Blog Posts

Hiking near your Puyallup apartment

Just because its been raining does not mean you are confined to quarters. Its time to go out and get your groove on with nature, because now is when it is at its most rejuvenating. We just so happen to live in and around some very pristine and lovely hiking grounds, and it would be a pity not to take advantage. I would recommend taking a 30 minute drive, and taking on the Dash Point State Park Hiking Trail . You can download the application EveryTrail, and have this as well as thousands more documented trails at your fingertips. Dash Point lies within an area you are so close to, yet youve likely never visited. Hiking is guaranteed to get your blood pumping, and leave you feeling invigorated, and alive. Youll see this, as you make a go of Heartattack Hill. The distance is about 3.6 miles, at 406 ft. elevation. You will need a Discover Pass that costs a mere $10. Recommended parking lies just north of the campground entrance station, just follow the signs. Dash Point is also a waterfront access point, so you could make a day of it, while enjoying the seaside fresh air. Another great hiking option is to drop in on Saltwater State Park. This is a gorgeous waterfront excursion, where you can camp, picnic and hike. The hike itself is only 2.5 miles, and takes roughly an hour, depending on your pace. Its incredibly green, and it offers a few strategically placed wooden benches and both covered as well as uncovered picnic tables. Its absolutely beautiful, and youll want to skip along the trails like the little faun you know that you are. Dont forget to check out the burial site of the hatchet that was literally placed beneath the dirt, when Tacoma & Seattle decided to curb their unhealthy competitive natures. You can check out some crazy cool marine life in the tide pools on the waters edge, or the seasonal spawning behaviors of the salmon in McSorley Creek. One of the more incredible attractions to this waterfront park, is the artificial reef, where you can scuba or snorkel to observe all sorts of pretty fish in their very own underwater abodes. If you enjoy yourself, then its probably a good idea to invest in a $30 annual pass. Its highly likely that once you try it, youll want to buy it. This pass is good for all Washington State Parks, wildlife areas, water-access points, and DNR recreation sites. Its really worth it to visit these parks, especially when they are so close to your Puyallup apartment! Grab your knapsack and some water, and head out for some wild adventures in the great outdoors.

Chambers Bay Golf Course near Puyallup

Do you love to golf? If so, youll be pleased to know that the site of the 2015 U.S. Open Championship is just a twenty minute drive away from Willow Hill Apartments! Play a round of golf at Chambers Bay before the champions do. The U.S. Open has accommodated the biggest names in golf such as Rory McIlroy, Adam Scott, and Phil Mickelson. Chambers is opened year-round with day, annual, and off-season passes available to the public. Golf is a sport that requires a great deal of focus and technique, which is why the golf course is just as important as anything else. It should be designed in a way to optimize the feeling of serenity and professionalism. Chambers Bays architect, Robert Trent Jones II, has dedicated four decades of his life crafting the worlds top golf courses. Chambers Bay was designed to be played on by golfers of all skill levels, from beginners to the pros. Built adjacent to Puget Sound, the views are phenomenal and the soft breeze that comes is sure be in your favor. They offer one-on-one or group lessons by top PGA instructors. For those of you whose only interaction with golf has been mini-golf, Chambers Bay provides an expansive driving range and programs that can teach you the basic fundamentals of golf in just a few, short lessons. After these classes youll be playing confidently alongside your friends, family, and coworkers. They also have junior programs for those who would like to pursue competitive golf in the collegiate level; these lessons are not limited to learning new techniques but to learn proper nutrition and get tips on college recruiting. Chambers also hosts a number of championships and banquets for your entertainment; these are open to anyone for an entry fee. The open, lush courses with romantic views are also an ideal place for weddings and reception. Whatever the reason, head out to Chambers Bay and experience a world-class course not far from Puyallup!

Korean Barbecue in Puyallup

I dont know about you, but from time to time I find myself getting stuck on a particular type of food for months at a time. It started with pho in the winter of 2009; I must have eaten that delicious, noodley broth three times a week over a 4 month period. I went through a similar phase the next year with curry, and again with mole. Lately, though, my reason for getting out of bed in the morning is Korean barbecue! If youre in the mood for some Galbi (shortribs) or Samgyuopsal-gui (pork belly) head to one of these restaurants in Puyallup and the surrounding areas. Cham Garden Korean BBQ is almost universally recommended if you are new to Korean barbecue. The staff there can help you with ordering and even assembling lettuce wraps if youre having a particularly hard time. Plus, its a buffet, so you wont leave hungry. Chung Ki Wa is a great place to go if youre dining with a group. Their spacious booths provide ample seating for larger parties. Palace BBQ is one of the better buffet-style Korean barbecue joints in town. Not only that, but their anchovy banchan is incredible (if youre into that sort of thing, of course). Gangnam BBQ is the place to go if youre trying to impress someone, as theyve got the nicest dining room of them all. Pro tip: If possible, take a seat on the side of the grill for a front row view of the cooking action! This list only scratches the surface of fine Korean dining available to those in the Puyallup area, but it is far from comprehensive. If we left out your favorite, be sure to tell us about it in the comments below!

