“traveling—it leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller.”–ibn battuta
disclosure: a special thank you to travel tacoma for sponsoring this post—they provided a complimentary boat ride, lunch, museum pass, and gift card to use during our visit. as per usual, all opinions are my own!
a few months ago, greg and i had the pleasure of visiting and spending the day in tacoma, washington! tacoma is approximately 30 miles south of seattle. (unfortunately, heavy traffic often makes it feel much farther.) we arrived mid-morning and enjoyed eating breakfast and lunch + cocktails, shopping, sightseeing, and popping into the chihuly musem of glass. despite living within driving distance of tacoma, i have to admit, i haven’t spent much time in the city!
travel tacoma hosted a one-day event during which influencers and media could explore tacoma. after scouring instagram for tips—colorful walls, tasty coffee houses, and vintage shopping destinations—i couldn’t wait to do and see as much as possible!
where to shop:
if you know me, you know shopping is at the top of my to-do list when visiting a new destination! (this may or may not drive greg crazy.) tacoma is home to a variety of boutiques, vintage and consignment shops, and home-decor stores.
anagram press–located off north proctor street, anagram press is a darling brand of stationery, paper goods, fine art books, stamps, and more! looking to update your greeting card collection? pop in here!
bleach–modern (and affordable) clothing for men, women, and children, as well as accessories and skateboards—yes, please! located on pacific avenue, featured brands include 47 brand, paper diamonds company, stance, wildlife, and more!
satori–looking for a boutique shopping experience? stop in at satori, also located on pacific avenue. (satori was voted “best boutique of 2018” by south sound magazine.) satori carries numerous brands of clothing, shoes, and accessories. prices are reasonable, and pieces are of great quality! i purchased a striped blazer, graphic tee, and sweatshirt during my visit.
stocklist goods–situated on pacific avenue, stocklist goods sells tacoma-themed goodies, rifle paper company notebooks and cards, local jewelry designs, home decor, and more! travel tacoma graciously provided me a gift card to stocklist goods, and i had a wonderful time picking out items to bring home!
urbanxchange–a darling vintage shop? just where i belong! after lunch, greg and i met up with my friend and her boyfriend (fellow blogger, jenn from hello rigby). while the boys grabbed drinks, we shopped at “uxc.” jenn and i had a great time trying on vintage jackets, dresses, and shoes. if you live near or visit downtown tacoma, i highly recommend stopping in!
where to eat:
this list is by no means exhaustive! we were limited to one day in tacoma. (one can only eat so much within an eight-hour span, but we were determined to stretch our waistlines.) i hope to come back and try additional restaurants in the near future!
7 seas brewing–7 seas brewing opened their newest location in tacoma—a 10,000 square-foot taproom—in august 2016. they have several beers on tap, a handful of seasonal flavors, and a “taproom reserve series.” (i sampled the local cider!) in addition to beer, 7 seas brewing is home to jamiekay & jason jones, providing sandwiches, salads, charcuterie, and artisan cheeses. guests are also invited to bring in food from home.
hello cupcake–located on pacific avenue, hello cupcake serves freshly-baked cupcakes, topped with delicious buttercream frosting! caramel apple is october’s featured flavor. hello cupcake is darling (both inside and out), and my outfit photos, featuring the bicycle, were taken here!
honey coffee + kitchen–upon arriving in tacoma, first on my to-do list? coffee! honey coffee + kitchen, also referred to as “alma mater tacoma” has delicious breakfast and lunch offerings. i enjoyed a cappuccino, cocotte eggs (baked eggs in brandy cream with ham), and a gluten-free muffin.
pacific grill–although we didn’t have the opportunity to dine here, pacific grill has stellar reviews online! their seafood cakes and scallops are on my “must try” list.
rhein haus–rhein haus now has locations in both seattle and tacoma. pop in for a pretzel, beer, and quick game of bocce!
waffle stop–”the waffle has suffered a great injustice. trapped in the world of breakfast food, this delicious and dynamic treat has not had the chance to […] soar to the culinary heights for which it was truly made.” (source) although we didn’t have a chance to visit waffle stop, their menu is expansive—they serve both sweet and savory waffle options!
where to explore:
browns point lighthouse park–looking for the perfect picnic spot? browns point lighthouse park has you covered. enjoy gorgeous waterfront views, fishing, a sandy beach, and more!
museum of glass–visiting the iconic chihuly museum? before heading inside, take a stroll around the museum—the bridge and surrounding area showcase his work! once indoors, you can enjoy more of chihuly’s work and that of visiting artists.
point defiance park–when planning our visit, one of the places i was most excited to see was point defiance park. the park is expansive and home to numerous gardens, trails, ponds, a zoo and aquarium, and the fort nisqually living history museum. we spent two hours exploring, and i feel like we hardly scratched the surface in terms of what the park has to offer. i look forward to visiting again! (if you’re on the hunt for beautiful backdrops for instagram photos, don’t miss the rose garden.)
ruston way–ruston way waterfront park offers a two-mile walk with sweeping views of tacoma. enjoy swimming, boating, fishing, rollerblading, and more! sandwiched between the lobster shop and duke’s chowder house, enjoy a tasty meal post walk.
w.w. seymour botanical conservatory–with its’ exotic plants, seasonal flowers, and iconic twelve-sided dome, the botanical conservatory is a must-see when visiting tacoma! in addition to the gorgeous botanical garden, the conservatory also offers a childrens’ story hour, poetry readings, and small concerts.
photos by jenn from hello rigby
dress: zara, purse: forever 21, sandals: franco sarto, necklace: lace & pearls jewelry
other must-see places? the tacoma farmers market, metronome coffee, and evolve home.
have you visited tacoma? we greatly enjoyed our time, and i cannot wait to explore again soon. a special thank you to travel tacoma for helping coordinate many of the activities during our trip!
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