Location: Lakewood
Top Things to do in Lakewood
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What to do and see in Lakewood, United States: The Best Places and Tips
Lakewood in United States, from Nouth America region, is best know for Golf Courses. Discover best things to do in Lakewood with beautiful photos and great reviews from traveller around the world here!
Restaurants in Lakewood
1. Chambers Bay
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 148 reviews
With tawny fescue grasses, towering sand dunes, massive fairways, and breathtaking views of the Puget Sound and snow-capped Olympic Mountains, Chambers Bay brings the traditions of Scottish linksland to the Pacific Northwest. Located in University Place, Washington, this 18-hole, walking-only course provides an authentic links experience for players of every ability. Chambers Bay Grill is known for both its delicious food and panoramic views which makes it the perfect place to celebrate the end of a round or simply enjoy the splendor of the Puget Sound, the majestic Olympic Mountains and expansive golf course views. Frequented by golfers and locals alike, the Grill is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner with a full bar service and an interesting list of Northwest wines. The Grill also hosts frequent specialty events including Winemaker, Brewmaster, and Distiller dinners. This 930-acre site also includes over two miles of saltwater shoreline, two and a half miles of urban creek and canyon. Enjoy a walk on the beach and over 5 miles of public trails or relax at Central or North Meadow.
Reviewed By PilotMike2009 - Constant Traveller
Chambers Bay Golf Course has a wicked reputation. It's built on the remains of an old quarry, the greens are weird, and the memories of the USGA debacle at the 2015 U.S. Open have the golf snobs blasting this layout for a thousand sins. Well, they are all wrong. This is a great track, a fun locale, and a completely unique course which I would go back and play again any time.
In July 2017 My wife and I were in Tacoma on a holiday, expressly with an eye on playing Chambers Bay. While this sounds like a modest plan, we had two strikes against us. First, she’s a petite grandmother — not exactly a long-ball hitter. Secondly, I play with 100-year old hickory clubs. Neither of us are going to over-power this course like Speith or Johnson or even a low-handicap amateur. The question remained unanswered: can average golfers enjoy Chambers Bay?
The answer is unequivocally YES.
We arrived at the course early in the morning and enjoyed the convivial chatter in the parking lot as we and a dozen of other arriving players put on our golf shoes. After visiting the pro shop we jumped into a shuttle bus and are driven down a very steep hill to the first tee. There you will find a snack bar, the practice range and a putting green. We also met our caddies and a father-son pair with which we had been matched. The only thing lacking are golf carts. Yes, Chambers Bay is a “walking only” course, and that makes this very good experience even better.
The views across this course and Puget Sound are unmatched. It is a remarkable experience to stand on the first tee, fescue waving gold in the bright yellow morning sun, bright green fairways stretching as far as the eye can see. The city of Tacoma is completely hidden; the noise of modern life blocked by the ridge of hills behind the course. Its a magical instance, almost a “Brigadoon” moment, as if you somehow just had been teleported to the fields of Dornoch, Shishkin, Macrahanish or St. Andrews, just with nice weather and better food.
About the caddies. Yes, our foursome shared two caddies and they were excellent, absolutely perfect gentlemen and extraordinarily helpful. I don’t think you would want to play this course for the first time without a caddy; the ball simply rolls too far in unpredictable directions. There's a good chance you would get lost, possibly play the wrong holes and maybe never find your way home. Plus, shot placement is essential on this course, and knowing the distances also is a key element. Our caddies helped us with all this AND kept us cheery with encouragement and funny tales.
I will not bore you with a shot-by-shot recounting of our game; I know nobody cares. But I will tell you that every hole is unique, every shot requires strategy and every putt requires serious concentration. This is a mental and a physical work-out, but it’s all worth it.
My favorite hole was #6, high up on the ridge. My caddy told me to aim far, far left — right into the fescue — but the ball landed on the edge of the fairway on a ridge, skidded over the ridge, and turned hard right, rolling another 75 yards downhill almost into the cup. An amazing bit of "local knowledge" there; another reason to trust your caddy!
