2025 Summer Nationals - Off the Deck
Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatic Center (WKCAC) is located 17 miles south of SeaTac International airport via Interstate 5 or HWY 99. All major rental car companies have facilities at the airport. The majority of the local hotels are between the airport and the pool. The location of the facility is just minutes from Interstate 5 in the city of Federal Way.
FEDERAL WAY ATTRACTIONS (all mileage from Aquatic Center)
Wild Waves and Enchanted Village (3 miles)
Get wet in the huge wave pool, in the lazy river, or on the Konga River slides in Wild Waves
Weyerhaeuser Pacific Rim Bonsai Collection (3.1 miles)
See the 50 examples of bonsai plants from around the Pacific Rim in an outdoor museum.
Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden (2.9 miles)
Explore the world’s largest collection of species rhododendrons in a public garden. Garden Gift Shop and Nursery on site.
Dash Point and Saltwater State Park (8.1 miles)
Enjoy a close-by Puget Sound beach complete with restrooms, picnic tables, and trails.
www.parks.state.wa.us/496/Dash-Point
West Hylebos Trail (1 mile)
See Northwest nature up close on these wetland trails with self-guided nature walk.
www.visitfw.org/directory/attractions/west-hylebos-wetlands-park-49
Steel Lake Park (4.5 miles)
Swim or fish in Steel Lake, play basketball, volleyball, baseball, or play on the playground or have a picnic on the sand.
www.cityoffederalway.com/page/communty-parks-0
Five Mile Lake (5.5 miles)
Take a dip in the lake, play on the playground, play baseball and much more.
www.kingcounty.gov/services/parks-recreation/parks/parks-and-natural-lands/parksatoz.aspx
Federal Way Performing Arts & Events Center (4.4 miles)
A full listing of upcoming performances may be found under Calendar, within the dropdown menu under Shows at the top of your screen.
Federal Way Community Center (2.1 miles)
Two indoor swimming pools, spa, lazy river, 2-story slide. This large facility has excellent fitness rooms and equipment, gyms, and an indoor climbing wall.
Federal Way Celebration Park (2.3 miles)
Hosts regional and national softball and soccer championships. This beautiful park includes children’s play structure, trails, and pathways connecting to the BPA Trails System. www.cityoffederalway.com/page/community-parks-0
Federal Way BPA Trail System (.3 miles)
Connects Celebration Park and Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatic Center (WKCAC). A new loop is adjacent to WKCAC and goes around Panther Lake. www.cityoffederalway.com/page/community-parks-0
TACOMA ATTRACTIONS
Museum of Glass (10 miles)
The Hot Shop, or working glassblowing studio, is open during Museum operating hours. The Museum staffs a team of resident artists and features a variety of visiting artist programs. The artists typically break for lunch 1-2 PM Monday-Saturday and 2-3 PM on Sundays. Tours available -
Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium (15 miles)
Pointe Defiance is home to Beluga whales, polar bears, Asian elephants, and sharks.
Washington State History Museum (10 miles)
From Northwest Native American exhibits to a full-size Boeing B-17
LeMay – America’s Car Museum (15 miles)
Four-story museum on nine acres; home to 350 vehicles spanning the history of cars in America.
Union Station (9.5 miles)
A large collection of glass art by living world famous artist Dale Chihuly is housed in this beautiful building, now a federal courthouse.
Children’s Museum of Tacoma (11 miles)
Hands on art projects and interactive exhibits will keep little ones busy and happy.
Museum of Glass, Tacoma (10 miles)
Hot shop, galleries, theater, art based on kids’ designs and multiple displays of glass art.
Ruston Way Waterfront (13 miles)
Walk or run along the paved path on the waterfront in Tacoma. Famous for fine dining on the waterfront as well.
www.Metroparkstacoma.org/ruston-way
SEATTLE ATTRACTIONS
Space Needle (28 miles)
Built for the 1962 World’s Fair, this 605-foot landmark is a Seattle favorite. Take a high-speed elevator to the 520’ observation deck for a 360-degree view of Seattle that is 500 feet above the city. It underwent a $100 million renovation, a few years ago and now has a glass floor observation deck, which is awesome!
Chihuly Garden and Glass (28 miles)
Ranking 1st on many surveys of the #1 thing to do when visiting Seattle, this spectacular display of glass art is right next to the Space Needle.
https://www.chihulygardenandglass.com
Seattle Center (28 miles)
There is always something to do at the Seattle Center with the Seattle Center House, Monorail, Fun Forest Amusement Park, Pacific Science Center, Children’s Museum, Seattle repertory theatre, Seattle Center Opera House, and the new Climate Pledge Arena.
Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP) (28 miles)
A museum for any music lover. Play new instruments, listen to live music, look at music history exhibits, and eat dinner all at this architectural curiosity in downtown.
Pacific Science Center (27 miles)
Learn plenty and have fun with the two IMAX theatres, Tropical Butterfly house, dinosaur exhibits, a planetarium, Laser Theater, virtual reality experiences and live animals.
