Kool stuff to see / do in Tacoma?
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Tacoma ain't very high up there when it comes to places to see, in itself. The old waterfront district is kinda cool in a way, I remember a huge used book store that must have been a city block large. Gig Harbor is a great place to visit and is just across the bridge a ways, the Narrows is fairly close and when the tide surge is really high its pretty spectacular. My dad lived in Lakewood, thats a real nice area with a great place to walk. About the only thing nice about Tacoma is its location to water, I have had a good time fishing right in the sound itself, there are times in the year when its pretty crowded, its got a pretty bad smell most of the time due to pulpwood mills and possibly a refinery or two, the locals just refer to that as the smell of money.
Diamondtreo
US Veteran
Tacoma is home to the LeMay Car Museum, located right next door to the Tacoma Dome. Mr LeMay made his $$ in garbage and trash hauling & apparently collected tons of new cars & stashed them in warehouses throughout the area. After his death, his estate built the museum & populated it with many of the cars in the collection. I haven't been there yet, but it is on the list. LeMay Museum If you get up to Seattle, the Boeing Museum of flight is loaded with planes of all types The Museum of Flight and further up the road in Everett you sill find Paul Allen's Flying Heritage Collection Flying Heritage Collection - Home which houses one of the best WWII warbirds in the nation, many of which fly on a regular schedule during the summer months. Across the field is the Historic Flight Museum as well Historic Flight All are well worth the time to visit.
klondike
Member
I remember my Grandfather telling me that the really big trees that were still common in the 1960's would be all gone soon. Sure enough they pretty much are and a 80 mile trip to Mt Rainier would be worth your while as that is where you will find them today.
Directions to Mount Rainier National Park | Mt Ranier, Ashford, WA
Directions to Mount Rainier National Park | Mt Ranier, Ashford, WA
quneur
Member
There's a military museaum on base. Freight House Square is near the Tacoma Dome. It is a bunch of stalls located in a old train station freight house.
Other than that, I avoid Tacoma as much as possible. There's too much traffic, areas where violence is prevalent and a certain 'scent' wafting over the city. But its been years since I've been down that way and don't know if they've done anything about the scent.
There's a lot more to do outside of the city. East of the city, there's wilderness around Mt. Rainier National Park. West is the Olympic National Forest and Park. Grays Harbor is near the ocean but you want to continue on to either Ocean Shores (commercial tourist destination) or West Port (small fishing community). I perfer West Port as there are places to stay, charter boats and scenic beaches. Plan on driving an hour to any of these locations.
Museum of Flight is about 1.5 hour drive north. I live about 1 mile away. During the yearly air show, it gets pretty noisy; especially when since I'm a night owl and wake up later in the day.
Other than that, I avoid Tacoma as much as possible. There's too much traffic, areas where violence is prevalent and a certain 'scent' wafting over the city. But its been years since I've been down that way and don't know if they've done anything about the scent.
There's a lot more to do outside of the city. East of the city, there's wilderness around Mt. Rainier National Park. West is the Olympic National Forest and Park. Grays Harbor is near the ocean but you want to continue on to either Ocean Shores (commercial tourist destination) or West Port (small fishing community). I perfer West Port as there are places to stay, charter boats and scenic beaches. Plan on driving an hour to any of these locations.
Museum of Flight is about 1.5 hour drive north. I live about 1 mile away. During the yearly air show, it gets pretty noisy; especially when since I'm a night owl and wake up later in the day.
zzzippper
Member
That is a beautiful part of the country. But there is tons of sight seeing in Seattle; the Space Needle, Pikes Street Market, the underground city...
If you are into Motorcycles you should like this. 40 miles south of Tacoma
Vintage_V3_6 » Page 1 of 17
Vintage_V3_6 » Page 1 of 17
Bkreutz
US Veteran
I agree with the previous recommendations, depends on your interests though. Mt Rainier is a great park, but maybe not so much this time of year. Boeing Museum of Flight and the LeMay collection are both great venues. I grew up in Seattle and still don't get tired of visiting the Museum of Flight. They keep changing things. If you only have a couple of days, I'd look at doing one or both of the museums. There is all kinds of stuff to do in this area, Tacoma has a reputation that isn't all that good (but the "aroma" of Tacoma has pretty much disappeared since they tore the Asarco smelter down). There are some "tough" parts of town, but any large city today have those. Have a good visit.
just don't get on an airplane. last time I was there they put me on a plane that went to Anchorage, Tokyo and then Da Nang. lee
PA Guns & Ammo
Member
I hear there is many 4x4 trails out there and a lot of sight seeing. You may want to look into that.
