Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
2317 N. Ruston Way, Tacoma, WA 98402.
&
866/820-8448
or 253/272-1300. www.silvercloud.com.
90 units. $129-$139 double; $169-$229 suite. Rates include full breakfast. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V.
Amenities:
Local courtesy shuttle; laundry service. In room:A/C, TV, dataport, fridge, coffeemaker, hair dryer, iron, free
local calls.
Thornewood Castle Inn
There may not be any real castles in the
United States, but this imposing 30,000-square-foot manor house, located a few
miles south of Tacoma, sure comes close. Built in 1909, Thornewood has 28 bed-
rooms and 22 bathrooms, and incorporated into its design are a 15th-century
wood-paneled staircase and stained-glass windows dating from the 15th to 17th
centuries. Guest rooms are, as you might expect, quite large, and if not quite as
sumptuously appointed as the rest of the house, they are certainly grand in
design. The mansion sits on the shore of American Lake, and the gardens were
designed by the Olmsted Brothers. This is truly a one-of-a-kind inn. About the
only drawback here is that nearby suburban homes dispel the fantasy that you
are lord or lady of all you survey. If you aren't staying here, you can still arrange
a tour of the castle for $25, and a tour and high tea can be arranged for $50.
8601 N. Thorne Lane SW, Lakewood, WA 98498.
&
253/584-4393.
Fax 253/584-4497. www.thornewood
castle.com. 10 units. $175-$400 double. Rates include full breakfast. AE, DISC, MC, V. No children under 12.
In room:TV/VCR, coffeemaker, no phone.
The Villa Bed & Breakfast
From the red roof tiles to the covered por-
tico to the naiad statue in the garden pond, this inn cries out authentic Italianate
villa. The only odd thing about this 1920s mansion is that it is in Tacoma and
not Santa Barbara. Lovingly restored and filled with antiques as well as unusual
pieces of furniture handmade by innkeeper Greg Anglemyer, the inn feels for all
the world like a villa in Italy. Designed for romantic getaways, all the rooms have
either a whirlpool or antique soaking tub. All but one room also have gas fire-
places, and three of the rooms have their own private verandas. If you crave lots
of space, opt for the Sorrento Suite, which has a gas fireplace, a private veranda,
a four-poster bed, and views of the Olympic Mountains and Commencement
Bay.
705 N. Fifth St., Tacoma, WA 98403.
&
888/572-1157
or 253/572-1157. www.villabb.com. 6 units. $125-
$225 double. Rates include full breakfast. AE, MC, V. Children over 12 welcome.
Amenities:
Exercise room;
Jacuzzi; concierge; business center. In room:TV, dataport, hair dryer.
WHERE TO DINE
IN TACOMA
Located inside the Museum of Glass,
Prizm,
1801 E. Dock St. (
&
253/383-
2228
), is a great place to grab a quick lunch or a latte before heading off to
another of the area's museums. If you're downtown and just have to have a cup
of espresso,
Tully's,
764 Broadway (
&
253/627-5646
), is the place to go. This
coffeehouse claims the narrow corner space of a flatiron-style building in down-
town Tacoma's antiques neighborhood.
Anthony's at Point Defiance
SEAFOOD Located adjacent to the
Vashon Island ferry landing on the edge of Point Defiance Park, this modern
seafood restaurant, part of a very popular Seattle restaurant chain, has the best
location of any of Tacoma's many waterfront restaurants. When the skies are
clear, it's possible to see Mount Rainier rising beyond the adjacent marina
(although the best views of the mountain are from the bar area), and then, of
course, there are the comings and goings of the ferries. The prices are surpris-
ingly reasonable considering both the location and the contemporary decor, and
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