Tacoma, Washington: A City Full of Natural and Cultural Wonders

I started my day nice and early as I knew the drive to Mount Rainier was going to take about an hour and I wanted to be there shortly after sunrise. As I approached the base of the mountain, the sight of the glaciers was breathtaking. I hiked a little way up only to be greeted by more glorious views of meadows and streams all surrounded by the enormous white-capped mountains. On that particular day, many of the visitors were there to do some snow shoeing as Mount Rainier National Park is considered one of the best places for winter sports. But as I take in all of the natural beauty, I can imagine how wonderful it would be to hike or fish in the summer.

After a deliciously fresh seafood lunch at a local spot, I made my way to the museum district. My first stop is the Museum of Glass, which you can get to from downtown by crossing the Chihuly Bridge of Glass. It’s this amazing bridge that has all sorts of glass sculptures in massive glass containers that are on both sides and above you as well. I’ve never seen anything like it. The bridge also leads you to the Museum of Glass. Incredible pieces are on display and you can watch a group of artists blow glass from scratch, which was fascinating.

After a few hours of culture, I left the Museum of Glass and walked right across to the Dock Street Marina. The day had turned from rather chilly to about 22 degrees, and was just too perfect to pass up the chance to kayak on gorgeous Puget Sound. That said, I spent the next hour on the calm waters kayaking for the first time this year encircled by the majestic white-capped mountains – it just doesn’t get much better than that.

With my now sun-kissed skin and feeling exhilarated after kayaking, I went back across the Chihuly Bridge to downtown Tacoma. The University of Washington was right in front of me with students hustling to and from lectures. As I continued to wander, I found that downtown Tacoma is home to loads of great art galleries, theatres, boutiques and some mouthwatering places to eat. Plus, I’m told that the Tacoma area is also home to some incredible golf courses, including the Chambers Bay Golf Course, which has been compared to the famous St. Andrews in bonnie Scotland.

My whole experience in Tacoma was beyond wonderful. The city has a vibe that made me feel totally at home and eager to explore more on my next visit to the Pacific Northwest!