The Seattle Great Wheel (27 miles)
Located at Pier 27 on the Seattle waterfront, this giant Ferris wheel provides spectacular view of the downtown, stadiums, nearby islands, and often Mt Rainier. There are 46 gondolas, which each hold up to 6 people. 1301 Alaska Way, 206-623-8607.
Pike Place Market (27 miles)
See everything under the sun including the world-famous fish throwers, fresh food, and handmade goods.
Seattle Aquarium (32 miles)
Get away from the pool and see some real swimmers including fish, sharks, sea otters, giant pacific octopus, salmon ladder, fish hatchery and sea dragons.
Pioneer Square Underground Tour (26 miles)
Take a tour and see an interesting view of the underside of Seattle. The Seattle you see now is built over the top of the “Old Seattle” devastated by a fire in 1889. www.undergroundtour.com
Woodland Park Zoo (31 miles)
The 300 species of wildlife and 1000 species of plants in this zoo stay in one of the oldest zoos in the nation. Many award-winning exhibits make this zoo a Seattle treasure. www.zoo.org
Seattle Art Museum (26 miles)
Over 20,000 art objects can be browsed in this downtown Seattle museum.
T-Mobile Park (25 miles)
Come see Seattle’s retractable roof baseball stadium and home of the Seattle Mariners.
Lake Washington Ship Canal and Hiram M. Chittenden Locks (Ballard Locks) (32 miles)
Visit the busiest lock system in the nation including a fish ladder, botanical gardens, and hands on exhibits, theater program, and a bookstore.
Museum of Flight (20 miles)
More than 50 aircraft and exhibits on the history of aviation are housed in the red barn which was the first home of the Boeing Company.
Nordic Heritage Museum (32 miles)
Dedicated to collecting, preserving, and educating since its founding in 1980, the Nordic Museum is the largest museum in the United States to honor the legacy of immigrants from the five Nordic countries: Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden.
Northwest Trek Wildlife Park (32 miles)
See wild animals up close in their natural environments on a tram ride and learn about animals with interactive exhibits.
Starbucks Reserve Roastery (31 miles)
Opened in December 2014 – popular attraction in Capitol Hill neighborhood.
www.starbucksreserve.com/locations/seattle.
Seattle Storm Basketball Games (27 miles)
Home games are held at Climate Pledge Arena during August. The arena is a multi-purpose indoor arena located in the 74-acre entertainment complex known as Seattle Center, the site of the 1962 World’s Fair. Originally named Key Arena, it was completely rebuilt and reopened October 19, 2021, in time for the Seattle “Kraken” ice hockey team’s first season.
MAJOR DESTINATIONS FOR EXTENDING YOUR STAY
Mt Rainier (65 miles south of Federal Way)
It can be seen from all over Washington State. Rainier is the tallest mountain in Washington and the Cascade Range. At 13,210 feet, hiking and adventure awaits your visit, and you’ll find an abundance of flora and fauna! Check out the historic Paradise Inn, which dates 1916 and is a wonderful place to visit even if you don’t stay the night. More info here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Rainier.
Mount St. Helens (99 miles south of Federal Way)
The May 18, 1980, eruption of Mount St. Helen’s remains the deadliest and most economically destructive volcanic event in U.S. history. The volcano is part of the Cascade Volcanic Arc, a segment of the Pacific Ring of Fire. There are two significant visitor centers. The Johnston Ridge Observatory is located at the east end of WA state route 504 and provides a spectacular view of the mountain and crater. A beautiful visitor center provides information about the mountain, both before and after the eruption. The Mount St. Helens Visitor Center at Silver Lake is located about 30 miles west of the mountain (5 miles east of Interstate 5).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_St._Helens.
San Juan Islands (varies depending on mode of transportation)
Accessible by Clipper from Seattle, ferry from Anacortes, air from Boeing field in Seattle, and seaplane from Lake Union, the San Juan islands are a small archipelago that lies west of the northern part of WA state. They “sit” between WA and Canada’s Vancouver Island. There are over 100 islands in the archipelago and only 15 are inhabited. The larger islands are San Juan (pop 7810), Orcas (5395), and Lopez (2466). Lodging is available on most of them. The San Juans have a fascinating history.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Juan_Islands.
Olympic National Park (110 miles)
Located on the Olympic Peninsula, the park’s visitor center is in Port Angeles. Covering over 1,370 square miles, the national park itself has four regions: the Pacific coastline, alpine areas, the west-side temperate rainforest, and the forests of the drier east side. Three different ecosystems are included within the park. Numerous lakes are within the park as well as excellent opportunities for hiking and exploring.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olympic_National_Park.
North Cascades National Park (132 miles)
Located in the northwestern part of the state, this park is filled with mountain peaks. The most prominent one is Mt. Baker. It’s a wonderful park for camping, hiking, bicycling, and mountaineering. Park headquarters are in Sedro-Woolley.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Cascades_National_Park#Park_management.
Vancouver, BC (168 miles)
