Last time I visited was in the summer when the water had really receded. It was lovely, but dry…read more This current visit was in the winter so the tide was high. We walked down to the beach and my niece had a fun time scooping up sea life from the sand and she found things like baby crab legs and shellfish so we got to talk about what was in the water. People were kinda standing around or taking pictures since Mt. Rainier is in the distance, since there's nowhere to sit to relax. There are lots of signs telling you to respect private property, so I imagine the residents get frustrated when people wander over the line, but that's what you get if your property is right next to a state park. The path over was nice, with netting on slippery spots and there are a couple of Pokemon Gyms and Pokestops so its a pretty good place to play. Just be mindful that they require you to carry your trash out of the park with you, so there's nowhere to leave your dog poop bags if your pup does his business. We obediently took our stuff with us, but I wonder how many people don't honor the request.

Belted Kingfisher, Heron, Belted Kingfisher, Belted Kingfisher, Belted Kingfisher! And so my…read morebirding went when I visited Tolmie State Park the morning of the 25th of June 2020. I arrived in the 9:00 a.m. hour and parked at the upper parking lot by the entrance to the park. There is a second parking lot further down the road once inside the park that is closer to the beach. By the upper parking lot there is a restroom building, covered picnic area, and abundant picnic tables with grills interspersed in the woods. There is also an area with benches facing the water in an amphitheater-esque seating style. In my exploring this area I found some cool plants including foxglove plants with cusped blossoms. A Goldfinch flitted across my path and made a getaway before I could get a picture of it. Fun to see the state bird in a state park! Making my way down the trail to the beach was quiet, and I was pleased to see that it was high tide when I arrived at the waterfront. Walking along the waterfront I notice what looked like a Kingfisher so I decided to approach and see if it was. Indeed it was! Slowly I waded out in the water along a muddy part and realized the mud was teeming with crabs. I was careful to watch where I stepped so as not to smoosh any of them. Once I reached the Kingfisher (a Belted Kingfisher specifically) it flew off across the spit of land I came across to get to it. I watched where it landed on a tree branch and then followed the Belted Kingfisher. The Belted Kingfisher was along the creek that flows to the Puget Sound at high tide, at low tide the creek dissipates. Another Belted Kingfisher arrived and they both started diving in the water for fish and other food. Turning my head left I noticed a Heron in the water and waded back out in the water to join it. After wading around with the Heron for a while I made my way back towards where the first Belted Kingfisher had perched to watch for food in the water. The tide was going out as I was wading with the Heron and making my way to the perch. The crabs were not happy about this. The ground glistened with movement, not sunlight, and there were 100s to 1000s of tiny crabs running to take shelter under the seaweed, in the mud, and yes trying to pinch my feet and legs. As I neared some crabs they would burrow backwards into the mud, put their pinchers up, and open them... I was careful not to step there. Eventually I made it back to the Belted Kingfisher perch and what did I find?! Not one, but two Belted Kingfishers watching the water!! So very cool. After admiring them for a little bit I started making my way back to my car. The beach and the parking lot by the beach were starting to get busy, so it was my time to go. A perfect morning adventure in the Puget Sound area.

Beautiful lake! Clean water. Can get very busy!! Not great for littles but older kids is great time!read more

I thought this park was reasonable. There is a skate park, a baseball field, ample parking,…read morerestrooms, playground, access to the water and docks and a few shady areas to just throw out a blanket and chill out. If the other parks on American Lake get full, come here. I agree that several of the people that come here don't know how to drive or park, but again there is always plenty of room in any of the lots to park if you don't like the way someone is parked. I will also agreed that after driving though Tillicum, I didn't expect this park to be in any good condition. It's not hyper-ghetto but I did detect a bit of sketchiness the later the day became. So, I wouldn't leave valuables in the car. I didn't see that cops patrol around either. The grass is well kept on the steep hill that leads to the docks and is perfect for picnicking. There isn't much of a beach and there wasn't a lifeguard available. If you're not all about sitting on the ground, there is a pavilion as well with benches and trash cans. I didn't see a place to grill anywhere, but I may have missed it. Still overall a decent place to relax during the summer.

