Some people view Lynnwood as nothing more than a sleepy and quiet Seattle suburb. But if you look a little closer, you’ll find some really fun things to do in Lynnwood, WA. For one thing, Lynnwood has a high concentration of phenomenal Korean restaurants that foodies won’t want to miss.
It’s also easy to find family-friendly activities in the city like hiking and rock climbing. If you want to go shopping or spend an afternoon at the spa, Lynnwood has options for that too.
Wondering how to get started exploring this small city? Keep on reading. Here are 14 great things to do in Lynnwood, Washington!
Here are 14 of the best things to do in Lynnwood Washington.
- Dine at Bapmukja
- Relax at Olympus Spa
- Shop at Alderwood Mall
- Find an under-the-radar sandwich shop at Lasa Sandwiches and Pearls
- Picnic at Lynndale Park
- Rock climb at Vertical World
- Get a massage at Q Sauna
- Bowl at Lynnwood Bowl & Skate
- Try the spicy bulgogi at Moodoo Korean Restaurant
- Get a dessert at Lumi Desserts Cafe
- Take a quick day trip to Edmonds
- Swim at Medowdale Beach Park
- Retro game at Another Castle Games
- Take a walking tour of Heritage Park
Bapmukja
There’s so much excellent Korean food in this Seattle suburb that it’s easy to be overwhelmed with all your choices. But Bapmukja made our list of the best Korean restaurants in Lynnwood, and it’s easy to see why.
Come to this small and cozy restaurant for delicious Korean street food. The food here is both comforting and delicious. One of the most popular items on the menu is Korean street toast, served on perfectly crisp, buttery bread with a sweet and savory filling. Bapmukja also has a variety of tteokbokki (the one with garlic sauce is top-notch), and tasty, fresh kimbap.
Order your food for takeout, or eat it at the small dining area in the restaurant. If you’re really hungry, take advantage of the combo deals so you can try multiple tasty dishes at once.
Olympus Spa
Need to relax or craving a girls’ day out? Head to Lynnwood’s Olympus Spa, the perfect place to unwind. This female-only Korean spa offers both a day spa and add-on services.
The day spa has hydrotherapy pools, infrared rooms, and a steam room. After soaking and steaming, head to the tea room where you can continue to relax while sipping tea, reading, and chatting with friends. For an added cost, you can book a massage, facial, body scrub treatment, manicure and pedicure, and more designed to help you feel your best.
After spa time, go to the spa’s restaurant, which serves yummy Korean dishes like Jap-chae, bibimbap, and Korean street tacos.
Alderwood Mall
Alderwood Mall is a shopping destination that’s arguably Lynnwood’s main attraction. The huge shopping center opened nearly 40 years ago, and it’s been a thriving, Snohomish County gem since then. Alderwood has all sorts of shops and even some great outlets, which is why it made our list of the best outlets near Seattle.
The mall is a sprawling indoor and outdoor venue. Some of its most popular stores include well-known brands like Nordstrom and REI. If you’re coming with kids, bring them to the indoor play space or the popular Lego Store.
Dining options are plentiful. Grab quick bites like smoothies, Korean-style hot dogs, or pizza. You can also head to well-known sit-down restaurants like Fogo de Chão or The Cheesecake Factory.
Lasa Sandwiches and Pearls
There’s a reason Lasa Sandwiches and Pearls has gotten rave reviews from The Stranger and The Seattle Times. If you’re looking for a great sandwich in Lynnwood, WA, you’ve got to come here.
The restaurant serves sandwiches made with classic Filipino ingredients. Enjoy the Lechon Kawali Roll, with a delightfully crisp pork belly, chilis, and a sweet soy glaze. Order a sweet and savory lumpia sub or their top-rated adobo fried chicken sandwich.
And if you’re craving something sweet, there’s no need to go to a second location. Lasa Sandwiches and Pearl’s sweet options include Halo-Halo (a Filipino shaved ice dessert that’s what dreams are made of), and a purple Ube ice cream shake that is just as pretty as it is delicious.
Lynndale Park
Lynndale Park is wonderful for families or those who want some alone time in the great outdoors. It’s the city’s largest park and is located in northwest Lynnwood. If you’re visiting Lynnwood on a sunny day, this is the place to go.
There’s a large native forest within the park and plenty of well-maintained trails throughout. This makes it perfect for leisurely walks. The park is also good for sports. It has a baseball field, tennis courts, a basketball court, and open space for playing frisbee and soccer.
Bring kids to the playground or the skatepark. There’s an off-leash area on the northwest end where dogs can run around and socialize. In the summer, the park’s amphitheater gets put to good use and has several small performances.
You don’t have to go far if you get hungry on a visit. Just on the west of the park, you’ll find a variety of shops and restaurants. Grab a beer from the small but mighty Nun Chuck’s Brewing. Or stock up on seriously good buns, bread, and pastries from The Cottage, Community Bakery.
Vertical World
Whether you’re an avid rock climber or new to the sport, you’ll be right at home at Lynnwood’s Vertical World. This large, indoor rock climbing gym has plenty of rope walls as well as bouldering walls for free climbing.
Take their introduction to rock climbing course if you’ve never tried the sport before. The course will teach you the foundational principles and help get you started with the basics of climbing. All of the routes in the gym are graded, so you can choose one that works with your ability and skillset. They even have specific walls for kids, so younger climbers can test their skills too.
The staff is friendly and helpful and willing to answer any questions to ease your fears. Prices begin at a daily rate of $23 for adults, and they offer harness and shoe rentals too.
