmon and The Lobster Shop does it very well.
Salad with bay shrimp was simple but good
The fresh catch of the day.
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Address: 8402 S Hosmer, (formerly Sherwood Travelodge), Tacoma, Washington, 98444, United States
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