Tacoma offers the sightseer a variety of diversions. The city is bordered by miles of waterfront parks and beaches. One of several parks located in the city is the 702-acre Point Defiance Park, which includes miles of walking trails through the wilderness and along the waterfront. In 2005 the park celebrates its 100-year anniversary, highlighted by special events throughout the year. Its zoo includes animals native to the Puget Sound area; it is also known for its excellent aquarium. Other attractions within Point Defiance Park include Fort Nisqually, a restored trading post; Camp Six, a re-creation of a logging camp; and Never Never Land, a forested area that once was populated with fairy tale scenes but since 2004 has been refurbished for parties and other gatherings. The city's first off-leash dog park is located at Rogers Park. The Narrows Bridge, spanning the Sound between Tacoma and the Gig Harbor Peninsula, is the fifth longest suspension bridge in the United States.
Wright Park downtown offers lawn bowling and horseshoe pitching; it is also the site of the Seymour Botanical Conservatory. In 2004 park officials decided to enhance park facilities, including expansion of the Conservatory. Other points of interest are Union Station and the Old City Hall, built in the style of the Italian Renaissance; both are National Historic Landmarks.
A little more than an hour from Tacoma is Mt. Rainier National Park, which provides a closer view of the mountain that dominates the city's landscape. More than 300 miles of trails in the park provide plenty of opportunity for hiking and exploring. Climbing courses and skiing instruction are available. Plans are currently underway at the park to prepare an Intelligent Transportation System to enhance visitors' experience there, including web cameras showing traffic conditions, interactive websites, and toll-free numbers to obtain road, weather, and traffic conditions. Kopachuck State Park and Penrose Point State Park are also in the vicinity.
Tacoma has a vibrant arts community with excellent museums and professional theater and opera companies. Downtown Tacoma, which in recent years has been attempting to re-establish the theater district as the "heart of the city," has revitalized its Broadway Center for the Performing Arts. The Broadway Center, which includes the historic Pantages and Rialto theaters, as well as the Theatre on the Square, is home to many performances year-round. In addition, the University of Puget Sound and Pacific Lutheran University offer ongoing performances from September through June.
In 2002 Tacoma became home to the new International Museum of Glass, featuring works of glass artists from throughout the world. Recognized glass artist Dale Chihuly is a Tacoma native. His work can be viewed in the historic Union Station on Pacific Avenue. The Tacoma Art Museum has a rich collection of American, European, and Asian art and offers stimulating rotating exhibits on an ongoing schedule. Its new facility opened in May 2003 and is twice the size of its previous location. The Antoine Predock–designed building features a unique flexible exhibition area that wraps around an indoor, open-air stone garden.
The Washington State History Museum has the largest collection of Northwest artifacts in the state. Its interactive exhibits chronicle the natural, social, and industrial history of the Pacific Northwest. The Washington State Capitol Museum features exhibits that reflect regional Native American history.
Tacoma's anchor arts groups include the Northwest Sinfonietta, Tacoma Philharmonic, Tacoma Symphony Orchestra, Tacoma Actors Guild, Tacoma Art Museum, Tacoma Little Theatre, Children's Museum of Tacoma, and Tacoma Youth Symphony. The Broadway Center offers touring productions September through June for families and general audiences. Often programs at the Broadway Center feature companion education activities for school children. Visitors to Tacoma can also enjoy a variety of public art. Highlights not to be missed include displayed public art projects on the Ruston Way waterfront and the literary, visual, and sound art forms at the walkway at Point Defiance. The University of Washington Tacoma campus is located in the middle of downtown Tacoma. A stroll through the campus takes the visitor past a variety of contemporary art created by some of Washington state's finest artists, including Buster Simpson, Dan Senn, and Dale Chihuly.
Tacoma's special events calendar is filled throughout the year. The Home and Garden Show, the Palmer/Wirfs Antique Show, and the Northwest Bridal Expo are held in January. The Wintergrass Bluegrass Festival takes place in February, followed by the Northwest Antique Show in March. The Annual Daffodil Festival and the Annual Spring Barrel Wine Tasting Tour are fun April events. The Sound to Narrows Race draws crowds annually in June. July in Tacoma is especially festive, with the Fourth of July Celebration in Old Town, the Tacoma Freedom Fair and Fireworks Display, and the Taste of Tacoma. Summer festivals continue with the Pierce County Fair, Downtown Farmers Market, and the Tall Ships Festival, which includes world-class sailing ships at the waterfront.
Fall brings the Western Washington Fair, Oktoberfest, the Puyallup Canine Fest, and the Holiday Food and Gift Festival. The year closes with the Victorian Country Christmas in December, followed by the Downtown Tacoma Tree Lighting Ceremony, and First Night Celebrations on New Year's Eve.
The Tacoma Rainiers, the Triple A farm team for professional baseball's American League Seattle Mariners, play baseball at Cheney Stadium. Both Pacific Lutheran University and the University of Puget Sound field teams in major sports.
In addition to the recreational opportunities provided by the Cascade Mountains and the 361 freshwater lakes in Pierce County, Tacoma operates four public golf courses and tennis courts are located in the public parks. The city also maintains a number of public beaches and piers for swimming and fishing.
Boutiques and antique shops can be found at Tacoma's Old Town Historic District, the city's original business district. The downtown business district has shops, boutiques, and galleries. Freighthouse Square is a public market with restaurants, specialty shops, and special events. The Tacoma Mall, one of the largest in the Northwest, is considered "Pierce County's Premier Mall."
Tacoma is salmon country and the city is home to numerous seafood restaurants. Ruston Way, along the western side of the peninsula, is dotted with restaurants and is referred to as "Restaurant Row."
Visitor Information: Tacoma Economic Development Department, 747 Market Street, 9th Floor, Tacoma, WA 98402; telephone (253)591-5364; fax (253)591-5232. Tacoma Regional Convention and Visitor Bureau, 1119 Pacific Avenue, 5th Floor, Tacoma, WA 98402; telephone (253)627-2836; toll-free (800)272-2662; fax (253)627-8783; email info@traveltacoma.com