Hi, Lynn,
You picked a perfect weekend to be in Tacoma. We have three great museums clustered in downtown. The Tacoma Art Museum has a fun art studio for kids. http://www.tacomaartmuseum.org/ They may be interested in our Museum of Glass,http://www.museumofglass.org/ and adults and kids will love our Washington State History Museum http://www.wshs.org/wshm/default.aspx. Also, the Museum of Flight is not far away, near SEA/TAC airport. http://www.museumofflight.org/visit I mention these because Sat. is the Smithsonian FREE Museum Day. You can download and print your ticket from http://www.smithsonianmag.com/museumday/ but the free tickets are only good for one museum - pick when you download your ticket.

Also, Sat. is a National Park Free Entrance Day and Mt. Rainier is our closest National Park, a 1-2 hour drive depending on how far into the park you go. http://www.visitrainier.com/ Also, out towards Mt. Rainier is the Pioneer Farm Museum http://www.pioneerfarmmuseum.org/

If the weather is nice and you want to stay closer in, check out Point Defiance Park. http://www.metroparkstacoma.org/page.php?id=24 With 702 acres, it includes gardens, beach, zoo, natural forest (5 mile drive) with easy walking trails, and Fort Nisqually.

If you're near downtown and want some park/flower time, check out the Seymour Botanical Conservatory in Wright Park. http://www.metroparkstacoma.org/page.php?id=21
They're currently having an exhibit on 'Wicket Plants'. http://www.metroparkstacoma.org/page.php?id=230

We have other wonderful gardens nearby, but they are better for viewing in the spring. Guess you'll have to come back!

Daphne in Tacoma