Tacoma offers visitors several world-class museums conveniently placed in the downtown district; add to that the sites at Point Defiance only a few miles north of downtown and you have a fantastic weekend visit with a pleasing mix of art, history, and a great zoo to round out the itinerary. With more sites than you can visit in a weekend, we present our favorites below.
When to visit: all of the sites in our itinerary are open year-round, making Tacoma one of our easiest itineraries for which to plan a trip; visiting on days Friday to Sunday will find all of our suggested sites open, though advance ticket purchase does ensure your entrance. Be sure to check each site for holiday closures before planning your trip over holiday days.
Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium
The Zoo is situated on 29 acres of Point Defiance Park and includes two separate aquarium buildings, making it the only site in the Pacific Northwest with both zoo and aquarium. The original zoo was founded in 1905, making Point Defiance Zoo also one of the Pacific Northwest’s oldest zoos. The combination of zoo and aquarium makes Point Defiance an absolute must visit—I mean really—tiger, elephant, and hammerhead sharks!
Don’t forget to bring water, a hat, and possibly sunscreen and a jacket for rain. We suggest arriving shortly after opening to give you time for the day’s itinerary (which, if you are coming very far, may mean arriving the night before and arranging an extra night in a hotel). Plan 3-4 hours for your visit, which can include lunch—and ice cream—at the Plaza Café near the zoo entrance/exit.
Here are details you will need, including the address to enter into your navigation app:
Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium, 5400 N Pearl St, Tacoma, WA 98407, 253-404-3800. Open: 2024 Jun 17-Sep 2, daily 9-5; Sep 3-Sep 30, 9-3:30 Mon-Fri, Sat-Sun 9-5; Oct 1-Dec 25 9-3:30 Thr-Mon; Dec 26-Jan 5, daily 9-3:30. Last entry one hour before before closing. Closed Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve/Christmas Day. Admission: purchase your tickets online and receive a discounted price! 13-64 $23 65+ $21, 3-12 $16, 2 and under Free. Multiple restrooms and gift shop on site, with plentiful Free Parking. Go here to purchase tickets: https://www.pdza.org/visit/prices/
Fort Nisqually Living History Museum
Fort Nisqually was originally a Hudson’s Bay Fur Trading Company site, initially constructed in 1834. An 1846 treaty with Great Britain left Fort Nisqually on U.S. soil, yet the facility wasn’t abandoned until 1869. The fort was reconstructed in the 1930s but at Point Defiance rather than its original location, which was 10 miles further south in Dupont. The reconstructed fort does include two original, restored buildings which were moved from the original site and the granary happens to be the oldest surviving building in Washington State. The fort is an educational opportunity not to be missed. Plan one to 1.5 hours for your visit.
Here are details you will need, including the address to enter into your navigation app:
Fort Nisqually Living History Museum, 5519 Five Mile Dr, Tacoma, WA 98407, 253-404-3970. Open: May-Sep, daily 11-5; Oct-Apr, Wed-Sun 11-4. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day; other closure dates for 2024: Aug 12, Oct 6. Admission: 18-64 $13.50, Military/65+ $12.50, 4-17 $10, 3 and under Free. Free Parking. Restrooms and gift shop on site. Purchase your tickets here: https://fnlhmstore.company.site/products/General-Admission-c165728301
Lemay – America’s Car Museum
As a car guy, let me describe this museum as… OMG—WOW! The museum is comprised of four huge levels displaying hundreds of automobiles, both foreign and domestic, classic and muscle, spanning the entire history of the automobile. I would love to show you many, many photos but, hey, you’ll just have to visit this amazing museum for yourself. Many of the exhibits change, so a future return visit may be in order. When we visited, the Plaza Level exhibit was Alpha Romeo. Born With Passion. Plan two to three hours for your visit, depending upon how fast you move through each level.
Here are details you will need, including the address to enter into your navigation app:
Lemay – America’s Car Museum, 2702 E D St, Tacoma, WA 98421, 253-779-8490. Open: Thu-Mon 10-5. Last entry 4:30 (but really, don’t arrive that late!). Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas Day; 3pm closure on these holidays: Jul 4, Wed before Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve; open 12 noon New Year’s Day. Admission: 13-64 $24.50, Military/65+ $22.50, 5-12 $17.50, 4 and under Free. Parking fee included in admission. Restrooms, gift shop, and café on site. Tickets may be purchased online or at entry. Timed entry not required. For online purchase go here: https://www.americascarmuseum.org/visit/tickets/
Washington State History Museum
Day 2 takes you downtown to two fantastic museums. Best choice is to park at the Washington State History Museum, as parking fee options there work best for visiting both museums.
The museum displays exhibits on two floors and covers the broad scope of Washington history, starting with geologic history and moving you along to native American culture and history, Lewis and Clark, the great move west, railroads, mining, agriculture, the state’s involvement in two world wars, energy, etc. Oh, and a model railroad to outdo most all other model railroads—and one that you just have to see. Plan two to 2.5 hours for your visit.
Here are details you will need, including the address to enter into your navigation app:
Washington State History Museum, 1911 Pacific Ave, Tacoma, WA 98402, 253-272-3500. Open: Tue-Sun 10-5. Closed Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Indigenous Peoples Day/Columbus Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas Eve/Christmas Day. Admission: 18+ $14, Military/Student/65+ $11, 5 and under Free. Parking up to 4 hours $7, $5 on weekends. Restrooms, gift shop on site. Tickets may be purchased online or at entry. Timed entry not required. To purchase online go to: https://49882.blackbaudhosting.com/49882/tickets?tab=3&txobjid=ed2ae910-f258-45e7-8305-f22310a39b16
Museum of Glass
From the Museum of Washington State History, walk across the skybridge to the Museum of Glass. The glass exhibits actually begin in great number on the skybridge. Glass art exhibits both permanent and temporary collections of amazing art in glass but the highlight for us was observing the creation of glass art in the hot shop amphitheater. We spent half of our time watching blown glass art in the making. Plan on one to 1.5 hours for your visit.
Here are details you will need, including the address to enter into your navigation app:
Museum of Glass, 1801 Dock St, Tacoma, WA 98402, 253-284-4750. Open: Wed-Sun 10-5. Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. Admission: Adult $20, Military/Student/65+ $18, 6-18 $12, 5 and under Free. Restrooms, gift shop, and café on site. Tickets may be purchased online or at entry. Timed entry not required. To purchase online go to: https://buy.acmeticketing.com/orders/506/calendar?cart=true&eventId=6113ec415f2bd713fac0b6f9
That finishes our Tacoma, Washington itinerary and it’s time to head home. We hope you enjoyed your weekend trip and are planning for your next Hit the Road itinerary!
Updated June 2024
Hit the Road in the Pacific Northwest 