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Visit Tacoma, Washington

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What to Do in Tacoma

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Tacoma is defined in part by a nickname: “The City of Destiny.” Early settlers coined the name in hopes that their community—established in 1852 when a Swedish immigrant built a water-powered sawmill on a creek near the head of Commencement Bay—would rise to greatness by being designated the end of the line for the Northern Pacific Railroad. The bay was indeed chosen as the western terminus in 1873, but the company built its depot on a spot 2 miles south, dubbing it “New Tacoma.” By the time the transcontinental link finally came through in 1887 the two towns had merged to become one Tacoma.

Most Popular Things To Do

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POINT OF INTEREST | 48 Things To Do

Space Needle

THING TO DO

Pike Place Market Tasting Tour

2 hours

THING TO DO

Chef Guided Food Tour of Pike Place Market- 2 Hours

2 hours

THING TO DO

The Original Food and Culture Tour of Pike Place Market

From 2 hours to 2 hours

THING TO DO

Visit Snoqualmie Falls and Hike to Twin Falls

4 hours

THING TO DO

Seattle Terrors Ghost Tour By US Ghost Adventures

1 hour

POINT OF INTEREST | 31 Things To Do

Mt. Rainier National Park

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Coffee & Foodie Tastings at Pike Place Market

2 hours

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Viator Exclusive Day-Tour From Seattle to Mt. Rainier

From 10 hours to 12 hours

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Grand Princess4 Nights - Alaska SamplerDeparting from Seattle, Washington | 1 Sailing
Princess
4 Nights - Alaska Sampler
Queen Elizabeth11 Nights - AlaskaDeparting from Seattle, Washington | 1 Sailing
Cunard
11 Nights - Alaska
Royal Princess7 Nights - Inside Passage (with Glacier Bay National Park)Departing from Seattle, Washington | 1 Sailing
Princess
7 Nights - Inside Passage (with Glacier Bay National Park)
Westerdam13 Nights - North Pacific CrossingDeparting from Seattle, Washington | 1 Sailing
Holland America
13 Nights - North Pacific Crossing
Anthem of the Seas7 Nights - Alaska AdventureDeparting from Seattle, Washington | 7 Sailings
Royal Caribbean
7 Nights - Alaska Adventure
Noordam7 Nights - Alaska ExplorerDeparting from Seattle, Washington | 2 Sailings
Holland America
7 Nights - Alaska Explorer
Queen Elizabeth7 Nights - AlaskaDeparting from Seattle, Washington | 1 Sailing
Cunard
7 Nights - Alaska
Noordam41 Nights - South Pacific Crossing & New Zealand CollecDeparting from Seattle, Washington | 1 Sailing
Holland America
41 Nights - South Pacific Crossing & New Zealand Collec
Quantum of the Seas7 Nights - Alaska AdventureDeparting from Seattle, Washington | 3 Sailings
Royal Caribbean
7 Nights - Alaska Adventure
Eurodam7 Nights - Alaska ExplorerDeparting from Seattle, Washington | 2 Sailings
Holland America
7 Nights - Alaska Explorer
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Travel Tips & Inspiration

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Be inspired by articles and videos from AAA Travel experts, offering insights on top destinations, recommendations and travel tips for your upcoming getaway.

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EDITOR PICK7 Cheap Things to Do in Seattle for $10 or LessAAA Travel Editor, Katie Broome04/06/2023 : Visiting Seattle on a budget? From ferry rides to free views, here are a few of the low-cost and free things to do in Seattle that will help you save money while on vacation.7 Cheap Things to Do in Seattle for $10 or Less
EDITOR PICK5 Best Classic Car Museums in the U.S.AAA Travel Editor, Patricia Miller04/05/2023 : Whether you are a diehard classic car buff or you just think cars from the 1920s to the 1970s look cool, you can get a close look at these icons of American culture at museums across the country. Here we list some of the best; climb behind the steering wheel and get up to speed on the best places to see classic cars.5 Best Classic Car Museums in the U.S.
ARTICLETacoma Tacoma is defined in part by a nickname: “The City of Destiny.” Early settlers coined the name in hopes that their community—established in 1852 when a Swedish immigrant built a water-powered sawmill on a creek near the head of Commencement Bay—would rise to greatness by being designated the end of the line for the Northern Pacific Railroad. The bay was indeed chosen as the western terminus in 1873, but the company built its depot on a spot 2 miles south, dubbing it “New Tacoma.” By the time the transcontinental link finally came through in 1887 the two towns had merged to become one Tacoma.Tacoma
NATIONAL PARKColumbia River Gorge National Scenic Area Following the Columbia River in both Oregon and Washington, the scenic area consists of 292,500 acres of sheer cliffs, mountainous forestland, hilly deciduous woods and grassy plains. The Oregon section extends from the Sandy River near Troutdale about 80 miles east to the Deschutes River. Rain forests and waterfalls, characteristic of the area's western end, give way east of the mountains to oak woods and grasslands.Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area
NATIONAL PARKColville National Forest In northeastern Washington, Colville National Forest covers about 1,100,000 acres. In the approximate center of the forest is Roosevelt Lake; Grand Coulee Dam is to the south. The Columbia River courses through this wilderness area. Gardner Cave, in the forest's eastern half, has stalagmite and stalactite formations that can be toured.Colville National Forest
NATIONAL PARKCrater Lake National Park Crater Lake National Park is on the crest of the Cascade Range, 76 miles east of Medford off I-5 to SR 62; or, from Klamath Falls, take US 97 north 21 miles, then west on SR 62 for 29 miles. The park also can be reached from Roseburg by taking I-5 to SR 138E.Crater Lake National Park
NATIONAL PARKDeschutes National Forest Deschutes National Forest is southwest of Bend on US 97, north of Crater Lake National ParkDeschutes National Forest
NATIONAL PARKFort Langley National Historic Site Fort Langley National Historic Site is 6.5 kilometres (4 mi.) north of Langley off Hwy. 1 at 23433 Mavis Ave. On the bank of the Fraser River, the 19th-century Hudson's Bay Company trading post was an important supply link in the company's network of fur trading forts west of the Rockies. British Columbia was proclaimed a colony at the site in 1858.Fort Langley National Historic Site
NATIONAL PARKFort Rodd Hill And Fisgard Lighthouse National Historic Sites Fourteen kilometres (9 mi.) west of Victoria via Hwy. 1A, Fort Rodd Hill was a coastal artillery fort 1895-1956. Of interest are the loophole walls, underground magazines, artillery stores, command posts, barracks and gun and searchlight emplacements. Audio and video presentations, along with period rooms, depict life at the fort. The 1860 Fort Rodd Hill And Fisgard Lighthouse National Historic Sites
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