Eight Great Spring Activities for Seniors in Tacoma

Goodbye cold, dark and gloomy. Hello mild, sunny days — it’s springtime in Tacoma, WA!

The lovely spring season is one of the reasons why people in the Pacific Northwest endure the gray days of winter. And with the warmer, longer days, spring activities for seniors start popping up faster than the daffodils.

Some older adults who live in Tacoma or in the Pierce County area may think, “There just aren’t many spring activities near me to enjoy,” but nothing could be further from the truth. Because the fact is, Tacoma’s got a wealth of activities for seniors — and we’re listing eight of them that are ideal for older adults to do by themselves, with friends or with their kids and grandkids.

Eight spring activities for Tacoma-area seniors

  1. Hiking is a popular spring activity for Tacoma seniors. Because Pierce County is perfectly situated between Mount Rainier and Olympic National Park, this is an ideal basecamp for anyone who loves outdoor recreation. With 15 miles of trails, Point Defiance’s Five Mile Drive offers trails from short and easy to hilly and long, with great views and superb workouts for people of all ages and abilities. Start with the Spine Trail or the Triangle Trail, then work up to more challenging trails.
  2. Another popular spot is Dash Point State Park, perfectly situated between Seattle and Tacoma. The park offers 11 miles of forested hiking trails and eight miles of biking trails, but its main draw is the beach. It boasts 3,300 feet of shoreline, which draws everyone from anglers and birders to beach explorers and budding botanists.
  3. Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium is the only combined zoo and aquarium in the Pacific Northwest. The 29-acre zoo, established in 1905, attracts about 700,000 visitors a year and sits within 700-acre Point Defiance Park. Visitors are treated to spectacular views of Mount Rainier, the Olympic Mountains and Puget Sound. Of course, the animals are the main attraction — the zoo and aquarium are home to 9,000 specimens representing 367 animal species.
  4. Discover a nature oasis at the Tacoma Nature Center, a 70-acre nature preserve encompassing Snake Lake and the surrounding wetlands and forest. There are more than two miles of soft-surfaced walking trails that wander through the wetlands and forest areas. There’s also a half-mile outdoor access route for wheelchairs.
  5. For older adults who enjoy spectator sports, the Tacoma Rainiers Triple-A baseball team starts its season April 5 at Cheney Stadium. Since 1960, Cheney Stadium has stood proudly as an anchoring crown jewel in the heart of Central Tacoma. In 2010, the stadium, fondly regarded as “R House,” underwent a massive transformation to compete as a state-of-the-art entertainment venue in the modern era of professional sports. Once only the grounds for the Tacoma Rainiers, Cheney Stadium is now also home to a pair of professional soccer clubs: Reign FC of the National Women’s Soccer League and Tacoma Defiance, the USL Championship squad for Seattle Sounders FC.
  6. Anyone who’s grown up or spent time in Tacoma has probably been on some kind of watercraft in the South Puget Sound — but how much of the area have they truly explored? One hidden gem is Day Island, a stunning little island located just west of Tacoma. Visitors to this island will be treated to sweeping views of the Puget Sound, Mount Rainier and the Narrows Bridges. Day moorage is available at nearby Narrows Marina, where guests can tie up for a few hours and grab a bite at Boathouse 19 or a beer at Barrows Brewing Company.
  7. For a more artsy island experience, chart a course to what’s known as the “Heart of the Sound,” more commonly known as Vashon Island. An island boasting art galleries, tasty fare, eclectic shopping and an abundance of outdoor recreation, Vashon Island is reachable only by boat. Watercraft can sail or motor to the island, but non-boaters can also catch the ferry from the Point Defiance Ferry Terminal in Tacoma. Once visitors step foot on the island, the activities are endless. Grab items for a picnic at Vashon Thriftway, or opt for sit down dining at one of the island’s many renowned restaurants including the popular Hardware Store Restaurant, Red Bicycle Bistro and Sushi, Pure Vegan Cafe and many others. Because many artists live on the island, Vashon is a very arts-centered community. Visitors love perusing the various galleries and print shops located across the island.
  8. The Washington State Spring Fair is considered Washington’s biggest celebration of spring, with entertainment, fair food, rides, animals and much more. Located in Puyallup just east of Tacoma, the four-day Spring Fair every April is a draw for tens of thousands of fairgoers. This year The Spring Fair expands to two weekends, April 14-16 and April 21-24.

Discover springtime at eliseo™

Here’s something many older Tacoma-area adults are doing this spring: learning more about eliseo, ones of the best Life Plan Communities in Washington state. We offer plenty of outdoor activities available on our campus, and that only scratches the surface of what residents can enjoy, inside and outside our retirement community.

If you’d like to learn more too, come see us by scheduling your personal tour. Or simply start the conversation by calling us at 253-319-3947.