Just south of downtown Seattle lies a vibrant collection of cities known as Seattle Southside—Des Moines, SeaTac, and Tukwila. Home to more than 60 hotels, a diverse selection of global cuisine, and views of the glittering Seattle skyline and Puget Sound, the area is a flourishing mecca of opportunities for meetings and events. And, inhabited by the Duwamish people since time immemorial, the region also has a rich cultural history.
Vibe: “The Seattle area might have a reputation for rain, but its best-kept secret is that the Pacific Northwest shines in the fall,” says Noelle Cueto, director of business development at Explore Seattle Southside. “Lush evergreen trees line city streets and parks while deciduous trees pepper the ground with fiery fall leaves. Meanwhile, a temperate climate means you can enjoy a stroll outside year-round.”
Transportation: The Seattle Southside cities sit right next to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, providing easy access to Des Moines and SeaTac via International Boulevard, and to Tukwila via state Route 518. Their convenient location between Seattle and Tacoma grants proximity to nearly all hotels in the area, and free airport shuttles are also available.
Meeting Venues: The Des Moines Beach Park Event Center is on the waterfront, and it offers three buildings for indoor events and three outdoor gathering spaces. Its largest indoor venue is the auditorium spanning 5,700 square feet for up to 250, while its outdoor Beach Park Meadow can host up to 1,000 attendees. The restaurant 13 Coins SeaTac is a favorite that serves up American fare and features 1,580 square feet of function space, and Tukwila’s Billy Baroo’s Smokehouse & Bar offers 3,629 square feet of space and access to Foster Golf Links.
Hotels: “When Seattle-Tacoma International Airport opened in 1944, the area quickly became a hub of commerce and culture, drawing visitors from across the world,” explains Cueto. “Today, it boasts the second-highest concentration of hotels in Washington.” Those with some of the largest function spaces include the Hilton Seattle Airport & Conference Center and the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Seattle Airport, both of which offer 40,000 square feet of event space. Other properties to consider include the Seattle Airport Marriott, Cedarbook Lodge, and Hotel Interurban.
Restaurants: In addition to 13 Coins SeaTac and Billy Baroo’s Smokehouse & Bar, the Seattle Southside area is home to Anthony’s HomePort restaurant, featuring views of Puget Sound and a menu of Pacific Northwest seafood, in Des Moines. Find more seafood at Duke’s Seafood South-center in Tukwila, which serves a selection of scallops, shrimp, mahi-mahi tacos, and clam chowder.
Must-Sees and -Dos: “At The Museum of Flight in Tukwila, enjoy the wonder of aviation in one of Seattle’s most spectacular settings,” says Cueto. “The 15-acre campus features over 175 airplanes and spacecraft, flight simulators, fantastic 3D aviation simulators, space movies, and dozens of fun, interactive exhibits.” Seattle Chocolate, also in Tukwila, offers tours of its factory six days per week, during which attendees might learn about the history and origins of chocolate alongside a bird’s-eye view of chocolate truffle-making in action.
