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.

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.

This is a nice spot to walk and enjoy views of the sound. I don't love the traffic noise and…read morepollution, but what can you do?

Wanted to find a new place to walk outdoors, see the water and enjoy the morning. This is a tucked…read moreaway place and I'm glad to have found it. Sasha and I had a great day. Good walk lots of smells for her. We will come back. Plenty of parking. Good vibes, calm peaceful. Lots of people were out walking with their dogs, spouse and alone. It was a very good experience. I recommend this park. They also have a restaurant across the street for afterwards if interested. You can also see more of the water on the other side. I didn't go walking there, I drove over. Very beautiful. Sasha was not having that walk too close to the water lol.

Lovely, open space park with great Sound view. Plenty of parking on a Wednesday in May. I imagine…read moreit gets busy in summer months. 1950 bathrooms. Several picnic shelters. Enjoy!

Beautiful park for walking, has a nice big lake with lots of ducks! I will always come back here…read morewhen I'm in the area :) great for walking alone or with your significant other.

It is a very nice park to take the kids or walk the trail. It's nice that it's a level so it…read moredoesn't hurt my bad knee.

Highly recommend Jonathan and his "Trout College"! My two sons, ages 20 and 11 really learned a lot…read moreabout fishing. Both were beginner fishermen when they started and after spending the day with Jonathan they feel proficient enough to catch fish on their own. Jonathan is very knowledgeable, patient, and fun to be around. He has a lifetime of experience fishing in the Puget Sound area and is happy to share his knowledge. If you want to learn how to fish or want to improve your fishing skills I definitely recommend this business!

From the owner: Trout College takes special pride in teaching the fishing skills required to build the foundation…read moreto support a lifetime of fishing. We do this by providing low student to teacher ratios and a focus on teaching as opposed to simply providing a fishing experience.

Really great variety and selection. The value there is none because the prices are astronomical and…read moreoverpriced. The customer service was good. Lots of parking located at the Tacoma Mall on the south side great variety some things I hadn't seen before. Definitely worth checking it out.

I looked everywhere for a pair of Grey Nike Sweats for my grandson for Christmas. He wanted a…read morevery specific style. Looked at the brand website and every other website that carried the brand . No luck! As a last ditch I called Dick's Sporting Goods in Tacoma. I was lucky enough to reach Brie. She stopped what she was doing and went to search the shelves. After many minutes she returned to tell me that she had found a pair in his size that had slipped down from a shelf. They were probably the only ones in the store. Thanks Brie! You really went the extra mile.

What an awesome place to stop by!…read more If you have kiddos this place is extra great - the playground is so delightful I just had to go down the slide! There's a building that has some really cute turtles and frogs and there are animal costumes for the kiddies. As for the adults? There's a walking trail that goes around the lake. It's pretty short, but if you go around a few times you can get a nice walk in. It's very shaded and I will definitely be coming here more when Summer comes.

The Tacoma Nature Center is such a local gem that I've passed hundreds of times and really had no…read moreidea. I actually saw a local mom influencer post about it on Instagram and decided to visit with my kids! The Discovery Pond playground is super cute and was a hit with my kids (5 and 3). It's all nature themed, of course, with fun slides and climbing structures, as well as a small playground off to the side of the main playground. In addition, there's fun trails for the kids to explore surrounding the playgrounds that I felt comfortable enough letting them check out on their own since the whole area is pretty condensed and it's easy to hear/see them. There looked to be some pond areas that were all dried up. From past photos I think there are normally some frogs and bugs and other things that sometimes fill up these ponds, but it being the start of the hot season they are pretty baren. Would be cool to come back and check out in the fall! I also appreciate the amount of benches and picnic tables around the playground, as we were able to snag a shaded one that the kids could have their lunch at and take a break from running around. After we played and had lunch at the playground, we went on the little half mile ish trail behind the info center. It was mostly flat and very easy for the kids. The hit was definitely the bridge that goes over a large pond where we were able to spot several turtles, tadpoles, ducks, etc. We didn't pay attention to the time and missed out on going inside of the info center (it closes at 2) so that will be on the list for next time as well. Overall such a cute little spot that we'll I'm sure we'll hit up several times this summer!

Absolutely Amazing!! David at Adventure Angling is by far the best fishing guide in the area. Will…read morego again!

From the owner: Adventure Angling is South Puget Sound's premiere coastal cutthroat guide service. Specializing in…read morecatching cutthroat on the fly, Adventure Angling will bring you to the best water...and you'll have it all to yourself!

This is our favorite dog park to take our pup. Simply put, it's MASSIVE. Our dog can run, play, and…read moresocialize with so many different dogs all over this park and he comes back exhausted and so happy from his fun filled day. Worth the drive no matter where you are in WA. Rain or shine this park is always open. Just don't be surprised if your pup comes back covered in mud on a rainy day .

This is on the site of a former territorial military fort, then a state mental hospital and work…read morefarm (c.1868). With the farm's closing in the 1970's, a wonderful gift to the people of Lakewood and Washington state grew out of the distress of those hospital days. A diamond rising from the ashes, so to speak. There are a few of the farm buildings remaining plus the foundation to the barracks for the hospital's farm workers. More over there is tons of room to spread out, no matter what your activity might be (sports fields, trails, picnic areas......)

A taste of Venice and Gig Harbor all in one bite. Enjoy the charm of an old fishing village that…read morewas wrapped up in great Pacific Northwest history. Some intriguing stories about how this glorious inlet became a true gem of the Tacoma area. Stunning views of upscale living and of our Mount Tahoma aka Mt Rainier. Our gondolier, John painted our experience with a beautiful saranade and a lovely rendition of a birthday wishes. This is a must do, mark it on your list for this summer. Recommendation: go on a Sunday. Still vibrant but not as packed. End or start at the Brimstone Bar on Pioneer. Enjoy and you're welcome!

This is a great local experience! Our friend was visiting from Italy (crossed the Atlantic to ride…read morea gondola) and loved the trip. Greg was an excellent singer and she really appreciated his Italian dialect when singing. The tour was very enjoyable and Greg shared some local history while carrying us around the harbor. If you have the time, we recommend the 90 minute tour all the way around the harbor. It's a very relaxing trip and well worth it.