Freighthouse Square (25th and East D, a block north of Tacoma Dome, 253/305-0678) is Tacoma’s version of Pike Place Market, though it isn't nearly as successful. More than 70 small shops and restaurants can be found inside the turn-of-the-20th-century Milwaukee/St. Paul Railroad freighthouse. You can get everything from pet supplies to clothes to good food here. It’s worth a look if you're in town, and a couple of the ethnic cafés are quite good. A great place to explore for used books is not far away, the Tacoma Book Center (324 E. 26th St., 253/572-8248).

Downtown Tacoma has more than 20 fine art galleries, along with several antique shops along Antique Row on Broadway between 7th and 9th Streets in downtown Tacoma.

One of the most enjoyable browsing sections in Tacoma is a mostly upscale cluster of shops and boutiques called the Proctor District along the 2700 block of N. Proctor. Some of the more interesting ones include the Proctor District Antique Mall with more than 40 dealers, and the Pacific Northwest Shop, which stocks only goods produced in the region.

All the major national and regional stores can be found at local shopping malls, including the biggest, Tacoma Mall (www.tacoma-mall.com) with 135 stores.