Things to Do in Bonney Lake

One would expect Paul Morrison to be a little winded by now, if not too weary to consume his favorite, energizing treat from Starbucks. This is because the spry co-owner of the Tacoma City Marathon has been running for the past 31 years and cheering on peers through his company's eight endurance events since 2007. His affinity for the sport was fully developed by age 12, when he had a bout of early onset entrepreneurship that caused a fever dream of owning a running store. The dream came to fruition when he opened Fleet Feet Sports in Bonney Lake, but his appetite for adrenaline and sweat-bonded companionship remained, unsatisfied by regular sprints through the woods with fellow ultramarathoners and chats with customers about their pronation.

The missing piece was Tony Phillipi, the founder of the world's largest running club, Marathon Maniacs. The company's name accurately reflects Phillipi's zeal for running, which was ignited on a high-school track when the burning rubber footing accidentally set his soul on fire. When the two sportsmen crossed paths, they immediately commiserated over the lack of distance races in Tacoma and set out to fill the void with the sound of steady, strong footfalls.

At Iron Horse Casino, chips clack down on the green felt tables as joyful tension builds over big poker hands and the adrenaline-infused table games unfolding throughout the casino. The onsite restaurant keeps bellies fed with a hearty menu of American fare, serving up breakfast meals all day long. Patrons can cure parched throats hoarse from cheering over a big win with cocktails, beer, and wine, and live entertainers may or may not infuse their routines with subliminal messages on how to always win at roulette.

Jumpin Jack & Jill fills its 2,500-square-foot floor with a medley of tot-friendly attractions anchored by three plush inflatables. The three bounce houses form a cushiony community in one corner of the floor, replete with a slide, an enclosed shelter for carefree jumping, and a tunnel for clandestine exchanges of action-figure hostages. An area reserved for toddlers facilitates more placid play with simpler toys including a hobbyhorse and sliding-bead play centers. The space also encompasses an arcade area, an air-hockey table, and three snack tables for mid-play replenishment. As kids buzz through the fun center like juice-box-charged particles, parents can relax in the glow of a flat-panel TV or harness the waves of the complimentary wireless network. Jumpin Jack & Jill shutters its doors for private party packages and rents out bounce houses for at-home celebrations in customers' own yards.

Though the historical gems of a museum tend to be its artifacts, the vintage autos of the LeMay Family Collection at Marymount only tell half the story. The Marymount location opened in 1923 as a boys' military school, which became a center for English education in 1975 and eventually the home to the family's vintage automobiles. Beginning with a few vehicles gathered by Harold and Nancy LeMay in the 1960s, the collection has grown into a one-time Guinness World Record holder of more than 1,900 vehicles. Many of these classics, including a powder-blue 1950 Chrysler Windsor, rest fully restored alongside toys, antiques, and farm equipment within the year-round museum.

Bathed in the intense light of its blazing furnaces, the industrial brick walls and naked concrete floors of the hot shop at Area 253 Glassblowing belie the delicacy and beauty of their creations. Experienced artisans instruct students of all skill levels, manipulating glowing gobs of molten glass on the ends of rods to produce floating balls, bowls, and decorative shards. Pointed blue-tip flame-working torches coax glass into shiny beads and borosilicate into baubles such as pendants and swizzle sticks. The shop also rents out its amenities for visiting artists, including furnaces, torches, and garage space.

John Gustafson began skating at 5 years old, rolling along on squeaky wheels that would carry him toward a lifetime of high-speed competition. At 25, he became a professional skater, winning national championships in both speed skating and figure skating before settling down as the owner of Auburn Skate Connection. His love of skating hasn’t dimmed, though; even with his 69th birthday approaching, John continues to lace up his skates each day to gain an extra 2 inches of height and guide students in the sport he knows so well.

Alongside instructors that he himself recruited, John teaches the art of effortless rolling during private lessons on the rink’s solid-wood skating surface. The team imbues students with the intricacies of quad and inline skating while also focusing on the fundamentals of racing. Their dedication has borne some notable fruit. Olympic gold-medalist Apolo Ohno took his first glides at Auburn, working with John for three years before moving on to his life of ice-based glory.