With the amount of thorns guarding the entrance to this trail, you’d think there was a princess hidden in a castle somewhere behind them.
Buckley Gulch is the kind of place a lot of people drive past and think, “Hmm… I wonder what’s down there.” but never actually take the time to find out. It’s so densely forested that even driving over it on the N. 21st St. bridge, you may not even realize you’re on a bridge. The N. Yakima Ave. bridge just north of there allows a deeper view into the gulch but to get the full experience, you have to see it from the bottom.
Garfield gulch exists in a sort of limbo between inaccessible wilderness and managed natural area. Of all the north end gulches, this one’s probably had the roughest history. Not only was it heavily logged like the rest of Tacoma, but a huge portion of it was actually filled in and built over. If you’ve ever wondered why there’s a four block gap in N. 7th St., it’s because that’s where the gulch used to be. The only evidence left is a slight dip in elevation.
Despite this being a properly maintained trail that actually exists on most maps, it’s still very lightly used compared to other nearby trails in Point Defiance. It’s more of a shortcut than a standalone trail but the shortcut it provides is the real fun part that makes it worth mentioning. Most beach walkers start at the more popular Owen Beach. This puts you out more than half a mile closer to the point.
Of all the trails in this collection, this one is probably the most well known. Nonetheless, you won’t find any useful trail maps online and the park itself is hidden in a neighborhood with no signage on the main road. The land was previously owned by the Kobayashi family who donated it to the city when they moved to Japan. The picnic shelters next to the parking lot are the hollowed out remnants of their home.
Turkey + rolls + mashed potatoes and gravy = food coma, not skinny jeans. Which is why we're making the argument to prioritize comfort over dressing to impress this Thanksgiving.
Think of Small Business Saturday as your post-Black Friday palette cleanser.
A meat-eater and a vegetarian walk into Rhein Haus Tacoma's bar. The pair, who've been friends for a decade, slide into a booth and admire the soft glow of the establishment's holiday lights.
There are no shortage of charities in our beloved Tacoma that could use the help of your time or a financial contribution, but finding a place to volunteer with kids in tow can be tricky.
Ready to say enough is enough with all of the stuff? Join the many who are leaning toward gifting their loved ones experiences for the holidays rather than the same old slippers, sweaters and sure-to-be-regifted crap.
Decorating for the holidays has become less common in recent years and for a place like Tacoma that’s a real shame. With all our grey and rainy days, we need as many Christmas lights as possible to twinkle through the gloom of winter.
What would leap to mind if I were to say the name Bluebeard? Most would mumble something about a pirate or a fairytale, but those in Tacoma might answer "coffee" or even "a cat."
