tacoma tourist attractions

Harold LeMay was a Tacoma businessman who, at the time of his death, owned the largest private car collection in the world; he had over 3,500 cars. It's home to over 200,000 residents, and boasts a colorful waterfront district lined with restaurants and attractions. // More, Mount Rainier is the ultimate in American alpine climbing. The museum's construction kicked off restoration efforts of the surrounding Thea Foss Waterway neighborhood. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); You are reading "23 Best Things to Do in Tacoma, WA " Back to Top, Attraction Spotlight: LeMay - Americas Car Museum, Tacoma. And on the inside is a remarkable collection that spans several galleries. Ready for some outdoor adventure? The museum is a wonderful destination for all who love glass art, and its highlight are the glass blowing demonstrations. These blue sculptures are lit underneath at night, offering a different way to appreciate the glass form. 12 Best Things to Do in Tacoma, Washington - Touropia Hotels. The Broadway Center for the Performing Arts comprises the Pantages Theater and the Rialto Theater, both completed in 1918, and the much newer Theater on the Square, which opened in 1993. The museum also has exhibits showcasing Harold LeMay, British cars, alternative fuels, classic cars, and BMWs. The museum is located at 1701 Pacific Avenue, Tacoma, WA 98402 and is easy to access both by car and public transport, with various bus routes and the Tacoma link light rail system stopping nearby. Alongside a visual presence downtown, the Tacoma Art Museum also significantly impacts the local community. The city is also a jumping-off point for quintessential Washington adventures. 2810 6th Avenue, Tacoma, WA 98406, Phone: 253-272-7770. 4.7 miles from Seattle-Tacoma Intl Airport. Job Carr was a restless man who was born in New Jersey in 1813. This private-turned-public collection comprises nearly 300 pieces ranging from the late 1700s to modern times. Enjoying beautiful views over local civic projects, the wing stands as an artwork in itself, having been designed by the prestigious Olson Kundig firm. The Gig Harbor Tour departs from Point Defiance and travels to the Narrows Bridges and Salmon Bridge, providing impressive views of Mount Rainier and the Olympic Mountains. While topics are often Pacific Northwest influenced, the museum does display artwork from across the globe. A fine gift shop and rotating exhibits round out the excellence of the Museum of Glass. If you're walking round-trip, the distance is about four miles so make sure you check the weather and have a plan for how far you're going to walk. A trade store, a dwelling house, a kitchen, a kitchen garden, and a working blacksmith's shop have been added and, with the addition of costumed docents, the museum is now a great way to learn Washington history. The zoo dates back to 1905 when it first opened its doors and you can also visit the aquarium here which was added in 1935. BUY TICKETS vISIT . It is immense, measuring 236,000 acres, while the mountain itself, the fifth highest in the United States, stands out from the Cascade Mountain Range at 14,411 feet. // More, Travel Tacoma - Mt. This museum was designed for infants up to the age of 8 and has several different playscapes for youngsters to explore. Grocery. . The bridge sits 200 feet above the Puget Sound and from this vantage point you can take in fantastic views of the city of Tacoma and, on a clear day, the impressive peak of Mount Rainier looming in the distance. The park and the conservatory have a long history tied to the city, and each has offered fun things to do in Tacoma for over 100 years. It has an easy perimeter trail called Hustle and Flow, while Ground Control and Major Tom are advanced trails, and there are four jump lines and a technical skill-building zone. This exhibit presents you with an overview and perspective of Porsche's past 75 years as an automobile manufacturer and the display will provide you the opportunity of experiencing more than seven decades of engineering excellence with the collection consisting of many of the most significant and iconic Porsche models to date. The Foss Waterway Seaport is the home of maritime pursuits in Tacoma, and here you can find out all about the history of seafaring in this part of the United States. The lake is home to wood duck, mallards, Canada geese, and western painted turtles. This was amazing the best puzzle room we ever did and Jada is the perfect game master!! 