Perhaps you are one of the 100,000+ annual visitors to the Greater Tacoma Convention Center! No surprise there: the GTCC has been repeatedly named a top Convention Center in North America. Maybe you’re starved for culture, craft beer, a really great cup of coffee, or a meal to compensate for the convention food you’ve been eating all day; we’ve got all this and more, all within walking distance. And while it’s true that Tacoma has enough to keep you busy for weeks, you may be wondering: what can I see today? This afternoon? In an hour?! LET’S GO!
So you’ve got 1 hour
The view from Ebony & Ivory
Tacoma’s special appeal can be broken down to three concepts: mountain, city, and sea. Before your hour is over, we’re going to get you a mountain view, waterfront opportunity, a great meal in the city, and the caffeine you’ll need to resume your GTCC activities.
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Take a 10-minute walk to The Fish Peddler, located on Foss Waterway. Time remaining: 50 minutes.
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Order your favorite seafood dish, slap down your card, and take in the waterfront view. Time remaining: 25 minutes.
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Take a quick walk along 15th Street Float, a public pier just outside The Fish Peddler, to really soak in views of the Salish Sea and the Murray Morgan Bridge. Time remaining: 20 minutes.
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Walk 12 minutes to Ebony & Ivory, where you can get an impeccably-made coffee worthy of the Pacific Northwest’s formidable coffee reputation. Sit a moment in their spacious room to enjoy views of Mt. Rainier pleasantly looming over Downtown Tacoma. Time remaining: 5 minutes.
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Walk 5 minutes back to the Convention Center.
So you’ve got the afternoon
Go ahead and kayak just minutes from the convention center!
In just 3 hours, you can see and do (and eat!) a surprising amount in Downtown Tacoma. What you lack in time, you can make up for in efficiency, the power of your forearms, and good old-fashioned inspiration.
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Kayak the Foss Waterway: 90 minutes
Just 10 minutes from the Convention Center, you can rent a kayak at $30 for 2 hours from the Foss Harbor Marina. Though there are even more beautiful waterways to explore just a couple miles away, in the interest of time, go ahead and ease your business-casual slacks into the seat of a kayak. Drift on the Salish Sea and let all your workday stress blow away with the wind. -
Dinner: 1 hour
All that kayaking is sure to inspire an appetite. Head over a few blocks to historic Downtown Tacoma, where you can choose from Thai Pepper (Thai classics served up aesthetically), En Sushi (a new-on-the-scene sushi and ramen spot with lots of vegan options too), or The Forum (classic tavern experience at the bottom of the historic Olympus Hotel building), all just a couple minutes’ walk from each other. -
Beverage: 30 minutes
You’re on a trip, you’ve earned a beverage. What’s your order? For retro but stiff tiki drinks, head to The Old Hangout at McMenamins Elks Temple. Looking for a cider flight, with a couple beers in the mix? Visit Cider & Cedar. If you’re a brewery enthusiast, Odd Otter Brewing is your destination. For wine, nerd out at the Structure Cellars Tasting Room. Teetotaling? Head to the Mad Hat Tea Room. Cheers!
So you’ve got the day
The Museum District has something for everyone.
Lucky you! In addition to our 1-day Itineraries, here are some ideas to get you started, all within general proximity of the Convention Center.
Breakfast: Three Hearts Cafe for precious baked goods and hot breakfast, or The Hob Nob for classic diner fare. If you love diners, Tacoma has even more to offer.
Coffee: Before we dive headfirst into Tacoma’s Museum District, head to Anthem Coffee & Tea to re-up your caffeine. Don’t forget to go outside for a beautiful view of the pier. Or visit Ebony & Ivory for a cup of coffee that’s almost as perfect as the view of Mt. Rainier.
Activity 1: Museum District. Tacoma is home to the greatest concentration of museums in all of Washington State, so you’re sure to find something great for every age and interest. Check out the Tacoma Art Museum, LeMay - America’s Car Museum, the Children’s Museum of Tacoma, the Museum of Glass, and the Washington State History Museum, for a start!
Lunch: Indochine Asian Dining for fusion-tastic fun, Al Bacha for a really great gyro, and Thai Pepper for beautifully-presented classics.
Activity 2: Take the Link Light Rail to Downtown Tacoma’s Antique Row. Start at the Convention Center stop and take it 2 stops to Old City Hall, about 6 minutes in all. Wander the corridors of Sanford & Sons, get lost in the multi-level wonderland of vendors and offerings, and emerge, blinking, in the sunlight at approximately the hour mark. If you think antiques aren’t for you, think again; in Tacoma’s Antique Row, you’ll find records, books, clothes, housewares, awesome old-timey glassware, and potentially haunted pieces of furniture.
Dinner: Chez Lafayette for Creole classics and a great bar, Indita Mia for upscale Mexican food, and nostalgic local chain Old Spaghetti Factory for what you always wished Olive Garden would be.
Beverage Ideas: Choose your adventure!
- Beer: Visit Odd Otter Brewing right down the street, or if you’re a real diehard, take a 9 minute bus ride or 5 minute drive down to Tacoma’s Brewery District where you can visit E9 Brewing for farmhouse and sour beers, 7 Seas for IPAs, Dystopian Brewing for the gamut, and Camp Colvos for IPAs and Hazy beers alongside great pizza, among others.
- Cider: Incline Cider to enjoy a single awesome local producer, Cider & Cedar for cider flights
- Wine: Buried Bottle where the owners are passionate about sparkling wines and uncommon bottles from all over the world, or Structure Cellars to enjoy locally-made wines.
- N/A: Mad Hat Tea Room for a hot cuppa, or Happy Belly Juice Bar for health.
Lodging: Why not make it an overnighter? Hotel Murano is themed after Tacoma’s love affair with glass art, and located steps from the Convention Center.
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