Lynnwood, Washington has come into its own as a way station for travelers seeking a comfortable retreat from which they can explore the Seattle region. It's a destination in its own right with a weekday population of around 150,000. Lynnwood offers a wide selection of luxury accommodations and the area's premier shopping venue, Alderwood, which includes over 200 shops and restaurants.
Lynwood's Heritage Park is a window into the Lynnwood of the early 20th century, featuring a general store and post office, a wooden electric rail car and other historic structures. Visitors can take trolley tours and self-guided walking tours. A few minutes west of town, you can participate in a guided beach walk along Puget Sound or board a ferry to cross it.
The Future of Flight Aviation Center & Boeing Tour in Mukilteo is the only place on the continent where you can watch workers assemble jumbo jets. You cannot take cameras or cell phones on the tour, which lasts 90 minutes and involves "walking approximately one-third of a mile, climbing 21 steep stairs, riding an elevator 35 feet above the factory floor and walking through a tunnel." You can arrange wheelchair accommodations in advance. Visitors can digitally design their own jets and purchase a printed schematic as a souvenir.
The Snohomish County Tourism Bureau has developed suggested tour itineraries for groups of visitors that could be adapted equally well to individual travelers. Choices include one-, two- and three-day options entitled "Little Bit of Everything," "Eco-Techno Tour" and "Nature Based Tours of Puget Sound." Tour stops range from funky diners to whale watches to antiquing.
Minutes from Lynnwood, the Port of Everett offers free Working Waterfront Harbor Tours in the summertime. Visitors can see commercial marine activities and learn about environmental stewardship, international trade and related activities. The town of Everett also offers a Japanese garden, an arboretum and a historic district. You can also arrange to tour the Possession Sound by boat, or go whale watching or charter fishing.
