Tukwila packs a surprising amount of indoor fun into a few square miles. On a rainy day you can try indoor skydiving, tour a chocolate factory, bowl and play Japanese arcade games, crack an escape room, or pick up a racquet and learn badminton. Most of it sits within a few minutes of Westfield Southcenter.
Plenty of people only know Tukwila as the place they drive through on the way to the airport. But when the gray rolls in (and in the Pacific Northwest, it will), this is one of the best spots in South King County to stay dry and still have a great day. Here are our favorites.
Where can you get your heart racing indoors?
iFLY Seattle Indoor Skydiving. Tucked off Tukwila Parkway, iFLY lets you float on a column of air in a vertical wind tunnel. No plane, no parachute and no experience required. It's a bucket-list rush that's just as fun to watch from the glass.
Badminton at Bellevue Badminton Club Southcenter. Okay, we're biased. But if you want to move, laugh and break a sweat without the gym-floor boredom, badminton is hard to beat. Our Southcenter club has indoor courts, racquet rentals at the front desk and staff who love helping first-timers. Book a court with friends or family, or come to Badminton 101, our beginner-only social night, if you've never played. You'll be trading rallies before you know it.
Never played before? Start with What Is Badminton, Really? for a quick primer.
What's fun for families and kids on a rainy day?
Bullwinkle's Family Fun Center. A longtime South King County favorite for birthday parties and rainy weekends, with an arcade, bowling and plenty of ways for kids to burn off energy.
Maeve Chocolate factory tour. Yes, there's a real chocolate factory in Tukwila. Maeve (formerly Seattle Chocolate) runs tours that give you a bird's-eye view of the factory floor from a bright pink mezzanine, and every tour ends with a tasting. Tours book up, so reserve ahead.
The Museum of Flight. Just north of Tukwila along Boeing Field, it's packed with aircraft, spacecraft and hands-on exhibits. Easily a half-day for curious kids (and adults who still look up when a plane goes over).
Where can you hang out with friends?
Round1 Bowling & Arcade. Inside Westfield Southcenter, Round1 has bowling lanes, billiards, private karaoke rooms and an arcade stocked with games you won't find elsewhere, many straight from Japan. Great for a group with mixed interests.
The Escape Game Southcenter. Grab a group of friends, pick a room and see if you can get out before the clock runs down. It's a good pick for coworkers too.
Where can you shop, eat and wander?
Westfield Southcenter. One of the biggest malls in the region, it's an easy rainy-day default: shopping, a movie theater and a wide mix of places to eat. It's also a natural home base, since Round1 is inside and most of the spots on this list are a short drive away.
Don't skip the food beyond the mall, either. Tukwila is a diverse city, and some of the best meals are in the small restaurants along Tukwila International Boulevard.
How do you plan a rainy day in Tukwila?
Pair something active with something chill. A few combos we like:
- Date night: an hour of badminton at Southcenter, then dinner near the mall
- Family Saturday: the chocolate factory tour in the morning, Bullwinkle's in the afternoon
- Friends' night out: an escape room, then bowling and karaoke at Round1
- Adrenaline day: iFLY, then a few games of badminton to keep the energy going
Whatever you choose, check each place's hours and book ahead where you can, especially on weekends and school breaks.
Frequently asked questions
What is there to do in Tukwila when it rains?
Tukwila has indoor skydiving at iFLY, a chocolate factory tour, Round1 Bowling & Arcade, escape rooms, Bullwinkle's Family Fun Center, Westfield Southcenter and badminton at Bellevue Badminton Club Southcenter. The Museum of Flight is just to the north.
What can kids do indoors in Tukwila?
Families love Bullwinkle's, the chocolate factory tour and the Museum of Flight. Badminton is also great for kids, and a family can share a court and play together.
Is badminton easy to try if I've never played?
Yes. You can rent racquets at the front desk, and Badminton 101 at our Southcenter club is made just for first-timers.