3997 E Roosevelt Ave, Tacoma, WA 98404, Phone: 253-305-1000. In Becka's Studio, there is plenty of equipment for messy, creative art projects, and the Invention Studio has blocks, boards, fabrics, and tubes for building, learning gross motor skills, and early math learning. The Museum was established to present, preserve and promote an interest in Americas automotive heritage and treasures and serve as a gathering space where automobile lovers and enthusiasts can come to enjoy all things auto. 2. Swan Creek Park is a greenspace tucked into the land between East Tacoma and Pierce County. Dedicated to collecting and showing Northwestern art, the museum owns over 4,500 items, including the largest collection of Dale Chihuly glass art and the largest collection of jewelry by Northwestern artists. There are not just cars, but also buses, military vehicles, motorcycles, buses, trucks, motorhomes, and unique custom vehicles. Two public parks on the lakeshore have beaches that attract swimmers, sunbathers, picnickers, and fishing enthusiasts; shore fishing available in both parks, there is lovely clean water in which to swim, and benches, picnic tables, and restrooms are available. 1801 Dock Street, Tacoma, WA 98402. It offers the unique opportunity of scuba diving in a shark tank. The museum also hosts several celebrated events, including Neighborhood Nights, every Thursday evening. What visitors see today is a reproduction of the original cabin, decorated as it would have been in the mid-19th century and furnished with antiques. Vehicle traffic may drive through the inner loop of the park, while the outer loop is open only to pedestrians and cyclists. - Visiting - To enjoy the breathtaking beauty of the works in the Benaroya Collection for yourself, a visit to the Tacoma Art Museum is a wonderful way to spend some free time for people of all ages. As well as sports related events, you will also find standup comedy shows here and holiday related performances, so keep an eye on local listing to see what is coming up when you are in town. The Nisqually Entrance is located six miles east of Ashford, Washington on SR 706. California real estate magnates David and Marsha Karpeles amassed the largest private collection of manuscripts in the world, which they put on display in eleven locations across the United States. Washington Tourist Attractions and Oddities Index - Roadside America Roadside America - Guide to Uniquely Odd Tourist Attractions Things to Do near Seattle-Tacoma Intl Airport (SEA) Nisqually Entrance - U.S. National Park Service The covered section of the bridge has a ceiling installment called the Seaform Pavilion, on which hang over 2,000 glass objects, giving the viewer the perspective of looking at a coral reef from below. Great detail went into the Great Hall, with several exhibits that transport visitors back in time. Lakewood is a patriotic community that invites you to enjoy some all-American fun. LeMay Americas Car Museum in Tacoma chronicles the story of the automobile, celebrates Americas love affair with the car and learn how it shaped society today. Since 1965 the Tacoma Railroad Heritage Center tells the history of railroads serving that city and the entire Puget Sound region. They sold the property to the LeMays in the 1980s and both the grounds and the buildings have been maintained. The Department of Fish & Wildlife has a two-lane concrete boat launch available. Both supply Vegas-style gambling, including video slots, live-action Keno, and table games including Let it Ride, Blackjack, Spanish 21, Fortune Pai Gow, Craps, Roulette, and Caribbean Stud. Satisfy almost any craving with one-of-a-kind cuisine, eclectic local restaurants and bakeries, and unique and exciting clubs. Many of the galleries here are interactive so that children can get hands on, and entry is on a donation basis to encourage as many visitors and youngsters as possible through the doors. Rainiercookies policy Location: Six miles east of Ashford, Washington on SR 706. Broadway Center for the Performing Arts, 10. Dedicated to collecting and showing Northwestern art, the museum owns over 4,500 items, including the largest collection of Dale Chihuly glass art and the largest collection of jewelry by Northwestern artists. 114 S. 23rd Street, Tacoma, WA 98402, Phone: 253-383-3499. A Weekend at the Museums Family-Friendly Fun! Car enthusiasts travel across the world to visit ACM. The LeMay Americas Car Museum collection consists of over 250 automobiles that date back over 100 years, spanning the history of the industry, as well as a plethora of automotive artifacts, objects, and items relating to cars and other vehicles. 