What to do and see in Tacoma, United States: The Best Places and Tips

October 30, 2017 Terina Blouin

Sitting at the foot of Mount Rainier, from whose former name the city takes its name, Tacoma is the perfect base point for exploring Mount Rainier National Park and the spectacular landscape surrounding.
Restaurants in Tacoma

1. Point Defiance Park

5400 N Pearl St, Tacoma, WA 98407-3224 +1 253-305-1030
Excellent
78%
Good
19%
Satisfactory
1%
Poor
1%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 1 reviews

Point Defiance Park

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

Reviewed By John S - Columbia, Missouri

I had never been to Tacoma before and was only there for one day so wasn't sure what to do. So glad we decided to explore Point Defiance. Such a beautiful park with tons of fun things to do. Must visit if in Tacoma!

2. LeMay - America's Car Museum

2702 E D St, Tacoma, WA 98421-1200 +1 253-779-8490
Excellent
73%
Good
23%
Satisfactory
2%
Poor
1%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 891 reviews

LeMay - America's Car Museum

LeMay - America's Car Museum (ACM), named one of USA Today's 10 Best Museums in Seattle and KING 5's 2014 & 2015 Best Museum in Western Washington, is an international destination where families and enthusiasts gather to celebrate America's love affair with the automobile and how it shaped our society. The stunning, four-level, 165,000-sq.-ft. Tacoma, Wash., facility features 12 rotating exhibits, five annual Signature Events and serves as an educational center, hosting students of all ages.

Reviewed By Ted L

Talk about a kid in a candy store. The LeMay Auto Museum is just nirvana for everyone who loves wheeled transportation in all its beautiful, strange, weird and kooky forms. LeMay is located in Tacoma in a really interesting free-form wood laminated building overlooking the harbor and next to the freeway -- easy to get to. It's not over priced like some museums because you can easily spend an entire afternoon swooning over classic cars, sports cars, cars with vintage pedigree in addition to some motorcycles and even electrics. My recent visit featured a nice collection of post-WWII vehicles that represented the Eisenhower era of my youth. Studebakers, Kaisers, Hudsons, Packards, etc. all gleamed in their deserved spotlight. It was a kick in the pants to revisit the marques that are long gone but not forgotten,
The LeMay is definitely worth a detour. And, enjoy lunch in the museum cafe while you are at it. Parking is free.

3. 5 Mile Drive & Trails

5400 N Pearl St, Tacoma, WA 98407-3224 +1 253-305-1000
Excellent
79%
Good
20%
Satisfactory
1%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5 based on 187 reviews

5 Mile Drive & Trails

Reviewed By jgbtravels - Louisville, KY

We are fortunate we decided to stay in Tacoma to visit the sights rather than go back to Seattle. When we first got to the park when they opened up the 5 Mile Drive was closed. We decided to go back around one more time and it was open. Lucky us.This is really a lovely drive with numerous photo opportunities. Don't miss it or the rose garden near Pearl Street. Worth the effort to see.

4. LeMay Museum at Marymount

325 152nd St E, Tacoma, WA 98445-1214 +1 253-272-2336
Excellent
74%
Good
22%
Satisfactory
3%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 153 reviews

LeMay Museum at Marymount

Reviewed By wedgewa - Washington State

The family of Harold Lemay played a huge role in creating the downtown Tacoma Lemay America's Car Museum but this is their own creation. And it's quite different. Much more eclectic and casual. On the grounds of a former school with cars, trucks, trains, toys......the LeMays collecting spanned a wide variety. There's also event venue space here if you need some.

5. Chihuly Bridge of Glass

Between Dock Street and Pacific Avenue, Tacoma, WA 000-000-9999
Excellent
69%
Good
25%
Satisfactory
4%
Poor
1%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 462 reviews

Chihuly Bridge of Glass

Reviewed By Anna911 - Washington DC

As a huge fan of Dale Chihuly this bridge was a can't miss for me. In many ways it did not disappoint. The artwork itself is just stunning and you should take the time to see it both during the day and wanted to luminated at night. What is very frustrating is this year number of pieces especially in the wall where the lights have burned out. Weather this is the city of Tacoma or the Museum of Glass which is responsible someone needs to take better care of the lighting. But otherwise I walked along this bridge every single night that I was there because I thought the artwork was so special.

