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Tenino Washington, also known as Stone City, is a small, bedroom community nestled snuggly in a valley in South Thurston County. And while Tenino may seem like a sleepy village, a wealth of activities can be found nearby including shopping and dining, exploring the historic district, and relishing unique outdoor adventures.

A Bit of Nature

tenino day trip
The information kiosk at Tenino City Park is a great place to start your visit to Tenino. Photo credit: Jessica Reeves-Rush.

Tenino City Park is a gem. This small town park has enough activities to keep a family busy for hours. First visit the informational kiosk at the park entrance, which has new posters highlighting some of Tenino’s more famous historic moments as well as maps of the bike and conservancy trail. If you are looking for open spaces to play in, there are fields for soccer and baseball, big play toys for kids up to age 12, and giant sandstone blocks, which are remnants from the old quarry, for climbing.

The Quarry Pool and waterfall remains open seasonally and is definitely an affordable experience. The deep pool is not for the faint of heart, however. Because of its extreme depth the pool is quite cold, but on a hot day it feels amazingly invigorating, especially if you are willing to dive in the pool, swim across and stand under the waterfall. Under the stair-stepped waterfall sits a ledge cut during the mining process, now covered in mosses and ferns. It is easy to forget you are not in some exotic location. If the deep pool is intimidating, the large, shallow pool is only waist-high for adults at its deepest.

The Tenino Depot Museum is open seasonally from April until October. This train depot was moved from its original location across town and ultimately became a museum home for many of the tokens of Tenino’s unique history, including a large collection of wooden money as wells as artifacts representing Tenino and Bucoda’s early industries in mining sandstone and coal, the railroad, logging and milling, and even a display of Bucoda’s infamous Seatco Prison. The Ticknor schoolhouse was added to the museum complex when it was moved from the Skookumchuck Valley.

tenino day trip
This trailhead is located behind the Tenino Depot Museum at Tenino City Park. Photo credit: Jessica Reeves-Rush.

The newly-opened Creekside Conservancy loop offers a 3+ mile hike that covers about a mile stretch of the Yelm to Tenino bike trail. Just past the bridge a trail curves into the forest and passes a spur which leads to the waterfall aptly named Hidden Falls. It continues past the Mill Pond which is a bird watchers’ paradise and up through the Conservancy to the cell tower (you’ll know you are close to the cell tower when the trail narrows). Then the trail/road drops back down to Tenino City Park where you can link up with the park’s forested trail system.

Within Tenino City Park there is a shorter hiking loop, which is less than a mile long but not short on heart-rate raising hills. Starting in the parking lot southeast of the museum, you will spot the trail head marker of the Upper Park Trail. This trail runs the length of the park and features beautiful lush forests, minimal mud since it is on a hillside, two seasonal streams and lots of spring wildflowers. Once you reach the other northwest end of the park, you can either cross the creek and follow the road down to the bike trail or stay on the trails which loop back southeast on the Lower Park Trail. These trails are maintained through the amazing efforts of volunteers.

If you are interested in biking down the rails to trails, the Yelm to Tenino Trail begins at Tenino City Park. Tenino has its own bike share program called the Yellow Bike Project. To borrow an adult-sized bike, stop by the Iron Works Boutique on Sussex for a key. All you need is valid identification.

Visit Downtown

tenino day trip
Order a bowl of soup and a biscuit at the Quarry Town Coffee House. Photo credit: Jessica Reeves-Rush.

First soak in the history. Before you do anything, however, pick up a walking tour brochure from the display inside the Tenino Mini Mall at 237 Sussex Avenue or at the Iron Works. As you enjoy Tenino, the background of 15 historic buildings or sites made of sandstone will be at your fingertips. Speaking of sandstone, pay a visit to Keith Phillips, the Stone Carver, who gives demonstrations in the historic district on Olympia Street on Fridays and Saturdays.

Hankering for breakfast or lunch in the historic district? The newly-opened Quarry Town Coffee House, with its old-fashioned yet urban coffee house vibe, offers sandwiches, soups, sweet treats and espressos. The Sandstone Café is a local favorite and specializes in the full breakfast and lunch experience.

Aunt Kate’s Chocolates and Tea Shop offers handmade chocolates and goodies and is a must visit when you are walking around, burning all those calories. If you are buying chocolates for someone special, Kate will make up a custom box for you.

violin making
Julia Felix of A.G. Piano & Violin shows off a newly started violin. Photo credit: Jessica Reeves-Rush.

A.G. Piano & Violin is a neat place to visit even if you are not a musician. In A.G. they restore pianos and build violins from scratch. When stepping in the door, you will note that various projects are usually in progress in plain view. Violin maker, Julia Felix, says she does not mind people watching her work; it reminds her of being in school for violin-making where observation was common.

The Iron Works Boutique is part antique store, part clothing boutique and gifts; plus, as the name implies, they carry all kinds of ironwork pieces for the home and garden. There is so much in this little shop that the inventory has spilled out behind the building into a delightful garden section. Other shops to visit if you enjoy antiques are the Tenino Antique Mall, Old House Antiques and Tenino Time Machine.

Other Tenino Area Delights

If you left the kids at home, and wine is your thing, Tenino has two wineries that offer tastings and events throughout the year, the Scatter Creek Winery and Mill Lane Winery. The Sandstone Distillery also does tastings if you are in the market for something stronger. In fact, you can sign up for a class to be a “Distiller for a Day.”

tenino iron works
The Iron Works displays a variety of functional and artistic garden pieces. Photo credit: Jessica Reeves-Rush.

Are you still in town at dinnertime? Tenino has several choices including the famous Don Juan’s Mexican Kitchen. At Don Juan’s you can try their sauces before you order, and their guacamole is amazing, but watch out because they are so popular, it is best to make a reservation.

If you are looking for elegant lakeside dining, try Lady of the Lake at Offut Lake Resort.   Offut Lake is just a couple miles north of Tenino and 15 miles from Olympia. They offer cottages and camping, swimming, fishing and boat rentals.

Enjoy your day in Tenino.

Thrifty Thurston highlights inexpensive family fun in Thurston County. The weekly series focuses on family-friendly activities throughout our community. If you have a suggestion for a post, send us a note at submit@thurstontalk.com. For more events and to learn what’s happening in Olympia, Lacey, Tumwater and the surrounding area, visit our complete event calendar.

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