The 5 Hidden Gems of Lynnwood

Lynnwood has a remarkable amount of indoor recreation, which is kind of perfect because – in case you haven’t heard – it rains just a little bit in the Pacific Northwest. There are the classic spots like The Lynnwood Bowl & Skate, Bowlero, and Dave & Buster’s. But there’s also indoor golfing at the Back9 Parlor, Axe-throwing at Bullseye, Pickleball Kingdom, and the Funtastic Playtorium, which is a mall-based throwback to those indoor plastic tube mazes from the 90s.

Classic video game lovers will adore Another Castle, where you can play retro video game cabinets, pinball, and more.

Conceivably, you could spend a whole day being active indoors without getting a drop of water on you. Sign us up!

Okay, it seems like a silly thing, but it’s really fun to have robots serve you sushi. Step into Sushi Hana and step into the future. A robot singing a digital tune finds your table and serves up glasses of water and chopsticks. You punch your order into an iPad and whoosh your nigiri, sashimi, or tempura of choice comes zipping down a conveyor belt a few minutes later.

Lynnwood is a place with a strong Asian American community. There are plenty of delicious places to eat Asian Cuisine (some of our faves are Katsu Burger and Tofu House), and you can also shop at H Mart, a Korean grocery superstore, or Ranch 99. If you’re someone who needs to travel with snacks or prefers accommodations with a kitchen a la an Airbnb or extended stay, then you’ll find some great, fresh ingredients in Lynnwood.

Ok, the dining is just great here in general. Take a look:

Speaking of the future, Lynnwood is ahead of the times when it comes to public transportation and car-free travel. The big attraction here is the light rail, which connects Lynnwood both to major areas like Seattle and the Seattle-Tacoma (Sea-Tac) Airport but also runs throughout the Great Seattle Metroplitan Area. The pitch here? Lodge in Lynnwood for less than Seattle while being able to access Seattle without the headache of traffic and parking. What a deal!


Combine light rail with the Zipcar app and the local Interurban Trail (connects to Everett and Seattle), and you’ll be travelling carbon-free... and in style.

Let’s be real. Self care is just not an option these days. You have to take time for yourself or go basically crazy. Can you feel the rat-race-y burnout in the air? The churning news cycles? The social media stimulation seeping into your bones? Turn it off! Unplug!

Visit Q or Olympus Spas for a day to just like chill hard, bro. Hit up that sauna. You can’t pour from an empty cup, as they say.

Weird quirk about Snohomish County – we've got plenty of outdoor recreation, but not many outdoor gear outfitters. Not sure why that is (investment opportunity, anyone?).

Luckily, Lynnwood is the sort of place where you can gear up for your next adventure. Notably, there’s a brand-new REI store that demands your attention. In case you’ve been under a rock the last 100 years (which would be really cool, actually), REI is an old and much-beloved outdoor gear co-op based in Seattle. They’ve got everything for the weekend warrior up to the mountain climbing professional.

Cyclists would be remiss to skip out on Gregg’s Cycle, and other lightly used outdoorsy gear can be purchased for cheap at Play It Again Sports (again with the eco-friendly options, Lynnwood?).

Temple Distilling Company offers craft liquors, made from scratch on-site. Visit their tasting room to get an authentic flavor of the city.

Caffe Ladro is a cute little midcentury modern coffee shop that looks like a cross between a retro gas station and a donut shop. Pull up a chair at the counter under the windows and enjoy the natural light as you plug away on your laptop and sip a delightful americano with cream.