Went for a stroll with just me and my grandson in his stroller. Lots of places to roam and walk…read morewith lots of beautiful flowers and plants. A great place to spend a sunny day. The only complaint I would have is that online it says some areas are not wheelchair accessible but it should say most areas are not unless you park down below. Or maybe they should have signs to tell you where to go if you're in a wheelchair or stroller. It was very difficult getting around in a stroller with many stairs and there are lots of paths that you cannot go with a stroller or a wheelchair. Highly recommend bringing some kind of a backpack to carry your child in

A cute little garden in federal way. We went for the holiday lights but will likely go back this…read moresummer to see the garden in bloom. The garden tickets are a little pricey for the experience but it's a cute, family owned garden so worth it to support a small business. It would be a fun place for a small wedding (post Covid).

Visited around 11:00 AM and this place is beautiful right away. There is a lot to look at, but it…read morenever feels too busy or overly designed, which I appreciate because some gardens can start to feel like they are trying harder than everybody else. This one just feels peaceful. Go if you like plants, flowers, or quiet outdoor spots where you can slow your brain down a notch.

Lovely spot right near the Kent/Auburn line, about a mile south of Trader Joe's in Kent, take a…read moreleft and you're in a small garden paradise. You can meander about through the pathways, past a lily pond, a couple of buildings, and a sunflower patch. Visited for the art fair, which was a nice addition, complete with music and food trucks. They were kind enough to have people outside to help you park and to flag traffic so you could pull in and out. Free and open during normal daytime hours, so far as I know.

This mansion museum was a great way to spend a slow afternoon in Puyallup…read more It is currently a $15 fee for adults to do a self tour of the home. You are welcome to take photos, and please, take your time! There is plenty to read either on the pamphlet given to you at the entrance, or on the walls beside all the beautiful furniture, paintings, and artifacts. It's hard not to imagine yourself at the turn of the century, living in wealth in this fancy home, like the Meekers did. Ezra and Eliza Meeker were a fascinating couple who did so much with their lives, even into their last years. Traveling the Oregon Trail, hitting success with a hop business, Ezra being the mayor twice, Eliza founding the town's public library and strongly supporting the suffrage movement. I also can't help but to respect Eliza even more for her strength in character even though she was of small stature (4'8")! Especially for those who live in the area, I highly recommend you learn about this historic Puyallup family with a visit to the Meeker Mansion Museum!

I happened to be in the area and saw a sign for the Meeker Mansion, so I decided to check it out…read more Diane was very sweet and gracious and gave me a brief history of Ezra & Eliza Meeker. "Ezra was an American pioneer who traveled the Oregon Trail migrated from Iowa to the Pacific Coast. Once known as the Hop King of the World." A lot of good history of Puyallup. I didn't have time for the tour, but I appreciated seeing the mansion and getting a glimpse of this city's history. Next time, I'll have to do the tour. Thank you again, Diane, for being so nice and friendly!

The landscaping is beautiful with lots of interesting and colorful flowers and plants. The parking…read morelots are large and we were able to park our RV and tow car in an upper lot with no problem. This is really a beautiful well maintained zoo and worth a visit if you are near.

Our first visit to this Zoo & Aquarium was today, 7/29/26. Arrived at 11:20 AM at the parking lot…read more Let's just say it was totally packed since we had to find a parking space on Lot E (Elephant). But we were right next to the walkway, so it was actually convenient for us. Saw how small the parking spaces were from Rows A-D, how close people were parking next to each other like there were no other lots/rows available. People acted like if they could not park at a close spot, they weren't going to find a space. It's not like you can't walk when the Zoo entrance isn't even that far from the parking lot. Anyhow, the 3 of us walked in with a stroller. They had Accessibility and Stroller ramps, so it was easy to navigate. Once we got to the entrance, we scanned our QR Code to get in. There were bathrooms and maps along with signs all over the place, so thought that was simple enough to follow while staying on the recommended pathways. Getting to the exhibits was pretty easy. Thought the weather was supposed to be cloudy and a little cooler since the forecast showed temperatures in the high 60's and low 70's. But nope!! It was blazing hot with the Sun out shining the whole time out! Felt like it was in the 90's since we were sweating the whole time. Anyway, the Zoo was totally packed! Guess there were a number of Summer School trips that brought their Elementary school kids since there were a whole bunch of groups of them! Every place we went, it was crowded, loud and packed with children, parents, strollers, teachers and wagons! Thought we were in a mob pit or something... Since it was so hot out, not many of the animals were outdoors. Even if they were, probably hid somewhere to avoid being in the heat and Sun. Didn't get a chance to see the Elephant, Goat, Meerkat or Monkeys. We saw the Penguins, Sea Lions, Polar Bear and Tiger. Then visited the 2 Aquariums to see a bunch of fish and different species of Shark and Sting Rays. It took us exactly 2 hours to visit each of the exhibits and walk around the whole Zoo. Could have been shorter or longer, depending on the animals being out and not being out. Also, if it wasn't so crowded and steamy hot, we might have spent a little more time taking pictures and videos together. The Cafe was pricey and line was long. But overall, we enjoyed ourselves, especially our 2-year old. He really liked seeing the Sharks! We might try visiting again in the Fall, once regular school season starts and also when the temperatures are much cooler at that time.

We love museums, and the Gig Harbor Museum satisfied us 100%. It is well curated, and the section…read moreabout the Narrows bridge is particularly interesting. I also loved to see how is was like to get around in the 1930s etc. Well worth a visit to pick up tidbits on local Gig history.