My wife enjoyed the bowl-like #9, an intimidating par three with a 100-foot drop from tee to green. She ended up in the fescue but that didn’t diminish her thrill of the chase!
Dustin Johnson called #18 “the dumbest hole in the world” but he’s wrong, it plays fair and true.
I recall the course has six sets of tees, which it needs. I played from the white tees with my hickory clubs and on most holes had excellent chances to play in regulation, so the distances are fair. The father-son team that we played with were long-ball hitters, and they played from the tips. Sadly, this is a course that values accuracy more than distance and they got hammered. My father used to say, "Short and straight beats long and crooked" and Chambers Bay proved him right.
After the golf, we enjoyed a very nice lunch at the club house, so just because the golf is over doesn’t mean the fun has stopped.
Greens fees were about $250 per person, which is reasonable value. I am extremely impressed that the Commissioners of Pierce County had the courage and the vision to reclaim this wasteland, to ban golf carts, and invest in the excellent golfing experience it is today. It’s good for the sport, it’s good for Tacoma and it’s good those of us who throw a bag over our shoulder on the first tee and challenge ourselves as much as the course.
2. AMC Loews Lakewood Towne Center 12
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 102 reviews
Reviewed By Chris P
This is a good theater. It has the reclining, assigned seats and very clean. It's a bit expensive, but worth the seat. Over all cost, recline seat, with popcorn and a drink cost about $25/person. Like most theaters, it's a bit cold, so bring a small jacket.
There really isn't a bad seat with the reclining chairs, so IF you get caught in the front row, it's not going to be the end of the world, you just recline all the way back. It's not the ideal seats, but it's not like the older tradition head craning seats.
Parking doesn't fair to well on a busy opening night of a movie, but if you have time to go during the week day, you can get an up front slot.
This theater is located in the Lakewood Town center, so if you have teenagers, there is lots to do. Currently there is still a Boarders Books with a Starbucks inside. If your looking at the front, off to the left, they are building Washington's first Chronic Taco. Popular is California, it should do well here. It looks like it will be open sometime the end of the month.
3. Sunnyside Beach
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 12 reviews
Reviewed By ChrisBarrett-in-UP - University Place, Washington
Nice little strip of course sandy beach. Has 2 sand volley ball courts set up and covered BBQ areas, plus plenty of open space to spread out. Calm water good for swimming or paddle boarding on warm days. Pay parking lot.
4. Lakewold Gardens
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 36 reviews
Lakewold Gardens is a premier 10-acre historic garden estate that features formal and natural settings. Located just south of Tacoma off of I-5 we are near the hustle and bustle of the city, but our gardens feel worlds away. Nestled amidst the lush English-inspired gardens is the Georgian-style mansion which overlooks Gravelly Lake. This historic and unique property is open year round to the public for self-guided garden tours and also serves as an elegant setting for a wedding, corporate event, or a private function. The Wagner House and gardens offer a variety of meeting room space that can be utilized many ways – from a small staff retreat in our upstairs boardroom overlooking the gardens, to an evening reception under our wisteria draped veranda – an event held at Lakewold is unlike any other. You and your guests will enjoy a beautiful backdrop and view from any of our event spaces. Special features include: a wisteria covered veranda, gorgeous spiral staircase, a unique quatrefoil pool, winding pathways, and a historic brick walkway. Discover why we are one of the premier venues in the South Sound.
Reviewed By watravelinggal - Port Orchard, Washington
We did a day trip to Lakewold this past week. What a lovely series of gardens it is. There is a fee to get in and there are self guided or docent guided tours. We did the self guided tour; the site was easy to...MoreThat you for the great review! We're glad you had such a good time during your self-guided tour. We look forward to having you back through the changing seasons to see more!
5. LeMay - America's Car Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 891 reviews
LeMay - America's Car Museum (ACM), named one of USA Today's 10 Best Museums in Seattle and KING 5's 2014 & 2015 Best Museum in Western Washington, is an international destination where families and enthusiasts gather to celebrate America's love affair with the automobile and how it shaped our society. The stunning, four-level, 165,000-sq.-ft. Tacoma, Wash., facility features 12 rotating exhibits, five annual Signature Events and serves as an educational center, hosting students of all ages.
