Warm weather heading this way and the family is clambering for an outdoor experience. Grab that picnic basket, basketball and skateboard. Pierce and Thurston counties are loaded with unique parks!

Pierce County

American Lake Park
Where: 9222 Veterans Dr., S.W., Lakewood
What: Swimming beach, picnic areas, play structures. Once home to the amazing seaplane base. Access to fishing and more. Great views of Mt. Rainier.

Blueberry Park
Where: E. 72nd St. at East D St., Tacoma
Pick free blueberries! An old farm donated to Pierce County Parks is maintained to allow folks to gather blueberries for those muffins and pancakes.

Bradley Lake Park
Where: 531 31st Ave. S.E., Puyallup
What: Beach access for fresh-water fishing; play area; picnic tables; trails; wildlife habitat.

Browns Point Lighthouse
Where: 5125 Tok A Lou Ave., Tacoma
What: At the tip of Browns Point, enjoy the waterfront and picnic area at this former U.S. Coast Guard station.

Centre at Norpoint & Norpoint Community Park
Where: 4818 Nassau Ave. N.E., Fife
What: multi-purpose community center offers natural park setting. Hardwood floors in the northwest-style open beamed construction reception area. Swimming pool, spas, saunas, racquetball/handball courts, skateboard park and fitness center.

Daffodil Valley Sports Complex
Where: Washington St. & Graham Ave., Sumner
What: Basketball courts, baseball fields, kite-flying area, skateboard court, tennis courts and volleyball.

Dash Point Park
Where: 1500 Beach Dr. N.E., Tacoma
What: Salt-water park with fabulous views, picnic tables, manpowered boat launch, fishing pier.

Eastside Pool & Gault Park
Where: 3537 E. K St., Tacoma
What: Located next to Gault Middle School, Eastside Pool offers a 25-meter, six-lane indoor pool.

Foothills Trail - South Prairie Trailhead
Where: On 1st St. in South Prairie
What: Miles of equestrian trail and multipurpose asphalt surface for biking, skating, or walking.

Fort Steilacoom Park
Where: 8714 87th Ave. S.W. (at Dresden Ln. S.W.), Lakewood
What: 342-acre park that includes trails, Waughop Lake, and multi-purpose fields used for soccer and baseball.

Harry Todd Park
Where: Woodlawn St. S.W. & Thorne Lane S.W., Tillicum
What: Public swimming beach on American Lake, fishing off the docks, skateboard park, picnic area, ball fields.

Jack Hyde Park on Commencement Bay
Where: N. Ruston Way at N. McCarver St., Tacoma
What: Meanders along Tacoma's beautiful waterfront, including grassy picnic areas, miles of paved hike/bike/skate trails, fishing pier, public art projects, restaurants.

Kandle Park
Where: N. 26th St. at N. Shirley, Tacoma
What: baseball, soccer fields; community gardens; picnic tables; wading pools; tennis courts; trails.

Manitou Park
Where: S. 66th St. at S. Stevens St., Tacoma
What: Once bisected by Tacoma's electric car line, Manitou Park includes basketball court, picnic areas, wading pools, and trails.

Mt. Rainier National Park
Where: Ashford
What: Well ... if you haven't seen the 14,000-foot-plus mountain that looms over Western Washington, you'll want to check this out! Camping sites, trails, glaciers, wildlife, picnic areas, historic structures, and much more.
An entrance fee is required to gain entrance to the park.

Northwest Trek Wildlife Park
Where: 11610 Trek Dr., E., Eatonville
What: Although it isn't free, it is definitely on of Pierce County's extraordinary park offerings. Ride the tram to see elk, bighorn sheep, caribou and mountain lions.

Pioneer Park
Where: 324 S. Meridian, Puyallup
What: Historic structure, playground, Veterans Memorial, viewing garden, wading pool.

Point Defiance
Where: N. 54th at N. Pearl St., Tacoma
What: Tacoma's crown jewel, this emerald contains miles of beach, picnic area, marina, restaurants, zoo, ponds, rose gardens and more.

Purdy Sand Spit
Where: Goodrich Dr. N.W. and SR 302, Purdy
What: 7.5 acres of driftwood and saltwater beach.

