Kent Travel Guide

Home to 138 different languages, beautiful national parks, all-star sports, and a downtown scene that rivals that of New York, you can’t go wrong booking a vacation in Kent. Kent lies just a few kilometers from Seattle, which is one of Washington’s most popular tourist destinations, making it a great place to base yourself if you want to explore big city sights too.

Things to Do in Kent

From watersports to miles of biking trails, Kent has something for everyone. The Soos Creek Trail offers six miles of scenic wetlands, woods, and meadows, while the Green River Trail takes cyclists along the Green River, stopping at Seattle’s border. Visitors can go boating, fishing, and swimming at Lake Meridian Park and diving and saltwater fishing along the Puget Sound shorelines of Saltwater State Park.

Art lovers can spend the day creating their own works of art at Artsy Fartsy Art Lessons or Create! Which also boasts a coffee and tea bar. History buffs will love the Greater Kent Historical Society Museum, while movie aficionados will want to watch a blockbuster hit at the AMC Kent Station.

For a bit of fun after dark, visitors who are 21 years and older can make their way to Muckleshoot Casino, which happens to be home to more than 3,100 gaming machines, 70 table games, and a number of restaurants and bars.

Best Places to Stay in Kent

Offering a variety of spacious vacation rentals, Kent is the perfect place for a long term holiday or a weekend away. The accommodations are located both in city limits and out, giving visitors a wide selection of vacation rentals to choose from.

Best Time to Visit Kent

The best time to visit Kent is from July to the middle of October, as this time offers clear skies, sunshine, and minimal amounts of rain.

Best Events in Kent

Kent’s annual Polynesian Festival is a celebration of one of the city’s most unique cultures, featuring music, live dancers, food vendors, and stalls selling unique Polynesian themed gifts and souvenirs. A few other fun events include the Sausage and Cider Fest, Winterfest, Artisans Festival, and Cornucopia Days.

Things to Do for Families in Kent

When it comes to family fun, Kent has no shortage. In fact, the Kent Valley Ice Center and Emerald Downs Racetrack are just two of the city’s great family recreation centers. Kent Valley Ice Center features figure skating, hockey, mini golf, and batting cages, while Emerald Downs Racetrack offers live horse racing, pony rides, bouncy castles for children, rock walls, and a handful of tasty places to eat. Families can also go shopping at Kent Station or Great Wall Shopping Mall, both of which offer locally owned and popular, mainstream stores.