Day trip ideas: Tacoma, Wa
Oh T Town... It will always have a soft spot for me since I spent majority of my childhood here. We just recently took a trip down last weekend and I’d forgotten how many fun things there are to do with your family. And on the plus side, it’s only about an hour or so drive give or take from the eastside. Unless you’re in a traffic window and get stuck in Fife on i-5. Then run for the hills, you’ll be stuck for a bit. But even with the traffic, it’s well worth a trip every now and then to explore. So, here are my top 10 things to do if you’re ever in the mood for a drive down south.
Views from Point Ruston of the waterfront.
Ruston Way (Point Ruston): Ruston Way is truly lovely. For how much water we have in our state, it’s a rarity that you have a nice public place to go to have a walk on the waterfront. Not only is there a several mile round trip pathway, if you take the whole thing down and back; but it’s nice and flat, so it’s perfect for a jog, stroller roll or a bike ride. The pathway has beautiful views of the water, and is lined with restaurants if you need a pitstop when hunger strikes. Since I was little, this place has grown so much! The newest addition being Point Ruston at the far north west end of Ruston Way. It’s been completely built out into a beautiful compound of condos, hotel, movie theater, and more shops and restaurants to pop into while you’re wondering the waterfront. This literally used to just be a mound of dirt until about 10 years ago. Our favorite part is that you can rent surrey’s starting at $29 an hour, and trolly about the pathways nearby. If you get tired, there’s a splash pad in the summer and a beautiful playground right on the waterfront. Plus, there is a great burger joint and sushi restaurant within walking distance of the playground, so everyone wins. It really is the perfect day outing with the fam. You won’t regret it!
LBB making her surrey debut with friends!
Point Ruston Playground.
Tacoma Children’s Museum: I almost forgot that this existed until I was wracking by brain for things to do on a rainy day in Tacoma and this came to mind. It’s right downtown near the UW Tacoma campus. It has just enough to keep you busy for a morning out and about. Another benefit is that it runs on donations, so you pay what you can afford, no ticketed admission required. It has a nice water station, several climbing structures and a discovery room to do art projects and building blocks. We went on a Saturday right when it opened and it got pretty busy so just keep that in mind when you’re planning your next trip!
Corina Bakery: This bakery is very nostalgic for me. I used to come here all the time in high school. It’s up the hill from the Children’s Museum and in the same building as the Grand Cinema (great spot for independent and foreign films), so you can’t go wrong. It’s known for it’s cakes (can be purchased by the slice) but it has everything from vegan breakfast sandwiches to delicious pastries and coffee. Just plan ahead however, since there is always a line!
Awkward screenshots of the Museum of Glass
Museum of Glass: You can’t be from Tacoma and not know Dale Chihuly, or perhaps let me rephrase… you can’t be from Washington and not know Dale Chihuly. He has made a lasting impression on the area, and there are few places you can go and not see one of his famous pieces. Long before the Chihuly Glass Museum opened in Seattle, the Museum of Glass was the place to go to see his work (and many others) including a glass studio where you can watch glass artists working live. It’s pretty incredible. I’m not sure if I’m ready to take my toddler here however… knowing that glass is synonymous with breakable. But I know this will be on our to do list in the near future when we can graduate from the "don’t touch that” phase. Since it is situated on the waterfront, it’s also a great place to walk around after you visit. Including the glass bridge that connects you back to downtown Tacoma.
LaMay America’s Car Museum: Believe it or not, I haven’t been here yet. It didn’t exist when I was living in Tacoma. However, it’s on my list of things to do. I’ve heard nothing but great things about it, and if you have boys in particular, I think it would be a great place to spend an afternoon wandering the wheels of past and present. It’s also very close to the Tacoma Dome, which at one point was the largest wooden dome in the world (not sure if this title has been usurped), and another landmark of Western Washington.
Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium: Underrepresented, and great! Benefit that you get both a zoo and aquarium in one fell swoop. You have to pay twice as much to get in to both entities in Seattle. And another great benefit of this zoo that Woodland Park does not have… is elephants! They are my favorite gentle giant, and I’m always amazed that Woodland Park hasn’t found a way to include them given that they are such a large and well established zoo in the PNW. But I digress. Nestled in the Point Defiance Park, it is also a great place to bring a picnic and enjoy the day by the waterfront. It is fairly close to Point Ruston too, so if you didn’t pack a lunch… there are plenty of spots to choose from nearby.
Fort Nisqually Living History Museum: I love this spot! My parents used to take me here a ton when I was little. It’s such a unique location for the whole family to go and learn about the history of Washington. It was founded in 1833 by the Hudson Bay Company as a fur trading outpost and now has been transformed into a museum to learn about what life was like in the 1800’s. The fort holds many special occasion days throughout the year including live reenactments, evening candlelight experiences around Christmas time, and I’ve even seen that they are introducing overnight stays to really immerse yourself in the history. So plenty of opportunity to find something to satisfy the historian in your group the next time you’re down south.
More awkward car photography of Stadium ;)
Stadium High School: Yes, I am an alumni. So perhaps I’m bias. But this really is a beautiful building. And it is nestled in one of the most beautiful neighborhoods in Tacoma, The North End, which still has many homes that were originally built as summer getaways for Seattleites looking to vacation in the early 1900’s. Wild, I know. For those of you who are wondering; yes, this is the school that was featured in the movie 10 Things I Hate About You. Originally built as a hotel, it wasn’t transitioned into a school until 1906. You can’t necessarily get in to see the interior of the building, but you can drive around it to see the exterior and get a view of the famous ‘Stadium Bowl’ or football stadium where Heath Ledger famously sang “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You”. Fun fact, when I was a senior in high school someone hired our school band to recreate that moment to propose to his now wife. Cute right?!
Melanie Park
Melanie Jan LaPlant Dressel Park (Foss Waterway): This is a new park that is right along Thea Foss Waterway, and a fun pitstop if you’re near the Museum of Glass or on your way to Ruston Way. We were there on a rainy day, so we didn’t get a chance to fully explore, but I know we’ll be back to play the next time we’re in town.
Dash Point State Park: This used to be the place that all the cool guys in high school used to go skimboarding in the summer. Funny what memories pop into your mind when you think of different places from your childhood. It’s a huge beach park with camping spots to enjoy the terrain. I know LBB will love going here in the summer to dig along the beach and put your toes in the water!
Browns Point Lighthouse Park: This is a lovely little beach park with a nice grassy area to lay out for a picnic under the shade of the lighthouse. It’s right at the tip of Browns Point so you get a lovely view of the surrounding waterfront. I can’t remember if there is a play structure here, but nonetheless, there are rocks and sand, so any kiddo would be happy to play while you sit back and read a book on a picnic blanket.
Chambers Bay Golf Course: This is a bonus feature since theoretically it’s in University Place which isn’t Tacoma. But I would be remised if I left it out of a top 10 things to do for the surrounding area. This is a beautiful golf course that is modeled after the Scottish Highlands right smack dab on the waterfront in University Place. I’m not a golfer personally, tennis is my country club sport of choice, but there is a beautiful walking trail that loops all around the golf course and waterfront that is great to walk or bike on a sunny day.
So there you have it! I know there are loads of hot spots that I have likely missed. However, this is a fun roundup of great family friendly activities that you can do on your next adventure to Tacoma. So pack the car, and hit the road! Bon voyage!
