Stunning Waterfront in Tacoma and Pierce County

Experience Miles of Sparkling Shoreline and Endless Exploration

With the Puget Sound, Gig Harbor, American Lake, and many more lakes and rivers in the area, Tacoma and Pierce County are home to miles and miles of stunning shoreline and endless exploration. Visit each one of our towns and regions to experience a unique adventure on the water.

Alder Lake Near Mount Rainier
Kayaking on Alder Lake

Activities

Enjoying this beautiful waterfront’s scenery and activities couldn’t be simpler in Tacoma + Pierce County. We have highlighted a few of our favorite thing to do on the water

Tacoma
Head over to the Ruston Way Waterfront, for a variety of waterfront fun. Walk, run or stroll Ruston Way and discover several waterfront parks and beaches as you take in views of the Puget Sound, Mount Rainier, downtown Tacoma, and the Olympic Mountains. Then get out on the water! Try kayaking, paddle-boarding or boating on the Puget Sound. Bring your own gear or visit one of our trusted vendors for rentals, guided torus, lessons and more.

Lakewood
Bring your family and friends to American Lake in Lakewood for boating, water skiing, tubing, sailing, swimming, fishing, picnicking and more. American Lake hosts a variety of water activities and boasts wonderful scenery. In the summer, the parks have a festive atmosphere, full of revelers out for a day by the lake.

Puyallup
Originating from the glaciers of Mount Rainier, the Puyallup River flows through the city of Puyallup into a the Puget Sound. The river is regularly stocked with varieties of salmon and is also an historical spawning ground for many types of salmon and steelhead. Need gear, bait or insider tips? Check out a local sport fishing spots in town for the best insights from the locals.

Gig Harbor
Culture and outdoor recreation unite in the peaceful waterfront village of Gig Harbor where maritime heritage thrives. After your kayaking excursion or boat tour, visit the Harbor History Museum, Waterfront History Walk and Narrows Park in Gig Harbor for and learn more and take in the rich maritime history of the area. Take the a ride on the Gig Harbor Gondola to get to know the entire area in one quick visit.

DuPont
Hike along the Sequalitchew Creek trail that leads to Sequalitchew Beach in DuPont. Along the way, keep your eyes open for local wildlife in the air, trees, bushes, and on the trail beneath your feet. You may even get lucky and spot an Orca or humpback whale in the waters off Sequalitchew Beach.

Dining

After a fun-filled day of exploring, you will need to sample our local cuisine. Enjoy regionally-sourced shellfish, oysters, freshly-caught fish and more. Plus, take your meal to the next level by dining on the waterfront. There are a wide array of choices, and a delicious meal are just steps away from the shore. For a meal to remember, try one of these favored local establishments: The SparKatie Downs Waterfront Tavernthe Lobster Shop, or WildFin American Grill, just to name a few.

Lodging

Tacoma and Pierce County have plenty of memorable places to overnight. To be on the waterfront, try the Silver Cloud Inn . If you want an artistic feel, stay at Hotel Murano. For a quiet, community-style stay, try the Geiger Victorian Bed & Breakfast  has historic accommodations for families with children over 12.  Other waterfront lodging can be found in Gig Harbor at the Waterfront Inn or Maritime Inn.

 

  • 3327 Ruston Way
  • (253) 752-5444

Seafood that’s fresh, not farmed. Beef that’s 100% Grass-Fed. All natural ingredients with no chemicals. Inspired preparation. Pleasant execution. Everyone has a menu, but nobody has a menu like Duke’s. Duke’s Restaurant & Bar is famous for serving Wild Seafood from Alaska…

  • 9017 N Harborview Dr
  • (253) 857-0770

Amazing Grace Tall Ship is based out of Gig Harbor. She serves the community by offering charters for private parties, businesses, churches & charities. Amazing Grace is owned and operated by the Maritime Leadership Foundation. Maritime Leadership is based out of Gig Harbor…

  • 5910 N Waterfront Dr
  • (253) 752-9700

A fast-paced, high-energy restaurant serving fresh Northwest seafood in casual and fun preparations. It's a perfect spot for the whole family, and is located adjacent to the Vashon ferry terminal, just below the Point Defiance Zoo. Twenty-foot high dormer windows provide an…