Puyallup Skate Park
Where: 1000-1299 4th St. N.W., Puyallup
What: Skateboard to your heart's content.
Hours: 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday-Thursday; 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday & Saturday.

Rogers Off-Leash Dog Park
Where: E. 34th St. at E. L. St., Tacoma
What: Near the old Roger's High School, Tacoma now has its first off-leash dog park that is fully fenced. Wading pool, play equipment and fire-hydrant drinking fountain for canines.

Seely Lake Park
Where: 9112 Lakewood Dr. S.W., Lakewood
What: Walking trail that skirts 48-acre Seely Lake's wetland area.

Skate Park at Heidelberg Davis Field
Where: 4500 S. 19th St., Tacoma
What: Do the half-pipe, quarter-pipe, or enjoy the three-sided pyramids.
Hours: Dawn to dusk, seven days a week.

Spanaway Park
Where: 14905 Gus G. Bresemann Rd. S., Spanaway
Home to Fantasy Lights, this 135-acre park winds along beautiful Spanaway Lake. Year-round activities include: rock-climbing wall, boating/fishing/swimming, golf course and three miles of trails.

Tacoma Nature Center
Where: 1919 S. Tyler St. at Snake Lake, Tacoma
What: 54-acre wetland habitat with trails, bridges, excellent photography opportunities, native plant nursery, and Nature Interpretive Center.

Titlow Lodge Community Center
Where: 8425 6th Ave., Tacoma
What: The old Titlow Lodge, once the 3 ½ story Hotel Hesperides, built in 1911, is now smaller in size, but still charming. Surrounded by a lush park area and swimming pool.

Wapato Park
Where: S. 68th St. at S. Sheridan Ave., Tacoma
What: Beautiful park surrounding little Wapato Lake. Display gardens, walking trails and historic pergola.

Wright Park
Where: 6th Ave. at S. Yakima Ave., Tacoma
What: See an all-glass conservatory filled with exotic plants. During summer months, concerts are held. Miles of walking trails, historic lawn bowling green, duck ponds.
NOTE: Web site for all parks located in Pierce County can be accessed via www.co.pierce.wa.us/pc/.

Most parks are open dawn to dusk. Most are free, although some may charge for use of indoor facilities, such as gyms, indoor pools, etc.

Thurston County

Avonlea Park
Where: 4112 Ingleside Loop, S.E., Lacey
What: 5.4-acre park with picnic areas, barbeques, basketball court, play structures

Burfoot Park
Where: 6927 Boston Harbor Rd., N.E., Olympia
What: More than 50 acres with 1,100 feet of saltwater beaches on Budd Inlet. Nature trails, picnic areas, barbecue grills.

Capitol Lake Park
Where: at the foot of the state's capitol building, Olympia.
What: 260-acre park surrounds a manmade lake, reflecting the beauty of the dome atop the capitol building. Great for walkers/joggers.

Civic Plaza Park
Where: 521 Sleater Kinney Rd. S.E., Lacey
What: A landscaped flag plaza and armed forces monument grace Lacey's community entrance.

Chehalis Western Trail
What: the historic trail, once a railroad line, now offers bikers/hikers an opportunity to walk/ride 14.5 miles and hook up to the Yelm-Tenino Trail. Access to the Deschutes River, Puget Sound, Chambers Lake, wetlands, forest and more.
For location, visit www.co.thurston.wa.us/parks/trails/cw-trail.htm.

Frye Cove Park
Where: 4000 N.W. 61st Ave., Olympia
What: Waterfront park on Eld Inlet, frequent location for weddings. Playground, nature walks, shellfishing, picnic areas.

Homann Park
Where: 1301 Carpenter Rd., Lacey
What: 8-acre neighborhood park with a Little League ballfield.

Kenneydell Park
Where: 6745 S.W. Fairview Rd., Olympia
What: 40-acre park with 1,000 feet of freshwater beach. Trails, athletic fields and swimming area on Black Lake.
Note: no animals allowed on the beach.

Tolmie State Park
Where: 7730 61st Ave. N.E., Olympia
What: Underwater park for scuba divers, saltwater marsh, beaches, forests and abundant wildlife.