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Health & Fitness

Do The Puyallup!

A list of the top 10 things to do when you 'Do the Puyallup!'

Last weekend, thanks to the four free tickets I won from the Renton Patch plus the two free tickets my kids got at school, our family did the Puyallup Fair. (It was announced today that it will soon be called "The Washington State Fair".) My husband's parents were visiting from West Virginia so we thought it would be a great way to show them a slice of Washington life. After a fun-filled exhausting day, I compiled a list of the top ten things I recommend doing when you DO the Puyallup.

1. See the animals. They've got pigs and cows and horses and alpacas and goats and bunnies and chickens and cats and dogs and they're all very well-behaved and only a little bit stinky.Β 

2. Check out the agricultural exhibits in the Americraft Showplex. See ribbon-winning flowers and vegetables, giant pumpkins, and choose your favorite edible goods art installation.

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3. One of my favorite parts of the fair is looking at people's personal collections in the Hobby Hall. It's a room full of glass cases that house massive amounts of someones favorite things - puppets, erasers, animal-themed items, Disney stuff, vintage sewing items (my husband said this one looked like my studio), kids' toy collections, and more!

4. While you're in the Hobby Hall, make sure to check out the Arts and Cultural exhibits as well. See the work of Washington artists and witness Artists in Action making their wares on site.

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5. It's not for everyone, but Our Body: The Universe Within is worth seeing. It is simultaneously fascinating, educational, creepy, and gross.

6. We missed the Rainforest Adventure, but it looks fun. It would probably have been more appropriate for the kiddos to look at toucans and turtles than to see naked dissected humans in the Body exhibit.

7. Water Balls! Apparently this is a thing now. Kids can climb into inflated hamster balls and float around in a giant pool of water. It's pretty funny to watch.

8. Don't miss the chainsaw artists at work. Plug your ears though, it's loud!

9. If you plan to ride some rides or play some games be prepared to spend some money - a three minute thrill-ride with cost you about 5 bucks - but this is a part of the Fair experience you shouldn't miss. At least walk through the area to see the sights and lights and hear the giddy screams

10. Deep Fried Butter. Ew! I didn't try this but the fact that they offer it is funny. Fairs are a great excuse to try foods you wouldn't (and shouldn't!) eat every day - chocolate covered bacon (mmm), deep-fried bubble gum?!, corn dogs and cotton candy galore.

This weekend is the last chance you'll have to experience Puyallup's claim to fame, so make sure to put it on your to-do list. Have fun!

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