Fort Steilacoom Park's off-leash dog area. A growing number of parks have an off-leash space for dogs to run free but the one at Ft Steilacoom Park in Lakewood is one of the largest around. It's divided into two fenced parts (a small one about a half acre, and a large one that's easily more than five acres) connected in the middle.

Lakewood Library. Big library in the heart of the city. Has a great Friends sale twice a year, too. Check out the log near the front door. It's from the biggest Douglas Fir ever cut.

Town Center. There's a theater to see a movie, a Target and an Old Navy for shopping, and a Cold Stone Creamery for dessert. Cool.