Fun for the whole family in Seattle Southside
Got any family plans this weekend? We know how hard it can be to find activities that keep everyone entertained. How about heading to Seattle Southside, where you can gear up for some adrenaline-pumping, scream-inducing, competition-raising, brain-building fun. With recreational areas, entertainment centers, and an aquarium, Seattle’s backyard is the perfect destination for activities to keep the whole family happy.
These five attractions are sure to have your kids (and yourself) begging to stay for more:
Get in touch with your inner American Ninja Warrior at Flying Circus in Tukwila, the world’s largest extreme aerial sports park. The facilities here are sure to get the whole family’s adrenaline rushing, with thrilling, physically active attractions suitable for kids, teens, and adults alike.
Compete in trampoline dodgeball, fly through the air on a trapeze, catapult yourself into an Olympic-sized foam pit, spin and twirl on aerial silks, air dunk it like Jordan, or fight your way through the ninja obstacle course. There are even age-appropriate events, like KidJump for ages 6 and under, club nights for teens, and fitness classes for mom and dad.
This public aquarium is a marine stewardship project of Highline College, promoting understanding and appreciation of the marvelous and diverse Puget Sound ecosystem through interactive learning. It features two large touch tanks, two octopus tanks, various jellyfish life stage tanks, a schooling fish tank, and more. It is home to over 250 species of marine life creatures native to our local waters.
Plus, because it’s a public institution, the MaST Center Aquarium is free to visit. Normal open viewing hours are 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays, with extended summer hours on Thursdays from 4 to 7 p.m. Stop by on the second Saturday of the month to catch an underwater tour of the Puget Sound, as their resident diver live streams his explorative journeys into the deep.
There is so much action at the Tukwila Family Fun Center, you’ll definitely have to make multiple trips to do it all.
Want to get your head spinning on some rides? Check out the stomach-clenching Drop n Twist tower, soar through the air on the 70-foot tall Screamin’ Swing, or take the kids on the Frog Hopper. Is friendly competition more your family’s speed? Challenge the kids to go-karts, bumper boats, laser tag, mini golf, or bowling. How about high-tech, visual experiences? Get lost in the virtual reality challenge, or transcend time and space in the XD theater.
This classic entertainment center in Westfield Southcenter offers up active fun for the whole family. It’s the perfect place to show off your bowling or billiards skills, experience the newest in arcade game crazes, or kick some butt at darts and ping pong. They even have private karaoke rooms you can rent out, providing the stage for you to live out your wildest pop star dreams, while still not actually having to sing in front of a bunch of strangers.
You’re sure to get hungry (and thirsty) from all the action. Order some tried and true game grub while you play, with menu items like pizza, wings, burgers, and nachos, as well as draft and bottled beer and wine or shoju/sake mixed drinks. Then get back up, because it’s your turn to play!
Looking for somewhere to cool off your family this summer? Look no further than Seattle’s backyard, at Angle Lake Park. This 10-acre park is Seattle Southside’s premiere waterfront recreational area, complete with lifeguard-monitored beach and swimming area, boat launch, fishing pier, playground, barbeques, picnic shelter, and a new spray park play area with exciting water features for the little ones.
Ready to get in on the fun? Contact the experts at the Seattle Southside Regional Tourism Authority Visitor Center for trip itineraries, activity and restaurant recommendations, hotel reservations, and more! Visit them online at www.seattlesouthside.com or call 206-575-2489.
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