Headed to Tacoma - Any Advice?
"That's the worst idea I've ever heard," was my best friend's response when I told her about our upcoming overnight getaway. Why would she say that? For starters, those of us who live in Seattle love to disparage the rest of the state - it's almost an artform. We love our city, why leave it for Bellevue, or Spokane, or in this case, Tacoma. Second, I plan to visit to Tacoma with all three kids and no husband. Perhaps she's right... there are any number of exhausting things that might happen, but I'm looking forward to the trip anyway.
My poor husband's work is piling up, and the nightly interrupted sleep isn't helping him focus. I might not get a break by heading out of town, but he will... and that's important too.
What's in it for me? I'm looking forward to the extra time with the kids. When we're at home, I get caught up in housework, cooking, my blog, my friends and any number of other things. I feel like I'm just beginning to wake up from my post-partum (and post BlogHer/TBEX) haze only to find that summer is almost over. This overnight getaway is a last-ditch effort to spend some quality time with E & D before the school-year routine takes over again.
Tacoma isn't as glamorous as Paris, or London, or even nearby Portland and Vancouver, but it's what I can manage on my own right now - and I've been pleasantly surprised at all the fun sounding activities I turned up with a little help from Google and some friends. It's also a short enough drive that I can return home if things get out of hand.
I'll share all the gory details right here, but before I go, let me know if there's something in Tacoma (an attraction, restaurant, factory tour or something else) that I absolutely must not miss...
12 comments |
Posted on August 12, 2009 |
Save to del.icio.us
Subscribe to our feed
Comments
Aunt Becky on August 12, 2009 at 11:14 a.m.
Tacoma is way more glamorous than anywhere I've gone this summer.
Amy @ The Q Family on August 12, 2009 at 11:19 a.m.
Sorry.. I have no tips for Tacoma. But I agree with you that any getaway can be a lifesaver. :) I hope you enjoy and have fun with your kids. Our summer is done here in Atlanta. But I still want to do stuff over a weekend. Travel bug doesn't leave you even when you have other obligation, does it? :)
Pat Jenkins on August 12, 2009 at 11:41 a.m.
I grew up in Tacoma:
1. Scooter or bike the waterfront and get a to-go pizza from Katie Downs.
2. Go to the Tacoma Zoo and watch the polar bear swim around.
3. Go to Ft. Nisqually because it is a good time filler and the kids will like it.
4. Steilacoom Beach is a nice place to go and the town is cute too.
5. The glass museum is supposed to be cool, but just check out the outside...kids and all that.
Debbie on August 12, 2009 at 3:36 p.m.
@aunt becky sometimes a getaway doesn't have to be glamorous, does it? and my three kids, one of whom still spits up, would certainly suck the glamor out of any destination!
@amy it's almost like a disease isn't it ;) i just can't sit still.
@pat great suggestions! I visited the glass museum pre-kid and the hot shop has stadium seating (and the artwork is well protected) so I think we'll pop in at least for a little bit.
Lorraine on August 12, 2009 at 5:55 p.m.
You'll do great! Looking forward to the run-down when you get back. I like the feeling of getting the kids out to let my spouse have time to focus. Once one person is steady, the rest of the family can also benefit.
Mudslide Mama on August 12, 2009 at 6:15 p.m.
We have a last-bit-of-summer trip coming up too. Looking forward to trading notes. :)
Ursula on August 12, 2009 at 8:25 p.m.
Sorry, you're right. I grew up in Seattle and my first response to your headline: Go back to Seattle. I'm kind of embarrassed, there's plenty to do around the state. I worked at a nice little day care for a few years and we went on quite a few field trips. The Tillicum Village tour was my favorite. Bagel Oasis gave a nice tour - the bagel machine was mesmerizing. Back in HS we went over to the Skookumchuck apple plant, pretty cool possibly better for kids. Tacoma though, I'm pretty sure all we did was go to Point Defiance Zoo - petting zoo and awesome aquatic exhibit but you pay the price in admission. Down here we saw the Chihuly installation at the Botanical Gardens and my 7mo old LOVED it, colors, shapes, etc. Have fun and tell us all that's great in Tacoma!
Debbie on August 13, 2009 at 4:32 a.m.
@Lorraine absolutely! not to mention the recharge that I will get by shaking things up a bit. Little Eilan doesn't do well in the car, and it will be nice to spend a couple days in the downtown core of Tacoma where I can just walk to everything.
@mudslide mama Yes!
@ursula I should check out that bagel oasis tour - I'm in that area a lot.
robin wehl on August 13, 2009 at 2:21 p.m.
I am cracking up!
Get me a friggin' cupcake at Hello, Cupcake and I'll come pick you guys up at 3am if you can't stand the pain of Tacoma any longer. (Just like a bad sleepover when you were eight and missed your mom and cat.)
http://www.hello-cupcake.com
WanderMom on August 13, 2009 at 6:06 p.m.
Take the kids into the Museum of Glass and try and catch a hot-shop showing. E & D will be utterly fascinated by the huge furnaces and how the molten glass looks.
They've been to the brewery and the chocolate factory, I think this will be an interesting follow-up - especially since the idea of glass as a liquid is so intriguing to kids.
p.s. We actually took the train to Tacoma last year (to see the Dixie Chicks in concert - with our kids) and that worked out really well too. No need to fuss with parking etc.
Erin Zackey on August 13, 2009 at 9:05 p.m.
Oh we went down to visit the "Aroma of Tacoma" and had a fun day at the zoo, it's SO little kiddo friendly now! So besides spending a good amount of time there (you even get a free carousel ride) the kids museum might be fun to check out! Have a fun time and good luck!
pam on August 16, 2009 at 7:54 a.m.
I'll say it: I'm a Tacoma fan. No kidding. I think it's great. Robin is right, Hello, Cupcake is swell, but I also like the park and the Washington State History Museum has a lot of hands on exhibits. Food eludes me there, I don't totally understand where to eat in Tacoma yet, but I think it's getting better.
Bring back some Almond Roca, k?