My small fry and I love to zip over to the west side for a quick—and financially feasible—getaway. This year, we made the trek multiple times, and each time experienced Seattle in a different way than we had before (we skipped the gum wall and Pike’s Place Market, as much as we can’t get enough of those activities). In this edition of our road trip itinerary, we explore Seattle Southside, which encompasses Sea Tac, Des Moines and Tukwilla.       

Stay

Situated on 11 lush acres and surrounded by seven additional acres of natural wetlands, Cedarbrook Lodge is an unexpected urban oasis located less than five minutes from SeaTac International Airport. We loved the resort feel, the incredible complimentary breakfast every day and the 24/7 snack and drink stations. cedarbrooklodge.com

Towering above Seattle Southside’s retail core and transportation hub, Hotel Interurban provides unparalleled views, convenience and innovation. The hotel is the tallest building in the city of Tukwila and offers 185 contemporary-style guest rooms. The entrance is composed of an outdoor canopy made up of 60 solar panels that produce enough electricity for most of the first-floor operations, followed by a two-story lobby featuring a custom glass art installation by Bryan Rubino. hotelinterurban.com

Sustenance 

Anthony’s HomePort Des Moines overlooks the Des Moines Marina with views of Maury Island, the snowcapped Olympic Mountains and south Puget Sound. It offers two restaurants in one setting. Anthony’s HomePort is located on the second level and the casual Des Moines Oyster Bar & Grill is located on the plaza level. You can’t beat the atmosphere or the seafood and if you dine at sunset, be prepared for a spectacular show of magic from Mother Nature. We savored surf and turf orders—steak, shrimp and salmon—with a calamari starter. anthonys.com

I will never pre-judge an eatery found inside a mall again. Duke’s Seafood & Chowder House’s newest restaurant in Westfield Southcenter offers the same healthy and nutritious food and drink—all from safe and trusted sources—they have been known for for more than 40 years. Executive chef “Wild” Bill Rannigerhef dazzled us with popular items from the menu, along with some off-menu dishes he was considering adding. Hands down, the best inland seafood dining experience of my life. Pro tip: Eat. Everything. dukesseafood.com

Inside the first floor of Hotel Interurban, the Waterleaf Restaurant + Bar serves globally inspired comfort food made from scratch with locally sourced ingredients. The restaurant includes a full premium bar and a sophisticated yet approachable setting ideal for social gatherings, due to its delicious menu and some of the best personalized service we’ve ever experienced (my 14 year old, who is super hard to connect with and impress—she can detect “trying too hard” from 114 miles away—put our server on the “when we win the lotto” list). We loved the luscious calamari steaks, she said her cheeseburger was one of the best she’s ever eaten, and I devoured my bowl of cioppino. hotelinterurban.com

Play

If you appreciate chocolate at all, you will enjoy a “best day ever” adventure during an “Experience Chocolate” tour at Seattle Chocolate Factory and Flagship Store. While learning how chocolate came to be, you’ll be able to taste their signature, smooth chocolate recipes throughout your journey. Explore the start-to-finish creation of their truffles and bars from the vantage point of their hot pink walkway, raised nearly 10 feet high. Fill up a bag of goodies for the road and snap a pic in front of the giant chocolate-dipped pink pig as you head out the door. experiencechocolate.com

Des Moines is considered among the best places in the Northwest metro to retire or raise a family. The city’s six miles of shoreline offer public beaches, waterfront parks, top-notch restaurants, fishing piers and a well-used boardwalk. Family activities include camping, fishing, whale watching, boating and personal options seem limitless with community sports, skiing, boating, hiking, bird-watching, rock hounding and more. Recommendation: do it all on the Des Moines Waterfront.

Spread your wings at The Museum of Flight, the world’s largest nonprofit air and space museum in the world with more than 175 aircraft and spacecraft awaiting your exploration, along with tours of Space Shuttles, flight simulators, and a 3D Movie theatre. If you have littles in your life, take some mula to spend in the gift shop—their youth-sized flight suits will inspire big dreams in young minds. museumofflight.org