I'm a big fan of the Beautiful Angle prints. Their customer service is very helpful as they are…read moreresponsive by email and were able to answer questions and help me navigate a PayPal mistake. If you are looking for home/office decor, great gift or a way to support a local business - you will want to check out Beautiful Angle. They also have access to their archives online.

I've seen these "posters" up around town and had to find out who/what was responsible for them. I…read moremust say I LOVE their work and find their pieces fascinating and intriguing. Love that they're based out of tacoma...my new home!

A very cool 2 lane bridge that connects Downtown Tacoma to the Port of Tacoma…read more I've driven across this bridge several times, even ran across it once. But when I was on my friends boat, I got to cruise underneath it for some very cool pics. The Murray Morgan Bridge is also known as the 11th Street Bridge since it's on, that's right, 11th street. This bridge is over 100 years old and was completely overhauled in 2007. The all black does make this bridge stand out, and it has stood the test of time.

Oh, Murray Morgan Bridge! It is really a landmark for Tacoma! It is very unique as it bridges over…read moretha marina and connects the downtown area with the Port of Tacoma. But that isn't what makes it special. Whenever boat traffic passes through and the bridge is needed to go up it doesn't tilt the road up on two sides like a drawbridge but instead it LIFTS the road up with it's mechanics so a portion of the road on the bridge is in the air. I've seen it in action several times and it's impressive to see. You can take stairs down from the bridge to Dock Street below or you can take the elevator which sometimes works. The elevator unfortunately is subject to vandalism so it's pretty battered up inside but definitely workable. So in that regard "Tacoma doesn't want nice things". But if you are out and about downtown or on Dock Street definitely give the bridge a look. You can get hood pictures of it from all kinds of angles around town.

This was a fun find and part of an art installation of 5 throughout WA and one in Portland…read more This is on Maury Island, connected to Vashon Island if you're doing some island hopping while in WA. You'll find Oscar next to the parking lot for the light house, another amazing attraction done by the beach. Before walking down to the beach, head to the left side and follow the path to the troll. Once you find him, you'll need to wait patiently as others will be taking lots of pictures with this art installation. While waiting, you can walk around and follow the path. Again, this is just one of six art installations in our family is looking forward to our next visit in visiting all the other trolls. Highly recommend as this is free other than the ferry ride to the island. The family especially the kids are going to love this little adventure.

Oscar the Bird King is probably my favorite troll that I have visited so far. It is a bit of an…read moreadventure to see him. I took the car ferry from Point Defiance to Vashon Island and a 20 minute drive later I finally got to see him. He is not far from the parking lot and just a short walk to get to him. He is whimsical and magical. Sitting on his throne and reaching out to touch those that come to visit him. I sat on the benches in his courtyard and was just in awe of Oscar. He is a King indeed.

Home of the Tacoma Stars of the MASL, and the Seattle Thunderbirds of the WHL- The City of Kent is…read moregrowing in regards sports teams and other recreational activities, thanks in part to the City of Kent building the ShoWare Center, the Kent Commons and other things, there is plenty to do if you go to the City of Kent.

This is a famous Tacoma landmark - a glass bridge that performs its job well as a pedestrian bridge…read morewith a touch of beauty from the glass artwork instillation that lines the sides of the bridge. It's a great alternative to visiting the Museum of Glass for people who are short on time or arriving during closed hours (this bridge is open 27/7), yet still want to experience some beauty in their lives. This bridge connects the Thea Foss Waterway and the Museum of Glass. When I visited, it was quite hot and the sun was beating down. This illuminated the three amazing Chihuly glass installations, but I wished that there was more than a little covered area on the bridge to protect me. Oh well, they do say that beauty is pain, don't they? I saw that there were multiple photographers on the bridge to take in the peaceful surroundings. Definitely don't miss this in your visit to Tacoma.

