Puyallup Travel Guide

I was surprised to find this sort of restaurant in Puyallup, especially after being warned that Puyallup isn't known to have anything but chain restaurants you find in malls. This place is actually pretty chic and trendy inside, and the food was really good. You can check out the menu online for descriptions and prices. The pasta dishes are $13, but it comes to $17 with chicken added. The complimentary bread they serve before the meal is absolutely delicious, and probably the best part! Salad and other courses are extra. It's possible to keep the price under $20 if you do not purchase the extras, but some of the more upscale entrees cost up to $30. You can check out the menu, wine list and live music calendar on the website. It looks like a nice place to meet for drinks and appetizers. The photos on the website will give you a general impression of the ambience and decor. It looks fancy and upscale, but myself and many of the other diners were comfortable in jeans. Like most places in the Pacific Northwest, you don't really need to worry about a dress code, though I did notice they directed us straight to the lounge area rather than the restaurant area.

Favorite Dish: I really enjoyed the Mediterranean Linguini with grilled chicken. It features kalamata olives, feta cheese and sun-dried tomatoes.

The streets in the more urban areas can be a little dangerous at night. Sometimes punk kids roam around at night and cause a little minor trouble, but they are mostly harmless. (Don't ask me how I know so much about this...) :)

There is no real tourist traps, per se. Just the scones. While inexpensive and seemingly harmless, you will be sucked into spending your children's college money just to buy more of these tasty treats. Sort of what crack cocaine would be like if it was a pastry.

Luggage and bags: For Puyallup you can really take any kind of bag, but there are no camping spots here, so be ready to stay in a hotel.

Clothing/Shoes/Weather Gear: Dress for mild, rainy weather. It hardly ever gets too hot or cold, and it rains alot. bring walking shoes, because there is alot you would probuably want to walk to also.

Toiletries and Medical Supplies: There is a hospital in Puyallup (Good Sameritian) and a nice hotel, so you can pack lightly in this area.

Photo Equipment: There are plenty of stores here, so you can bring any type of camera. If you are either going to the river, or are traveling in spring, you might want to bring a waterproof camera though.

Camping/Beach/Outdoor Gear: The river is mostly for fishing, but rafting is fun, just beware, it can get very cold down there, even in the summer! There are plenty of trails for hikes (if you know where to go) but dress for mud (just in case).

Miscellaneous: Bring a map of Puyallup ir a cell phone, there are many hidden places that people miss, so you need these for finding them. Also, if you like antiques, bring cash.

Visit some of the local fruit farms. There are several where you can pick your very own box of raspberrys, strawberrys, blueberries, or apples. It's very inexpensive and a lot of fun to play 'farmer' for a half-hour.

Fondest memory: I would have to say I miss odd mixture of urban and agrian lifestyles. You can enjoy fast city life and then walk a block or two and be at peace with nature. It sounds impossible, but Puyallup pulls it off.