All About Tacoma

St. Joseph Medical Center is located in the heart of Tacoma, Wash. Since you will be spending 3 years of residency life here, it’s important to know some fun things and places to go. Tacoma is nestled along Washington’s Puget Sound and is known for its picturesque parks and outdoor spaces. Tacoma is also known as a “family-friendly” city with multiple fun attractions for children, including parks and zoos, bumper cars on ice, and unique museums. Below you will find fun facts about Tacoma, and also some top attractions and restaurants, all sure to keep you busy during your off days.

5 Fun Facts about Tacoma, Wash.

The name Tacoma means, “Mother of the Waters.”
Stadium High School (which you can see from SJMC) was the featured school in the movie “10 Things I Hate About You.”
The 700-acre park, Point Defiance, is one of the largest urban parks in the country and is second only to Central Park in New York City.
Union Station (which you can see from SJMC) was designed by the same architects who designed Grand Central Terminal in New York City.
Tacoma is the birthplace of Bing Crosby, a famous American actor and singer who has more than 500 million records in circulation and is widely regarded as one of the best-selling artists in history.

Top Attractions

Point Defiance Park
Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium
Ruston Waterfront
Chihuly Bridge of Glass
5 Mile Drive and Trails
Washington State History Museum
Cheney Stadium
Tacoma Narrows Bridge
Owen Beach
Chambers Bay
Mount Rainier

Cultural Attractions

Tacoma Film Festival
Tacoma Art Museum
America’s Car Museum
Museum of Glass
Tacoma Farmer’s Market
Shakespeare in the Parking Lot

Terrific Restaurants (too many to name!)

Sushi Tama
Loak Toung Thai
Melon Seed Deli and Frozen Yogurt
Cham Garden Korean BBQ
The Church Cantina
T-Town Café
Cho Dang Tofu
Tacoma Szechuan
Bob’s Bar-B-Q Pit
Indo Asian Street Eatery
El Gaucho
The Melting Pot
The Lobster Shop