The Ultimate Kids' Vacation

Seattle Southside is a smorgasbord of family fun!

From toddlers to teenagers and the young-at-heart, there are activities for every occasion and season. Navigate stars, romp in a park, explore imaginary worlds during bookstore readings or get your heart racing with a round of laser tag. There are endless opportunities for memories in the making!

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Day 1

Get the adrenaline pumping with a trip to the Family Fun Center. Rocky and Bullwinkle greet visitors to an extravaganza of indoor and outdoor games. Younger kids navigate the chutes and ladders of Kidopolis while all ages enjoy the array of arcade games and tag at LazerXTreme. On sunny days, head outside for a spin in the go-karts, a round of mini golf, or the batting cages. After working up an appetite, catch your breath at Bullwinkle’s Restaurant. The Build-Your-Own Pizza and Sundae options are perfect for satisfying everyone’s palate!

Refuel at Bowlero before hitting the lanes. Parents can enjoy an adult beverage and youngsters 10 years and under can choose from the Kids Menu, which includes everything from mini pizzas and burgers to shakes made from local favorite Snoqualmie Ice Cream. The Monkey Business milkshake is a crowd pleaser. After, choose a lucky ball from the rainbow of options and bowl a few strikes. Don’t miss the overhead ball-and-pin art installation in the lobby!

Game on! Waterland Arcade in Des Moines is a great mix of retro arcade games and carnival classics such as Skee-Ball and air hockey. Summon your inner pinball wizard and light up the board playing Outer Space or Flying Carpet pinball machines. Next-generation gamers flock to the Xbox, Wii, and PlayStation options. Enjoy adult refreshments at the adjoining Tiki Bar, complete with a thatched roof. If your energy levels remain high, hit the ground running at Tag Zone, an indoor Nerf arena also in Des Moines. Choices range from open play to team tournaments and even versions of Capture the Flag (ages 6 years and older).

Day 2

Let your imagination soar! The Museum of Flight is a unique Northwest treasure. Biplanes and fighter jets hang from the Great Gallery ceiling readying for takeoff. Aviation enthusiasts are drawn to the legendary Blackbird spy plane with docent-led tours offered daily. Reach for the stars in the Charles Simonyi Space Gallery, home to the NASA Space Shuttle Trainer. Don’t miss special tours of the shuttle trainer and a Boeing Field behind-the-scenes experience. The Aviation Pavilion offers an up-close-look at everything from a Boeing 787 to a walk-through of the original Air Force One.

For budding aviators, visit The Museum of Flight Store for their selection of kites, gliders, and build-it-yourself kits. Launch them at the quaint and quirky Oxbow Park, a five-minute drive from the museum. The pocket-sized park is home to the iconic, oversized Hats ’n’ Boots sculpture. Created in 1953, the 44-foot-wide cowboy hat and 22-foot-high boots make for a perfect Kodak moment.

Finish your day with a hearty meal at Famous Dave’s BBQ. You’ll have a chance to try several varieties of BBQ sauce on all sorts of meat including award-winning ribs, Georgia chopped pork, or beef brisket. Plus, there are plenty of options for the kids, including chicken tenders and cheeseburgers on the “Lil’ Wilbur” menu.

Day 3

Especially great for rainy days, dive between the covers for story time at the bookstore or library! Barnes & Noble hosts children’s reading events every Saturday at 11 a.m. Appropriate for kids from toddlers to pre-teens, books range from perennial favorites to seasonal classics. Yearly events include a Star Wars theme in October complete with costumers and appearances by characters such as BB8.

Keep the creative juices flowing with a visit to the LEGO Store at Westfield Southcenter. Marvel at rotating displays of iconic tributes to the Disneyland castle and Star Wars’ Millennium Falcon. Free registration as a LEGO VIP includes access to the Monthly Mini Model Build or, you can bring an unwanted minifigure to trade on Minifigure Swap Mondays (6-14 years). For a more cuddly creation, Build-A-Bear offers dozens of bears and characters for adoption. Choose your new friend, name it, dress it, and take it home with its own birth certificate.

End the day by satisfying your your sweet tooth at the Seattle Chocolate Experience Chocolate Factory Tour (6 years and older; 6 and under are welcome in the gift shop). Travel along the hot-pink walkway and watch the creation of truffles and chocolate bars from start to finish. Generous samples are a tasty perk! Check regularly for additional special events like monthly Seconds Saturday (delicious-yet-dented chocolate at a discount) or seasonal offerings such as the Halloween Haunted Factory Tour.

Complete your day with dinner at The Old Spaghetti Factory. Choose from traditional favorites like mizithra cheese and browned butter pasta or spice it up with spaghetti Vesuvius or jumbo crab ravioli. Each entrée is served as a part of their famous three-course menu, starting with a soup or salad, and ending with a scoop of their vibrantly colored spumoni ice cream for dessert.

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Events

Review the calendar of events to find things to do in SeaTac, Tukwila and Des Moines.

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Food & Drink

Whether you’re in search of a restaurant near you, seafood restaurants, a quaint café, Indian restaurants, family-friendly restaurants, Italian restaurants or fine dining, with over 100 places to choose from you’ll find Seattle Southside ready to serve.

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