Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Tides Tavern
AMERICAN This is basically just a tavern with an extensive
menu, but because of its great location over the water at the east end of town, it's
a good place for lunch or a casual dinner. The building that houses the tavern was
originally constructed as a general store back in 1910, but has been the Tides Tav-
ern since 1973. The menu is basic tavern fare—burgers, sandwiches, and pizzas—
and if not entirely memorable, can be tasty. On Friday and Saturday nights there's
live music. Because this is a tavern, you must be 21 or older to eat here.
2925 Harborview Dr.
&
253/858-3982.
www.tidestavern.com. Reservations recommended for large parties.
Main courses $7.25-$14. MC, V. Sun-Thurs 11am-10pm; Fri-Sat 11am-midnight.
4 Tacoma
32 miles S of Seattle, 31 miles N of Olympia, 93 miles S of Port Townsend
Tacoma is a city that, in the words of Rodney Dangerfield, just don't get no
respect. For years its industrial image made it the brunt of jokes, many of which
centered around the aroma of Tacoma. I'd like to be able to tell you that the skies
over Tacoma are always clear and that the air is fresh and clean, but that would
be stretching the truth just a bit. However, it is definitely time to forget the old
jokes and take a new look at this city in the midst of a profound transformation.
Things have changed quite a bit here since the days when the city's waterfront
was lined with smoke-belching lumber and paper mills, and, with a newfound
commitment to the arts, Tacoma now competes with Seattle as a city on the
move. Tacoma has been making great strides toward reinventing itself, and the
past few years have seen the opening of the Museum of Glass and the new
Tacoma Art Museum. Connecting the Museum of Glass to the Washington
State History Museum is the Chihuly Bridge of Glass, which spans I-705 in
downtown Tacoma. Tacoma also beat Seattle to the punch when it comes to
public transit. A new light-rail line now connects the Tacoma Dome with the
downtown theater district and stops in the museum district as well. However,
despite all these recent developments, Tacoma's downtown still becomes some-
thing of a ghost town after the office workers head home at the end of the day.
Tacoma is also in the process of reclaiming its shoreline, and today a water-
front park runs the length of Ruston Way just north of downtown. Walkers, jog-
gers, cyclists, and in-line skaters all flock to the paved trail that runs through this
park, and along the park's length there are several good waterfront restaurants.
Despite Tacoma's ongoing makeover, little has changed at Point Defiance Park,
a local favorite. With miles of trails, a world-class zoo and aquarium, numerous
other attractions, and great bicycling and in-line skating, this is one of the pre-
mier parks in the Puget Sound region.
In between Point Defiance and downtown Tacoma lies one of the most impres-
sive historic neighborhoods in the state. The streets of the Stadium Historic Dis-
trict are lined with beautiful mansions, most of which have been renovated and
some of which are now B&Bs. These homes are a testament to the important role
Tacoma played in Washington history. In 1883, Tacoma became the end of the
line for the Northern Pacific Railroad, thus sealing the city's fate as the industrial
center of the Puget Sound. It was largely due to the railroad that Tacoma became
a center of industry in this region, a fate that the city today is trying to overcome.
To see the past and the future of Tacoma, drop by downtown's Fireman's
Park. From this small park, you can look down on smoke-belching mills and
commercial port facilities, but if you then turn around, you'll be facing a new,
revitalized Tacoma where the arts are flourishing and historic buildings are being
preserved and renovated.
