FEAST
Classic to gourmet, these shakes are just plain cool Whether they’re straight-up vanilla or done deluxe with swirls of salted caramel, milkshakes are spinning up plenty of frosty flavor across the county.
SHAKE SHAKE SHAKE
Retro-inspired diner digs—think Formica counters and vintage chairs—paint a sweet picture in Tacoma’s Stadium District. Under the giant “EAT” sign, choose from an array of gourmet flavors, including red licorice, mocha banana malted, and miso butterscotch with a finish of salted caramel. Bonus: Rotating seasonal flavors each take a turn as the shake of the month. 124 N Tacoma Ave, Tacoma; shakeshakeshake.me 36 + TRAVEL TACOMA + PIERCE COUNTY 2014-15
FRISKO FREEZE
Consider it all your favorite burger joints rolled into one. This ’50s-era drive-in keeps it simple, serving burgers in waxed-paper bags and churning out six classic flavors—chocolate, cherry, vanilla, strawberry, root beer, and banana—and sometimes special flavors of malts and milkshakes to bring all the locals to the yard. 1201 Division Ave, Tacoma
PICK-QUICK DRIVE IN
Opened in 1949, this old-school walk-up is as notable for its menu—hand-cut fries, fresh beef, and 25 luscious milkshake flavors—as it is for its picturesque setting. Order a pineapple
shake or a Butterfinger malt before taking your tasty loot to the back, where a grassy swath dotted with picnic tables backs up to Wapato Creek. 4306 Pacific Hwy E, Fife; pick-quick.com
LEFTY’S BURGER SHACK
Though land bound, this chill fast-food joint oozes surfer cool. Better still, its dreamy selection of shakes—10 flavors in all—has earned it rave reviews. Don’t miss the deepfried pickles or the massive Viking Burger, a one-pounder that comes with the works. 8317 27th St W, University Place —Angela Cabotaje
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: JAQUILYN SHUMATE PHOTOGRAPHY, CHUCK KERR, COURTESY PICK-QUICK DRIVE IN
FREEZE OUT
Clockwise from top: Shake Shake Shake, Lefty’s Burger Shack, Pick-Quick Drive In