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Lakewood is a city of about 63,000 people in Pierce County, Washington, just south of Tacoma on the shores of American Lake and several smaller lakes. Incorporated in 1996, it is one of the newer cities in the state, though the area was settled long before, and Fort Steilacoom, built in 1849, was one of the first U.S. Army posts in Washington Territory.
Lakewood's lakes give it its name and character. American Lake has public beaches and boating, and Lakewold Gardens, a historic estate on Gravelly Lake, displays beautiful gardens of rhododendrons, Japanese maples and rare plants. Thornewood Castle, a Gothic Tudor mansion, is also on American Lake.
Fort Steilacoom Park, on the former grounds of the historic fort, has trails around Waughop Lake, sports fields and a historic barn, and the Lakewood History Museum covers local history. Joint Base Lewis-McChord borders the city, and Tacoma, Mount Rainier and Puget Sound are all nearby.
The largest lake in Lakewood, about 1,100 acres, popular for boating, waterskiing, fishing and paddling with views toward Mount Rainier on clear days. Public access is at American Lake Park with a boat launch and swimming beach. Part of the shore belongs to the VA campus and a military base, so stay in public areas.
A small lake inside Fort Steilacoom Park ringed by a flat one-mile gravel loop, popular for jogging, dog walking and birdwatching, with ducks, herons and eagles seen often. There are benches along the shore. Note that swimming is not recommended because the lake has had algae blooms in recent years.
A waterfront city park on the south shore of American Lake with a sandy beach, fishing dock, playground, picnic shelters and a short lakeside path. It is one of the best spots in Lakewood to swim in summer and watch the sunset. Parking is free but the small lot fills on hot weekends, so arrive early.
A 340-acre park on former hospital farmland with open meadows, wooded trails, sports fields, an off-leash dog park and the large Discovery playground. Old farm barns still stand near the parking areas. Trails connect to Waughop Lake. It can be muddy after rain, so wear boots in the wetter months.
A ten-acre historic estate garden on Gravelly Lake with a Georgian-style house, rare Japanese maples, rhododendrons, a woodland and alpine plantings, and a formal knot garden. The garden is open several days a week with an admission fee, and hosts plant sales and events. Spring bloom season is the highlight.
A Tudor Gothic manor house on American Lake, built in the early 1900s using materials shipped from an English estate, and later used as a filming location for the TV miniseries Rose Red. Today it is a private inn and event venue, so visits are mainly for overnight guests or booked events.
Four original officers' quarters from the 1850s U.S. Army post, the oldest buildings of their kind in Washington, preserved on the grounds of Western State Hospital. Volunteers run a small museum with furnished rooms and exhibits on the fort and early territory. It opens on limited days, so check hours first.
A small community museum in the Lakewood Colonial Center area with rotating exhibits on the region's lakes, early estates, Tillicum and American Lake Gardens, and the military history of nearby Camp Lewis. Admission is usually free with donations welcome. Check the opening days since it is volunteer-run.
A community theater in the Lakewood Colonial Center that has staged plays since 1938, performing in an intimate thrust stage space where every seat is close to the actors. The season mixes comedies, dramas and musicals. Tickets are inexpensive; book ahead for weekend shows as they often sell out.
An open-air shopping center on the site of the former Lakewood Mall, with big-box stores, a movie theater, restaurants and Lakewood City Hall nearby. It is the main place in town for errands and casual dining. There is plenty of free parking, and the farmers market sets up nearby in summer.
A stretch of South Tacoma Way in Lakewood lined with Korean barbecue restaurants, tofu houses, bakeries and Asian grocery stores, along with Vietnamese and other international spots. It is one of the best areas in the South Sound for Korean food. Most restaurants have their own small parking lots.
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Washington, United States
Washington, United States
Washington, United States
Washington, United States
Washington, United States
Washington, United States
Washington, United States
Washington, United States
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