Your Guide to Living in Kent, Washington
On behalf of the Dockside Apartments team, welcome to Kent, Washington! Let this serve as your beginner’s guide to the city. We have some great recommendations for where to eat, shop, and play that we think you’ll enjoy. Read on to get virtually acquainted with the city!
Food and Drink
First up on our list is coffee shops! Of course there are plenty of Starbucks locations, the chain got its start in Seattle just 30 minutes north, after all. For a local experience, consider a visit to Bigfoot Java, Dilettante Mocha Cafe, Java Junction, Ladybug Espresso, or Cafe Elite. These smaller shops are great at what they do and would be happy to welcome you as a new regular.
Down the street we have The Harp Bar & Restaurant for Irish food, beer, and live events like musical acts and trivia nights. You’ll notice the Irish saying “cead mile failte” in bold text on the wall — this translates to “a hundred thousand welcomes.” For a more laid back evening, Meeker Street Bar & Grill serves up excellent pub grub and has billiards tables so you can shoot some pool when the workday concludes. To wet your whistle, grab a drink at Reds Wine Bar & Craft Beer.
Travel the culinary world in a short drive around town to try Trapper’s Sushi, Vietnamese noodle bowls and banh mi from Vinason Pho Kitchen, Asadera Sinaloa Mexican food, or East African fare at Rafiki Restaurant & Lounge. Johnny Rockets serves your classic American burgers or you can switch it up with the best egg sandwiches around at Egghole. Don’t forget to pick up a gourmet dessert at Sweet Themes Bakery.
Shopping
Kent Station shopping mall houses most of the aforementioned restaurants and many more. You can pick up a new outfit at one of the clothing stores, grab that new video game you’ve heard about, or catch a movie at the AMC theater all in one happening plaza. To pamper your pets, you have a choice of PetCo or Pet Country to find treats and toys waiting to be destroyed by your favorite fur baby. Travel 15 minutes south and you can find brand name clothing at factory discount prices at The Outlet Collection.
Keep your fridge stocked with goods from most major grocery stores such as Fred Meyer, Safeway, WinCo, and Trader Joe’s all conveniently located near your home at Dockside Apartments. To find specialty goods, pop into somewhere like Apna Bazaar for Indian groceries or Hong Kong Market for Asian groceries. Get adventurous and try something new! You never know what you might find.
Recreation
Outdoors enthusiasts are going to love it here. You’ll have direct access to the Green River Trail where you can enjoy miles of trails for walking, running, or biking along the banks and across bridges of rivers Green and Duwamish through rural and industrial areas. Spend an afternoon at the Old Fishing Hole on Meeker Street to catch your dinner fresh from the water and grab fresh produce from local farmers at the Green River Farm Stand next to it. Saltwater State Park is right on the bay and just a short drive away. On clear days you can even see the distant mountains.
Let your pup roam free at Grandview Off-Leash Dog Park 5 minutes north of home. Hit the links at Riverbend Golf Complex for a full 18-hole course or get your putting practice in at their covered driving range. If you prefer your golf small-scale, Kent Valley Ice Center has you covered with not only a fun mini golf course, but batting cages and an indoor ice-skating rink open all year. Keep the fun going at Kent Bowl, an old-school bowling alley with low prices open late every day. When you’re ready to travel, you’ll love being just 15 minutes away from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport!
So many places to go and things to do already but this list barely scratches the surface of all you’ll discover when you call Kent, Washington home. Now that you have an idea of where to start, we hope you enjoy getting to know the town. Come back periodically to see what new blogs we have to share! If you want to suggest a topic, let us know over on our Facebook or Instagram page. In the meantime, we’ll see you next time!
