Seattle Day Trip | Half-Day Tacoma Adventure 🌞🏔️

Finally — after what felt like the 10,086th attempt — summer has arrived in Seattle! To celebrate, I took a revenge day trip to Tacoma and hit all the spots I’d been saving for a sunny day 😎🌻. Here’s my action-packed, sun-soaked, food-filled, and drive-heavy half-day itinerary: 📍 Van Lierop Park The swing at the end of the trail offers an unbeatable photo spot with Mt. Rainier in the background 🏔️📸. The path is lined with beautiful lupine flowers — just as stunning as the famous lavender fields! Parking is easy and crowds are light. Just bring sunscreen — the trail is well-paved but unshaded ☀️. 📍 Firemans Park A quick and classic mountain photo stop! This mini park offers a clear, dramatic view right from the roadside 🚗🅿️. Great for creative framing. 📍 Ruston Way This waterfront strip has several lovely parks. At Old Town Dock, I even found a train crossing that felt like a mini-Seattle version of Japan’s Kamakura 🚂🇯🇵. Perfect for a bike or scooter ride along the water! 📍 Dune Peninsula at Point Defiance Park A beautiful peninsula park at the end of Ruston Way with wide lawns ideal for BBQs and gatherings 🍔🌿. Another fantastic Mt. Rainier photo op — it’s easy to see why Tacoma locals love their mountain views! 📍 Stairs and Slides I braved the famous giant slide (mixed in with a crowd of fearless kids 😅). It’s high but segmented — and surprisingly fun! 🛝 📍 Point Defiance Rose Garden The famous flower tunnel was closed this time 🚫🌹, but I caught a glimpse through the fence. Still, the variety of roses was impressive! 📍 Japanese Garden It’s small, but it has all the essential elements: toro stone lanterns ⛩️, a koi pond, and raked gravel gardens. The wildlife was active too — I even spotted deer grazing near the tennis courts! 🦌 📍 Chambers Bay Loop Trail Head A huge park featuring a golf course ⛳, railway tracks 🛤️, a beach 🏖️, open fields, and intriguing concrete structures — a great place for photos or flying a kite! I went near sunset to avoid the heat, but beware of the strong winds on the bridge — almost lost my hat! 💨🧢 A fulfilling and scenic half-day escape from Seattle — highly recommend if you’re up for some sun, views, and a little adventure! #Seattle #SeattleDayTrip #Tacoma #WashingtonSummer #PNWLife #TravelWA