Things To Do

Few Tacoma residents know that one of the most popular places to walk, run, bike and drive is also the location of world-class whale watching opportunities. Lurking in the waters around Tacoma, occasionally being spotted by those who know where to look, are a handful of whale species and other unique aquatic mammal life swimming in the salty sound.

Ever wonder what’s up with that square of manicured lawn at Wright Park with the fancy wrought iron fence around it? I’ll give you a clue; it requires a fair amount of hand-eye coordination, a desire for good old-fashioned outside fun, and a set of big, heavy balls.

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.

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.