It wasn’t my original plan, but I had my own “staycation” a couple of weeks ago.

My wife went to Guatemala with members of our church on a Habitat for Humanity building project. I opted to stay home to watch our two young children.

With more than a week to fill, it was obvious we would need more than swimming lessons and watching the Olympics to fill our daily calendar.

Fortunately this is Tacoma, so we had lots of options.

So, without any planning, our staycation unfolded this way:

Walking: After one afternoon spent shopping for a new tent, I opted to drive along Commencement Bay for a change of scenery. No sooner had we reached Ruston Way, than the kids asked me to stop. Why not? The walkway and parks are great spur-of-the-moment places to play. The grass, still a bit soggy from a fresh watering, kept our feet cool as we ran from spot to spot.

We also stretched our legs at the Proctor Farmers Market. And what better reward than a bag of freshly made caramel corn?

Bike riding: My recommendation was that we try the Foothills Trail, with its tall, shade trees. The kids decided they wanted to take on the Scott Pierson Trail. So we got on at the Union Avenue trailhead and headed west. The tunnel under 19th Street turned out to be our favorite spot, especially on the hot day we were there. The tile-lined tunnel offered a spot to cool off, drink some water and eat a snack.

Fishing: The day we decided to go fishing was the day it started raining. But we didn’t let that deter us, nor the wind and the cold. We set up camp at one end of the dock at Bill’s Boathouse and tossed our worms and PowerBait into American Lake hoping to catch a trout or two for dinner. The results: The one perch our son caught might have been big enough for an appetizer, if we each took small bites.

Parks: We are blessed with a plethora of parks – big and small – so close to home.

We got our workout playing at the main Fircrest park. Joined by friends, we played baseball (despite my inability to throw the ball over the plate) and soccer, and the kids rode their bikes.

The shaded playground in Point Defiance Park, across from the zoo, kept the kids happy, cool and entertained for as long as I was willing to watch.

Every time we visit a playground, it amazes me how quickly our daughter befriends a child of similar stature and age. I’m convinced that playgrounds are today’s social melting pot, where kids are bonded by fun, exercise and at least temporary freedom from constant adult reprimands.

Nature education: Whenever I think the kids need a dose of the outdoors with a touch of learning, we head to the Tacoma Nature Center. The kids love to check out the animals, especially the growth of the young painted turtles. They love to crawl in the “beaver house.” We also got an added bonus of being able to check out some of the snakes brought in for the summer day camp’s “Reptile Day.” Without even hitting the trails, we spent more than an hour playing and learning.

In looking back, it comes as no surprise that we were able to do so much outdoors without leaving town. Outside magazine got it right when it ranked our Grit City fifth in its list of best outdoor towns in America. Sometimes I think we lose sight of the opportunities right outside the front door.

Jeffrey P. Mayor: 253-597-8640

jeff.mayor@thenewstribune.com

blogs.thenewstribune.com/adventure