Staying Fit and Healthy in Seattle Southside

Get your workout in when you visit Seattle Southside

Is getting in shape one of your New Year's resolutions? Visiting from out-of-town and not sure where to go to get a run in? There are plenty of ways for people of all ages to stay healthy and active in Seattle Southside! Whether you want some fresh air in the great outdoors or prefer the predictable nature of the temperature-controlled indoors, we've got you covered.

Running, Walking, or Biking Along the Interurban Trail

Des Moines Creek Trail and Des Moines Beach Park

Mall Walking at Westfield Southcenter

Soccer, Lacrosse or Rugby at Starfire Sports

Discover Your Inner Ninja Warrior at DEFY

Working Out at Your Hotel

Running, Walking, or Biking Along the Interurban Trail

The Interurban Trail runs through Tukwila, Kent, Auburn, Algona, and Pacific along a near-straight 14 mile-long route beside the historic Interurban Rail Line.

The alignment crosses a wide variety of landscapes, providing views of many regional sites and activities. The landscape passes through historic industrial areas and suburban lands while following the PSE railroad south before crossing through the broad Green River Valley. The trail provides access to the Southcenter area, Renton Junction, downtown Kent, Emerald Downs in Auburn, and the communities of Algona and Pacific.

This paved trail is a great spot to put in miles while enjoying nature and peeks at urban landscape. With many parking lots located along this trail, it's easy to park and get a workout in before you continue on your adventures...or head back to your hotel room for a shower.

Des Moines Creek Trail and Des Moines Beach Park

The Des Moines Creek Trail offers a nice connection between the south side of Seattle and the waterfront community of Des Moines. The paved trail begins just south of the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport on 188th Street and winds through a paved and wooded path of Des Moines Creek Park. The urban topography of blackberry vines and ivy-strangled trees brightens with sword ferns, bright green moss and lichen-daubed alder trees. As the path curves between forested hillsides, you can hear a cheerful, watery babble. Beautiful leaves in the fall and colorful flowers in the spring and summer combined with a lively creek with miniature waterfalls make this a peaceful nature escape. The park offers basic amenities, such as benches, picnic tables, and drinking fountains, as well as a network of mountain biking trails to explore. On the trail's southern end, enjoy a stroll over the water on the long pier. You can also continue your journey south on a shared-road bike route on Marine View Drive about 2 miles to Saltwater State Park, where you'll find sandy beaches, tide pools, and a scuba diving reef.

Mall Walking at Westfield Southcenter

This one is quite popular with the senior crowd but it’s fun for everyone! Westfield Southcenter typically opens up at 10:00am on weekdays and Saturday, and 11:00am on Sunday, but the doors open up at 7:00am for mall walkers. The first floor has a perimeter of .97 miles with a figure eight distance of .46 miles, so you’ll be able to work up a sweat in the warmth and comfort of the biggest indoor mall in the Pacific Northwest.

Soccer, Lacrosse or Rugby at Starfire Sports

The 54-acre sports complex, Starfire Sports, features 13 outdoor and two indoor soccer fields. These fields are the practice field for the Sounders FC and the home of the Seattle Sounders S2 and Seattle Seawolves rugby! When not reserved, most of the fields are available to use for free. Take a big group of your friends and start a pickup game of soccer, rugby, or lacrosse on one of Starfire’s grass or turf fields! If you want to be positive that a field is available, field reservations (including their indoor fields) are available with pricing that varies based on time, check Starfire's website for current availability.

In town by yourself or not able to get a big group together? Starfire hosts drop-in soccer every Friday night from 8-10 PM (see Starfire's website for details). It's a great way to meet other soccer players, and it's a great workout!

Discover Your Inner Ninja Warrior at DEFY

Have you ever watched American Ninja Warrior on television and thought to yourself, "Man, that looks like fun! I'd love to try that!" Well DEFY, one of the largest extreme indoor aerial parks, can help turn that idle dream into a reality. With their ninja course, climbing walls, parkour area, and other extreme aerial obstacles, you can build the muscle and skills needed to become a Ninja Warrior. Plus, you'll work up a sweat and have some fun while you're at it!

Working Out at Your Hotel

Plenty of Seattle Southside hotels accommodate those of us looking to stay in shape while we travel. Whether you’re looking to do some yoga on the naturally restored wetlands of the Cedarbrook Lodge, do some laps in the Comfort Suites’ massive pool or enjoy a nice game of racquetball at one of the Doubletree Suites’ two courts, you’ll be able to get plenty of exercise in Seattle Southside. Check out all of the area hotels that have a fitness center here.