On our drive north, we made a quick stop at the Bridge of Glass, and it was worth the 15-minute…read moredetour. Parking was easy, and it was the perfect place to stretch our legs while enjoying some beautiful public art. We didn't have time to visit the Museum of Glass, so I was glad we could still experience some of Chihuly's work with this free outdoor exhibit. From the bridge, it also looked like the nearby courthouse features Chihuly glass, but unfortunately, we didn't have time to explore further. If you're passing through Tacoma, this is an easy, free stop that's well worth it. It's a great way to experience a bit of Pacific Northwest art and it's perfect for a few memorable photos before getting back on the road.

Totally partially to giving as much love to this little big city on the outskirts of Tacoma,…read moreWashington in Pierce County as much love as possible. I've visited Puyallup (Pew-yall-up) well over half a dozen times for various lengths of time. My best friend Ryan has lived here for the last almost six years and I typically come up once or thrice. Home of the Washington State Fair, friendly faces and cold hands with warm hearts... like seriously it's usually always rainy, chilly or breezy out, but I love the cold and I always feel welcomed when I'm in town despite the last two years away and the effects of that still weighing heavy on moods and hearts... Puyallupians definitely are cut from a unique cloth and stay strong. The local must staples including Total Wine (with the amazing managers and wine stewards), Big Lots (with the best sales clerk Lois), Applebee's and of course The Ram (with Alby... dine in the bar area please) and much much more are all places that will leave an impression. Karma Indian Cuisine is top notch Indian Cuisine and a food lovers must. Huge fan of their veggie curry, naan and lemon drop cocktails. The public transit is solid though not as frequent or versed as bigger areas and cities like Seattle, Bellevue, Olympia and even the continuously growing Tacoma. Even though I always have a few places to rest my head when I'm in the great state of Washington, the hotels are pretty solid including the best western on South Hill Drive - also one of the best bars/bistros in the area you never knew about Fireside Bar & Bistro... And while the South Hill Shopping Center & Mall is a little lackluster in does have some charm and long standing businesses that continue to shine and thrive... The improvements have continued. Fred Meyer, Costco and your local Walmart Superstore Center for those food and essential items. Great small businesses and shops to support, but the bigger chains definitely dominate. This lush green town is very scenic with parks and areas to take in and surprisingly pedestrian friendly despite being mostly spread out near residential areas. Traffic is usually pretty easy even during the week and at rush hour... Pull into Puyallup

In the 80's Tacoma, Washington was home to the infamous Hilltop Crips. If you venture over to 810…read moreYakima Avenue today, you'd be standing in their old 'hood. But, tweak your GPS settings slightly and point to 810 N. Yakima Avenue and you'd be standing in front of the house where that movie called "The Hand That Rocks the Cradle" was filmed. Click here to see the house - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjtfG8r14Uk

Just Go (#18) My…read morefirst visit to the State of Washington was ten years ago in 2015. We've been driving up north every now and then ever since... it is also our gateway thru Blaine when we want to cross over to Surrey, British Columbia in Canada. I'm lucky that my hubby loves driving. In Washington, of course, when we think of Seattle we all check out the famous Pike Place Market first... but, actually, it was seeing the gravesites of Bruce Lee and Brandon Lee that turned out to be the highlight of our last visit to Seattle. According to Wikipedia Seattle has more than 400 permanent pieces of public artwork throughout the city... whaaat?? Well, we found three of them including a giant troll under the north end of the Aurora Bridge. CITY OF SEATTLE: Pike Place Market Post Alley Gum Wall Chihuly Garden and Glass Bruce Lee and Brandon Lee Gravesite Fremont Troll Jimi Hendrix Statue Vladimir Lenin Statue JP Patches Statue Berlin Wall NATIONAL PARKS: Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument Mount Rainier National Park Olympic National Park FOOD: El Mercado Latino, Seattle Chocolate Market by Gosanko Chocolate, Seattle Virginia Inn, Seattle Bordertown Mexican Grill, Blaine LANDMARKS: Astoria-Megler Bridge Thank you, Great State of Washington for the experience of your rich cultural scene, iconic landmarks (Space Needle) and a strong coffee culture, being the birthplace of Starbucks. Review #3790