When things get hot out (yes, 80 degrees here is considered “hot”), there’s tons of fun to be had outdoors in Tacoma! You’ll definitely want to take advantage of the blue skies and opportunity to wear shorts and sip margaritas on the patio while you can.

Don’t miss out on these Tacoma hotspots this summer—you have to visit at least a few of these destinations before summer ends!

Shop, Eat & Play @ Point Ruston

Head to Point Ruston for a day—there’s plenty to do and entertainment options are aplenty! Go for a scenic walk along the waterfront, rent a Surrey, tandem bike or chopper, indulge in some fresh seafood at WildFin, or catch a movie at the 9-screen, state-of-the-art Century Point Ruston and XD Theatre. See what else there is to do at Point Ruston.

Gorgeous Golf Courses (& lots of ‘em!)

For this one, it almost doesn’t matter if you like to golf or not—our golf courses offer some spectacular views and picturesque settings. Of course, those who golf will be tickled to play on the internationally renowned (and home of the 2015 U.S. Open) Chambers Bay Golf Course, but it’s also perfect for those who are looking to stretch their legs and catch some jawdroppingly beautiful views of the Puget Sound. Other favorites include the Allenmore Golf Course, the Highlands Golf Course, Meadow Park Golf Course, just to name a few.

Water Sports

Whether you’re a pro or trying water sports for the first time, there’s a little something for everyone here. Rent a kayak, a stand-up paddle board, take a boat tour, go fishing, learn how to scuba—the list of options for enjoying the water in Tacoma go on and on.

Dozens of Parks (& spraygrounds kids love!)

Tacoma has a whopping 60+ parks, and that means there’s tons of opportunities for catching Pokemon! (Haha, ok, we’re joking here… but just kinda…) You can check out the parks closest to you on Metro Parks’ Park Finder page, but if you have kids, skip ahead to the Pools & Spraygrounds resource page. When things get REALLY hot out, you’ll know exactly where to take the little ones to cool off at.

Enjoy Dining Outdoors

From Downtown Tacoma all the way to Tacoma’s West Slope, there are tons of restaurants where you can enjoy the sun while you dine outside! See our FAVORITE restaurants with outdoor deck dining in Tacoma HERE.

Take Me Out to the Ball Game

Did you know that we have our very own baseball team?! Head out to Cheney Stadium to enjoy a Tacoma Rainiers game. It’s the perfect opportunity to grab a hot dog and hang out in the bleachers without having to drive to Seattle for a good ol’ live baseball game.

Shop Local at Farmers Markets

And last but not least… you cannot let summer pass you by without taking advantage of AT LEAST one of our (many) farmers markets! Six out of seven days each week, there’s a market going on somewhere in Tacoma. See our 2016 Guide to Tacoma’s Farmers Markets HERE!