Monthly Archives: April 2012

China Lake Park

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I’ve always been a little nervous about visiting China Lake at 1811 S Shirley St. Though I can’t point to any particular warning, it seems like I heard of unpleasant happenings. It is really a lovely park and feels just like being in a forest (except for the SR-16 noise). The lake is nice and had various ducks. It did feel a little lonely though and next time I think I’ll take a friend.

I did find this interesting article that is well worth a visit. http://www.tacomaweekly.com/news/view/tunnels-tunnels-everywhere…-sort-of/

The park district’s site plan is here http://www.discoverparks.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=ParkDetails&PropertyID=87

 

Northern Fish Co.

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Northern Fish Company at 2201 Ruston Way in Tacoma has a wonderful setting with Commencement Bay out its back door (if it had a back door!). There are two Northern Fish Co. locations in Tacoma with the other one being at 3911 South 56th. The Ruston Way location not only offers seafood to prepare at home, but also seafood chowders and baskets to either eat there or at home. Their website is here http://www.northernfish.com/

Pick-Quick Drive In

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Easter dinner was Pasta Primavera which we enjoyed with our dear vegetarian daughter, but earlier in the day dear husband and I wanted a little something for lunch. I was trying to think of a place that would be open, but not packed and not too expensive and then I remembered Pick-Quick Drive at 4306 Pacific Hwy E, Fife, WA 98424. Unfortunately for us, it was closed. But I did have a great opportunity to snap a couple of photos of this Fife institution. Pick-Quick was built in 1949 and is famous for its burgers and many flavored shakes. Seating is either in one’s car or at one of the many picnic tables. There are two Pick-Quick locations, this one and a much newer one in Auburn.

 

The Tacoma Fallen Firefighters Memorial

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It was a lovely day to walk Ruston Way with three of my friends. Along the way I stopped to photo the Tacoma Fallen Firefighters Memorial near the Lobster Shop on Ruston Way.  The sculpture is called “Fully Involved” by Larry Perkins and it was dedicated in honor of those firefighters who have given their lives in the line of duty in 2001. There are twelve names on the memorial with the most recent being from 1963. A plaque near the memorial tells me that the first volunteer fire company was formed in Tacoma in 1880 and the first paid fire department in 1889. The first African American firefighter joined the force in 1972 and the first woman firefighter  in 1981.

Willapa National Wildlife Refuge

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On our way home from Long Beach, we visited the Willapa National Wildlife Refuge at 3888 State Route 101, Ilwaco, WA 98624.  It was really a treat! There is a small display room in the ranger’s work area and of course a delightful ranger. There is a short, level boardwalk area with plenty of interesting art. The boardwalk goes next to a pond, which was full of newts! For the more ambitious walkers, there is a trail that is relatively steep and has nature facts along the way. It is a lovely and challenging walk and at the end is a meditative labyrinth. 

Their website is here http://www.fws.gov/willapa/

Cape Disappointment Lighthouse

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We continued exploring the Long Beach Peninsula with a visit to Cape Disappointment Lighthouse. To be fair, the ranger guy did say that it was a 1.2 mile hike each way and the terrain was steep in places and slippery with rain. Both of those facts proved to be true and it didn’t help that just as we reached the lighthouse, it began to rain in earnest.

This lighthouse was the first to be built in the Pacific Northwest. The ship that carried the original pieces of the lighthouse sank in view of where the lighthouse was eventually built in 1856!  The first time they built it the tower was too small to hold the lantern, so they disassembled it and rebuilt it. That process took two years.

There is a Coast Guard observation station in use next to the lighthouse and it was staffed with two men that got there in their truck by using the special Coast Guard road.

Despite the dampness, it really was a lovely hike with amazing views along the way. I believe that on the weekends in the summer it is possible to go into the lighthouse. The photo below is taken of the lighthouse from Waikiki Beach, which is another lovely spot in Cape Disappointment State Park. The last photo shows a view from the top of the trail by the lighthouse.

http://www.lighthousefriends.com/light.asp?ID=115

http://www.parks.wa.gov/parks/?selectedpark=cape%20disappointment

 

Anchorage Cottages at Longbeach, WA

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What sweet words “Spring Break” are! Dear daughter and I got out of town for a couple of day to Long Beach, WA. While there we stayed at our favorite place, Anchorage Cottages at 2209 Boulevard North, Long Beach. We come to Long Beach every couple of years and usually stay here. We had Unit 8 and it was great — two bedrooms, a living room with a fireplace, a full bath and a kitchen. It was clean, comfy and had lovely art on the walls. A short hike through pines and sea grass and we were at the ocean 🙂

Their website is here http://theanchoragecottages.com/

The Concrete Ferries at the end of the Thea Foss

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A spring day during spring break, what a gift! So I made my dear daughter on a walk along Dock Street an East D Street (the East D Street Grade Separation Project) to look at the concrete images honoring Washington State Ferry Boats. We walked from Freighthouse Square along East D Street which is elevated over the rail tracks. Along the way are depictions of various ferries and Fire Boat #1. Each one has the general outline of its named boat. It is a nice touch.  On Dock Street I stopped to snap the panorama above.

      

House of Tomorrow

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The Home of Tomorrow is also known as the House of Tomorrow and the Smyser House and is located at 4907 66th Ave. E., Puyallup, WA 98371.  The house was designed by Bert Smyser who is also known for designing the Tacoma landmark, Bob’s Java Jive. I became aware of the house when the Tacoma News Tribune ran an article on Mr. Smyser, mentioning this house and his other projects including a prototype of the Seattle Space Needle.

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2012/03/25/2081358/where-were-you-in-62-likely-not.html#storylink=misearch

A photo of Bert Smyser can be found here http://search.tacomapubliclibrary.org/images/dt6n.asp?un=2&pg=1&krequest=Smyser&stemming=On&phonic=&fuzzy=&maxfiles=5000

The library also mentions that Mr. Smyser’s wife was a member of the Rubber Hat Club and sometimes modeled for them.

The all plywood, steamline moderne house was constructed in 1940 is under private ownership now, so I stayed on the side of the road to snap my photo. The site also fronts on Clark’s Creek. The house was listed for sale at one point and the listing can be found here http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/4907-66th-Ave-E-Puyallup-WA-98371/49190659_zpid/.