The Best Places to Photograph in Tacoma and Pierce County

Discover the most photogenic, unique places - including some hidden gems - that will turn a weekend trip into Instagram gold!

As the saying goes, if there aren’t pics, it didn’t happen. So when you visit the Tacoma area, you’ll want photos of iconic Mount Rainier and downtown’s Bridge of Glass. Then take the less-traveled route to find the natural scenery, art, and architecture that you and your camera will love. Share your photos and use #TravelTacoma for the chance to be featured.

Visit our hotels page for suggestions on planning an overnight stay. You’ll need to be well rested for activities and lesser-known selfie spots that include:

Nature

Point Defiance Park’s Japanese Garden, Rose Garden and Five-Mile Drive
Point Defiance Park Rose Garden
 
W.W. Seymour Conservatory in Tacoma’s Wright Park
W.W. Seymour Conservatory
 
Narrows Beach Park (1502 Lucille Pkwy. NW, Gig Harbor)
Narrows Park
 
 

Views

Les Davis Pier on Ruston Way, Tacoma
Les Davis Pier in Tacoma, Washington
 
Tacoma hotels: Hotel Murano (1320 Broadway) and Silver Cloud Inn (2317 Ruston Way)
Hotel Murano lobby
 
Tacoma Art Museum Second-floor balcony (1701 Pacific Ave., Tacoma)
View from Tacoma Art Museum balcony
 
Murray Morgan Bridge (11th Street & Pacific Avenue) - as seen from Fireman's Park
Murray Morgan Bridge in Tacoma, Washington, with Mount Rainier in the background
 
Stanley & Seafort's restaurant (115 E. 34th St., Tacoma) from the dining area or bar
Stanley and Seafort's view
 
Views of Rainier from Puyallup's farmland
Puyallup Valley daffodils

Murals & Street Art

Opera Alley (Court C from S. 7th Street to St. Helens Avenue, downtown Tacoma)
Opera Ally in Tacoma
 
Live Like the Mountain is Out mural at Craft.19 espresso (1201 Main St., Sumner)
Sumner Live Like the Mountain Is Out Mural
 
Umbrella wall (216 Puyallup Ave., Tacoma)
Dome District Mural - Umbrella Wall - by Chris Sharp
 

Architecture

Stadium High School (111 N. E St., Tacoma), as seen in the film 10 Things I Hate About You.
Stadium High School
 
Union Station (17th & Pacific Ave., Tacoma)
Glass Art at Union Station
 

Mount Rainier National Park (no hiking boots needed!)

Sunrise Point, the park’s highest point accessible by car

 
Reflection Lakes, State Route 706 and the Nisqually entrance
Reflection Lake at Mount Rainier
 
Tipsoo Lake, just below Chinook Pass on State Route 410
Tipsoo Lake at Mount Rainier
 

Out and About

Antique shops in Puyallup and Tacoma
Antique Row Tacoma, Washington
 
Fluent Steps sculpture behind Museum of Glass (1801 Dock St., Tacoma)
Museum of Glass - Fluent Steps in Tacoma, Washington