University Place, WA

University Place is a small suburban city tucked into the northern shore of the Tacoma Narrows in Pierce County, Washington. With a population of roughly 34,000 residents, it has the feel of an established, residential community that grew up along the bluffs and inlets of southern Puget Sound. The city is best known for its scenic waterfront, its views of Mount Rainier across the water, and its proximity to some of the most visited natural areas in the Pacific Northwest. It sits about 35 miles south of Seattle and functions almost as a quieter, smaller companion to neighboring Tacoma, with easy access to the larger cultural and economic hubs of the central Puget Sound region.

One of the most talked-about destinations in the city is Chambers Bay, a sprawling links-style golf course laid out along the bluffs and beaches of the Tacoma Narrows. The course hosted the 2015 U.S. Open and remains a year-round draw for golfers, walkers, and sightseers who come for the salty air, the sound views, and the chance to see the Olympic Mountains across the water. The course is essentially within the city limits, just minutes from most of the residential neighborhoods, and the surrounding waterfront trail system makes it easy to enjoy even without a tee time.

Just up the road, Titlow Park offers a more casual, family-friendly stretch of Puget Sound shoreline. The park includes a sandy beach, an historic lighthouse, walking trails, and a playground, and it is one of the few places in the area where visitors can walk right up to the water's edge and watch the boat traffic pass through the Narrows.

A short drive east into Tacoma brings visitors to Point Defiance Park, one of the largest urban parks in the United States. The park combines old-growth forest, waterfront walking paths, a zoo and aquarium, gardens, and historic Fort Nisqually, giving guests a full day of activities within minutes of University Place.

About an hour and a half to the southeast, Mount Rainier National Park rises dramatically from the surrounding lowlands. Travelers staying in University Place can drive up to the park's Nisqually or Paradise entrances for glacier views, wildflower meadows in summer, and some of the most photographed mountain scenery in the country.

University Place makes a compelling base for short-term rentals because it offers the calm of a small waterfront community while keeping Tacoma, the Tacoma Narrows Bridge, and the broader Puget Sound within a short drive. Visitors who stay here can spend their mornings along the Narrows, their afternoons exploring Tacoma's museums and parks, and their evenings watching the sun set behind the Olympics — all while remaining within easy reach of Seattle and the grandeur of Mount Rainier.