It can be easy to get caught up in the glamour of the coastal city of Seattle, Washington. With plenty of things to do in Seattle, like watching the fishmongers throw fish at Pike Place Market, going to the top of the newly remodeled Space Needle, and my personal favorite, gazing at the giant Pacific octopus at the Seattle Aquarium, you could spend endless days exploring the Emerald City.
However, if you are a small-town lover like me, after a day or two, you are itching to get out of the hustle and bustle. That is where the small towns of Tukwila, SeaTac and Des Moines, come into play. Only 15 minutes from Seattle and tucked around SeaTac International Airport, these small towns feel like an extended suburb of the city and its official name is Seattle Southside.
The Seattle Southside Regional Tourism Authority invited a group of travel writers (including me!) to explore this area. Over the course of three days, I discovered Seattle Southside has a little bit of something for everyone, and some of the best things to do in Seattle.
Some links in this post may be affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of these links, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Please see our disclosure policy for more detail.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. Using an affiliate link is at no additional cost to you, however it does provide me with a small commission.
Fun Things To Do In Seattle Southside
1. Go Skydiving at iFly Seattle (Tukwila)
Is indoor skydiving on your bucket list? You can tick it off your list at iFly Seattle in the small town of Tukwila! iFly’s wind tunnel technology is considered a modern marvel, moving air in such a way through a flight chamber that you experience flight. If you’ve wanted to skydive, but are nervous about jumping out of an airplane, this is the way to go!
Three of us signed up for iFly Seattle. Before the trip, I hadn’t been nervous at all. But, that changed when we arrived and started the check-in process. Once all the forms are done and weight is taken, you go upstairs to the wind tunnel. Seeing other people in the tunnel calmed my nerves. If there are members of your party not taking a class, they can find a seat in front of the tunnel and watch.
Those who are skydiving attend an introductory class covering everything you need to know, such as hand signals (the tunnel is very loud so the communication needs to be done this way). Afterward, you suit up and get in the cue. Each of us got to go into the tunnel three times (2 minutes each time). The last time, you and the instructor rise upward in the tunnel and back down again, swirling around a few times. I had so much fun and totally recommend!
Afterward, Celebrate at Moctezuma’s Mexican Restaurant
Once you’ve conquered your day of flight, head over to Moctezuma’s Mexican Restaurant for an award-winning and flavorful meal. The restaurant is in the Westfield Southcenter Mall, which is very close to iFly and you could even walk there. I suggest ordering one of their flaming dishes (fajitas, cheese dip, and plantains), you won’t be disappointed. And, if you are a tequila lover, they have a killer margarita selection. I opted for a watermelon tequila drink. Yum!
2. Indulge Your Sweet Tooth At Seattle Chocolates (Tukwila)
You probably already know that Seattle is known for its coffee and seafood, but did you know it also has a vibrant chocolate scene? With more than 50 chocolatiers and the annual Northwest Chocolate Festival, it is a chocolate lovers dream. If you crave the sweet stuff, a visit to Seattle Chocolate’s factory and flagship store is a must!
Our group went on the Experience Chocolate Tour. While you sip on drinking chocolate, the tour guide shares the history of the company and talks about the chocolate growing regions in the world and where they source their chocolate. This part of the tour is also hands-on as chocolate in its different forms (ex. cocoa pods, cocoa beans, cocoa butter) is passed around for everyone to smell and touch.
Then, you go into the factory, walking along an elevated pathway over the factory floor. Here you learn more about the company’s branding, chocolate machinery and watch everyone hard at work.
The tour wraps up with a chocolate tasting, where you try to figure out what ingredients were used in each chocolate sample. It is totally worth the $10 per person (Note: Must be at least six years old).
3. Stay At A Hotel With A Robot! (Tukwila)
With any small town adventure, you need a fabulous place to stay. The Hotel Interurban features modern guest rooms with pillow-top mattresses, custom-designed leather chairs, operational windows, laptop-sized safe, plush bathrooms and slippers, and a mini-fridge. To add to the experience, choose a deluxe room or one-bedroom suite with a view of Mount Rainier.
Hotel Interurban | Image by KIPMAN Creative
The hotel also has a very unique feature…drum roll… a Relay robot named Hazel! All you need to do is call the front desk and tell them what you’d like her to bring to your door. Be sure to give her a star rating so she can move on! (Figured that out by a bit of trial and error on my part.)
