Gretchen & Mark
Things To Do
Thursdays Downtown
Thursdays on First and Third is a weekly street festival that takes over downtown Rochester every Thursday in the summer. With live music around every corner, you can grab a bite to eat or a cold beverage from a variety of local bars and restaurants and browse rows and rows of artisan crafts made by local vendors. Runs from 11am-8:30pm.
Down by the Riverside Concerts at Mayo Park
Mayo Park behind the Mayo Civic Center has a free concert series on Sunday evenings at 7pm in the summer. Grab some camping chairs or a picnic blanket, some local takeout, and enjoy the live music!
Caribou Coffee
This is Gretchen's favorite coffee shop and arguably the best coffee in the world. There are multiple locations around Rochester, this one is the closest to the hotel!
Flapdoodles Ice Cream
Wondering where your dessert at the wedding reception is coming from? Check out this quirky local ice cream spot named after an Alaskan fishing boat! Mark recommends Cookie Monster and Gretchen recommends any cheesecake flavor.
Five West
Classy, modern American fare with a very tasty brunch menu and incredible garlic fries.
Newt's
Never had a Juicy Lucy? It was invented in Minnesota, don't cha know! Newt's is Gretchen's favorite spot for a Juicy Lucy, and you can't go wrong with any of their other burgers either.
Forager Brewery
Creative craft beer and amazing locally sourced food! Their pizzas are especially delicious. If you're looking for some more local craft beer, walk across the parking lot to Jack's Bottle Shop and Jack can recommend local brews based on your individual taste!
The Tap House
A modern bar with a wide selection of beverages, small bites, and lots of outdoor balcony/rooftop seating.
Puyallup Farmers' Market
The local farmer's market takes place on Saturday mornings in none other than the Pioneer Park! Head back to the reception venue the morning after to check out the locally grown produce, local food and craft vendors, and (Gretchen's favorite) the gorgeous bouquets from Washington flower farms!
Mount Rainier National Park
Sticking around for awhile? Drive out to Mount Rainier (also known by its indigenous name Tahoma) National Park! Check out the visitor centers at Sunrise or Paradise and talk a short walk or longer hike through the alpine meadows and evergreen forests covering the mountain.
Ruston Way
Ruston Way has lots of things to do! Park in the free parking garage and grab something to eat at one of the restaurants (Gretchen and Mark recommend the Jewel Box Cafe and Stack 571 Burgers). Walk along the waterfront path and enjoy expansive views of the Puget Sound, Commencement Bay, Mount Rainier and the Cascades, and even the Olympic Mountains. Keep a close eye out for seals and porpoises; they are almost always present in the summer! Make sure you try some ice cream from Ice Cream Social before heading out.
Point Defiance Park
Point Defiance has a 5-mile drive where you can enjoy tall evergreen trees, rocky beaches, and views of the Puget Sound and Tacoma Narrows Bridge. You can also visit the Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium in the park where Gretchen used to volunteer in college! The Pacific Seas Aquarium is her favorite spot; it was recently redone and includes exhibits of local Puget Sound ecosystems.
Powerhouse Restaurant & Brewery
A long-time favorite of the Burch family, the Powerhouse brews its own craft beer in an old train power station. Mark recommends the fire pasta and Gretchen recommends the prosciutto arugula pizza!
Farm 12 Restaurant & Events
One of Mark and Gretchen's favorite spots to bike to and grab a bite to eat, Farm 12 is run by Step by Step, a non-profit that supports families and at-risk pregnant people in need. All profits from Farm 12 go to Step by Step! You can sit down for a full meal or just pop into the cafe for a coffee and fresh-baked pastry. Mark and Gretchen highly recommend the cinnamon rolls, heuvos rancheros, and fried French toast.
Anthem Coffee & Tea | Downtown Puyallup
Gretchen's favorite coffee shop in Washington. Not as good as Caribou Coffee, but close.
Giorgio's Greek Cafe
Gretchen and Mark's first date spot! They enjoyed a sampler plate here for lunch after hiking to Snoquera Falls in Mount Baker Snoqualmie National Forest.