On the doorstep of Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, Tukwila is a bustling city in Washington’s King County. It was originally home to the Duwamish people and takes its name from the Chinook word for “hazelnut” in reference to the trees that once grew in abundance along the area’s riverbanks.
Things to do in Tukwila
In the heart of Tukwila is the Westfield Southcenter, a two-level shopping mall home to over 200 retail stores. Anchored by Macy’s, JCPenney, Nordstrom and Sears, it also boasts a multiplex cinema with an IMAX theatre. When it’s time to eat, you can refuel at Moctezuma’s Mexican, Duke’s Seafood or Trapper’s Sushi before enjoying a sweet treat at Mochinut.
Nearby is Tukwila Park, which encompasses 2.5 hectares of woodlands traversed by walking trails. Established in 1934, it is the city’s oldest green space and is renowned for its impressive fir trees and flowering rhododendrons. Just across the Green River is Fort Dent Park, where you’ll find a children’s playground and sporting facilities on the site of one of Tukwila’s earliest residences.
At the southern end of King County International Airport is the Museum of Flight, which is the largest, privately-owned air and space museum in the world. Its collection includes more than 150 aircraft, including the first Boeing 747, a British Airways Concorde and an early pressurised sailplane. In addition to learning about the evolution of space flight, you can see the former Boeing manufacturing plant known as the “Red Barn”.
Getting around Tukwila
Tukwila is around 25 minutes’ drive from the centre of Seattle and 10 minutes from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, which has flights to destinations across the globe. Amtrak trains connect to the Tukwila railway station while light rail services stop at Tukwila International Boulevard. Buses also travel throughout Tukwila.