Plus, the hotel is 5 miles from the airport and walking distance from iFly Seattle, Moctezuma’s Mexican Restaurant, Odin Brewing Company, and much more. Our itinerary put the hotel’s location to the test and we were never too far from our excursions and rarely in any serious traffic, which made it the perfect base camp. They also have a package with an Activities Savings Card that features discounts on places like iFly.
Travel tip: Plan to visit 85°C Bakery Cafe. Founded by a Master Chef Henry Cheng, this must-visit bakery chain has been featured on TIME, CNC, NPR, and the Travel Channel and is a short walk from the Hotel Interurban.
Travel tip: On the walk to 85°C Bakery Cafe stop by Seafood City Supermarket and check out this grocery store that caters to Filipino-Americans.
Travel tip: If you are a beer lover, Odin Brewing Company is also a short walk from the Hotel Interurban! They have an indoor taproom and an outdoor patio.
Book direct with the hotel or through one of my affiliates, like TripAdivsor, Hotels.com or Expedia.
Booking through an affiliate is at no extra charge to you, however, it does provide me with a small commission.
4. Go Kayaking At Redondo Beach (Des Moines)
Getting out on the water, be it by boat, ferry, or watercraft, is a must for any Pacific Northwest adventure. In the small town of Des Moines, you can rent kayaks and paddleboards with Olympic Outdoor Center. Rentals are first-come, first-serve and very reasonable in price ($20 single kayak for 1 hour or $28 for a double kayak).
Check-in happens right at Rendono Pier and the beach where you launch is a few steps away.
We had a great time on the water. It was calm and super easy to navigate, making our two hours very pleasant. I even saw a porpoise and a sea lion! For a longer excursion, Saltwater State Park is 1.75 miles away, and Dash Point is 4 miles. When the sky is clear, you can see Mount Rainier and the Olympics Mountains.
In the video, you might have noticed the noise of airplanes overhead. Redondo Beach is only 5 miles south of Sea-Tac International Airport!
Travel tip: Rentals are available weather permitting. If you are unsure if they’ll be open; give them a call.
Afterward, Dine at Salty’s on Redondo Beach
After kayaking, we refueled at Salty’s on Redondo Beach. The dress is casual, like almost all places in the Pacific Northwest, so no need to worry if you’ve just been out on the water. If you are here in the summer months, the outdoor and over-the-water deck opens.
We all ordered a variety of dishes. Mine were all great, but their signature white chocolate mousse cake with raspberry coulis totally stole the show. Don’t pass on this dessert!
5. Dine At Copperleaf Restaurant (SeaTac)
Farm-to-table dining is huge in the Pacific Northwest and one of the best places to experience it is a Copperleaf Restaurant at the Cedarbrook Lodge in the small town of SeaTac. Their seasonal cuisine features locally grown ingredients, some even from their own gardens, and the ingredients are driven by quality and sustainability. During our trip, we were treated to an amazing tasting dinner, which anyone can order.
Copperleaf’s tasting menu is an excellent option if you want to experience the range of the chef’s culinary expertise, and if you prefer, there is a dinner and lunch menu as well. I have to admit, I was very impressed with our tasting menu and the service the staff gave us with each course.
Along with dining here, you can also stay overnight as the restaurant is located inside Cedarbrook Lodge. It’s touted as an urban oasis, and with its wooded grounds with walking paths and coy ponds, it definitely feels like a nature retreat. There is also a spa and dining on the terrace. If you come here only for a meal, make sure to arrive a little early and walk the grounds!
6. Highline SeaTac Botanical Gardens (SeaTac)
We all know airports take-up a lot of space and sometimes that means homes are demolished to make way for modern transportation. It’s from this exact situation, Highline SeaTac Botanical Garden was born. Located in the small town of SeaTac, the garden is free to visit and open from dawn to dusk.
In the 1960s, avid gardener Elda Behm began planting her garden. In 1996, when the airport needed to build its third runway, her home, along with others, we slated for demolition. Local citizens, gardeners and city council members, undertook the monumental task of saving Elda’s garden by transplanting it to a new location.
What remains of her garden is now on a one-acre section within the 11-acre botanical gardens. You’ll find prized trees and a wide variety of plants such as rhododendrons, azaleas, peonies and much more. Her section of the gardens also has a 100-foot stream and a pond.
There are also sections dedicated to roses, fuchsias, irises, and a sensory garden. And, for those that live nearby, they hold an annual plant sale and ice cream social with a scavenger hunt.