Reviewed By Ted L
Talk about a kid in a candy store. The LeMay Auto Museum is just nirvana for everyone who loves wheeled transportation in all its beautiful, strange, weird and kooky forms. LeMay is located in Tacoma in a really interesting free-form wood laminated building overlooking the harbor and next to the freeway -- easy to get to. It's not over priced like some museums because you can easily spend an entire afternoon swooning over classic cars, sports cars, cars with vintage pedigree in addition to some motorcycles and even electrics. My recent visit featured a nice collection of post-WWII vehicles that represented the Eisenhower era of my youth. Studebakers, Kaisers, Hudsons, Packards, etc. all gleamed in their deserved spotlight. It was a kick in the pants to revisit the marques that are long gone but not forgotten,
The LeMay is definitely worth a detour. And, enjoy lunch in the museum cafe while you are at it. Parking is free.
6. Topside Bar & Grill
Overall Ratings
4 based on 13 reviews
Reviewed By geraldh463 - Fox Island
Went here on a gorgeous spring evening, unfortunately everybody else did to. Very crowded, long wait just to get a table inside. I had the gummy crab cakes, way too much filler, served with a bernaise sauce. The sauce was way too tame.
Service was slow due to the busyness. I'll go back but avoid the crab cakes.
7. Olympus Spa
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 28 reviews
Olympus Spa (Main) was opened to the public on June 20th, 1997 to provide a beautiful and elegant oasis for women in the South of Seattle area.IMAGINE… escape to a sanctuary where stress and busyness of every day life is left behind. Recently selected as the favorite local spa by the rigorous Seattle times, Olympus Spa offers women a welcoming atmosphere devoted to the restoration of the body, mind, and soul. With Eastern medicinal tradition blending perfectly with Western relaxation techniques, we offer a relaxing and rejuvenating spa experience every woman deserves. Let your stresses melt away in our heated earth energy rooms. Revitalize your senses in our hydrotherapy pools and saunas. Inspire your beauty within.
Reviewed By Tonya L
Came here to unwind and relax. Used the facilities without treatments and the pool baths and clay room are my favorites. Tranquil with tea, sauna, steam room and clay room for major detox. Refresh the skin, mind and soul for a few hours of treatment pools and facility options!
8. Steilacoom Historical Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 5 reviews
Reviewed By ryan e - Steilacoom, Washington
I have visited the Steilacoom Historical Museum several times, and really like how informative the exhibits are. The kids enjoyed playing dress-up downstairs and exploring the orchard, while I liked learning all about what living in a pioneer town was like.
The second time I visited I took a tour of the nathaniel orr home, a well kept pioneer home with original furnishings. The doors are so small, and the frames are so low! I can't imagine using the old-fashioned washing machines, or making all my own furniture... but evidently all this furniture was handmade!
The view of the puget sound was spectacular. Afterwards we went for lunch at the Bair Bistro, which made for a lovely day.
9. LeMay Museum at Marymount
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 153 reviews
Reviewed By wedgewa - Washington State
The family of Harold Lemay played a huge role in creating the downtown Tacoma Lemay America's Car Museum but this is their own creation. And it's quite different. Much more eclectic and casual. On the grounds of a former school with cars, trucks, trains, toys......the LeMays collecting spanned a wide variety. There's also event venue space here if you need some.
10. Stina's Cellars
Overall Ratings
5 based on 8 reviews
Reviewed By nancy l - Lakewood, Washington
Small family winery. Very friendly and comfortable setting. 10 wines on the tasting bar and a variety of whites and reds. Perry the owner and wine maker is easy to talk to and will make you feel at home. He really excells at making red wines. Baco Noir , Montage a bourdeux style blend, Petite Verdot, Sangiovese, Sweet Beginnings. If you prefer whites or a sweeter wine, don't worry there is something for every palete. Wines are made on the premises and grapes are grown in either Eastern Washington or at Millennium Vineyards in Western Washington. Very reasonable. I'ts just a really good little winery. Worth checking out.
