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Visiting Sumner

Experience the small town in the valley

Sumner does a number of community events including their famous Rhubarb Days held annually in July. Photo courtesy of city of Sumner

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Tacoma is surrounded by smaller towns of all shapes and sizes, and many make great day trips. Get out of the city and get to know the region by seeing it up close and personal. Case in point - the small town of Sumner, which is situated due east of Tacoma. Visitors will find nature and trails, cute downtown areas to explore, and plenty of surprises, from festivals to furniture shopping to Sounders soccer!

"Sumner is small-town Americana at its best," said Carmen Palmer, the city's communications director. "This is where strangers wish each other ‘good morning,' and lunch is served with a side of local gossip. Most first-time visitors head right to Main Street, which is home to multiple parades and events. However, every day is a great day to come down and explore unique shops and get a slice of pie, of course. We are the Rhubarb Pie Capital of the World, a designation Sumner has held since the early 1900s and still fits today as fifth-generation rhubarb growers continue farming around Sumner."

Despite the city's tiny size, its events come out in force during the spring and summer months. Festivals not to miss include the Daffodil Festival, the Rhubarb Pie Festival and car shows. Coming up right around the corner is the Daffodil Festival, which takes place not only in Sumner, but also in Orting, Tacoma and Puyallup.

If you can't visit during one of Sumner's events, there's still plenty to do, especially as the weather warms up and the skies clear. There are several trails and parks in town with what can only be described as stunning views of Mt. Rainier. A day hike or a bike ride on the Sumner Link Trail that follows the White River is the perfect way to enjoy Sumner's outdoorsy side.

Downtown Sumner is an adorable shopping and dining destination, and you'll find a bit of everything. The Old Cannery Furniture Warehouse is one of Sumner's most well-known shops, and it's one of the best furniture stores in the area with a vast selection, old timey décor, two-miles of model train tracks throughout the store, and even a fudge shop at the center of the store to sweeten the experience. Windmill Gardens is a Sumner nursery that's also a tea shop and spa and salon; other businesses are on the premises, along with a full nursery that offers classes that show you how to garden in the Northwest.

Perhaps an unexpected aspect to Sumner is that it's home to the Sounder U-23 team, the farm team for the Seattle Sounders.

"If families like soccer, they can come to Sunset Stadium all spring and watch the future of soccer here for ten dollars each and free parking," said Palmer. "A lot of times, the team eats after the game at nearby Farrelli's, so you could be eating pizza with the next Yedlin!"

For more information about what to do in Sumner, visit the Puyallup Sumner Chamber of Commerce (http://puyallupsumnerchamber.com/) or RhubarbPieCapital.com (http://rhubarbpiecapital.com).

Upcoming Events:
April 9 - Daffodil 5K Challenge
April 9 - Daffodil Festival Grand Floral Parade
June 10 - Girls Night Out at Windmill Gardens
Fridays in July - Music Off Main
July 16-17 - Rhubarb Days
Saturdays in August - Movies Off Main
August 13 - Drive Into Sumner
August 14 - Classy Chassis Car Show

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