The Daily Outside: Smith Goggles, Native Plants … Tuesday, Jan. 6
Some days stretch from mountain side quests to quiet, close-to-home care — today’s Daily Outside does both.
It gracefully holds Crystal Mountain and Tacoma sidewalks in the same frame, which is exactly what this list is doing.
Adventure & On-Mountain Play
Crystal Mountain — Smith Treasure Hunt Tuesday
Tuesday, Jan. 6, all day
This turns a regular day on the mountain into a playful side quest. Every Tuesday, Crystal Mountain teams up with a partner — today’s sponsor is Smith — and hides treasure somewhere on the mountain. Follow the clues, keep your eyes open, and see where curiosity takes you. The hiding spots change weekly, and the hunt unfolds naturally as you ski or ride. Open to all ages and best approached with a sense of fun rather than urgency. Think observation, exploration, and a little friendly mystery layered onto whatever kind of day you were already planning to have outside.
More info & clues: Crystal Mountain Ski Resort
Arts & Night Walks
Tacoma Light Trail — Downtown Tacoma
Self-guided, evening-friendly through Jan. 11
This is the outdoors after dark, reimagined. The Tacoma Light Trail turns downtown streets into a glowing, walkable gallery of illuminated art installations — inviting you to wander slowly, look up, linger, and see familiar blocks with fresh eyes. It’s part art walk, part night stroll, and part reminder that being outside doesn’t stop when the sun clocks out. Go solo, bring a friend, or let curiosity lead. The trail is self-guided, free, and built for discovery at your own pace — no schedule, no tickets, just light doing what light does best: changing how a place feels. More info & installation map: Tacoma Light Trail
Native Plant Sale
Pierce Conservation District — 2026 Pierce Native Plant Sale (Online Pre-Sale)
Pre-sale open now through Jan. 15
This is quiet, powerful groundwork for spring. Pierce Conservation District’s annual Native Plant Sale lets you reserve hyper-local, conservation-grade plants grown from regional seed sources — plants that actually belong here and know how to survive our soil, rain, and seasons. No pots, no fluff, just strong roots and a long view. Pre-sale orders close January 15, with plant pick-up in March.
Ordering now is an act of stewardship that shows up months later as habitat, shade, and resilience — right where you live. More info & plant reservations: Pierce Conservation District
Afterward, meet up at Peaks & Pints
We suggest celebrating your good attention with our house pours — Lumberbeard Brewing Cut-Off Flannel IPA and Finnriver Cider Buckhorn Dry Cider — because noticing the place you live deserves a proper conversation.
LINK: The Daily Outside explained
LINK: Peaks & Pints beer and cider cooler inventory
