I normally love to go out of town on the weekends for day trips. Those little trips are therapy to…read moreget me through the work week. However sometimes just staying in around town on the weekends is desired. I always like to see something new still and I haven't been to and exploring Tacoma's city parks is a good way to get that quota met. I haven't been to McCarver Park at all until recently. It is actually a very adorable little park. This park is attached to a school and as a result of that this public park doesn't have the usual general public hours as most of Tacoma's city parks have which is usually approximate dusk to dawn hours. The hours that are open to the public here are when school hours are not in session. So that mean somewhere after 3 pm during the week, weekends and in the summer when school is out most likely. I'm guessing the park serves as a playground for the students of the school when it is in session and the park is closed off to the public for safety reasons. At first it didn't make sense to me but after observing the set up more it makes perfect sense. The location of the school in the Hilltop Neighborhood could be a partial reason as Hilltop can be one of Tacoma's rougher neighborhoods. The park itself is very quaint and has a lot of features that one would hope with a city park. There is lots of playground equipment... some fairly high tech looking. I think I'm the generation that is a bit too old to understand how this equipment works but they have good old fashioned swing sets too. lol The park also has adorable art pieces all over the grounds. There is a community garden nearby that looks like it has it's own gate so I'm guessing the park hours don't apply to that little corner of the park. There is a second garden as well on the other side of the park near the school building and I imagine that is for the students and the school. McCarver Park isn't necessarily a huge park but it is great to have a stroll around and the view isn't too bad either!

A nice simple park in da 'hood. I would definitely only visit during daylight hours. There is a…read moretrauma center nearby if you get shot and the police are a block from the hospital. There is a Pokestop and a Training Ground here

Perfect weekend getaway vibes! ​I took a relaxing stroll…read morealong the Ruston Way Waterwalk. Watching the ferries glide across the water, feeling the cool sea breeze, and capturing videos of harbor seals gathering together--the views were absolutely breathtaking!

Spectacular waterfront trail that gives wonderful views of the water and Mt Ranier on a clear day…read more Easy parking and coffee shops along the path. My kind of walk! Please come and create your own adventure.

I wanted to go to see/visit Troll at Point Robinson Park, this troll photo popped up on Seattle's…read moreYelp activity page and it was giving me hints that I must visit before I leave, hehe. 3.21.2026- On the day of our visit, I asked my wonderful hubby to add Point Robinson Park to our schedule, on the drive there it states one hour, funny, not knowing we have to take a ferry to get there. As we got closer the map had all water, hehe. What a nice spontaneous surprise, we decided to do take the Fauntleroy Ferry to Vashon Island. ( will do a review the Ferry after). Who doesn't love the Ferry?! After we got to Vashon Island, it was about a 20 min scenic drive to Point Robinson Park, So happy we are here! Keep in mind the park gates closes at dawn, I was worried about being stuck there and we arrive close to dawn. Plenty parking, very nice park with lighthouse, beach, trails and picnic area. First things first, lets look for the troll, which his name is Oscar the bird king, made by Thomas Dambo. Thomas Dambo is an artist based in Denmark, Thomas makes sculptures out of recycled materials. This sculpture is part of series of six site specific installations called Northwest trolls. I need to find the other 4 during my future visits to PNW. Wow, super cool to see and visit Oscar the troll in real life, a little scary but so interesting. Thomas is super creative and got skills. Oscar is huge in real life, hehe. We took our photos, observed the artistic skills, greeted him with Shaka, then after that we went to explore the rest of Robinson Park. Trail, beach and we finally got to the lighthouse, another reason to visit. There's a lighthouse tour during mid May-September, which I would love to learn more about. All in all, What a great day to make it a great day here, trolling Point Robinson Park, LOVED every moment!

We went to this park not knowing that there was a low-tide event happening. The views were…read moreincredible, but what made the experience more special was how knowledgeable the staff and volunteers were in explaining the sea life. A volunteer named Santiago shared many interesting facts about starfish, eelgrass, and crabs. He also told us about the whale that had recently washed ashore and was being kept at the art museum, which was very cool to witness.

I love our trips to Vashon Island and it's just a hop, skip and a jump from Tacoma after getting on…read morethe ferry. It's close to home but it feels like you traveled a ways to get there. Mainly because the vibe is so different. We have to go get at least a couple meals in downtown Vashon and it's always important not to miss going to the Point Robinson Lighthouse and enjoying the building and the view from the beach. Of course strolling along the beach is a lot of fun too as long as the weather is in a cooperative mood. One year we came here around Christmas and some buildings that are normally closed to the public were open and they had beautiful Christmas decorations and we could even go in the guest house and have some cookies and hot cider. That was an amazing perk! It's a bit busier around here now with one of Thomas Dambo's troll statues being nearby but the statue and of course the lighthouse and the park are well worth going to.

