Sometimes you want to go for a hike...and sometimes you want a scenic drive. Today, I was…read morerecovering from several days of walking, but still wanted to enjoy the beauty that Washington has to offer. The Five Mile Drive was a perfect solution-I got to see gorgeous views from the comfort of my car. Of course, there are many ways to enjoy this five mile stretch of road. Cars are welcome (pay attention to times-the road closes to motor vehicles at certain times/days), or you can walk, bike or jog the road. There are several scenic overlook areas along the road, so you can pull off and take a look beyond the road. The whole thing really is beautiful. Drive carefully and slowly. Pay attention to those around you. There's plenty of space for everyone, as long as we all are considerate of each other. And enjoy those views!

One of the many features to Point Defiance Park. Fuve Mile Drive is a five mile loop that takes you…read morefurther back into the park and where you can get views of the Narrows Bridge and Puget Sound. As you stroll through you will encounter raccoons and deer in which they aren't afraid of you in the slightest. The raccoons look like you should give them a snack which you should not. Even though they may not run from you they are still wild animals and should not be pet or fed human food. When I first moved to the area you could drive Five Mile Drive every time you went to the park practically but in recent times the road is often closed and walking it is encouraged instead.

Wasn't expecting this to be breathtaking but it was! It was breathtaking taking as in there are a…read morenumber inclines at 8% or more the we encountered and the view was beautiful. We thought we would do a simple 2.5 miles in and out but ended up doing 5.5 in and out. The trail is paved 100% of the way. Makes it good for everyone from bikers, walkers, baby strollers, those differently abled and little kids. Lots of fun and plenty of energy food along the way (blackberry's) Enjoy this hike.

I got an electric scooter recently and have gone on a run or two on it on some bike trails. My…read morefirst run was on the Scott Pierson trail in Tacoma which ends at the Narrows Bridge. There isn't a trail that resumes right after at the bridge on the Gig Harbor side but the Cushman Trail isn't far from the bridge at all. You just cross the viaduct that goes over the toll area for the bridge , get on the road that heads west and before long you will come across a sign indicating that you are at the Cushman Trail. So arguably it's a continuation trail but probably not technically. This is a great trail as it is well maintained and is wide and has lanes for bike, walking and scooter traffic. As you head into Gig Harbor you will see a sign that you are entering the city limits of Gig Harbor. A couple of times the trail becomes part of a road or a sidewalk but the signage is great and as long as you pay attention to the signs you won't lose the trail. I was here just after the trees hit their peak with Autumn color but the Cushman Trail is great to take in in that regard. After hitting the city limits there were signs for each crossing that indicated that motorized vehicles were not allowed. So yeah. my scooter sort of fits under that. Nobody seemed to mind that though and the trail was busy. I even saw other electric scooters as well. I didn't get to ride my scooter as much as one would think because there are several pretty steep hill grades on this trail especially towards the middle to end but it was ok...I was enjoying the scenery. My scooter doesn't do hills well let alone steep ones so that's why so much walking happened for me. For the walker or the bicyclist those hill grades would be great for exercise. Cushman Trail is a very nice trail to explore much how it is with visiting the town in general.

This area and park are exquisite. Wow. The views are absolutely spectacular. The water clear and…read morebeautiful. There are ample trees providing shade. The beach is rocks. Some areas more smooth than others. We are looking forward to returning.

Great hidden park! It looks like it's in someone's backyard but it's an actual park! There's a cute…read moreswing where you can swing into the water and look over at point defiance. I'm so glad I found this place and hope I can keep this secret place between us

Inside city easy access no problem with parking ,free parking many trails in the forest or on the…read morebeach beautiful rose garden you feel in this park like you are away from the city

Such a nice park with so many hikes and trails. It has many gardens. This time around I enjoyed the…read moreRose garden. The beach was closed last time we were here so it was nice I got to experience it this time. I love coming here, this was the first time coming without Atom. I will continue our road trips up North in honor of Atom.

Really nice little hike. Parking is directly across the street at a fire department facility. There…read moreis a porta-potty at the park entrance. There are several little trails to explore. There was a light rain falling but the forest canopy kept us from getting soaked. The dirt trail was not slippery because of the canopy debris that has fallen on the trail. Highly recommend this hike.

Great bunch of trails in the park. Some areas are steep, but for the most part it's pretty flat…read more It's not paved, dirt path for the walkway. Prepare yourself with good shoes that have traction, if you go in winter months it's a bit muddy and can be slippery. The highway way only noticeable once you get to the outer edge where you can see it on part of the path, but it didn't bother so much. It makes for a nice nature walk or mini hike.

We love Owen's Beach! It's a great park to spend the day with friends or family, or to get out and…read moreenjoy your alone day. There is a grass area and a long strip of rocky beach to sit near the waterfront. The restrooms are fairly clean. They offer daily kayak rentals. If you find your perfect spot on the beach you may see some wildlife, like various seabirds and seals. Overall, it's a clean and family friendly beach that feels safe. There is lots of parking but it does get filled up quickly on a nice sunny day. Go early to get a good parking spot!

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.

A great park to spend the day at. The trails are beginner level and have good walkways. The dirt is…read moremostly compact so even on a rainy or wet day there aren't too many puddles or muddy spots. It's a clean and well taken care of area.

Huge and well maintained park with a lot of parking available. The playground is very nice and my…read morekids enjoyed playing here. There are restrooms available and areas for several sports (tennis, soccer, basketball, etc). There is definitely something for everyone here to enjoy the day!

The Rotary Forest We had a good and safe experience at the Mc park. It was pretty vacant as we…read morewent in the middle of the day, but enjoyed having the place to ourselves! Sophie, our 3 year old doggie, loved zooming through the woodsy areas and just had a great time. We met up with 3 or 4 others, with their dogs well behaved and social as well. It can get a bit muddy as expected, so just be ready to clean off paws later. We had Sophie wear a little windbreaker light jacket, as once you get in to the woods more deeply it does get chilly. There was a muddy creek, but small, and hear a fun little 'bridge' to go over. Not much for squirrels or chipmunks, but we walked around the perimeter and it was well fenced in. There was also a smaller fenced in area, as you entered the main entrance I think, there are several entry ways, for small doggies. Google the directions and then verify. The first google maps took us way out of the way from a Gig Harbor start point, so we think that the address may not be completely accurate on google maps. Once there we parked in a nearby business lot, and walked over to a secured entry. It had 2 gates to go through, both secured and nice, esp for excited pets. We brought along our usual, poo bags, treats to practice recall skills, water bottle, and travel dish. You can spend up to 1-2 hours walking about and meandering through the little internal off trails. The trails are easy around the perimeter, and then more hilly and rustic in the interior towards the little creek.

Open during Covid!…read more Honestly besides not living in gig harbor it's my only complaint I have to pay $6 to cross the bridge. But it was worth it! I honestly loved this dog park it was a little tricky to find for me signs aren't that noticeable. Besides that there's no parking you kinda have to park on the side of the road. You hike up this hill to get to the dog area. It's all nature and they also have down below an area for the dogs to just run and play together! Stella absolutely had a blast also if you scared of snakes beware their there. Also they have water so if you like to bring a gallon and leave it do so! Help the dog park out don't be selfish.