Tacoma, WA

Titlow Park & Beach is not only unique because of its tucked away location by the water, but because of its interesting history. A full size outdoor swimming pool is also a draw to this lovely park. I decided to make a trip to Titlow however to play a quick game of tennis with a friend.

6th Avenue in Tacoma has tons of shops that look interesting from to outside. However I am always intrigued by the colorful front window of The Bead Factory. After a friend had told me about the fun activities they hold there, I had to check it out for myself. I was greeted by so many beads from all over the world, I didn’t even know where to start.

One of the jewels of Tacoma is the Tacoma Nature Center. Seventy acres of wilderness makes it a perfect getaway on a sunny day. There are several trails which can accommodate whatever energy level you have that day. When I arrived, I was just looking to take a short walk, so I took the half mile loop.

Ever since I was in high school, I have been going to Tower Lanes for lots of indoor fun. Between the bowling, mini-golf, pool and arcade games, I have had hours and hours of enjoyment at this location on 6th Avenue of Tacoma. On this occasion, my friends and I were just looking for a place to play some pool and maybe some arcade games, and Tower Lanes was the perfect location.

Unfortunately, Wapato Lake has recently received some bad press because the lake is polluted. You still cannot swim or fish in the lake for health reasons. Somehow the lake still looks beautiful, and you can even walk onto the pier to take a closer look.

I had heard of Black Water Café before, I knew they used coffee from Valhalla Coffee Company, just like Mandolin Cafe. So I had hoped that we wouldn’t be disappointed because it would be so convenient that they were so close. We were far from disappointed! Black Water turned out to be this tremendously cool and delicious place to be.

For $5, there is a large assortment of appetizers, including pizza, a salmon plate and steamed clams. There is also cheap cocktails for $7, and a abundance of beer. The Hub is owned by the Harmon Brewery, and so they only serve their own brews.

While Maxwell’s is definitely more pricey than most restaurants in Tacoma, this a perfect fine dining experience for a special occasion. They also have an excellent happy hour, if you are just looking for a drink and appetizer.

I have lived in Tacoma for several years, and have always heard about how amazing Zoolights is every year during the holiday season.  This year I finally made a concerted effort to make it to the zoo, and luckily because of the horrible weather we have been having, I had an extra two weeks to [...]

One of the most striking things about the park is a very tall totem pole. It was installed in 1903 and created by Alaskan Indians, and is also claimed to be the tallest in the world. At 82 feet tall, it’s hard to miss, and it amazingly detailed. Next to it is a gazebo, which might be a great place for warmer days where you can picnic since there are lots of restaurants nearby to get some takeout.