Explore the Best of Puyallup and Sumner, WA

Patrick Hagerty

The Puyallup/Sumner region has just about everything. It’s overflowing with great restaurants, cool cocktail bars, cute shops and plenty of parks and walking trails. To sift through its abundant amenities, we sat down with someone who knows the region like the back of her hand – Rep. Kelly Chambers. 

Chambers, who is a lifelong resident of Pierce County, is serving her third term in the Washington State Legislature, representing District 25. In addition to her role at as a state representative, she owns Visiting Angels, which serves senior citizens, and Lomcevak Cellars & Vineyard in Lake Chelan.

“I enjoy everything that the Puyallup/Sumner region has to offer,” Chambers says. “I always speak highly of the entire community, and for good reason.”

Ahead, find out what she considers the region’s “best of the best” things to do in Puyallup and Sumner.

Where is the best place to order coffee? 
I often go to Anthem Coffee & Tea in downtown Puyallup. I need my daily coffee, and Anthem also has fresh bakery items. 

Where is a great spot to eat breakfast with friends? 
I must admit that I am a huge fan of breakfast tacos, and Crockett’s Public House has the very best. Taco Del Mar (which has two locations in the Puyallup area) is an ideal place later in the day if you have a craving for fish tacos. Yes, I love tacos. 

Name a favorite restaurant to enjoy dinner. 
I really like Bourbon Street Creole Kitchen & Bar in Puyallup, which serves a variety of Cajun and Creole food. The owner is from Sri Lanka but lived in New Orleans for a while. He brought those amazing Cajun flavors to the Puyallup/Sumner region. I love their food and atmosphere, and they also have occasional live music. 

Where is a nice place to meet colleagues for drinks? 
I often meet our district’s state senator (Chris Gildon) for a cocktail at Giorgio’s, and I always order a cucumber martini. They are fantastic and make me feel like I’m enjoying a trip to the spa. 

Where’s a good place to go on a date night? 
Marzano (in Parkland) is a quaint little Italian restaurant with homemade pasta and cheese dishes that are always served fresh and are so good. The entire Marzano menu is amazing, with great appetizers and desserts, too. 

Where is the best place to exercise? 
DeCoursey Park is close to where I live, and it has a loop about 4 miles long that I like to walk. DeCoursey is also scenic with a nice pond and fishing piers. 

Where is your go-to place to shop? 
Going into downtown Sumner is fun because there are several little shops with a good variety of boutique items. I am a big fan of antique shopping and small gift shops, and downtown Sumner fits that description very well. 

Where’s the best spot to enjoy the water?
Probably the best place to go is the Tacoma Waterfront, where people like to walk and visit restaurants and other attractions. I know I’m not mentioning Puyallup or Sumner when suggesting the Tacoma Waterfront, but that’s where many people in this region like to go for a beautiful water setting.

Where do you go to grab a beer and watch sports?
I often like to have a drink at the VFW Post 2224, especially on a Friday night. I like playing the trivia games or just hanging out and enjoying some camaraderie with the veterans, and there is a TV in the canteen area for anyone wanting to watch sports.

How do you entertain family when they come into town? 
My family really likes coming here for the annual Washington State Fair, which takes place every September. It is one of the biggest fairs in the world and lasts 20 days, and my family enjoys the concerts, the food and all the ag attractions.