things for military families to do in yelm, washington

4 Things for Military Families to do in Yelm, Washington

If you’ve recently relocated to Yelm, Washington, you might be wondering what to do in the small town. From the Yelm-Tenino Trail, to Cochrane Memorial Park, to the Central shopping Center, there are lots of indoor and outdoor activities available for families. Here are 4 things for military families to do in Yelm, Washington.

4 Things for Military Families to do in Yelm, Washington

Yelm-Tenino Trail

The Yelm-Tenino Trail is a rail trail located in Thurston County. It spans a total of 14.5 miles and is equipped for runners and bikers alike. The trail has been constructed along the route of a former Burlington Northern Railroad line. The Yelm-Tenino trail is a great place for family walks with the scenic views on both sides. It’s also a great place for families with dogs as the trail traverses forest and agricultural lands, wetlands, creeks and other habitat. If you are really hardcore, you can take the intersecting 22 mile Chehalis Western hiking trail which links multiple cities on Puget Sound.

Cochrane Memorial Park

One of the top things for military families to do in Yelm, Washington is to spend a day at Cochrane Memorial Park. Inside the park there is a catch and release fishing pond, a covered picnic area, an educational interpretive center, and a handful of trails to explore. While there is no designated dog park, dogs are allowed within the park, but must stay on leash. The park also allows wedding reservations, so if you’re hunkering for a place to get married in the beautiful outdoors, this could be your spot. Spending a day watching the ducks and observing the cat tails all around makes for a great weekend with the family.

Monarch Sculpture Park

For those who enjoy art, the Monarch Sculpture Park may be for you. The Monarch Contemporary Art Center is an outdoor art gallery located just outside of Yelm, in Tenino, Washington. The park was designated as a primitive park with walk in and bike in access and aims to continue its legacy of fine art and sculpture in nature. One of the largest current exhibitions is the Monarch Butterfly Maze Project. It’s a space for all to gather and restore the park’s one-acre butterfly shaped maze as a ceramic landscape.

Central Shopping Center

Just like many other small towns, Yelm offers it’s residents a central shopping center to do everyday shopping. Inside of the shopping center you’ll find a Sunbird Shopping Center, Walmart, Rent-A-Center, Starbucks, and a handful of dining options. This is a great place to take the kids if you’re looking to simply take some time away from the house.

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