Visiting Tacoma
Washington State's second city, Tacoma represents the southern part of Washington State's Puget Sound Metropolitan area, halfway between Olympia and Seattle.
Since the mid-90s, a thriving arts community has grown up within and out of Tacoma’s blue collar, port town roots. The city has undergone a renaissance over the past few decades - home to three major universities, a thriving small business community, and the state’s highest density of art and history museums, In 2018, Sunset Magazine dubbed Tacoma one of its 20 "Game Changing Places to Live," Tacoma was named a 2016 Etsy Maker City, and The Advocate named Tacoma America's Gayest City in 2013.
States Charles Mudede in a recent article for The Stranger, "Something has clearly shifted in the way Tacoma and Seattle are perceived at the level of the arts. My point: As the arts are in decline in Seattle, they are clearly ascending in Tacoma. And if this trend continues, it's not impossible to imagine a situation where the latter effectively becomes the center of the region's arts."
The Grand Cinema and the Tacoma Film Festival are two important facets in this dynamic community of artists, makers, and entrepreneurs. In addition to its cultural attractions, Tacoma's location - nestled in the shadow of Mount Rainier with 46 miles of coastline - provides breathtaking views and a wide range of outdoor activities. If your film is selected for the Tacoma Film Festival, we highly encourage you to make the trip to our wonderful and unique city - you won't be disappointed! Visit the links below and throughout the "Visiting Tacoma" pages to find out more about Tacoma, including its best restaurants, and a list of attractions and activities.
