LGBTQ: Tacoma, Wash.

Tacoma might not be setting the world on fire when it comes to LGBTQ entertainment, but it’s certainly carved out a little niche for itself in terms of welcoming the queer community. Washington’s third-largest city occupies a beautiful spot on Puget Sound and a wealth of historic attractions.

The city’s LGBTQ community is centered on downtown’s historic St. Helens District. Here you’ll find dozens of shops, restaurants and bars welcoming people from all walks of life. Club Silverstone is one of the longer running gay bars in town, opened in the late 1990s, and operated by the same people who run the Urban Onion restaurant and Cuff Complex, another favorite gay bar in town. Mix is also an excellent place to mingle and dance or participate in a little karaoke on the weekends.

Over the Moon Café is a charming little joint great for lunch and dinner. The food here is modern American and the vibe pretty laidback. Alternatively, you might check out B Sharp Coffee House, which surprisingly serves a variety of alcohol along with the caffeinated goods.

When you’re not checking out the popular LGBTQ hotspots in Tacoma, be sure to head over to the waterfront and take in the views of Commencement Bay and surrounding islands in Puget Sound. Duke’s Chowder House is a great seafood option for when you need to refill.

Tacoma might not have the vibrancy or eclectic culture of Seattle or Portland, but it certainly holds it own in terms of what it has to offer for its burgeoning LGBTQ community and visitors.