Fun yet functional, stylish yet sexy. You can’t get much more Italian than a Vespa. Now scooter lovers in Western Washington have the inside track when it comes to buying the latest Vespa models, thanks to South Sound Scooters in Tacoma – the state’s only official Vespa and Piaggio dealership and authorized service center.

Store owner and Vespa enthusiast Mark Helgen believes the Pacific Northwest is the perfect spot for scooters. Not only does this corner of the country welcome 16 hours of daylight during the summer months, but its mild climate and low humidity make for perfect riding weather. Having stunning scenery, from the Cascade Mountains to Puget Sound, doesn’t hurt either.