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Explore Tacoma!

Some of you may know I host an AirBnb experience in Seattle. With the success of that tour, I decided to do one for Tacoma as well and show guests my hometown (and also save me from driving to Seattle so often). My Explore Tacoma experience was just approved by AirBnb and went live online yesterday.

For this new experience, I’ll lead individuals or groups up to 4 on a personal photo tour and workshop in Tacoma. Unlike my Seattle tour, which is in the morning, this tour will be in the afternoon and evening, designed to catch sunset on Mount Rainier or the Olympic Mountains. I’ll lead my guests to the Museum of Glass, shooting both the iconic outside of the museum and glass blowing inside in the Hot Room. We’ll also explore the downtown Tacoma waterfront and either the Ruston Way waterfront or Port Defiance Park. I’ll show guests some of my favorite shot locations in Tacoma and provide photographic advice and instruction. The photos accompanying this blog are some of the places where the tour will likely go.

So if you are going to be in the area, and want to do a little photography in Tacoma, consider signing up. I’d love to show you around.

Part of the glass ceiling on the Bridge of Glass leading to the Glass Museum.
Fountain in the plaza of the Glass Museum with Hot Room cone in background
Murray Morgan Bridge, also known as the 11th Street Bridge, in downtown Tacoma. Mount Rainier in the distance.
View of Mount Rainier, the Cable Bridge, and the Glass Museum
Point Defiance Ferry sailing on Puget Sound
Japanese Garden in Point Defiance Park
Dahlia Garden of Point Defiance Park
Chinese Reconciliation Park on a foggy day.

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Comments

6 responses to “Explore Tacoma!”

  1. Awa on the Road Avatar
    Awa on the Road

    Dear Joe, can you tell me a little bit more out this Airbnb experiences? Do you have to sign up somehow? Is it up to you what type of service you offer to visitors? Do you have to be approved by airbnb? Thanks.

    Reply
    1. joebecker Avatar
      joebecker

      Hi Awa, as a world traveler, I’m sure you are familiar with Airbnb for home and room rentals. About a year and half ago, they expanded into experiences. The idea was to let travelers book an experience with a local expert, be it a photography workshop, a cooking class, a guided hike, etc. They initially started the program in select cities around the world, Seattle being one. I signed up to lead my Seattle photo workshop last year, and now just started one for Tacoma (which is close enough to Seattle to be included).

      To sign up to take an experience, you go to the Airbnb website, search for where you are going, and if experiences are available in that area, there will be an experiences button to click on. They are not yet available everywhere. For example, next month Tanya and I are going to Greece. I am using Airbnb for our stay in Athens. I looked for Airbnb experiences there (thinking it might be nice to go shooting with a local), but they are not yet available.

      If you are thinking of signing up to host an experience, click on the becoming a host tab at the top of their website. There is a series of pages to go through explaining your experience, adding photos, etc., but it is not too difficult. They review your proposal and let you know if it is acceptable. When you set up an experience as a host, you have total control over the price, what you services you will offer, where you will go, etc; though it does have to be approved by Airbnb. Once approved and you start having guests, they rate you as an experience host, similar to when you use an Airbnb rental.

      If you are thinking of hosting an Airbnb experience, I don’t think they have spread the service to Poland yet, but I’m certain it will get there sometime soon. Hope I’ve answered your questions?

      Joe

      Reply
      1. Awa on the Road Avatar
        Awa on the Road

        Really a lot of very detailed and helpful information. Thanks a lot! Maybe I can become the first Polish experience-host. Worth trying 🙂

        Reply
        1. joebecker Avatar
          joebecker

          I hope so! I’d like to have you lead me to all your secret photography spots.

          Reply
          1. Awa on the Road Avatar
            Awa on the Road

            Thank you, Joe.

  2. Ernie Misner Avatar
    Ernie Misner

    Superb iconic Tacoma photos Joe! Hope the Airbnb experience goes well my friend!

    Reply

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