The best park, my favorite place for walks. The embankment is very beautiful here, and it is also…read morevery long. I highly recommend trying to walk it completely from start to finish (at least on a bike)

The Dune Peninsula at Point Defiance Park was great!!…read more I came here to get a run in while in Tacoma, and this was the perfect spot for that!! A huge parking lot, plenty of very clean restrooms and water fountains!! Lots of walkers and runners here as this is a very scenic place with great views of the Sound! I ran towards the Ruston Way Waterfront area. I also saw plenty of runners running up the hill across the bridge that takes you into Point Defiance Park. I will definitely come here again next time I'm in town, great place!!

Point Defiance park is an amazing place with a variety of places to walk and engage in activities…read more There's a small section of a Japanese garden which includes the pagoda. They somewhat recently put the water feature back in so it's looking pretty nice right now. Not worth a special trip, but if you're enjoying the park you might as well swing by! Have an event? It actually might be worth it to rent it out on the account the surrounding area is lovely.

All parks are cool, and I honor them every one…read more This is a review of the Japanese Garden by the pagoda multi-use building. You can do better seeking out area Japanese gardens. On the plus side it is an opportunity to discuss Shinto spirit shrines with children. The main building was updated with a Japanese tile roof. Nearby is the Japanese garden. It is in sad need of plant maintenance which is easy to do. The garden has some beautiful plant specimens in need of maintenance.

Lots going on at Point Ruston in Tacoma!!…read more At the park area, there is large paved path with great views of Commencement Bay, with what looks like high end condos all along this area. Then, there is the shopping center area, with restaurants, a movie theatre, more condominiums, the Silver Cloud Hotel, and Waterfront Market. I was here a few days while it was very sunny and warm, and lots of people were here. A far cry from long ago, when this whole area was nothing but a wasteland, it's pretty amazing what can be done nowadays. Definitely a great place to go, when the weather is nice, in Tacoma!!

This place is a hidden gem in the 'back' of Tacoma, tucked over in the Northwest part of the city…read more On the water, the developers built a condo, shopping, and eating location mixed with stunning views. On clear days, you get an awesome view of Mt. Rainier in all her glory! Parking can be a little tricky. In fact, I'm never quite confident when I take street parking within the shopping area because the signage is not the best. When parking in the garage, there is more clarity about how to pay. Most businesses provide parking validation. My favorite eating spots include Wild Fins facing the water, and the Thai restaurant next to Farelli's. You can't go wrong, promise! Get out to Point Ruston and make a day of it!

Point Ruston waterway is a great place to go and have a fun day. The sights, the water, the…read moreeateries and just plain spending a day there is so good to lift your spirits. It's my go-to place to enjoy!

The Point Ruston water walk is probably one of my favourite places to walk. You get fantastic…read moreviews, crisp ocean air, and some exercise. Keep your eyes on the water and there's a good chance you'll find a seal or otter. If you're really, really lucky maybe a humpback whale (which has only happened to me once, so don't hold your breath on that!). One thing that I like about the walkway is you can choose how much to want to walk. If you're in it for the long haul you can start at the Chinese Reconciliation Park, loop around the Dune Peninsula, and end up all the way down to Owen beach. Many parking lots along the way to choose from so you can mix up your starting point and get some different scenery. Several parks along the way with many art installments to enjoy and a few water entry points if you're into that kind of thing. Going in the morning/evening is best to avoid crowds, this place is popular for a reason. Definitely a great place to stretch those legs!

A garden that's one of Tacoma's hidden gems. There's completely free parking and free entrance…read more This area is perfect for relaxing or even for photoshoots. For photographers, there's the garden, a parking area nearby with few cars for photoshoots, the gorgeous water view, and Mount Ranier in the background. I'm here in June and the flowers are currently in full bloom! It's a relaxing atmosphere with some bits of shade scattered here and there. If you're going in the summer, bring a hat or sunglasses! It's very very sunny. Stop here for a mini date in the park! :)

An outstanding beautiful flower garden within Point Defiance Park. Located immediately upon entry…read moreof the park. Totally worth a visit. On this visit the focus was on the fuschia section. The many different fuschia flowers were stunning. Close by were the dahlias. Different colors and textures. Stunning!! The rose garden is enclosed inside iron gates/ be careful entering and exiting as the gates are heavy. A public restroom is nearby. Loads a close green grass areas for picnics if you'd like. I highly recommend this garden!! Do it. See beautiful flowers and SYOY!

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.

Beautiful park on the water. Small parking area has one permitted spot and a concrete, switchback…read morepath leads past the lighthouse keepers cottage, lighthouse and boathouse. Informational signs along the path give a bit of history. At low tide the beach was quite wide. Pebbly pathside and rocky/slimy closer to the waterline. A few benches and picnic tables dot the pathway in full sun. Lovely gardens surround the house and crew quarters. The lightkeeps house can be rented on a nightly basis. Parking lot has a porta-potty.

I almost don't want to write about this hidden gem! Small but beautiful. Perfect place to find some…read morepeace. Clean and scenic. Last time I was there I had the pleasure of seeing a sea lion bobbing in and out of the water! Perfect place to bring a book and a snack and take it all in!

This place is pretty cool and a great place to spend a day with some young relatives. It has a…read moreplayground, small spray park, ice cream/concession stand and a community pool. The parking lot shares space with a police substation so it feels really safe and everything seems really clean and nicely upkept. The park appears much larger on the map than I have checked out and appears to include a skate park as well. There are tables available to enjoy a picnic, or to simply sit while you watch children enjoy the playground. I did find the spray area to be a little underwhelming, but the playground equipment seemed newer and unique. The pool is a very good reason to come to this location. They are currently doing limited sessions due to lifeguard shortage, but its only 7$ for 2 hours. Best of all the wave pool is heated and feels amazing on a hot day. There are some water squirting things and one of those large buckets that dump water on everyone's heads. Lifejackets are available for use. On the day I visited there was plenty of room for everyone to occupy a table or lounger. It appears that the grassy hill next to the wave pool is a good location to set up and bring your own chairs, blankets, etc. There's a 1 ft wading pool that I mistook for a hot tub and was a little disappointed by, but likely great for smaller children. I also really liked that they have children complete swim tests and give them a bracelet to tell others what areas of the pool they are allowed to be in. My 7 yr old nephew insisted he could swim, but it was nice to have someone official reinforce that he needed to stay with adults or before a certain point.

I love this park and the houses surrounding it, it feels safe and open. The pool wasn't open but…read morethat's awesome they have a water park area. There is also a basketball court, kids park, baseball field and I think a co-op. The grass is well maintained and the trees and landscape is nice to look at. My son is getting into a tree climbing phase so ofcourse he had to climb a tree :p