Q Sauna & Spa
Q Spa is another great spa in Lynnwood, WA. This spa is co-ed, so if you’re hoping to go somewhere with a partner of the opposite gender, this is the spa to choose.
Q Spa has both clothed sauna co-ed spaces which include a charcoal room, various rock rooms, and a cold room. The nude gender-separated spa areas include the pools, jacuzzi, and steam room. Similarly to Olympus Spa, you can use the day spa for a flat fee, but additional services like body scrubs and massages cost extra.
After your spa day, head to the Q Cafe, which has a tasty variety of foods. Order Korean and Japanese light bites, bigger entrees, or drinks and desserts.
Lynnwood Bowl & Skate
Lynnwood Bowl & Skate is one of Lynnwood’s top family-friendly destinations. Bring the kids to this classic, old-school spot that’s been around since the ‘50s.
As the name implies, Lynnwood Bowl and Skate is a great spot for both bowling and skating. The prices are reasonable, and they have bowling shoes and quad or inline skates available to rent.
There are a few arcade games you can play if you need a break from skating and bowling. Adults can also enjoy pool, or grab co*cktails and beer from the bar area. The food menu has perfectly snackable items, which include mozzarella sticks, tater tots, onion rings, and cheesy bread.
Moodoo Korean Restaurant
Right across the street from Bapmukja, you’ll find Moodoo Korean Restaurant. This is another can’t-miss Korean food spot in Lynnwood.
Come to Moodoo to try some of the staples of this tasty cuisine in a relaxed and cozy sit-down restaurant. Some of the most popular choices include the seafood pancake and the spicy but warming soft tofu stew. Order the beef or spicy pork bulgogi or a flavorful, veggie-loaded bibimbap dish.
Modoo Korean Restaurant is really popular, so expect a line upon arrival unless you’re able to make a reservation (which I definitely recommend). However, it’s more than worth the wait for the level of service and the quality of the dishes.
Lumi Dessert Cafe
Don’t forget about dessert when you go on your food tour of Lynnwood’s great Korean restaurants! Lumi Dessert Cafe is the place to try bingsu, along with bubble waffles, and golden toasts. The cafe is clean and contemporary, and they have a variety of milk and fruit teas you can have if you need a good thirst quencher.
Lumi Dessert Cafe specializes in bingsu, which is a shaved ice dessert with a milk base. The menu has plenty of unique flavors to choose from like matcha, strawberry cheesecake, and choco brownie. They also rotate in some seasonal flavors, which are always worth trying.
Expect delicious and indulgent desserts, especially the toasts, which are buttery, sticky, and rich. Needless to say, if you’ve got a sweet tooth, you can satisfy it here.
Day Trip to Edmonds
Edmonds is the city directly west of Lynnwood. If you’re looking for an easy day trip from Lynnwood, going there is a no-brainer.
Edmonds is a good place to do some water-related recreation since it’s nestled up against Puget Sound. Go fishing, swimming, or even scuba diving at some of the beach parks.
If you’d rather stay in town, there are plenty of cute, locally-owned shops in the walkable downtown area. Visit gift shops, a pottery store, a tea shop, and pop in the many art galleries around Main Street. For food, I recommend heading to Market Edmonds, which serves some of the best crab and lobster rolls in the Seattle area.
To extend your day trip, catch the ferry from Edmonds to Kingston, a tiny town on the Kitsap Peninsula.
Meadowdale Beach Park
Meadowdale Beach Park is located just outside of Lynnwood proper. This Snohomish County park is a great one to visit for a good hike that ends at a pretty beach.
The trail is about 2 miles round trip and follows the Lunds Gulch Creek, which empties into Puget Sound. The walk down to the beach is pleasant. You’ll meander through a shady forest with ferns, active birdlife, and even wildflowers, depending on the season.
It’s a bit of a trek and the trail is not stroller-friendly, but active kids with good stamina should be able to handle the hike down and back up. This is a dog-friendly trail, so feel free to bring your pups along with you. All you need is a good pair of shoes that can accommodate a potentially muddy trail and you’ll be all set to go.
When you reach the beach, sit back with a snack and enjoy the views across the Sound (particularly at sunset) that make the hike worth it.
Another Castle Games
Gamers rejoice because Another Castle Games in Lynnwood is the one-stop shop for all of your video game needs. This popular spot is located in the Alderwood Mall area.
Come to Another Castle to find video games for new and older gaming systems. They carry both new and used games. You can also buy and trade games here so you can easily rotate through your collection.
In addition to video games, they also have a small selection of coin-operated arcade games at this location. Enjoy Pac-Man, driving simulators, and pinball after checking out what’s in stock.
The Lynnwood location leans more toward video game sales. But if you’re more interested in the arcade, drive 15 minutes south to their other location in Edmonds. This one offers a more robust arcade game experience, complete with drinks and snacks for purchase.
Heritage Park
Heritage Park may only be a few acres, but it’s one of Lynnwood’s best parks because it’s the place to go to learn local history. The park consists of several historic structures and buildings. These include a cottage, a water tower, and a well-restored Interurban trolley car.
Take a self-guided walking tour around the park to view the historic structures. The park also houses the Northwest Veteran’s Museum. This small, free museum has interesting memorabilia and information on the area’s veterans.
Heritage Park is a good spot to visit in Lynnwood, Washington. Visit whether you’re there for the history or just want a pretty place to walk while sipping your morning coffee.
There are some great things to do in Lynnwood, Washington. Lynnwood is known for its shopping center, great Korean restaurants, spas, and family-friendly atmosphere. Whatever reason you have to visit, plan on having fun in this sprawling Seattle suburb.
