When I first moved from Chicago to Tacoma, I was skeptical about living in what I considered to be a “small city”. It took me until my junior year at the University of Puget Sound, when I started working downtown during the school year, to get downtown and see what it’s all about. When I think about why I didn’t spend time downtown I had three reasons that ended up being totally wrong:

1. It’s impossible to get Downtown: Without a car, I thought I was stuck within walking distance of campus. Now, I know that there are a few easy ways to get downtown. From the middle of campus, Pierce Transit Route 11 runs every 30 minutes. The bus drivers are always friendly and willing to help you get where you need to go.
2. There’s nothing to do downtown: Downtown has a lot going on. The Broadway Farmers Market in the summer, Tacoma Arts Live performances, and Antique Row are just some of the things I have discovered spending time downtown. There’s always something new to explore, so heading downtown means you are always going on a new adventure.
3. Everything I need is right around campus: UPS and the surrounding areas are great places to explore, but spending time downtown has shown me a new and exciting side of Tacoma. I’ve learned more about this city and its history, seen the landscape of downtown change thanks to exciting new ideas from Tacoma locals, and I’ve pushed myself to explore outside of the college bubble.