Tacoma Day

A few weeks ago we decided to truck down to Tacoma and experience the city. I have been past Tacoma so many times, but never stopped in their downtown area, so it was really great to go and see what it was all about. Actually, I really loved it. It had a great smaller-town vibe to it but was also buzzing with colour and art!

We drove to Port Defiance park, a beautiful park to the edge of the downtown area. There we found a replica fort set-up from 1852, it was so neat to see all the little houses and fort buildings! We did not go inside because it was expensive, but we saw and learned a lot just from looking from the fence.

welcome to 1852

I briefly mentioned the colours and art in Tacoma, but it was really a big theme running through the town, large murals adorned many buildings, spurts of colour all over the place, just magic!

We soon learned that Tacoma was famous for its antique shops, so we took a look through a few. I fell in love with all the different tea and dinner crockery sets they had. Thank goodness I didn't buy any!

We then went to a very 'happening' little lane and had lunch in this gem of a restaurant that was luxuriously decorated in amazing fabrics and other little accents.

The table opposite us - beautiful textures and fabrics, so plush!

the girls!

the bathroom! crazy beautiful!

After lunch we were strolling around the downtown area when we passed by an art gallery that was having an opening to a new showing of youth artwork. They invited us in and gave us free refreshments and snacks - how could we possibly refuse? Also there was a face painter- but not a child's face painter, an artist who would put the most amazing designs on people's faces. I asked her if she could give me a 'theatrical eye' and this is what she did:

We all got a little bit of colour and sparkle before we left the gallery!

Feeling so cool with our facepaint, we finished up our walk of downtown and headed towards the famous Museum of Glass.

On the way to the car we saw this amazing colourful graffiti art

another amazing mural!

The museum of glass was fitting with Tacoma as all the glass pieces had such lovely colours in them. I enjoyed the museum, although, in my opinion the Glass Garden in Seattle just could not be beaten.

an amazing glass bridge design

After the museum we went to a Mexican restaurant because I had a coupon to go there (coupons for life!).

Always love having dinner out with the girlies!

Near to the restaurant was a huge outlet mall called "Supermall" we went in and got some great bargains! I got a brand new dress for the grand total of $2.38, as well as a couple of other items. We drove home, exhausted and full of stories of our unique day in Tacoma! This is travelling at its best: no plan in mind, stumbling upon things, chatting to locals, learning the great secret spots, being in the right place at the right time. Love it!