How to Spend a Splendid Weekend in Puyallup and Sumner, WA

City of Puyallup

With farmland all around and majestic Mount Rainier as the backdrop, a weekend in the Puyallup/Sumner region means sampling a lot of great food while enjoying the outdoors – but not in the kayaking, hiking and biking sense, although those activities are available nearby. 

In these communities, residents and visitors spend their time dining alfresco, attending festivals, picking fresh strawberries, getting lost in corn mazes and sipping hard cider. In case you didn’t catch it there, the changing seasons bring different types of fun. So, what do you do when you’re only in the region for 36 hours? Here are some suggestions on how to spend your weekend in Puyallup and Sumner. 

Friday 

When it comes to traveling, making your way to Puyallup and Sumner is easy. You can drive, but many visitors arrive by train from Tacoma and Seattle. With that being said, you’ll want a car for this particular weekend because it involves a lot of moving around. Lodging options include the centrally located Hampton Inn & Suites and Fairfield by Marriott, but Brambles Bed & Breakfast and Basecamp Puyallup (a hotel) offer more local flavor. 

After checking in, work up an appetite for dinner by exploring the city centers. 

“Both cities have wonderful downtown shopping experiences,” says Barb Patterson, who, along with her husband, owns The Bistro at Windmill Gardens in Sumner. 

One of Patterson’s don’t-miss-it suggestions is Sumner’s Old Cannery Furniture Warehouse, which has its own fudge shop and a miniature train suspended from the ceiling. 

For your first night’s meal, Patterson recommends Sumner’s Oxbow Urban Kitchen, which overlooks the White River and features an elevated deck. Local oysters, chowder made with fresh Puget Sound clams, loin of lamb and porcini mushroom ravioli are menu favorites. 

Patrick Hagerty

Saturday 

Festivals come naturally to Puyallup and Sumner, so it’s essential to consider the events calendar in your trip prep. The Washington State Fair takes place in August/September, but the site hosts activities year-round. 

“The fairgrounds always have something going on,” Patterson says. “Car shows, the Spring Fair – events at least two or three times a month.” 

The festival spirit carries throughout the region. “The big park that each city has is a big draw,” Patterson says. “There are always concerts in the summertime. Almost any holiday has something going on in both cities.” 

You can always make plans around Puyallup’s massive Farmers’ Market. It’s open Saturdays from April through October. 

Patterson has two brick-and-mortar options for you to consider before or after visiting the farmers market. In Sumner, Craft.19 Espresso + Creperie offers delicious crepes and coffee. And Patterson says if you’re looking for “to die for” cinnamon rolls, head to Hometown Charm Cafe, also in Sumner. 

To burn those calories, Patterson suggests a walk on the nearby Foothills National Recreation Trail, an old railroad bed that’s now paved. 

If history is more your thing, Puyallup’s Meeker Mansion is an 1890s Italianate-style Victorian home with beautiful stained-glass windows, original fireplace tiles and mantles, and ornate ceiling paintings and friezes. 

When it comes time for dinner, head to The Bistro at Windmill Gardens, where maple glazed salmon, shrimp puttanesca and olive-roasted chicken are specialties. 

Courtesy of Captain and Clark

Sunday 

Once you’ve decided which additional community event you’re going to stop by, head to brunch at another of Patterson’s recommended restaurants, Farm 12. Located on an old bulb farm, the restaurant features items like a chicken and waffle Benedict, hot honey mustard sandwich, and salmon farro bowl. 

Then, it’s off to a couple of area farms. Puyallup and Sumner are famous for some of the world’s tastiest berries, where many different varieties of raspberries, blackberries and blueberries are available in early summer. 

Obviously, homegrown and small town are weekend themes in the region. You’ll probably leave the area feeling rested and peaceful while carrying several pints of berries. 

“What I love is the small-town feel,” Patterson says. “I love going to the downtowns. That sense of community is the biggest draw to me. You feel like you belong; you feel like you matter.”