Description
Perfect for families and business travelers. Just over the Tacoma Narrows, a private, large (1,300+ sq. ft. / 121 sq. m.), two-bedroom, one-bath in-law apartment in an amazing midcentury modern house with a full kitchen, large washer/dryer, two desks, high-speed wi-fi (150mbps), two bedrooms with king beds, a living room with a 4K 55" Smart TV, queen sofa bed, and a dining table. Private entrance and plenty of off-street parking. Sleeps a maximum of six people.
The space
My home is a custom midcentury modern house designed by Pacific Northwest architect Alan Liddle—a Frank Lloyd Wright associate. It sits on almost an acre of wooded land in a residential neighborhood adjacent to WA Highway 16 and steps from the Tacoma Narrows Bridge. The suite is over 1,300 sq. ft. in a sunny daylight basement.
The house has central air-conditioning and heat with vents in the suite though there is no thermostat in the suite. I keep the house on the cool side. There are built-in wall heaters in the living room and each bedroom plus extra blankets for chilly nights.
Coffee, tea, and bottled water are available in the kitchen, along with cooking basics—spices and oils.
Guest access
There are steps down from the parking area to the suite.
The guest suite is a large, private, sunny daylight basement apartment consisting of a spacious living/dining room, full kitchen, one bathroom, en-suite oversized washer/dryer, and two bedrooms. The rest of the house is where I live. Feel free to walk around the property. On a clear day, you'll catch an amazing bridge, water and mountain view from the southeast corner of the property.
Guest interaction
The guest suite has a keypad lock so you're able to self check-in. I'll send you an access code a few days before you check in. The code is changed for each guest.
If I'm home when you arrive I'll be happy to meet you, show you the space, and answer any questions. If, while you're here, you need anything at all please don't hesitate to ask.
Neighborhood overview
The neighborhood has easy access to Washington Highway 16 yet is off the beaten path. As you walk around the property and the neighborhood you'll glimpse bridge, Mount Rainier, and water views through towering trees. There's a beautiful waterfront park with beach access at the end of the street and a hidden, wooded park around the corner. Also, we're just minutes by car from downtown Gig Harbor, restaurants, and shops.
About a block away is the pedestrian/bike trail that crosses the Tacoma Narrows Bridge. From the house to the middle of the bridge is a 20-minute walk. It's definitely a must-see with spectacular views.
Points of Interest: - Downtown Gig Harbor — 4.6 miles - University of Puget Sound — 5.7 miles - Tacoma Dome — 9.1 miles - Museum of Glass — 9.7 miles - University of Washington, Tacoma Campus — 9.9 miles
Groceries - Safeway, Gig Harbor — 2.8 miles - Metropolitan Market, Gig Harbor -3.0 miles- Fred Meyer, Gig Harbor — 3.3 miles - Trader Joe's, University Place — 5.0 miles - Whole Foods Market, University Place — 5.0 miles
Restaurants - The Hub, Gig Harbor — 1.3 miles - Green House, Gig Harbor — 3 miles - Lele Thai Vietnamese, Gig Harbor — 3 miles - Moctezuma's Mexican, Gig Harbor — 3 miles - Blue Agave Mexican, Gig Harbor — 3 - Tides Tavern (21 and older), Gig Harbor — 4.4 miles - Seven Seas Brewery, Gig Harbor — 4.4 miles - Spiro's Pizza, Gig Harbor — 4.4 miles - Netshed No. 9, Gig Harbor — 4.8 miles
Restaurants Across the Narrows - Boathouse 19, Tacoma — 4.1 miles - Anthony's At Point Defiance, Tacoma — 6.4 miles
Ferries — All are passenger and car ferries. - Southworth to Vashon Island and West Seattle — 23.1 miles - Bremerton to Downtown Seattle — 26 miles - Kingston to Edmonds — 49.1 miles - Bainbridge Island to Downtown Seattle — 49.7 miles - Port Townsend to Whidbey Island — 72.2 miles - Port Angeles, WA to Victoria, British Columbia, Canada — 98.3 miles
I-5 Corridor - Downtown Tacoma — 6 miles - SeaTac International Airport — 29 miles - Downtown Seattle — 40 miles - Bellevue, WA — 43 miles - Microsoft, Redmond, WA — 49.6 miles - Puyallup Fairgrounds — 17.1 miles - State Capital, Olympia, WA — 34.5 miles - Portland, Oregon — 147 miles - Peace Arch, Blaine, WA, Canadian Border — 152 miles - Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada — 182 miles
Cascade Mountains - Mt. St. Helens Visitor Center — 95 miles - Mt. Rainier, Carbon River — 45.7 miles - Mt. Rainier, Paradise — 80.9 miles - Mt. Rainier, Sunrise — 88.4 miles - Roslyn, WA (Northern Exposure fame) — 103 miles - Leavenworth, WA — 155 miles - Winthrop, WA — 229 miles
On the Olympic Peninsula - Poulsbo, WA — 40.3 miles - Port Townsend, WA — 72.2 miles - Port Angeles, WA — 98.3 miles - Marymere Falls, Lake Crescent — 118 miles - Quinault Rain Forest — 120 miles - Forks, WA — 154 miles - Ruby Beach — 158 miles - Cape Flattery — 176 miles - Hoh Rain Forest Visitor Center — 186 miles
Getting around
We're not accessible by public transportation so you'll need a car (or taxi, Uber, Lyft).
There's plenty of on-property parking. There is a toll to cross the Tacoma Narrows Bridge leaving Gig Harbor (no toll entering Gig Harbor). It's $6 cash or $7 pay-by-mail. If you're in a rental car, check with the rental company before using pay-by-mail as they might have additional fees. Alternatively, you can buy a Good-To-Go pass, which costs $5 and reduces the toll to $5.
Other things to note
You'll probably hear us move about during the day. Most nights we're in bed and sound asleep before 11 pm and these days whenever I entertain it's usually during afternoon hours.
We are very close to the bridge so you can hear highway traffic when outside, especially during the morning rush hour. Inside the suite is very quiet, almost completely silent.