A close up scenic picture taken of downtown Tacoma and the scenic bridge where you can see the buildings of Tacoma through it. Tacoma, Washington, is located on the West Coast nestling between Commencement Bay and the Puget Sound. It is about 36 miles south of Seattle and 28 miles north of the capital of Washington, Olympia. Tacoma's historic and innovative downtown has expanded down the hillside to absorb and include its Puget Sound waterfront. With new condos, retail and the International Museum of Glass. Tacoma's Waterfront Downtown is reborn.