Tacoma, Washington
Tacoma is one of the largest cities in the State of Washington. As one of the main cultural hubs in the Pacific Northwest, the city offers a diverse selection of museums, theaters, restaurants, shops and unique neighborhoods. Located just eighteen miles south of the Seattle-Tacoma “Sea-Tac” International Airport and fronting Interstate-5, the major thoroughfare in the West Coast, the city is convenient by all means.
Picturesque views overlooking the beautiful sailboats passing by Commencement Bay is another attraction. Since its inception in 1864, Tacoma has had a flourishing economy. With its plethora of trees and its close proximity to the Puget Sound, the city was a logging and shipping community.
As it grew rapidly, the Northern Pacific Railroad chose Tacoma as its West Coast Terminus. Soon the city was given the nickname, “City of Destiny.” Today, the Port of Tacoma is one of the largest container terminals in North America as well as an important entity in international trade. Visitors and locals alike have continually praised the City of Tacoma for its impressive museums: Washington State History Museum, The Museum of Glass and the Tacoma Art Museum. Adjacent to each other, the three museums form a triangular site in the prominent Museum District.
When it comes to theatrical arts, Tacoma caters to every distinctive niche. The Theater District is anchored by The Broadway Center for Performing Arts with its Pantages Theater, Rialto Theater and Theater on the Square. The focal point of Tacoma is of course the Tacoma Dome, the world’s largest wood-domed arena. Standing prominently at fifteen stories tall and 530 feet in diameter, the Tacoma Dome hosts many professional sporting events, exhibitions, performance events as well as concerts for many mainstream artists.
Tacoma also offers other unique areas such us the Ruston Way Waterfront Promenade featuring a two-mile waterfront pathway fronted by the Restaurant Row boasting upscale as well as casual dining opportunities. For unique and eclectic tastes, Tacoma offers the upscale “Proctor District” consisting of various shops, restaurants and nightclubs. Every July, the community arranges the “Arts on the Ave” festival. Further, Proctor is just one of the many districts in Tacoma featuring specialty shopping and dining options.
Subsequently, Downtown Tacoma offers free light-rail transportation and certain park-and-ride facilities are also complimentary. Forthcoming is a light-rail linking Tacoma to Seattle and beyond. In addition to its museums, theaters and remarkable business districts, Tacoma is home to many parks and recreation facilities. Point Defiance Park, for example, is one of the largest urban parks in North America, with almost 700 acres of hiking trails, specialty gardens, picnic areas, saltwater beaches, a marina, a zoo and an aquarium. Tacoma offers a wealth of cultural and historical elements. The desirable climates, the striking views, the plentiful amount of things to do and places to see, make Tacoma a desirable place to call home.