The Micoadventure: Epic Adventures Without the Epic Hassle

52 Microadventures in 52 Weeks - Part 2

Seattle Southside is so full of incredible sights, activities, eats, and more that we had to break up our microadventure-a-week post into multiple parts! Continue your journey with us as we find even more curiously wonderful microadventures to enjoy in Seattle Southside.

18. Stop and Smell the Flowers at the Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden
19. Toast the Breathtaking Sunset at the Quarterdeck
20. History and Noodles at Arashi Ramen
21. Catch a Thrilling BMX Race
22. Round of Golf and a Round of Drinks at Billy Baroo's
23. Cool Off With Shave Ice at Kakigori Dessert
24. Sweet Chills at Somi Somi
25. Get Out of this World at the Maury Island Incident Mural
26. Chill Out at Angle Lake Spray Park
27. Great Views and Art at the Robert Morris Earthwork
28. Get Out on the Water in a Kayak
29. Get Fresh at the Des Moines Farmers' Market
30. Feed the Need for Speed with RC Races
31. Take a Beach Day
32. Sweeten Your Day at Contrivance Wine & Meadery
33. Get Your Boba On at TeaCup Des Moines
34. Catch a Glimpse of Unusual Art
35. Go Planespotting
36. Take a Hike (Literally!)

Looking for even more microadventures? Check out Part Three of this series!

Not sure what a microadventure is?

Read part one of the series here to learn what a microadventure is and find even more microadventures.

18. Stop and Smell the Flowers at the Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden

Nothing says spring like the rhododendrons in bloom around town, and there's no place better to take in these beautiful flowers than at the Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden. But don't be fooled - this garden, which features over 700 of the more than 1,000 types of rhododendron, is gorgeous well into the summer as well, thanks to their extensive collection of azaleas (also a part of the rhododendron family!), Victorian-era Stumpery (who knew that was a thing?), conservatory and more. You can learn more about the garden in different seasons on their website.

19. Toast the Breathtaking Sunset at the Quarterdeck

Watch the sun slip behing the Olympic Mountains and paint the sky in vibrant hues while sipping wine, craft beer, or an espresso at the Quarterdeck at Des Moines Marina. While there are many spots along the shore of the Puget Sound that make for excellent sunset viewing, this may be one of our favorites - you get the incredible view, plus tasty libations and occasionally live music and food trucks as well! And if you're a dog lover, the Quarterdeck is pet-friendly, so you'll often get to see a few furry friends to make your visit a tail-wagging good time.

20. History and Noodles at Arashi Ramen

A rich, hot, and delicious bowl of ramen is fantastic on a cold day, and cold noodles are perfectly refreshing on a hot day. No matter the weather, Arashi Ramen has you covered with incredible eats. But this place is about far more than just the incredible food inside. Just outside of the restaurant is a bench that you could easily mistake as just a simple place to sit. But if you read the plaque on the bench, you'll see that the bench is dedicated to the memories of Tamayo and Matsutake Mikami, who worked on a farm on the land that is now the Parkway Village shopping center that houses Arashi Ramen. During World War Two, while the family was interned by the American government, four of the Mikami's ten children volunteered to serve their country in spite of the injustices their family faced. The poles behind the bench are engraved to resemble stalks of the sweet corn the Mikami family was known for growing. This microadventure is about more than just an amazing bite to eat - it's about preserving local history.

21. Catch a Thrilling BMX Race

SeaTac BMX is a venue like no other. Featuridng both a world-class BMX track and a pump track, this is the home track for multiple championship-level BMX racers. From late spring through early fall, you can catch these racers on the track in their USA BMX-sanctioned races, which are a thrilling watch for all. If you're feeling especially brave, the track also has rentals available to try out the sport for yourself outside of these race event times. Learn more and check out their full race schedule here.

22. Round of Golf and a Round of Drinks at Billy Baroo's

Whether you're the king of swing or don't know your putter from your nine-iron, you'll have a fantastic time at Billy Baroo's: a fantastic slice of American-style pub located right next to the beautiful greens at Foster Golf Links. Whether you've worked up an appetite with a round of golf or just come by for the tasty eats and lovely view, you'll find barbecued deliciousness, burgers, and grillhouse eats that are perfectly paired with one of the 20 beers they have on tap, a signature cocktail, or a glass of wine.

23. Cool Off With Shave Ice at Kakigori Dessert

With the temperatures rising, some relief from the heat is definitely needed, and there's no sweeter way to cool off than shaved ice! At Kakigori Dessert you can enjoy Korean-style bingsoo shaved ice that's so cute you'll (almost) feel bad eating it, with flavors like Thai Tea, Strawberries & Oreo, and beyond! Not feeling the chills? Delicious croffles (croissant waffles) are another snack option covered in delectable toppings.

24. Sweet Chills at Somi Somi

Have you ever had a sweet fish? At Somi Somi, you can have delicious taiyaki, a sweet fish-shaped pastry filled with a number of different sweet fillings, from Nutella to sweet red bean paste. If you're feeling more savory than sweet, try the cheese filling! And if it's warm, you can have delicious soft serve ice cream filled taiyaki instead.