Long Lake Park is one of our family's favorite spots to spend a sunny day in Lacey! The park has…read moresuch a peaceful vibe with its big open spaces, tall trees, and of course the beautiful lake. The swimming area is perfect for kids and families--it feels safe, clean, and the water is refreshing on hot days. We love that there's plenty of room for picnics, whether you want to grab a table or just spread out a blanket on the grass. The park gives kids plenty to do when they're not splashing in the lake. Parking can fill up quickly on nice days, but that just shows how popular the park is. Once you're set up, it's such a relaxing place to spend the day together as a family. We always leave feeling recharged and grateful to have such a gem right here in Lacey. If you're looking for a family-friendly spot to enjoy the sunshine, swimming, and some simple outdoor fun--Long Lake Park is a great choice!

Definitely would come here with friends for a picnic or like a lake day with friends or my husband…read more It has two volleyball courts which I thought was awesome, people were already there playing their games so we just kinda observed as we passed by. Just fair warning, dogs are not allowed at the beach (on the gravel) but can be walked technically on the paved grounds and on the grass. It's a pretty small lake but has lots of grass and places to sit. Just gotta get there early if you want a good spot. Also no lifeguard is on duty there.

Playground by the Sound is the Chambers Bay park playground on the northeast corner of the park…read more Decent size parking lot, though it can be full on super nice days and in the summer (in a pinch I've parked along the road and walked back). The playground is split into an older kids side and a younger kids side, with 1 entry (and a fence surrounding). Visibility isn't perfect but the single entry point is great if you want to stand in the middle to keep an eye on kiddos. Great spot for play dates (come with a coffee!). There are portapotties at the park and a real restroom a small walk down the path. Park is great for kids to use their imaginations and play, which is so much fun. Great spot to bring a ball and play catch or picnic to sit and relax or bikes! Can get hot - wear sunscreen if the weather is nice. Friends said it's also fun to bring bikes or a stroller and hit up the cafe (a bit of distance from the playground) and have some sweet potato fries.

This is definitely one of the nicer playgrounds within the area with amazing views of the sound to…read moreenjoy. My kids love coming here to play, scooter and walk around on the paved trails surrounding the playground. The playground is divided with an area for toddlers (2-5) and older kids. Spacious parking lot and picnic tables as well around. Restrooms are nearby as well - they are well maintained and nice as far as public park restrooms go (heated in the fall/winter time). There is also a little library here too. I enjoy coming here every time!

What an excellent find! Must be fairly new within the last couple years? Superbly designed with…read morenicer, soft, long Astro Turf, wood chips, a sand pit for playing, and many other fun features. Lots of friends to find as well. Next trip I will try to take some better pictures of the place w/o my daughter and granddaughter .

This is a really great park with a good sized turf playground for kids to run around, play and…read moreexplore. There is a sandpit area that always has community toys left over incase you forget to bring your own. A walking trail around the park as well. Parking here is easy and there's 2 different lots with a lot of spaces. The slides can be slippery i've seen babies go down and hit their heads or kids who are wearing certain kinds of material that make them slide insanely fast so definitely keep this in mind if you have babies/toddlers. Public restrooms here as well that are always clean and neat the times i've been. All in all - my family and I love coming to this awesome park!

Cute, little park located in DuPont. The clocktower actually works and chimes. I've never lived in…read moretowns with a clocktower until I moved to Tacoma and that one was not functional and was eventually burned down via arson. We arrived here right at 3 in the afternoon just a few minutes before and heard the chimes. The structure here is cute and the park is very charming. People still hide painted rocks in parks like Tacoma was so into so it's exciting to see that again as I wonder around here. Definitely thinking of coming back to one of the restaurants I have bookmarked for lunch in this town and dining out here in this very park.

It's a quaint little park smack dab in the heart of DuPont. There's a few cement tables and benches…read moreon one end, and some square wooden seats closer to the post office side. It has a little play area for the kids, and dog bags next to the pathway that runs around the park. The bathroom is clean and well stocked. Outside the bathroom there is even a water fountain specifically for filling water bottles!

