Top 10 Budget-friendly Things to do in Tacoma, Washington (WA)

Pretty Gritty Tours offers walking tours of Tacoma for everyone. History, culture, things to do, beer, activities, ghosts and more.

Scenic park offering more than 700 acres of woodland trails, gardens and waterfront views, along with a zoo and aquarium.

History museum full of informative displays and artifacts on the history of Washington state.

This grand relic from the golden age of rail travel was re-opened to visitors in the early 1990s.

Currently closed through March 31, 2020. Treat your family to a special day at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium. Where else can you see sea lions and sharks, peacocks and penguins, wolves and walrus, all in one place? The 29-acre Zoo is large enough to offer an awesome array of animals yet small enough to let you get really close to them. Who knows? You might run into a lynx on your way to see the polar bears! Be sure to visit Kids Zone. This fanciful exhibit engages children in active learning through play. The focus is on fun, movement and learning what animals need to thrive. The breathtaking views of Puget Sound, Mount Rainier and the Olympic Mountains are free - and so is the parking. So what are you waiting for? Bring your family to see ours. Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium is open at 9:30 a.m. daily. Closing times vary. Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium is just minutes off of I-5 in beautiful Point Defiance Park in Tacoma, WA.

Fort Nisqually Living History Museum is a restoration of the Hudson's Bay Company outpost on Puget Sound. With the help of costumed interpreters, guests experience life in Washington Territory during the 1850s. Nine buildings are open to the public, including the Granary and the Factors House, both National Historic Landmarks, and a Visitor Center with Museum Store.

Celebrating 81 years, Tacoma Art Museum is an anchor in the city’s downtown and a gathering place for connecting people through art via thoughtful exhibitions, exciting events, and enriching programs. The museum’s collection of more than 4,500 works emphasizes the art and artists of the Northwest and broader western region. Highlights of the collection include: -the largest retrospective museum collection of glass art by Tacoma native Dale Chihuly on continued view; -the largest collection of studio art jewelry by Northwest artists; -key holdings in 19th century European and 20th-century American art; -one of the finest collections of Japanese woodblock prints on the West Coast; and -the Haub Family Collection, one of the nation’s premier western American art collections, with approximately 300 works spanning 200 years. The Haub Family Collection is the first major museum collection of western American art in the Pacific Northwestern region. Named by USA Today as one of the “Top 10 Great Places to See Art in Smaller Cities,” the museum has developed a national reputation for presenting art in a thought-provoking yet accessible manner, with a strong commitment to Northwest art through its acquisition and exhibition programs. In addition to dynamic exhibitions, nationally touring shows, and historical retrospectives, TAM serves the diverse communities of the region through innovative programming and learning opportunities for all ages, including free community events. TAM is located in Tacoma’s Museum District, near the Museum of Glass, the Washington State History Museum, Children’s Museum of Tacoma, and historic Union Station.