FOLLOW ME

I wasn't aware of Tualatin Lake despite living in the area, and I surely wasn't aware of the man-man plaza that surrounds the small water feature. But there it is - Tualatin Lake at the Commons. And as of very recently, it has a labyrinth so checking it out made sense. The six-circuit brick pattern was installed in 2025 and sits just feet away from several good restaurants and gathering spots. It's a nice addition to the pedestrian area. This park is about 20 minutes south of

This church in Walnut Creek seems quite active. During my visit, the parking lot was full, with people coming and going, and the church calendar listed a plethora of events. There is a garden space and that's where I found this five-circuit dirt labyrinth. I especially appreciated the rose design in the center. This is at the Mount Diablo Unitarian Universalist Church. The church's site indicates that the labyrinth came to be in 2013.

This is an incredibly large labyrinth at the Contra Costa United Methodist Church in Walnut Creek, California. The 11-circuit takes up much of a larger interior courtyard among the church's grounds and is a peaceful respite from the very busy nearby area. According to the church, it was built in 1999 although a plaque at the site credited a donor in 2012 so maybe that was when it was refurbished.. In any event, it seems to have withstood time with few issues. I walked it on a

This small church on a residential hillside has a compact labyrinth just off the street. It is notable in part because it provides a terrific bay view - sweeping toward Suisun Bay and the Benicia-Martinez Bridge. That area of the north Bay Area of California has so many bridges, inlets, waterways and views that it's hard to go far at any measurable height and not see water somewhere. This seven-circuit dirt and gravel labyrinth was well-maintained. According to the church, th

Finding a labyrinth by a medical facility is commonplace. It is often a nice moment for patients, families and staff during difficult times. What is less rare is seeing it surrounded by cartoon characters. But that's kind of how it is in Santa Rosa, County, longtime home of Peanuts' creator Charles Schulz. The below labyrinth is at Kaiser Permanente's facility in northern Santa Rosa. It's between two of the medical buildings by a large parking lot on one side, and a very busy

Rohnert Park, CA, a suburb of Santa Rosa in Sonoma County, has "Friendly City" as its official nickname. It was a planned community that is full of dense neighborhoods, small parks and close connections. It is known for its walkability, so it makes sense that a labyrinth would show up there. In one of those mini-parks, Dorotea Park, not far from Sonoma State University, I found a seven-circuit Chartres pattern painted on the ground and tucked near a semi-secluded grove of tre

Today is World Labyrinth Day, and I'll mark it by sharing my most recent labyrinth find. Outside the main building at this hospital in The Dalles, about 90 minutes east of Portland, sits a large, Chartres-style labyrinth. I walked it at the Mid-Columbia Medical Center on a recent sunny day and had the entire place to myself.

The 'Awapuhi Labyrinth in Hawaiian Paradise Park, only 30 minutes south of Hilo on the Big Island's east side, was not easy to find. But after being advised to look for a Little Free Library and with help from my traveling partner, I found it. This massive 90-foot, eleven-circuit replica of Chartres Cathedral's design — crafted from live plants in 1999 — spans a full mile round-trip walk. I parked, hiked in through lush greenery, and delved down the winding path. Awapuhi is a

Welcome to the Paleaku Gardens Peace Sanctuary near Captain Cook, just a quick 12-mile drive south of Kailua-Kona on the Big Island. Tucked into seven acres of tropical bliss overlooking Kealakekua Bay, this spot is pure magic. I wandered the winding 50-foot lava rock labyrinth called the Mother of Creativity, built by the community in 1996. The galaxy garden and ancient petroglyphs added to the ultra-chill vibe of the whole place, with birds chirping and ocean views everywhe

I strolled into the Maluhia Garden Labyrinth at Queen's North Hawaii Community Hospital right in Waimea (aka Kamuela), the heart of North Kohala on the Big Island, aka Hawai'i, about 1 hour north of Kona. This meditative gem, dedicated to peace, features 1,350 hand-made tiles with heartfelt messages honoring loved ones. Amid the hospital grounds, it felt surprisingly serene; I traced the peaceful paths, reading notes of goodwill and positivity throughout. It's free, open to v

I stopped by Christ Church Episcopal which once had an attractive labyrinth behind the church. But a staffer there told me that it had been destroyed by wild pigs who had continually uprooted the stones. It was unfortunate as it's a perfect location, elevated on a small hill and surrounded by gorgeous banyan trees. This is just north of the Captain Cook region of the island of Hawai'i.

When a new public labyrinth is created, I sometimes wonder how it came to be. What was it competing for, or was it a tough debate to get it installed? There's a new neighborhood park in Kirkland, Washington, that crams an awful lot of features into a small space. There's a playground, a raised-stone massaging rock feature for meditation and healing, athletic fields, a zipline, a hill for kids' sledding, and much more. And there's also a labyrinth, a sharp 11-circuit brick pat

This large brick labyrinth was dedicated as a memorial nearly 20 years ago. It is still in good condition and is located at the Vancouver United Church of Christ in a grove of trees, set back from the parking lot. There's a wood-frame entryway directing visitors to the site. On the day I went, services had just ended so it was relatively quiet as people drove away.

I heard about the labyrinths at St. Andrew Lutheran Church in Vancouver as part of a COVID Day of Remembrance. The church had scheduled a special afternoon service around that theme and then invited people to come and walk their indoor and outdoor labyrinths. I had not been to that church so I was eager to go. The church members who I met could not have been more welcoming and kinder. I was able to quietly walk a portable labyrinth set up in the large hall, and then move outd