Looking for an opportunity to explore Washington on foot? Here are a few timely ideas:
SEA & WIN
(Through early July)
As Seattle hosts six World Cup matches this summer, this mobile app is designed to help local fans and international visitors discover points of interest across the Evergreen State. The app includes curated walking tours grouped by Seattle neighborhoods and communities including Bellingham, Everett, Spokane, and the Tri-Cities. Play games, take quizzes, collect points, and win prizes. Learn more here.
Life at Low Tide
(Through mid-July)
On your next waterfront stroll, join beach naturalists from the Seattle Aquarium to discover the wonders of intertidal life on Puget Sound. Explore special places like Des Moines Beach, Golden Gardens, Richmond Beach, and more while learning how to keep tide pool creatures and their homes safe. See the schedule of upcoming events here.
Pretty Gritty Tacoma
(Ongoing)
From ghost tours on Friday and Saturday nights to themed treks celebrating beer, coffee, and even 10 Things I Hate About You (the classic film set at Stadium High School), Pretty Gritty Tours offers a full calendar of walking tours in Tacoma, the South Sound, and beyond. Prices vary; see their website for more details.
Free Days in the Parks
(Ongoing)
If high gas prices are taxing your travel budget, at least you can still count on a few free-admission dates for Washington State Parks this summer, including June 19 (Juneteenth) and August 9 (Smokey Bear’s Birthday), when no Discovery Pass will be needed. There are several fee-free days planned this fall, too; get the list here. Also of note: On August 25, 2026, all U.S. national parks will have free admission as part of National Park Week.
For the past two years, Take a WAlk has been compiled by Julie Fanselow, a (mostly) retired journalist and avid walker who lives in Seattle. With this final column, Julie thanks Feet First for its longtime advocacy on behalf of a walkable Washington.
[…and Feet First thanks her back! — the editor]