If you're in Gig Harbor, you should take some time out of your day to check this museum out.  It…read morewas very impressive to me.  I loved the artifacts, the stories, the videos, the interactive exhibits, and the volunteers who gave me some interesting facts while I was exploring.  I had a deeper appreciation for how this town came to be after I left.  It left me in wonder.  There was also an outstanding local artist exhibit set up and some of the pieces blew my mind!!  And it's FREE!  So no reason not to stop in!  I planned on doing a quick walk through ... maybe spend an hour ... but stayed for several taking it all in - so well done!

Yes, I highly recommend everyone check this place out! The staff is incredibly friendly, and the…read moregoats are even friendlier. They have a zebra, camel, pig, chickens, and even fishing..... lwe caught six fish! I also loved that there are multiple play areas for kids, so it never feels crowded. We had an amazing time and can't wait to come back again. Definitely a fun place for the whole family!

My daughter (4) loves Old McDebbies farm and Jim's U-Fish. Drive down Hwy 7 just past Elk Plain,…read morewatch for the signs - park in gravel lot or overflow parking field. We visited midday on Sunday and there were some other groups but it wasn't crowded. Must get a couple feed buckets for animals. My daughter likes holding the small pail unless the goats are getting feisty. We walked around to the nature path and "Music" area as well as the back field with donkeys and horses and the zebra. It seemed like more play equipment than the last time I was here and I could see it being pretty fun with a group of kids. In fact, someone had a birthday party while we visited and that looked like a nice time. The cows, donkey, camel, sheep, and goats in the barn were super keen on some snacks. My kid was sad the pirate ship wasn't open. She did play a lot with the toys. We stayed about 2-3 hours though our initial pass was about 1 hour. Tried to wash hands a few times at portable setups, and before we left. A few groups brought lunch and ate at picnic tables!

This is a fun way for the kids to learn about a very narrow and specific part of the history of the…read morearea. Of course, it is not a very important or interesting part of local history. It's always disappointing to see European intruders' subjection of land, animals, and people glorified in this way. But, if this type of history interests you, they've done it well. We took our 5 and 8 year old and had a discussion about the fort in the wider context of history and whether it represents changes that were positive or negative for the people living on this land.

Went to Fort Nisqually for the Queen Victoria's birthday celebration. The weather started out fine…read morebut turned into a rainy day complete with hail, lightning and thunder. We took up shelter in Store #2 which has the blacksmith shop currently. We had the chance to talk to many of the volunteers and staff during our visit. I have a little of knowledge regarding the local history, which I tend to keep to myself, and was shocked by the sheer volume of historical information provided by the volunteers and the staff, all was accurate to what I knew (I have read some of Dr. Tomie's diaries and the book "Company of Adventures" among other local historical books/ information. I questioned the blacksmith on one of his statements based on a historical reference I had read. Long story short, he was aware of the reference, and we discussed how accurate what I had read was. I was honestly shocked to find out he was a volunteer. This type of interaction was not unique to one volunteer. There was an individual with a straw top hat who was also incredibly knowledgeable, the carpenters were first rate just hitting on the tip of the ice berg here. Overall, phenomenal place to visit, I wish the more volunteers and staff were present during non-event days as well, but I will be going back. I understand they have a list of people volunteering and staff available in the gift shop so one can determine who is there before paying to enter. Couple of thoughts: - depending on when you go through, remember some of the staff/ volunteers may have something they are working on. If they ignore you when you first show up in their "space", remember they may have something happening that needs immediate attention. Don't be impatient. Watch what they are doing and ask questions. This is supposed to be an interactive experience, not necessarily an entertainment. - "Be curious" to quote Ted Lasso. - Depending on who is in Store #2 (blacksmith shop), ask about the "family courting candlestick". Interesting story there - I failed the "Blacksmith IQ test". See if you can do better...

The Asia Pacific Cultural Center is hosting an international an international art show that a…read morefriend's art is in. Going to the show's reception was my first experience with the Center. I was impressed at the building. After driving past many times, I had no idea such a wonderful facility was inside. And the best part was all the Asian visitors. Great, positive energy!

If you're looking for an Asian community to connect with, learn about cultures and customs, this is…read morea much appreciated location to visit and a jewel in the community. Since many Asian and Pacific cultures live in diaspora on Turtle Island (North America), finding cultural touch stones can be valuable. There are various Asian and Pacific events that take place throughout the year and health services for the community. The location also has artifacts from around the world. The employees are very helpful and professional as well. When we visited to make Chinese dumplings, we were expected to jump in and help and it really felt like being around family. Of course we also got to taste them afterwards. My friend and I also sent our kids here for their summer youth camps which initially felt frustrating because the location was not very forthcoming with information, especially since parents were not allowed to stay and we had very young children. However, having experienced this, we'd confidently allow our children to participate again. They had lots of fun and learned a lot about many cultures. The location has helpful teachers and kept the location secured throughout the day. Parents had to stand in line to pick up their children for security purposes, which we appreciated. In the future, I would have preferred to help out, even if just to contribute to a specific cultural day. The location itself feels "sketchy" because it's in Tacoma, near a casino and has a few homeless people wandering around nearby because there's a community park next to it. But personally I had to let go of my stigma towards this community because of the helpful services here, including a food bank distribution group that uses the parking lot.