  • 9001 S. 19th Street
  • (253) 565-1919

Boathouse 19 is a casual waterfront restaurant specializing in regional American cuisine. It is conceived to be casual, comfortable, affordable and fun - befitting our dockside setting. With our unique location over the waters of Puget Sound, the fabulous views of the Narrows…

  • 3315 Harborview Drive
  • (253) 383-7275

Located in the waterfront neighborhood of Gig Harbor, Brix 25° Restaurant has been hailed as one of the best restaurants in the Northwest. The intimate, warm and welcoming interior of Brix 25° sets the stage for your special evening.

  • 5125 Grand Loop
  • (253) 319-8290

Indulge in the finest Northwest flavors at our upscale restaurant and bar. Featuring hand crafted cocktails, locally sourced produce and fresh ingredients; our culinary team presents artisan dishes that capture the spirit of our region. Join us for breakfast, lunch, dinner and…

  • 2717 N Proctor St
  • (253) 292-1120

At the tables here, we bring you a taste of the old, and a taste of the new. We have a little bit of Italian tradition in our menu, and a little bit of modern Pacific Northwest influence, with a healthy sprinkling of local ingredients, and a dash of playful fun.

  • 8829 N Harborview
  • (253) 225-6306

Destiny Harbor Tours offers Sightseeing, Charters and Eco Tours of Tacoma Narrows Bridges, Gig Harbor, Salmon Beach, Point Defiance, Thea Foss Waterway and the Port of Tacoma. Hello, I'm captain Tom Drohan. I Started Destiny Harbor Tours in 2007 to give people of all ages a…

  • 3117 Harborview Drive
  • (253) 858-3535

We have it all: central location, covered and uncovered slips, free parking and no long-term lease. We’re also the ONLY marina in Gig Harbor with a full service haul out and repair facility.

  • 10712 56th St NW
  • (253) 265-3606

Kopachuck State Park is a 109-acre marine and camping park with 5,600 feet of saltwater shoreline on Henderson Bay. One portion of the park, Cutts Island (or "Deadman's Island") is a half mile from shore and reachable only by boat. The park provides scenic views of sunsets, the…

  • 7315 27th St W
  • (253) 627-7617

Lighthouse Diving Center is one of the oldest SCUBA Schools in the United States, with tens of thousands of certified divers having gone through our school.

  • 1755 Dock Street
  • (253) 927-5351

Our charter boats are designed and newly decorated with groups in mind from 6 to 100. An enlarged parquet dance floor, stereo system, full galley, sun deck, teak bar and much more. Coast Guard Certified Vessel with Professional and licensed crew.

  • 5605 Owen Beach Rd
  • (253) 404-3960

Throughout the summer, Metro Parks offers kayak rentals right on Owen Beach in Point Defiance Park. Explore gorgeous Commencement Bay, with Mount Rainier as the backdrop, and maybe meet with some local harbor seals, or even one of the humpback whales that occasionally make…

  • 5400 N Pearl St

Point Defiance Park is Tacoma's 760-acre jewel, which is home to the acclaimed Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium, which is the only combined zoo and aquarium in the Northwest. Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium Most of the zoo's animal residents are native to the Pacific Rim. Enjoy the…

  • 2701 Sixth Avenue
  • (253)-383-6327

Primo is a chef-driven restaurant using relationships with local farmers to craft a Mediterranean-by- Northwest cuisine, featuring the freshest local produce and seafood.

  • 8829 N. Harborview Dr.
  • (253) 225-6306

Summer Tours These tours are offered primarily in July and August when “RIVIERA” is in Gig Harbor, available and weather permitting. Call for reservations and more information. 4 Hour – Half Day Puget Sound Tour – 9 AM to 1 PM, departs from Maritime Pier, 3003…

  • 1700 Civic Dr.
  • (253) 312-3273

An unexpected, hidden gem in the middle of DuPont, the Sequalitchew Creek Trail is a relatively flat, 3.0-mile (round-trip) trail that includes a hike through an urban area, an estuary, a forest, an abandoned train tunnel, and then a beach.