Keeping Your Dog In Shape In Puyallup

If youre holed up indoors this winter, enjoying the warmth of your Puyallup apartment, you might be lacking the amount of exercise youd normally get in the summery months. But while youre curled up in front of a good book, your dog still needs to keep an active regimen. If youre looking for ways to keep them more physically engaged this winter, here are some of our favorite seasonal tips. 1. Play Fetch Indoors Though a game of fetch is more dynamic outdoors, youll still be able to get their muscles moving indoors. To avoid any injuries or apartment calamity, be sure to use a softer ball, a more controlled toss, and to move any fragile or dangerous objects out of harms way. 2. Laser Pointer Chase A typical favorite of cats, dogs are just as likely to follow the high-tech leader as their feline counterparts. The same rules apply when engaged in a laser pointer chase. Be sure to utilize more floor space. Avoid pointing the laser at any walls to minimize potential airborne injuries. 3. Agility Class If youre looking for something indoors but away from home, call around to different shelters or dog trainers to research available winter aerobic routines. Shelters will often offer agility classes to help your dog get the indoor run they needall while under a roof. And thats just the tip of the seasonal iceberg. With a little creativity, youll be able to right fit for you and your furry friend. For those of you that have a pet, what have some of your favorite winter routines? Whats been helping your dog or cat get the daily exercise they need? Let us know in the comments below!

Stocking the Pantry of Your Puyallup Apartment

One of the more surprising difficulties of moving into a new apartment can be filling that big, empty pantry. Since most people tend to buy food and ingredients on an as-needed basis, it can be tricky to remember all the items that you need to purchase when youre buying them en masse. At Willow Hill, weve got your backweve gone through and put together a list of the necessities youll need to cook just about whatever you want. Grains, Rice, and Pasta: Cornmeal, rolled oats, cous cous, and bread crumbs are some handy grains to have around (panko bread crumbs make great breading!) in addition to your favorite flours; rice options include wild, brown, and white Jasmine; and some of the most common and useful pastas include spaghetti, fettuccini, and penne. Baking Essentials: Beyond flour, youll want to consider baking soda, baking powder, yeast, vanilla, cocoa powder, cream of tartar, and any of your favorite sweetenerssugar (brown, white, or powder), honey, molasses, maple syrup, or chocolate chips. Herbs and Spices: Some of the most useful include the classic salt and pepper, white pepper, cayenne pepper, red pepper flakes, thyme, basil, oregano, rosemary, sage, paprika, chili powder, cumin, dill, coriander, parsley, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, sesame seeds, poppy seeds, and any of your favorite seasoning blends. Dont forget the bullion, either. Nuts and Beans: These are great for some extra protein and energy in any dish, as long as you dont have any nut allergies. Peanuts, walnuts, pecans, cashews, and almonds are all common in recepies; for beans, theres pinto, black, kidney, garbanzo, and baked brown. You can also check out useful seedssunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, flax seeds, as well as lentils and green split peas. Canned Goods: Beyond your favorite fruits and vegetables, there are also sauces, broths, and spreads. Tomato sauce, tomato paste, chicken broth, vegetable broth, beef broth, cream of chicken, cream of mushroom, peanut butter, and salsa are all great for baking. Oils, Sauces, and Vinegars: Pick your favorite oilsolive, peanut, coconut, vegetable, grapeseed; your favorite vinegarswhite, balsamic, white wine, red wine, apple, or rice; and round it off with your favorite saucesworchestershire, ketchup, mustard, tabasco, hot sauce, or sriracha sauce. What do you keep in your Puyallup pantry that we forgot? Let us know in the comments!

Make a Magazine Table For Your Puyallup Apartment

I dont know about you, but I tend to have a lot of magazines lying around. I know, it is a dying form of media, but there is just something I enjoy about opening the mail and finding the latest edition of Model Railroader Magazine, or Seattle Natural Awakenings . The problem, however, is that I inevitably end up amassing a tower of old publications in the corner of my Puyallup apartment. There they sit, until the stack gets so tall that it actually becomes a safety hazard. At which point, they are thrown in the recycling bin. But recently, I stumbled upon an article on apartmenttherapy.com - my favorite source for design inspiration that explained a way to repurpose these magazines into a surprisingly sturdy, load-bearing structure. Do you remember that science class project from high school, where you make a bridge out of paper and tape, before testing how much weight it could hold? When used properly, paper can actually be extremely sturdy . With this in mind, I decided to try it out for myself. The process is simple; you dont need anything except magazines. All you do is remove the subscription cards, open the magazine cover, and fold the right edge of the first ten pages in toward the magazines binding. Repeat the process until you get to the end of the magazine, and finish it by folding the front cover over the first group of folded pages. Depending on the thickness of the magazine you chose, you will need two or three of these to make a column. You can then use these columns as end tables, display pieces, or anything you can think of. I, myself, am in the process of making a coffee table out of old GQ magazines for my own Parkland, WA apartment. The only problem has been finding a suitable piece of material to use for the top. Believe it or not; large, transparent pieces of acrylic plastic arent as easy to find as one might hope (unless you want to pay an arm and a leg).