Both these attractions are open from May through Labor Day. Rhododendron fans will appreciate the 2,100 varieties of rhodos on display in a 24 acre garden at The Rhododendron Species Foundation Garden on Weyerhaeuser Way. This is the largest rhododendron display in the world and manages to have something in bloom from March through September. The garden is operated by the nonprofit Rhododendron Species Foundation who offer tours, workshops and classes. Just south of the Rhododendron Park is Pacific Rim Bonsai Collection, containing an international collection of over 50 bonsai trees, some of which are over 500 years old.
Admission is free and classes on growing bonsai trees are offered year round.
Saltwater State Park, on Marine View Drive S., is one of the most popular summer spots on Puget Sound with a sparkling sandy beach ideal for swimming, scuba diving and sea kayaking. A two mile hiking path loops through the forest and the park offers ideal sites for picnicking and camping with refreshments available. Dash Point State Park, located five miles northeast of downtown Tacoma on Dash Point Road, has a beach, picnicking sites and many camping sites and trailer hookups on 397 acres of woodland and trails. Des Moines, located at the northern edge of Federal Way, is home to one of the largest marinas in the region and the 20 acre Des Moines Beach Park. The Des Moines Marina has a 670 foot fishing pier which offers great views of the mountains and Puget Sound while Beach Park has the salmon bearing Des Moines Creek.