Lucky you! Either your family lives in the Pierce County area, or you’ve all decided to spend your holidays here. Once the initial hellos are over and you’re still hours away from dinner, you may be wondering how to spend these precious days off work, (hopefully) away from most responsibility. Don’t sweat it! Whether you’ve got kids in tow or are flying solo with your parents and adult siblings, we’ve gathered some great ideas to pass the time while enjoying the best of the South Sound!
Game Time
You could:
-
Dust off that “Game of Life” board game from the '90s
But you should:
-
Head to Dorky’s Arcade or Flip Off! Arcade in Puyallup to play classics like Ms. Pac Man
-
Visit Sprinker Recreation Center for ice bumper cars
-
Go bowling or play laser tag at Ocean5
-
Play a golf simulator indoors at Stadium Golf
Imbibe
You could:
-
Drink that oaky Chardonnay your mom likes
But you should:
-
Enjoy 7 Seas beer at their new Gig Harbor taproom with expansive views of the Sound and Mount Rainier. They're also brewing historic Heidelberg beer in the same space it was originally brewed 112 years ago.
-
Drink cider right in the orchard where the apples were grown at Cockrell Cider (only open Friday/Saturday/Sunday in winter)
-
Sip spirits or enjoy cocktails at Old Soldier Distillery or Heritage Distillery
-
Mix up your holiday eating and go to The Red Hot for hot dogs served a couple dozen different ways (vegan options available too!). In addition to their enormous craft beer list, they also carry ciders, wine, and N/A beverages.
-
If there’s a wine snob among you (maybe it’s you, dear reader!), you must head to Tacoma Wine Merchants. Taste through their flights or opt for wines by the glass or bottle, with old world favorites and local highlights.
Movies
You could:
-
Watch that Adam Sandler DVD in the family room
But you should:
-
See first-run movies, indie films, locally made features, and art films at The Grand Cinema
-
Watch Christmas favorites and campy horror films at Blue Mouse Theatre
-
Watch a popcorn blockbuster on the Galaxy Theater IMAX screen
Last-Minute Shopping
You could:
-
Order stuff online and pay a fortune in rush shipping fees
But you should:
-
Visit the wonderful shops up and down Main Street in downtown Sumner. They dress up the whole area with holiday lights, including Old Cannery Bridge.
-
Ready to get lost and love it? Antique Row in downtown Tacoma has multiple stories and dozens of vendors to peruse. They’ve absolutely got something for everyone, including your sibling’s significant other that you forgot to bring a gift for!
-
Get the best of the area all under one roof with pop-up markets this month. There’s a Puyallup Holiday Market, two Puyallup Night Markets, a Night Market in Graham, and the Holidazes Market featuring goods by Black vendors.
-
Not done with the treasure hunt? Check out our Guide to Antiques in Pierce County!
Go Outside
You could:
-
Walk the block and get dragged into an annoying political conversation with a neighbor
But you should:
-
Take a day trip to Crystal Mountain for skiing, snowboarding, or enjoying the scenic Mount Rainier Gondola. Don’t forget to eat at Summit House - the highest-elevation restaurant in the state - before you leave!
-
Walk the Gig Harbor waterfront, stopping by B’s Bagels for a bagel and hot coffee. Visit Ancich Waterfront Park and Skansie Brothers Park along the harbor for beautiful views worth braving in the winter weather.
-
Lakewold Gardens, open Fridays-Sundays, is lovely to visit day or night this time of year. Though it’s winter, the gardens have been planted so that something is thriving and exploding in the flower beds year-round. The historic home and library have been decorated for the season, and their nightly solstice event has beautiful lights and warm beverages.
-
Visit Point Defiance Park for easy trails and paved roads for cyclists, all overlooking the Salish Sea. You’ll also find a playground, the Zoo and Aquarium, and the Fort Nisqually Living History Museum at Point Defiance. Make an afternoon of it!
Classic Holiday Activities
You could:
-
Sit under the Christmas tree or menorah at home (admittedly great)
But you should (also):
-
Hop in the car in search of truly spectacular holiday lights. The fact that it’s dark at 4:30 is now a good thing! Check out our guide here.
-
Looking for more inspiration? We have recommended events for every single day in December on our Holiday Magic calendar!
