Living

Tacoma is home to several peaceful neighborhoods, which are perfect for families or young professionals looking to invest in a home. Tacoma’s median home price is more than 50% lower than Seattle’s median home price, all while being surrounded by the same vibrant Pacific Northwest spirit. As Sunset Magazine reported when selecting Tacoma as one of 20 game-changing places to live, “housing ­remains startlingly affordable, and the city’s marinas, houses, and storefronts still feel more blue-collar than precious. All this, plus the Northwest’s trails, beaches, and parks, equals a city on the verge of something great.”

Downtown

Downtown Tacoma is where you can capture the essence of an engaging food and arts scene. You can celebrate classic taste for vintage cars at America’s Car Museum, innovative exhibits at the Museum of Glass or Tacoma Art Museum, and enjoy the latest in performing arts at one of many theatres. You will find an eclectic variety of shops and restaurants, all within arms reach of an outdoor adventure and connected by the state’s first electric light rail. As the San Francisco Chronicle put it in their recent feature story, “Tacoma has evolved into a vibrant magnet for artists and art lovers, embracing the culture of creativity with a burgeoning gallery scene and a Museum District.”

Waterfront

Tacoma’s Ruston Way waterfront is the crown jewel of the south sound region. You can enjoy the water view at an award-winning restaurant, walk along the saltwater banks, or shop at the new Point Ruston center. Minutes away, Point Defiance Park includes 760-acres of possibilities to enjoy natural forests, wildlife education at the zoo and aquarium, or test the open waters on a kayak or sailboat.

Sports

Down the street from the Charles Wright campus is Chambers Bay Golf Course, home of the 2015 U.S. Open. It was designed as a walking-only golf course to keep the authenticity of the golf tradition.

A short drive from campus is Cheney Stadium, where the Tacoma Rainiers baseball team plays. The Rainiers have played every year since 1960, and hold the longest current active streak of membership in the Pacific Coast League. The Rainiers also have the highest level of affiliation in Minor League Baseball (Triple-A) based less than an hour away from their major league affiliate, the Seattle Mariners.

Surrounding areas

Within driving distance of Pierce County, you can take an expedition through Mount Rainier National Park, admire the maritime in Gig Harbor, tour the lush gardens in Lakewood, and shop antiques and the Washington State Fair in Puyallup. Seattle is less than an hour away with full and frequent bus and train service everyday to and from Tacoma and Seattle.