University Place combines coastal scenery with attractions for a range of interests: at Chambers Creek Regional Park, saltwater coastline meets creek and canyon landscapes; golf, an apple orchard, and local art are also on offer. When planning your trip, it’s therefore worth first considering what you want to focus on during your stay—time in natural surroundings, golf, or exploring garden and cultural themes.
Coastline, Trails, and Diverse Landscapes
Chambers Creek Regional Park is located within University Place and covers 930 acres, with more than two miles of saltwater coastline. The park also includes two and a half miles of urban creek and canyon landscape. The coast and the creek and canyon areas offer different types of scenery within the same park. So if you’re planning your stay around the surroundings, you can consider which of these features interests you most.
The trails in Chambers Creek Regional Park are paved, and the area is ADA-friendly. The “Bridge to the Beach” structure is an important landmark for accessing the waterfront: it is located west of the Central Meadow and crosses the railroad tracks as a pedestrian overpass. From there, two beach access points lead to more than two miles of Puget Sound shoreline, which is not accessible by boat. The beach is dog-friendly.
These details can help you plan your park visit around the scenery and access: the paved trails and ADA-friendly design apply to the park area, while “Bridge to the Beach” crosses the railroad tracks and leads to the beach access points. This lets you distinguish between the park trails and the waterfront when choosing an outing.
Golf on Puget Sound
Chambers Bay is a public golf course that does not require a membership. Play is on foot only; the course spans 249 hilly acres on Puget Sound. This clearly defines both the format of play and the nature of the terrain. If you’d like to include golf in your stay, you can use these features as a starting point and consider the course as a distinct focus alongside the Regional Park’s landscapes.
Curran Apple Orchard: Trees, Care, and Cider
Curran Apple Orchard has more than 200 trees and over 15 apple varieties. Its offerings include educational programs on tree care and insects, pruning guides, and tours. So the orchard is about more than apples: caring for the trees and the role of insects are also among the activities listed. If you’re interested in growing and gardening, this topic offers a different perspective on University Place than the coast or golf.
The annual Cider Squeeze is also one of the activities at Curran Apple Orchard. If this event matters to your trip planning, it’s best to check the current dates in advance. This lets you coordinate your visit to the orchard with the event, without assuming a date.
Art, a Playground, and Views
At Conservation Park, the art offerings include the “Environmental Columns” exhibit, supported by U.P. for Art and local students. A playground with views of Puget Sound is also located in the North Meadow of Chambers Creek Properties. The two places offer different experiences: one centers on an art exhibit, the other on a play area in a meadow overlooking the water.
University Place also offers views of Puget Sound, the Olympic Mountains, and Mount Rainier. These three named landscape features provide a broader impression of the area and complement the specific destinations at the park, golf course, and orchard. Which of these perspectives interests you most depends on whether you’d rather focus on coastal scenery, mountains, or local attractions.
Discover more destinations: Greenwater, Lakebay, Fife, Gig Harbor, Lakewood, South Hill, Eatonville, Tacoma.
Back to the regional travel overview: Pierce.