One of Vashon's secret park for those of us who don't frequent the island much. The view of Federal…read moreWays waterfront (Redondo Beach) is exceptional! There is a panoramic view to watch planes take off and land at Seattle/Tacoma International airport.

Wright Park is truly one of Tacoma's gems! It's a 33-acre urban park that feels like a mix between…read morea botanical garden and a community gathering space. The moment you step in, you're surrounded by towering, hundred-year-old trees from all over the world that give the park a magical, shaded atmosphere. It's not just a park, it's also an arboretum, so tree lovers will appreciate the variety and history here. At the heart of it all is the Seymour Conservatory, a Victorian-style glasshouse that looks like it belongs in a storybook. Inside, you'll find a lush collection of tropical plants, seasonal floral displays, and even quirky additions like cacti and Golden Dart Frogs (fun fact: in the wild, they're considered the most poisonous frogs on Earth, but here they're safe since their diet is different). Beyond the conservatory, the park has a beautiful lily pond, fountains, open lawns perfect for picnics, and plenty of walking paths. It's also very family-friendly with playgrounds and lots of space to run around. Wright Park has that perfect mix of history, nature, and community. Whether you're here to stroll among the century-old trees, relax by the pond, or pop into the conservatory, it's easily one of Tacoma's most picturesque hidden gems. Best part? Admission is free, with a donation box available if you'd like to support it.

Beautiful park with a little man-made lake, a kid's play place, a botanical garden, walking paths,…read moreand lots of place to spread out, picnic and relax. There are a multitude of trees providing shade and many have signs showing when they were first planted, which provides some interesting history of this area. It's within walking distance of a few shops, including a pet store, bicycle store, restaurants, and more. I suppose at night it can be seedy, but during the day it's a lovely park to walk around.

A beautiful promenade running along the water. Gates are closed until it opens at 9am on most days…read more It is a slow and long journey from the entrance down to the beach. The beach is pretty quaint and there are logs strew about. While I was there around opening, I did not see the orcas but they were spotted there by the beach the next day. There is plenty of parking but large speed bumps as you go through. The bathrooms were single stalls and relatively clean. Would be very easy to drop in a paddle-board or kayak, although there is no dock. We were passed by mom and two baby deer in very close proximity while we visited.

What a great and fun beach. It's very clean and appealing to the eye…read more There is a bit of a drive to get to the beach but there is plenty of parking available. Although you may not be able to get anything close to the beach. There is a nice "boardwalk" to walk or bike along and offers a scenic view. The beach area is a decent size and can accommodate many families but be warned that it is rocky and pebbly. There was a private event happening in a building there. They also had several bathrooms. A cute little cafe and a place to rent kayaks. It was just a nice vibe. If you didn't want to sit on the beach area there were plenty of benches to just sit and enjoy the view as well.

It's not often we are in Steilacoom but when we are and we are close to downtown we have gone over…read moreto Pioneer Orchard Park. It's a fairly small park and there aren't a lot of park amenities but that's not really the purpose of having multiple offerings for activities. What this park is best for is to relax and take in the view. Here you can view Puget Sound and sit in a swinging chair and just absorb the scenery. To the south is the small ferry that will take you to Anderson Island and then more towards the north but not far north is McNeil Island and then further north is Chambers Bay. This is a well maintained park and so you can enjoy that as well but the main draw to this special little park is definitely the view.

Nice park with a swing and an apple tree that I got to show my granddaughter and she was in awwww…read more The views here are spectacular! great for a nice family day outing and picnic. They have several parking spaces around the park. The Historic Town of Steilacoom, Washington - Incorporated 1854 Established as a National Historic District in 1974 They have couple restaurants and coffee shops so quite and nice area

Nice beachfront. Parking can be tight in warm months and securing covered bar-b-Que....get there…read moreearly. Please don't play loud music in car or waterfront. Lots of folks go there to relax and enjoy sound of beach water but most times others just intrude on your space w their sounds of music they want. Why can't natural settings be just that.

Sunnyside Beach Park is a nice spot to bring your family, friends, etc to spend some time in the…read morewarmer months. The paid $5 lot fills up fast in the summer however there is street parking only 1/2 mile away and you can just park/walk over. You have to cross train tracks to get over to the beach and park which is worth mentioning. The playground has an area for older and younger kiddos. Restrooms are available, but not always well kept. A lot of picnic tables throughout and space to make your own picnic area if you wanted. Overall: I recommend in the summer - come earlier if you prefer it a little less crowded!