Tacoma Travel Information
Mount Rainier rises serene and snow-clad above the curve of the Tacoma
Dome's gleaming white pate on a clear day, lending one of Washington's
larger Puget Sound skylines - otherwise dominated by the indoor arena
and the long, lean masts of sailing ships - natural shape and form.
Tacoma, Seattle's near neighbor, shares an airport with the bigger city
and
contributes unselfishly to the traffic congestion that famously
plagues this stretch of Interstate 5. Located just west of the Puget
Sound's claw-like protrusion into Washington lands, Tacoma has
ever-changing waterfront
views in addition to a fine selection of parks and cultural offerings.
Port Defiance Park, north of Tacoma's center, sprawls out on 700
acres of land jutting into the Puget Sound. While the park's
proximity to civilization limits natural wildlife spotting, a zoo and
aquarium allow visitors to choose between tigers and sharks in a
controlled environment. When you begin to feel like you're the one
behind bars, stroll through the numerous groomed landscapes on hand -- choose from
Japanese, Rhododendron, Rose, Iris, Dahlia or Northwest Gardens, then
finish with a visit to Fort Nisqually, the local historic
attraction. Arts flourish in the Seattle-Tacoma area, a region known particularly for its exceptional glass pieces. Stop in at
the Museum of Glass for an introduction to works by well-known artists, then cruise over to the Tacoma
Art Museum or Washington State History Museum for a little variety and historical perspective.
Outdoor enthusiasts will be pleased to know that Tacoma is
within
easy driving distance of Mount Rainier National Park and Mount Saint
Helens National Volcanic Monument, both of which offer superb hiking
possibilities and a further range of recreational opportunities. Tacoma is just over 30 miles
south of Seattle.
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