TRAVEL INFORMATION

January in WA is beautiful, but can be cold, rainy, and dark. Pack warm clothes and plan your winter adventures accordingly. 

If you choose to explore the area, keep in mind that Tacoma traffic can vary a lot, so be generous when calcualating your drive times. 

The nearest airport is Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEATAC), which is about 25 minutes away from Auburn. Car rental services information is available here: https://www.portseattle.org/sea-tac/ground-transportation/rental-car 

• Holiday Inn Express & Suites Auburn Downtown - 1 mile from venue - A highly rated, moderately priced, 3-star hotel close to the wedding venue. More information at:  https://www.ihg.com/holidayinnexpress/hotels/us/en/auburn/seaab/hoteldetail?cm_mmc=GoogleMaps-_-EX-_-US-_-SEAAB 

• Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Auburn - 1 mile from venue  - Another great nearby option. More information at: https://www.wyndhamhotels.com/laquinta/auburn-washington/la-quinta-auburn/rooms-rates 

Note: all driving lengths calculated from wedding venue

• Freighthouse Marketplace - 17 minute drive - A massive, historic marketplace with an international food court and local merchants. This is great if you want a variety of cuisines in one. More information at https://freighthousesquare.com/ 

• Chili Thai - 20 minute drive - One of the Burkhart's favorite Thai restaurants in the area. More information at https://www.chilithai.com/ 

• Duke's Seafood Tacoma - 20 minute drive - A great option if you're looking for a quintessential, on-the-water, PNW seafood experience. It's even rumored that Mrs. Burkhart copies this restaurant's recipe for her killer clam chowder. More information here https://dukesseafood.com/locations/tacoma/ 

• The Old Spaghetti Factory - 20 minute drive - You can't go wrong with Italian food! Bonus: this location is close to the Museum of Glass, so these can be a convenient pairing. More information at https://www.osf.com/location/tacoma-wa/ 

Note: all driving distances are calculated from wedding venue

Fair Weather Activities

• Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium- 30 minute drive - If the weather is nice enough, enjoy exploring the Point Defiance Zoo. On clear days, there is a gorgeous view of Mt. Rainier as you enter. More information at https://www.pdza.org/ 

• Dash Point State Park - 20 minute drive - Beautiful state park with a beach and hiking trails. A one-day discover pass can be purchased for $10 per vehicle. More information at https://parks.wa.gov/find-parks/state-parks/dash-point-state-park 

• Point Defiance Park - 30 minute drive - Massive, gorgeous park with so many ways to enjoy the Pacific North West. Free admission and parking, no discover pass required. More information at https://www.parkstacoma.gov/place/point-defiance-park/ 

Foul Weather Activities

• Washington State History Museum - 17 minute drive - History buff? Learn more about Washington state with a day at the museum. Tickets $17 per adult. More details at https://www.washingtonhistory.org/visit/

• Museum of Glass - 18 minute drive - Beautiful glass art exhibits plus daily live glass blowing demonstrations. Tickets $23 a person. More information at https://www.museumofglass.org/ 

• Children's Museum of Tacoma - 17 minute drive - Classic children's museum with tons of fun activities for kids. Admissions are donation based, a "Pay As You Will" model. More information at https://greentrike.org/childrens-museum-of-tacoma 

• Tacoma Book Center - 16 minute drive - Get lost in mazes of the largest used book center in WA with over half a million books on site. Bonus: this is walking distance from Freighthouse Square, so these activities can pair well together if you're looking for a meal and an outing. More information at https://www.visitpiercecounty.com/listing/tacoma-book-center/3867/