West End - Tacoma, WA

Development of the West End began when the Point Defiance military reservation was changed to public-use park property as an act of congress in the early 1900s. Construction of the park's aquarium and pavilion began in 1907. Property development spread out south and west from Point Defiance and the copper smelter located directly south of the park.

Resorts and residential buildings went up gradually, some taking advantage of the western-facing water views. As the population grew, several of the area's parks were purchased by the city for subdivision. In the 1980s, the West End saw a 16 percent population growth spurt due to the increased construction of multifamily residences.

West End residents can easily access the Museum of Glass, Washington State History Museum and Tacoma Art Museum in the downtown area as well as events such as the Tacoma Jazz Music Festival and the Tacoma Highland Games.

The majority of West End eateries serve up their culinary delights in and around the Westgate North Shopping Center on Pearl Street and along the retail sector on 6th Avenue.

At Joeseppi's Italian Ristorante, you get treated like family. The owner greets you warmly, advises you of favorite menu items and offers suggestions for your dinner. You can build your own Italian meal by combining your choice of pasta with your favorite sauce, or you can choose one of the house recipes such as chicken fettuccine with mushrooms and shallots. As a side for your lunch or dinner order, look no further than the spicy and satisfying Sicilian sausage soup. Stretch your eating-out budget with the restaurant's daily specials. Kids eat free with paying adults on Mondays, and Tuesdays are all-you-can-eat spaghetti days.

If you're in the mood for a hippie coffee house with wholesome home-style food, definitely check out the Antique Sandwich Company. You can order half sandwiches, but if you're going for the local-favorite meatloaf sandwich, you might want to order the whole. For the small appetite, a cup of homemade mushroom barley or lentil soup costs only about $3. The peanut butter milkshakes have legendary status.

A Tacoma favorite, The Cloverleaf knows how to do pizza. It takes a bit of time to prepare that signature thin, crispy crust, but you can kick back with a cold beer and free popcorn while you wait. This tavern-style pizzeria makes a great place for Mariners' and Seahawks' fans to hang out, watch the game and eat bacon-cheeseburger pizza loaded with toppings. A pint of microbrew on tap costs only $4.

A late-night haunt for West End locals, The Loose Wheel Bar and Grill stays open until 2:00 a.m. Stop in to enjoy 20 types of beer on tap, dynamite 50-cent wings and karaoke well into the night.

For clubs, concerts and other nightlife events, locals make the short trip to downtown Tacoma or the longer trip to Seattle.

If you live close to one of the retail areas, you can handle some chores on foot, but generally, you need a vehicle to get around in the West End. Parking is not an issue at either of the major shopping districts, as they both provide lots of free parking. In five minutes, drivers can join I-5 via State Route 16 for the 45-minute drive to downtown Seattle.

You don't have to do the driving yourself. Bus service runs along the commercial corridors of 6th and North Pearl to take you to the retail districts or to connect with other routes in the city. You can always call Yellow Cab for a pickup after a night's fun at the bar, or you can complete your travel itinerary by booking a ride to SeaTac with Uber.

The neighborhood has only a few dedicated bike lanes, but they take scenic paths. One route follows the coast along North Vassault to Point Defiance Park, and another takes the Tacoma Narrows Bridge across Puget Sound to the Kitsap Peninsula.

At 17.5 acres, Vassault Park is one of Tacoma's largest neighborhood parks. This centrally located green space features courts for invigorating games of tennis or basketball and picnic areas for peaceful outdoor relaxation. You can rent baseball diamonds and soccer fields for team-sport fun or get your exercise with a jog on the one-half-mile loop around the playing fields. Featuring race categories for children and adults, the annual Sound to Narrows run starts and finishes at Vassault Park.

West End residents enjoy easy access to Point Defiance Park. This 765-acre park has something for everyone, and it hosts more than 3 million visitors each year. Watch for rabbits or families of raccoons as you take one of the trails that weaves through dense greenery and old-growth forests, or spend the afternoon at Owen Beach and watch the sun set over Mount Rainier across the water. Buy tickets online to save on the price of admission, and thrill the kids with a visit to the zoo and aquarium. Check the website for special seasonal events such as the Zoolights light-up for the holiday season.

Even dogs can enjoy Point Defiance. Walk your leashed dog around the park, or set him free in the 7-acre off-leash zone.

Although the West End's cost of living comes in 11 percent higher than the Tacoma average, daily expenses have reasonable price tags. A $2 fare pays your way to the downtown core on a Pierce Transit bus, and a cool brew sets you back about $5. When you gas up your car, you can expect to pay about 11 percent more than the national average price.

Rent-wise, you get a lot for your money in this neighborhood. With an average monthly rate of $792, the West End provides comfortable living for the renting 53 percent of the population. A one-bedroom unit in an apartment community with a fitness center, billiard room and Olympic-size indoor pool goes for $685.

Westgate North Shopping Center occupies the block between North Pearl and North Highland from North 21st to 30th Streets. This one-stop shopping area features large stores such as Big Lots, restaurants and fast-food outlets, and services that include a veterinary hospital, dental office and banking center. Further south, 6th Avenue supports a secondary major shopping area.

If you're looking for quilting supplies, you'll find what you need at Calico Threads. The store's inventory includes patterns, quilt kits, sewing notions, top-of-the-line sewing machines and rows, and rows of bolts of fabric. You can work on your own project in the store's sewing lounge and take advantage of the professional workspace equipped with machines, cutting tables and pressing tools, or you can register for a patchwork or quilting class to improve your skills.

If you'd like to save some money on clothing that your infant will outgrow in a month or on maternity wear that will only be a temporary wardrobe addition, check out Kidz Kaboodle on 6th. You can find gently used toys, baby equipment, children's clothing and maternity wear at discount prices. If you choose to consign items that your family no longer needs, you can accept cash or a higher-value in-store credit for your sales. Don't miss the monthly 25-cent sale.

Locals have the convenience of 24-hour grocery shopping at the Safeway in Westgate. This location features the usual bakery, deli and floral departments as well as a Starbucks and fuel station. If you prefer to shop from home, check online for grocery delivery.

West End residents make the short trip to downtown Tacoma for fresh farmers-market produce from May to September.