Poet, essayist, and University of Washington Tacoma faculty member Janie Miller will host a free walking and writing event next month.

Inspired by walk events in Portland designed by poet Kaia Sands, this “Walk Poetic” event will encourage adventurers to experience downtown Tacoma on foot, while being guided through a poetry lesson stopping at various locations to write about the surroundings. All Walk Poetic participants will receive a small notebook, pen, and walking map to use during the walk. Participants may decide to share writings, sketches or other musings, or keep them personal.

The Walk Poetic event will be held on Weds., Aug. 1 between 5:15 p.m. and 6:15 p.m. The 1.5 mile walk, sponsored by DaVita, will begin and end in front of the Woolworth Building on South 11th Street & Broadway and will weave through parks and historical landmarks through downtown and Hilltop. There is no need to pre-register, just join the group in front of the Woolworth Building at 5:15 p.m.

Walk Poetic is part of Walk Tacoma, Downtown On the Go’s walking series, sponsored by Franciscan Health System, held in April, June and August. The fun, casual walks, now in their third year, encourage downtown employees, residents, and visitors to exercise and enjoy the outdoors by discovering the different walking routes and parks in downtown Tacoma, and to become more aware of just how walkable downtown is. Each walk includes an educational walk (history or poetry) and a power walk. The popular Walk Poetic event on August 1 will also include a power walk led by Liz and Matt from Expand Yoga, for individuals looking for a great outdoor workout.

More information is online here.