Out of all honesty I'm hovering between three to four stars on this park. Much of it revolves…read morearound the timing of when you go here I imagine. Most of the surrounding shore that makes up American Lake looks to be private and this park seems to be more of a boat launching point for the general public to use for utilizing the lake. The park itself is quite small and that also goes for the parking lot as well. The day I went was a warm day so the park was full as well as the designated lots. Filled lots for certain parks often times in neighborhoods aren't really that big of a deal because you can use curbside parking that is usually nearby but in this part of Lakewood there is no curbside parking at all and it looks like parking in front of someone's house doesn't seem like it's a good idea because one gets the idea you are parking in their yard and not on a curb. So what I did was park in an area that was designated for a school and carefully looked for any parking restrictions given the amount of time it would take for me to walk to the park, check it out for a bit then walk back. This proved to not be an issue parking here but the walk was a bit long. Fortunately the day that I picked to go to American Lake was a clear day and if you walk to the boat docks you can get a good view of Mount Rainier and the the lake itself is very pretty. But don't assume you can get a clear view of the mountain all of the time. Overcast is not unusual. There is also a decent looking beach here as far as lake beaches go but like everything the day I went it was fairly crowded. The boat ramp was in full use as well and a line of cars were waiting to unload as well. Definitely a very busy park the day I went despite it's size. Aside from the crowds this park isn't too bad and if you can enjoy the view of Mount Rainier and the water I'd definitely bump that aspect of the park up to four stars.

I can't believe I haven't been to this park sooner. It's just the right size and not overcrowded…read more It's a small nice park with lots of parking and boat/dock access for fishing and boats. I bet it probably gets kind of busy in the warmer months but it's perfect in the spring to just grab a folding chair and just sit out by the lake unhampered. There isn't much actual beach, but rather the green grass steeply slopes down hill directly into the reasonably clean water. There is signage that there is no lifeguard on duty, so swim at your own risk. This would be a perfect free place to cool down if you're too hot and it's a small enough roped off swimming area that it may be more hard to lose your kids. You should still keep an eye on them though as any good person should. There is also a small playground as well if your little ones don't want to go near the water. There is also a single outdoor show for rinsing off before you head on home and the restrooms with handicapped accessibility are reasonably clean. I didn't see a doggy doo bag station though which explains the few spots of dog turds near the beach which kind of makes me think the water is icky if that runs off into the water. I just really think this is an excellent place to come and get an unobstructed view of the lake. So often do all the houses block bodies of water as the land is coveted. I will definitely be back with a picnic blanket and maybe a good book.

Sequalitchew Creek is a pet friendly and an ideal easy stroll for families. It is a total of 3…read moremiles round trip. Half a mile of it is paved and the remaining mile is rock path. Decline going there and incline on the reverse. You'll see beautiful views of the puget sound at the end. Most of the trail is surrounded by trees. If you decide to go there to watch the sunset, you'll have to use your cell phone flashlight. There is no lighting on the path. Respect the aina (land, earth, environment) and take your trash back with you since there are no trash cans.

Beautiful hiking trail that is only 3 miles in total - out and back with great views of the Puget…read moreSound. Plenty of free parking available and restrooms on site. I would recommend if you are looking for an easy hike. My kids and I enjoyed this trail a lot plus it wasn't crowded at all on a weekday!

The park and lake were clean and beautiful, not unlike many other Washington parks. However, it…read morewas a unique feeling to stand next to a freshwater lake on a small island in the Puget Sound. We were next to freshwater, yet a short drive away in any direction would lead us to saltwater. Based on the number of homes on the opposite side of the lake, many people enjoyed that feeling. We were there on a Fall weekend afternoon and the island was quiet, including the park. I wonder if it is much more active in the Summer.

An absolutely pristine little family park, located on a tiny lake, at the terminus of a long, shady…read morelane. There is a pontoon raft, a small beach, a hilly embankment, picnic tables and barbecues on metal posts. I rode my bike over on the ferry with a beach towel around my neck, prepared for a swim. The beach is very clean and sandy--not pebbly. There was only a dollop of mucky bits, and those were easily avoided. Be careful if your preferred mode of ambulation has two wheels. You'll earn your swim after coming over the hills, and there a few blind spots, twisty corners, and roundish things. Come thither. Bring a sandwich. Enjoy life!

Eagle Island State Marine Park is an excellent little kayaking adventure that only takes a couple…read morehours. It is a gorgeous location, just off Anderson Island, with views of the Olympic Mountains, McNeil Island ("Alcatraz of the Northwest!), and the Key Peninsula. This little island is uninhabited. Nice beaches, jillions of seabirds, seals with their pups, and a short wooded trail to explore. To get their, take the Anderson Island Ferry from Steilacoom, just south of Tacoma. Drive to the old boat launch at the north end of Anderson Island. It's a short paddle there. It was an easy paddle out to and around the entire island. Lots of fun! Here's a great aerial/action video of the island. https://youtu.be/hA6BcJmaqGM Check out this video on Anderson Island https://youtu.be/SzqhN0pg_1Y Learn more about Anderson Island - http://andersonisland.org/