25. Get Out of this World at the Maury Island Incident Mural

The origins of the Men in Black can be traced right back here to Seattle Southside, where a UFO sighting and subsequent possible hush-up operation called the Maury Island Incident took place over 75 years ago. Today, the events of this incident are commemorated with the Maury Island Incident Mural, which you can visit at any time, and the annual Men in Black Birthday Bash, which takes place every June 22nd. You can also take a free self-guided walking tour which will guide you through points of itnerest related to the story.

26. Chill Out at Angle Lake Spray Park

Looking for a fun way to cool off when the temperatures rise? The spray park at Angle Lake has fun buckets, sprayers, and more to make getting wet and cooling off lots of fun for kids of all ages. For those who like a more leisurely swim, the cool waters of the lake nearby are a great option, and life jackets are available to borrow to help keep kids safe who aren't confident swimmers yet. One added bonus to this spot? When the mountain is out, the views are spectacular, and there's some great planespotting available here too.

27. Great Views and Art at the Robert Morris Earthwork

How do you turn an industrial eyesore into art? Johnson Gravel Pit #30, now called Untitled Earthwork, is excatly that. Artist Robert Morris turned this gravel mining pit into a meditative, beautiful piece by sculpting the sides of the pit into tiers and planting rye grass, transforming the land into a giant piece of art. You can learn more about the Earthwork and other cultural sites around Seattle Southside on our Seattle Southside Scenes Trail!

28. Get Out on the Water in a Kayak

There's nothing quite like getting out on the water on a gorgeous summer day. Whether you kayak the waters of the Sound, the serene Angle Lake, or along one of our rivers, there's lots of fantastic kayaking in the waters around Seattle Southside. If you don't travel with your own kayak (it's just a little too big for a carry-on after all), you can rent kayaks for use at Saltwater State Park through their Snack Shack, which is open weekends.

29. Get Fresh at the Des Moines Farmers' Market

The Des Moines Farmers' Market is no ordinary farmers' market. What sets this market with its fresh, local produce, incredible handicrafts from local artists, and delectable food trucks apart from the norm is the breathtaking view of the Puget Sound, Olympic Mountains, and Maury Island that come with them. Add in live music, libations from the Quarterdeck, and the glorious summer vibes, and you have the recipe for a pefect day. Looking for more local markets? Check out our guide to the farmers' market scene.

30. Feed the Need for Speed with RC Races

Over the summer months, the RC track at North SeaTac Park is abuzz with the whir of RC engines. Hobbyists from all over the region come to this specialized track, with its paved and off-road sections, to race their miniature cars. Spectators are, of course, welcomed! Learn more about the race schedule on the SeaTac RC website. Want to join in on the races? Locally owned shop Hobbytown USA is a branch of the chain that specializes in miniatures, with a special emphasis on RC cars, boats, and planes.

31. Take a Beach Day

You know what they say - life's a beach! There's nothing like hitting one of the many beaches in or near Seattle Southside when the weather is sunny, whether you're soaking in the sun and checking out the sea life at Des Moines Beach or Saltwater State Beach, or just chilling on the shore of Angle Lake, where there's an incredible view of Mt. Rainier any time it's out.

32. Sweeten Your Day at Contrivance Wine & Meadery

Contrivance Meadery started out as a passion project and became a full-blown sensation, part of the craft mead revolution taking place here in Seattle Southside. Taste local honey crafted into delicious wine at this steampunk-inspired tasting room, where you'll feel like you're taking part in a delicious alchemical experiment.

33. Get Your Boba On at TeaCup Des Moines

Boba has gone from niche snack to mainstream delight in the past ten years, and at TeaCup Des Moines they're taking boba to the next level, with hand-whisked organic matcha, fruit smoothies, and of course milk tea all on offer with boba toppings like pearls, rainbow jelly, egg pudding and more. Plus, if you're hungry, they have a fantastic selection of banh mi, or Vietnamese sandwiches.

34. Catch a Glimpse of Unusual Art

The Big Catch Statue in Des Moines, WA is just one of many amazing pieces of outdoor art you can appreciate in Seattle Southside, but it may just be the most unique piece of art we have. From a scandalous story to real life, this unusual piece is certain to make you think. It's a stop along our Seattle Southside Scenes trail, which you can follow to discover art, culture, and history in our region.

35. Go Planespotting

Seattle Southside is home to multiple ideal spots to go Planespotting! Whether you're soaking in the sun at Angle Lake Park while watching the flights come in to or leave from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, enjoying the test flights arriving at the airfield next to the Museum of Flight, or ctaching a glimpse of seaplanes and test flights departing from Renton Municipal Airport, there are tons of options. Check out our planespotting blog for more ideas!

36. Take a Hike (Literally!)

Seattle Southside has tons of trails to explore, from the smooth, paved Interurban Trail that's perfect for hiking or biking to the more rugged trails in North SeaTac Park, there's a hike for every experience level in the area. Catch the last bits of summer or see the autumn leaves begin to turn as the seasons change. No matter when you take a hike, you'll find it's a literal and figurative breath of fresh air.

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Author

Christy Maggio

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