So, you’ve got the day to spend with your family, and you’re hoping to learn something about the natural world and maybe yourself within it. A day in Pierce County is a gift with a no-return policy, so consider packing up the car and shipping out to the Northwest Trek Wildlife Park, a 725-acre…
Read More
As a co-founder of Pretty Gritty Tours, Chris Staudinger has made a career out of investigating the stories that make Tacoma fascinating, occasionally unsettling, and difficult to summarize at a dinner party. His tours explore everything from ghost stories to grand architecture, with a healthy…
Read More
Pierce County’s forests already have the moss, the enormous trees, and the occasional suspiciously expressive stump. This fall, they’re getting actual trolls. Twelve of them. Apparently, word got out about the accommodations. TROLLS: A Field Study , by Danish artist Thomas Dambo, arrives at Point…
Read More
After dark, Lakewold Gardens trades its daytime calm for glowing paths, uncanny specimens and a few creatures that seem happier in the shadows. All Hallows: Creepy Creatures returns to Lakewood on October 17–18 and 24–25, 2026, from 6 to 9 p.m. Guests can hunt for strange creature sculptures tucked…
Read More
When December arrives, Puyallup’s Washington State Fair Events Center trades midway noise for carols, garlands and the pleasant problem of choosing among too many handmade gifts. The Victorian Christmas Festival returns December 3–6 for its 38th year, filling four days with artisan shopping, live…
Read More
A winter weekend does not need a summit, a stopwatch, or a group chat full of ambitious suggestions. Sometimes a cabin near Mount Rainier, a good breakfast, and a slice of pie are plenty. Make Ashford your base for a couple of unhurried nights. This small community on the way to Mount Rainier's…
Read More
A family day out in Tacoma can involve a surprising amount of negotiation. Someone wants pizza. Someone wants seafood. Someone who ate crackers eleven minutes ago is now facing what appears to be a food emergency. Fortunately, Tacoma has kid-friendly restaurants for a range of appetites and…
Read More
It’s easy to plan a trip around breakfast, lunch and dinner, then fill the time between them with a little sightseeing. This is called having priorities. In Tacoma, there’s now a book to help give those priorities some background. Peggy Cleveland’s Unique Eats and Eateries of Tacoma: The People and…
Read More
October in Tacoma and Pierce County arrives with crisp mornings, turning leaves and a calendar that moves from candlelit history to brass bands, theater, cultural celebrations and Halloween fun. Whether you’re planning a weekend getaway or looking for a reason to explore a different corner of the…
Read More
Looking for things to do in Puyallup beyond the Washington State Fair? Explore local farms, browse the Puyallup Farmers Market, eat at independent restaurants, unwind at Pioneer Park or Bradley Lake Park, and visit Meeker Mansion. Round out your trip with a local brewery, Cockrell Cider Farm, or an…
Read More
