Neighborhood Spotlight: Tacoma’s Museum District

The Vibe

There’s a reason why Forbes named downtown Tacoma as one of its 13 Art Trips You Need to Take. From public art, which includes Dale Chihuly glass installations scattered around the city, to a rich cultural history (there are six museums within walking distance of each other), to impressive and varied dining experiences and engaging and entertaining activities, the Museum District serves as a one-stop spot for families.

Play On

The Museum District, in the heart of downtown, has many great kid-centric spots to keep you entertained whenever you visit. In fact, you’ll find four of the city’s six museums along a short stretch of Pacific Avenue. Both the Tacoma Art Museum and the Washington State History Museum have excellent youth programs and offer free admission on first and third Thursdays (respectively). A short walk over the Chihuly Bridge of Glass leads to the nearby Museum of Glass. There is also the near magical Children’s Museum of Tacoma, and its pay-what-you-wish admission gives every family the chance to enjoy it. Bonus: Tinkeropia, an alternative art supply and creative reuse center, is another fun stop in the area.

Wright Park, located just north of the Museum District, is a 27-acre arboretum filled with lush, beautiful trees and home to the recently remodeled W.W. Seymour Botanical Conservatory. At this time of year, the park will be one of several locations along the Tacoma Light Trail. The light trail is celebrating its fourth year and features more than 40 locations of lighted art in downtown Tacoma buildings. It’s a New Year event you can enjoy through Jan. 14.

Also returning this year is the Monkeyshines hunt, Tacoma’s Lunar New Year tradition of searching for beautiful handmade glass orbs hidden around the city. Avid Monkeyshines hunters look forward to the Lunar New Year with great anticipation. 2024 is the year of the dragon, and you can search for treasures from about late January to early- to mid-February.

Eats + Treats

Whether exploring the parks, navigating the light trail or hunting for glass treasures, you need to satiate your hunger — or your sweet tooth — while on your Tacoma adventure. Pop in to Corina Bakery for cookies that are the size of your face. These cookies measure an average of 5–6 inches each, and there are endless flavors to choose from (we recommend the snickerdoodle).

Since you’re likely hitting a few museums while in the area, why not grab a bite at one of them? La Finestra Cafe, at Museum of Glass, offers delicious breakfast and lunch items. While some menu offerings might be a bit pricey, it’s hard to say no to its $4 cheese pizza by the slice.

While it might not be the most out-of-the-ordinary dining destination in the area, The Old Spaghetti Factory offers much-needed comfort food. And with its robust kids menu, even the pickiest of eaters will find something good to nosh on. Fun fact: The Tacoma location is one of the oldest in the company’s history. Tacoma’s first Old Spaghetti Factory was located on Jefferson Avenue from 1971 to 2016. It then relocated just blocks away to its current location on Pacific Avenue.