My favorite part is the Seike Japanese Garden, which was also saved from airport expansion. The Seike family was interned during WWII and while all three sons served in the US military, their middle son died in combat while in France. The garden was built to honor him, and the Seike’s hired a well-known Japanese gardener, Shintaro Oakda from Hiroshima.
Garden tip: It is said if you cross the bridge from left to right, your worries will be left on the other side.
Travel tip: Everything listed here is close to Sea-Tac International Airport. For travellers with an afternoon or evening flight, spending some time in these small towns is very feasible as the airport is a short drive away.
Pin for later!
Note: As is common in the travel industry, the writer was provided with accommodations and some meals and experiences for the purpose of review. While it has not influenced this review, the writer believes in full disclosure of all potential conflicts of interest.
We visit the west coast regularly. So always good to find new spots to visit around Seattle. We have not yet headed to the Southside area, so that would be a new treat for us. I did 150 skydives out of a perfectly good plane. And then I got better. But I must admit I am tempted to go to iFly locations to re-create the thrill. Hubby would want to enjoy every minute of the Chocolate Tour. And I know we would head home with lots of souvenirs. Even if they did not make it home. A good reason to head to Redondo Beach for kayaking to burn off the chocolate calories.
Linda, Wow! 150 skydives!!!! That’s amazing! I’d be interested to see how the feeling compares to the real thing. Seattle Chocolates has a box of chocolates in the shape of a ferry boat and the Space Needle – pretty cute!
I’m a huge fan of the TV show Frasier and I’ve always wanted to visit Seattle (and especially the space needle)! Love that there’s so much to do nearby as well. The Seike Japanese Garden would definitely be on the top of my list – I want to cross that bridge!
Smita, I love Frasier too! I haven’t been to the remodeled Space Needle, but I’ve heard good things. The story of the Seike garden is really touching and I so appreciate that it was also saved by relocation.
What a fun list! As a non-city girl who happens to live in a city, I appreciate having things to outside of the city limits in order to escape. I would love to visit that chocolate factory – yum!!! And I love the story about how Elda’s garden was saved and relocated. It looks so peaceful!
Maggie, I thought it was so cool the community saved Elda’s garden! We had such a great time at Seattle Chocolates, a must-do, even if it is to just go to the store.
There’s so much to see and do in the area. I’d like to try the kayaking, gardens and sky-diving. Think I’d need a few days to see everything in this post!
Suzanne, I was really surprised there was so much fun stuff to do so close together!
I wish I had spent more time exploring the Southside when I lived in Seattle! Moctezuma’s looks delicious and authentic and like such a better choice than all the chain restaurants at and around Southcenter. Copperleaf also looks amazing! I will have to bookmark that one for the next time I’m in town!
Kevin, So much good food in this area. I was really impressed. Yes, bookmark it and the brewery too!
Any place with a chocolate tour is a win for me. I also love to kayak, so I can burn off the chocolate. We went kayaking in Vancouver last year.
Jamie, The Seattle area has over 50 chocolatiers so you’d be in heaven!
We’ve never been to Seattle but will eventually visit someday. We’d love to stay in that hotel so that we can make acquaintance with robot Hazel! 🙂 And also dine in Copperleaf Restaurant , because the food looks delicious!
Mei and Kerstin, The meal at the Copperleaf Restaurant was amazing from start to finish. You’ll love it and Hazel too!
SO many fun things to do here. I love going on factory tours and have yet to visit a chocolate one. I’m actually surprised at the amazing price point. I thought for sure it would cost at least $20. I have seen robots at hotels in Japan, but have yet to see one stateside. I like the robot’s name, Hazel. I bet she gets 5-star ratings all the time 🙂 And I love 85°C Bakery Cafe!!! We have one here in LA and I love it!
Candy, I bet the robots in Japan are top-notch! We watch NHK a lot and when they have shows on robotics I’m amazed at the tech. I instantly felt akin to her as my dog’s name is Hazel. 🙂 I think that is a great price point for the tour as well, and for families, it makes it very affordable. That’s great there is a 85°C Bakery Cafe in LA. What is your go-to?
I taught at the Central Washington University’s Des Moines campus so I am familiar with the area. Redondo Beach, of course, is a great magnet for me. But the Highline Botanical Garden was, too.
Carol, I knew you were in the Seattle area, but I wasn’t sure where. That’s great you’ve had a chance to explore these small towns. The garden is such a treasure!
It looks very very attractive! There are so many delicious food in your photos !!! Super!