5400 North Pearl Street, Tacoma, WA 98407, Phone: 253-591-5337. Part of their collection is housed at America's Car Museum, also in Tacoma, but the majority is at Marymount. LeMay Collections at Marymount - Northwest's largest automobile The museum has a kids' craft area as well as knowledgeable and friendly docents. For suntanning, head to Owens Beach for plenty of space to sprawl out next to the water. It encompasses 27 acres and several species of trees. While he built his cabin, he lived under a cedar bark shelter with his cat, Tom. The groundbreaking celebration for the new wing occurred in July of 2017 on what would have been Jack Benaroya's birthday and the wing opened up in January of 2019. Gig Harbor is a charming maritime village full of peace and solitude. Tacoma's Museum of Glass (MOG) has a deep connection to the city. Full of old-fashioned friendliness, Sumner embodies all things Americana. The museum's sole purpose is to provide art that "inspires perspectives and cultivates a compassionate future." 407 SG Street, Tacoma, WA 98405, Phone: 253-383-2575. Gas. Map to recommended offbeat attractions, and road trip sights -- museums, monuments, tourist traps, folk art, pet cemeteries. The Asian Forest Sanctuary houses both Sumatran and Malayan tigers, gibbons, porcupines, and Asian elephants. Adult programs include Insider Talks and Lunchtime Lectures series and guided tours of the Museum, while Youth and Family Programs include Family Steam Days, Late Night Programs, Scout Programs, Pinewood Derby Days, Summer Camps and Preschool Programs. Tacoma Art Museum Colleen Michaels / Shutterstock If you're wondering what to do in Tacoma, be sure to spend an afternoon at the Tacoma Art Museum. There are a range of classes and workshops that you can join here, and all levels of ability can participate in this fun activity, even if you have never blown glass before. Get our travel tips Delivered to your inbox. The museum is a relative newcomer to the museum scene in Tacoma having been established in 2005 and aims to educate the public through a range of galleries and exhibits. Located downtown, the Maritime Museum finished construction of its permanent venue in a section of the historic Puget Sound Freight Warehouse, which is also managed by the Foss Waterway Seaport Project. The museum, which is located next to the Tacoma Dome, offers guided tours, a full-service caf, and a gift shop selling Route 66 souvenirs, model cars, car care products, and Ford collectibles. Members, children, and military members or veterans can enter for free, while other guests will need to buy an admission ticket. Visitors lucky enough to see animals on their meanderings around the park should know that there are hefty fines for feeding the animals. From museums and libraries to public installations and art-themed eateries, the city is, Scenic Drive: Point Defiance to Steilacoom, Scenic Drive: Point Defiance, Gig Harbor and Key Peninsula, Distinctive venues in Tacoma and Pierce County, Awe-inspiring recreation in Tacoma and Pierce County, Team building in Tacoma and Pierce County, Pre- and post-meeting activities in Tacoma and Pierce County, Pierce County Destination Awards and Accolades. While it sometimes gets overlooked in favor of its larger neighbor, Seattle, Tacoma, Washington state's largest port, has plenty to offer in its own right. Centralia: Auto Parts Man. Discover the many attractions found here. Point Defiance Park - Make this place your first port of call if you're looking for fun during your escape. If you'd rather park and stretch your legs, there are many well-marked trails for hiking and cycling and you'll find many locals getting in their daily exercise with a side helping of old-growth forest scenery. Whether its roulette or Renoir, leopards or Lamborghinis, you'll find endless opportunities for fun. 25 Best & Fun Things To Do In Tacoma (Washington) - Busy Tourist Free Things to Do in Tacoma | Museums, Parks & Hiking Museum District Glass Art Public Art Fort Steilacoom Park Relax in the heart of Tacoma Childrens Museum of Tacoma Fireman's Park Pacific Bonsai Museum Port of Tacoma Ruston Way Farmers Market Fife History Museum Harbor History Museum Karpeles Manuscript Museum And the non-profit museum doesn't disappoint. It was built for the 1962 World's Fair and stands today as a centerpiece of the sprawling Seattle Center. Inside the interpretative center there are displays on the ecosystems and animal life within the nature preserve. Entrees range from mesquite-grilled beef and chicken to quinoa bowls, lamb shanks, pastas, sandwiches, and salads. As you wander around the museum you will find staff members in period garb who are happy to reenact scenes from life in the fort in the days of old. As part of Roosevelt's New Deal employment initiatives in the 1930s, the fort was restored; two of its original buildings, the keeper's house and the granary, are still standing. Things to Do in Tacoma: Fort Nisqually Living History Museum, 19. The museum is dedicated to sharing knowledge about the sacrifice and service of Buffalo Soldiers, and is a good place to come for a different perspective on American history. 