SpanaPark staycation

BILL TIMNICK: EXPLORING SPANAPARK >>>

At first sight, Parkland and Spanaway seem more like crossroad communities than potential destination spots.  But for those who take the time to explore or who are on the road to Mount Rainier, these two communities south of Tacoma offer a selection of opportunities to stop and stay awhile.

Behind the rows of strip malls along southern Pacific Avenue in Parkland are reasons to detour, both to the west and the east.  Westward at South Garfield Street, for example, there is a pair of destinations — different in purpose and appearance, yet somehow belonging together.  You see, if Parkland could be called a town, it would be a college town, because a few blocks down Garfield from the Avenue is the campus of Pacific Lutheran University.  And leading to the university are a couple of blocks of small shops and eateries that would seem at home in any college town — multiple coffeehouses, tiny restaurants and shops.  And the food at Marzano’s Italian restaurant, across from the PLU entrance at the end of Garfield, is probably reason enough to make the trip to Parkland.

But the university campus provides a destination for visitors, too. Founded in 1890, PLU is a celebrated liberal arts university with a student body of about 3,600.  The campus is spread around a parklike, carefully landscaped setting.  Outdoor art is placed throughout the site.  PLU also serves as a venue for musical, theatrical, sporting, and cultural live events.  The university also houses a cultural heritage center and museum that help to maintain PLU’s ties to its Scandinavian heritage.  To learn more about upcoming events at PLU visit their Web site. 

And what lies farther to the south?  The Spanaway area attracts those looking for outdoor, as well as indoor, recreational opportunities. Just off Pacific Avenue at14824 South “C” Street is Sprinker Recreation Center.  This Pierce County Parks and Recreation facility features an indoor ice arena, indoor and outdoor tennis courts, racquetball courts, outdoor sports fields, a skateboard park, an outdoor rock climbing practice “spire,” and a nearby forested walking trail.

Sprinker’s ice arena provides public skating sessions as well as skating lessons.  The center also hosts ice skating competitions, some of which are open to students in the facility’s lesson programs.  The SPIRE rock facility is open year-round to area climbers unless in use by climbing clubs.  Pierce County Parks also offers climbing lessons that make use of the practice rock.  The walking trails are spread over a 70-acre section of Breseman Forest, located west of Sprinker.

For more information about facilities and programs available at Sprinker Recreation Center, call 253.798.4000.

Near Sprinker Recreation Center is another Pierce County Parks set of facilities.  Spanaway Lake Park is a 135-acre site set on the shore of the lake from which it takes its name.  The park features picnic and play areas boating and fishing facilities and sports fields as well as a trail system.  Near the park, along Pacific Avenue, is the Lake Spanaway Golf Course, an 18-hole public course.  For information about these or other Pierce County Parks facilities, call 253.798.4176.

Finally, for visitors looking for out-of-the ordinary overnight accommodations while exploring the Parkland-Spanaway area, consider the De Voe Mansion Bed and Breakfast at South 133rd and “B” Avenue in Parkland east of Pacific Avenue.  The De Voe is a 1911-built colonial-style mansion set on 1.5 landscaped acres.  The house is on the National Historic Register.  The B&B’s hosts serve a full breakfast to their guests.  Past delicacies have included smoked salmon croissants, Italian parmesan eggs, and strawberry Belgian waffles. How’s that for a way to start the day?

For more information, call 253.539.3991 or visit thier Web site.