Stadium District - Tacoma, WA

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Stadium High School was built around 1891 as a luxury hotel by the Northern Pacific Railroad Company. A fire and financial difficulties for the railroad left the building half-completed until 1906, when it was redesigned as a high school. The building is sometimes referred to as the Brown Castle. With its turrets and archways, the name definitely fits. Famous visitors to the school include John Phillip Sousa and President Teddy Roosevelt. The 1999 movie, 10 Things I hate About You, was filmed at the high school.

The high school was redesigned by Frederick Heath, a noted architect in the Tacoma area. After the school was completed in 1906, he began work on the stadium, which opened in 1910.

When you rent in the Stadium District, you can enjoy a different restaurant every night -- without leaving the neighborhood. Art House Café provides a terrific setting for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. After dinner, stay for a glass of wine. If it's Friday or Saturday night, you'll be able to enjoy live music. Harvester is another great destination, whether you want a classic, diner-style breakfast or a late-night dinner. Try the Swedish crepes with strawberries. When you just want an old-fashioned burger with fries and a shake -- perhaps set in a classic '50s-style diner -- head over to Shake Shake Shake. Their hickory burger is award-winning, and the setting is delightfully retro and colorful.

After dinner, end your evening at the Taproom, located on St. Helens Avenue. This brew house features a wide selection of unique craft beers, and it hosts live music on weekends.

The Stadium District is extremely pedestrian-friendly. You'll be able to walk to anywhere from your apartment, including area shops, restaurants, banks, grocery stores, cafes, and theaters. Stadium Way leads to I-705, the fastest way to reach such locations as the Museum of Glass, the Tacoma Dome, and I-5. Downtown Tacoma is less than a mile to the south -- walk, bike, or hop on Tacoma Avenue to visit Downtown Tacoma. If you prefer mass transit, there are several bus stops in the area.

Wright Park is a 27-acre arboretum that includes the gorgeous botanical gardens at the Seymour Conservatory. This is an amazing park to have in your back yard -- it was designed by the Olmsted brothers, the architects who also designed New York's Central Park. Wright Park includes playgrounds, a sprayground, a duck pond, sports fields, picnic areas, a bike trail, a gift shop, walking trails, lawn bowling and bocce ball, basketball hoops, and horseshoes. The Victorian Seymour Conservatory is a glass structure featuring fantastic gardens. Here, you'll find a variety of special events, such as a pumpkin patch in the fall, a Victorian Holiday Festival, and a music series.

As a hip and trendy neighborhood with historic architecture and show-stopping views, it will cost a little more to live in the Stadium District than in other Tacoma neighborhoods. With its close proximity to downtown and terrific locally-owned businesses, apartments in the Stadium District are in high demand. The average rent here is about $1,000 a month, compared to $850 in other parts of Tacoma. If you decide to buy a house, a Stadium District home will cost you about $288,000. The Tacoma average is roughly $226,000.

The Stadium District is perfect for those who want to shop local -- small businesses dot the area. Take home some treats from Tease Chocolates -- pair them up with spirits from the Tacoma Wine Merchants. Pick up a movie at the DVDXpress and you're set for a great evening in your apartment. Speaking of which, you'll want to decorate your new space, so find just the right conversation piece at Tricky's Pop Culture Emporium or at the Collector's Nook. Spend some time at Destiny City Comics or King's Books. If you enjoy thrift stores, give TOA Thrift Shop a try. Pick up some groceries before heading home at Stadium Thriftway, a fantastic neighborhood grocery store selling locally-sourced goods.