6. Cheney Stadium

2502 S Tyler St, Tacoma, WA 98405-1051 +1 253-752-7707
Excellent
62%
Good
34%
Satisfactory
2%
Poor
1%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 138 reviews

Cheney Stadium

Reviewed By dcyagura - Gig Harbor, Washington

This was our only game this season, although we have gone there before. It's always a fun time, and a festive atmosphere and the Rainiers keep the fans engaged throughout the game. Everyone around us seemed to have a good time as well. It's a nice environment for families too.

7. Tacoma Art Museum

1701 Pacific Ave, Tacoma, WA 98402-3214 +1 253-272-4258
Excellent
57%
Good
31%
Satisfactory
9%
Poor
2%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 222 reviews

Tacoma Art Museum

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.

Reviewed By kumtux - Vancouver, Washington

This was my first visit to TAM. It is a beautiful building right downtown on Pacific Avenue. There is a modest collection of fine American art through the ages, but we most enjoyed the temporary exhibits, particularly of the role of Chinese workers in the construction of the transcontinental railroad. A huge white wall has a foundation of railroad ballast rock. Each stone is labelled with a name of a Chinese laborer who worked and died unknown. The screen illuminates to a reenactment celebrating the completion of the UP line at Promontory Peak, Utah.

8. Washington State History Museum

1911 Pacific Ave, Tacoma, WA 98402-3109 +1 888-238-4373
Excellent
57%
Good
32%
Satisfactory
10%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 205 reviews

Washington State History Museum

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

Reviewed By kumtux - Vancouver, Washington

If you are a Washingtonian or interested in Northwest history, don't miss a visit to this place. The fifth floor had both exhibits of the Japanese-American Citizen internment at Minidoka and the Washington State promotion of Glasnost with the USSR. Both are very instructive about the evolution of the Pacific Northwest culture and perspective. The third floor has the primary exhibits of history, including very compelling exhibits of early Native American life and more contemporary struggles ending with the Boldt Decision granting Tribes their right to fish in "usual and accustomed waters." The museum reminds us of Washington's innovative leadership in wood products, shipping and ship building, aircraft, women and minority rights, international commerce, mining, fishing, political leadership and much more.

9. Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium

5400 N Pearl St, Tacoma, WA 98407-3224 +1 253-591-5337
Excellent
56%
Good
32%
Satisfactory
9%
Poor
2%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 834 reviews

Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium

Treat your family to a special day at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium. Where else can you see seahorses 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. Our keepers often roam the grounds, taking animals on strolls so you can see them up close. 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.

Reviewed By mermaidtears2010 - Newport, Oregon

Overall, I liked this place...but a few of the employees were less than helpful and rude. I had pre-purchased tickets for entry to the park where your suppose to avoid the line, scan your ticket and go in. We had two out of five that weren't scanning and we weren't the only ones. One employee just walked by and told us to keep scanning it, went in the back door of the ticket booth and walked by seeing we were still having trouble. When I asked for her help, she directed me to go stand in line and get a regular ticket printed. No offer to help, no getting a handheld scanner to take care of the tickets, nothing. Just walked away and said well, at least you already have your tickets! Like thats helpful when the whole point of buying them in advance is to avoid the line right? How is my going back and standing in said line, the answer?
Another gal cam along and took the time to go into the ticket office (where employee number 1 had already disappeared again) got a scanner, took care of it. Bang. No hassle. Better customer care and service.
Second issue was with one of the carts outside of the aquarium...we needed water, really badly...its after opening hours, like 1030...this gal is just standing there and saying how she cant sell us any water because shes not open. There is nowhere to get water!! no drinking fountains I could find, vending machines, nothing. So that was a major issue. Why is something as simple as water such a hassle to try and obtain at these parks? Had to go way up back by the main entrance and buy it in the restaurant.
Overall, the park is nice and seems well cared for.

10. I Love Kickboxing

5401 6th Ave, Ste 315, Tacoma, WA 98406-2617 +1 253-666-6828
Excellent
100%
Good
0%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5 based on 49 reviews

I Love Kickboxing

Reviewed By Tonia T - San Luis Obispo County, California

The classes and instructors here are amazing! The workouts are not only challenging, but extremely fun because of the environment the instructors create, the music, and the diversity in combinations and moves. My fiance and I joined two months ago and already have experienced a significant increase in energy and muscle definition. Our wedding is in 7 months so we chose I Love Kickboxing to be our wedding body builder of choice! We love it!

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