1,308 Art Museums, Speciality Museums LeMay - America's Car Museum 1,064 Speciality Museums Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium 1,009 Aquariums, Zoos Washington State History Museum 245 Speciality Museums 5 Mile Drive & Trails 250 Hiking Trails Tacoma Art Museum Guided tours are available. The park also has a variety of gardens, including a rose garden, a Japanese garden, a dahlia garden, and a rhododendron garden. It has a zoo, an aquarium, a boardwalk, a lovely ocean beach, an off-leash dog park, a boathouse and marina, hiking trails, and a stand of old-growth forest that contains 450-year-old Douglas firs. The park has so many diverse ecosystems, such as old-growth forests, gigantic glaciers, waterfalls, alpine meadows teeming with wildflowers, and deep gorges and valleys. Seattle Center and the Space Needle Seattle Center Of all the top attractions in Seattle, the Space Needle within the Seattle Center is perhaps the most iconic. If you venture outside, then you can enjoy hiking, kayaking on the river, or simply strolling through idyllic local parks. Would highly recommend. Point Defiance Park is a popular special events venue, with the picnic shelters, Japanese pagoda, and rose garden available for rent. Karpeles Manuscript Museum - Filled with intriguing objects and exhibits, this gallery is heaven for hungry minds. Mount Rainier is the state's largest mountain and the most prominent peak in the Pacific Northwest. Encompassing nearly a million acres, the park protects a vast wilderness, thousands of years of human history, and several distinctly different ecosystems, including glacier-capped mountains, old-growth temperate rain forests, and over 70 miles of wild coastline. In the Asia Forest Sanctuary, you can view Sumatran tigers, white-cheeked gibbons, and Asian elephants. We have 'em mapped and tagged. Not just a place to admire the incredible Benaroya Collection, the wing is also a living, breathing, dynamic part of the museum and will see new events and special activities in the future too. The Tacoma museum is a large Greco-Roman building across from Wright Park, and its exhibits change frequently. Tacoma Area 253 Glassblowing. Official site: https://www.metroparkstacoma.org/place/wright-park/. Escape Hour Point Ruston. And it's one of the largest collections of Western American art in the Pacific Northwest. It links the Museum of Glass to Museum Row and Tacoma's downtown. Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium is easily one of the best things to do in Tacoma. He acted as the director for various locations around Seattle, as well as supporting institutions like the University of Washington Medical Center, the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation International, and the Children's Hospital and Medical Center. Post sunset, the nearby Thea Foss Waterway has a lovely lighted walkway and several local restaurants with menus to peruse. One of the signature features at the museum is also the live glass making workshops that are available where you can see artists working on pieces in front of your eyes. The Museum does this through a variety of rotating exhibitions, displays, and experiences throughout the year, as well as a range of education and training programs in automotive preservation and restoration for students of all ages. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. Area 253 Glassblowing, 2514 S Holgate St, Tacoma, WA, Tourist Attractions - The Collection - Sadly, Jack Benaroya passed away in 2012 at the age of 90. A three-acre courtyard and clubhouse are available for car club meets and other special events and functions and with beautiful views of downtown Tacoma and the Olympic Mountains in the distance. Tacoma is home to not one, but two, Emerald Queen locations: One in Fife and another off of I-5 in Tacoma. Puyallup [pew-al-up] is home to one of the largest State Fairs in the Country. Smiley Face Water Towers: 1801 Dock Street, Tacoma, WA 98402, Phone: 866-468-7386. 25 Top Tourist Attractions in Seattle (with Map) - Touropia See all Shared Sunset Cruise from Gig Harbor on Puget Sound 58 Day Cruises from $75.00 per adult Tacoma Scavenger Hunt: Bright Lights, Big Glass 1 The Benaroya Collection is an incredible gift of hundreds of pieces of artwork from both Northwest and international artists, generously donated to the Tacoma Art Museum by the Benaroya family. The Bridge of Glass is free for anyone to enjoy and is open 24/7 with lights illuminating the glassworks at night. But the biggest appeal from the Nisqually entrance is its access to Paradise, the aptly named region on the mountain's southern flank, accessible from Tacoma with a two-hour drive.
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