Spanaway, WA

The area around Spanaway was first owned by The Hudson’s Bay Company. In 1890, Henry de la Bushalier settled the land and named the area Lake Park in hopes of planning a community near Spanaway Lake. The neighborhood experienced a cultural shift at the start of the 20th century as the development of Mount Rainier National Park made the area's train station the first gateway to Mount Rainier and the majestic beauty of the surrounding country. By 1970, the U.S. Board on Geographic names decided to change the name of the neighborhood back to Spanaway, after the nearby lake.

History buffs who want to know more about the neighborhood’s past should check out the Spanaway Historical Society museum. Those looking to get into the local arts scene can meet other artists and stock up on supplies at Spirit Store, a local arts and crafts shop.

Most of the restaurants in Spanaway can be found lining Pacific Avenue South near the heart of the neighborhood. Eating out in Spanaway is generally affordable, with the more refined eateries located to the north in downtown Tacoma. Spanaway has a good number of ethnic restaurants, particularly Japanese and Vietnamese cuisine.

Umai Bento comes highly recommended as one of the most notable restaurants for sushi and Japanese sashimi in Spanaway. Regular patrons highly recommend the Avocado Bomb and the Seattle Rolls. Most meals here won’t break the bank, with sushi roll dinners available for around $10. If you don't care for sushi, they also have bento boxes which come with an assortment of sides and flavors. Umai Bento also provides take out service, making it a perfect restaurant to stop by and pick up dinner on the way home from work.

Country Rose Cafe provides a slightly more traditional dining experience specializing in American breakfast and brunch foods. This cafe serves meals all day, but many people come specifically for their Hobo Hash brunch with a side of homemade biscuits. Others make a point to visit for another favorite dish - Friday's soup of the day, fresh clam chowder.

The nightlife in Spanaway largely centers around pubs and dive bars. The Hideaway Sports Pub serves as a popular bar in the neighborhood, with cheap bar food and weekly drink specials. On Wednesday nights, guests can grab a burger for only $2 and stick around for the weekly karaoke session later that night. Many people also enjoy Fireball Fridays at Hideaway Sports Pub with $3 fireball shots available all night.

Uncle Sam’s American Bar & Grill closely rivals Hideaway Sports Pub as another top dive bar in town. However, Uncle Sam’s has a bit of an edge over Hideaway as far as entertainment value goes - its weekly hosting of live music. Each night at Uncle Sam’s brings a different music genre: Monday features blues performers, Friday nights mean local bands and Tuesday night is community jam along night. Even if music doesn’t rank too high on your priority list, bar patrons like hanging out and playing pool in the back or munching on some $1 tacos on Thursday nights.

Overall, residents of Spanaway depend on cars to get around. People living in residences close to Pacific Avenue might be able to walk to a few amenities, but most people drive out of necessity. Parking spaces in the area remain fairly prevalent and most spots are free to park. Taking Pacific Avenue South eventually merges with Interstate 512, which connects drivers to Tacoma and Seattle farther north. Cabs prove rare in this neighborhood, so call ahead if you need a ride. Some residents choose to use services such as Uber or RelayRides as an alternative to traditional taxi cabs. The Pierce County bus service runs along Pacific Avenue South and continues north towards Tacoma. There are very few people who travel by bicycle in the area - but biking is a popular recreational activity here, with paved trails available around the Spanaway Lake area.

With 135 acres of land on the border of Spanaway Lake, Spanaway Park serves as a big part of everyday life in this neighborhood. With two swimming beaches, a boat launch and a fishing pier, the park becomes a particularly crowded destination during summer months. Visitors can rent canoes and paddle boats for the lake at $10 per hour. Parking at Spanaway Park costs $3 per vehicle, but yearly passes are also available at cheaper rates. In addition to the lake activities, the park also includes picnic areas, basketball courts, a children's playground and many walking trails.

Pet owners love attending the annual Woof Woof Walk, which hosts dog walkers all day long on the extensive network of trails in the area. On other days, walkers and joggers can be seen exercising throughout the park on both paved and unpaved paths. Despite the wealth of activities in the summertime at Spanaway Park, the highlight event of the year is the Fantasy Lights every winter during the holiday season. Each year, the parks department puts together an immersive display of lights for visitors to drive through, turning the park into a glowing wonderland of Christmas spirit. If you visit the Fantasy Lights during evening hours, be prepared to wait in a line of cars to go through, as this event has become very popular over the years.

Cost of living in Spanaway is comparable to the Washington state average, with some categories proving cheaper than other neighborhoods. Housing prices in Spanaway cost less on average than in other Washington neighborhoods, with one bedroom residences typically renting out for an average price of $700 per month. Locals can expect to pay around $4-$5 for a draft beer at a local pub, though many bars feature drink specials each night of the week.

The biggest expense in this area proves to be transportation costs. The price of gas in Spanaway ranks about 12 percent higher than the national average. With most residents depending on cars to commute, this monthly cost can add up quickly. However, in general the lower cost of living in areas such as food and nightlife make Spanaway a relatively affordable neighborhood for Washington State.

Shopping options in Spanaway remain fairly limited. While the area lacks any dedicated shopping malls, most people consider the center stretch of Pacific Avenue South to be the main area for retail as it contains the highest density of shops.

Outdoors enthusiasts will love browsing the selection of coats, jackets and outdoor gear at Mountain Highway Worker. This locally owned shop, located just off Pacific Avenue, makes the shopping experience a little bit sweeter by providing free popcorn, coffee and tea to all its visitors. Whether you enjoy running, biking, hiking or climbing, if you love the great outdoors, this store likely has something that will catch your eye.

Located south of the neighborhood in Elk Plain lies Fox Home Furnishings, a small furniture boutique. This family-owned business takes pride in providing knowledgeable customer service and quick, in-home delivery and installation of new furniture. Shoppers love coming to Fox Home Furnishings for its affordable selection of couches, dressers and interior decor.

Many residents of Spanaway do their weekly grocery shopping at the Walmart Supercenter just to the south of the area. Those looking for specialty health foods also stop by Acorn Pantry Outlet for organic and raw foods. While Spanaway doesn't host any farmers markets in the summertime, locals can head north to Parkland and visit Fruit on the Loop, a summertime farmers market that provides fresh and local produce to residents of surrounding neighborhoods.