Things To Do in Arlington

Members of the Pacific-12 Conference, the University of Washington Huskies athletic department boasts a rich history of triumphs. In 2001, their football team added a Rose Bowl victory to a trophy case that already contained the laurels of four national titles, the most recent of which occurred in 1991. In 2011, the men's basketball team claimed its third Pac-12 tournament title, and in 2005, the women's volleyball team steamrolled competition en route to its first-ever national title. Much of the Husky-related glory unfolds on the floors and fields of UW's lineup of pristine facilities, which includes the historic 72,500-seat Husky Stadium and raucous Alaska Airlines Arena.

In 1987, indoor climbing was as unpopular in the Seattle area as breeding labradoodles. But Vertical World––a pioneer indoor climbing gym––introduced the city to the up-and-coming sport of rock climbing in a controlled environment. Since its inception, the gym has expanded to three other locations in Everett, Tacoma, and Redmond, the latter hosting eastside climbers for more than 20 years.

A team of experienced route creators challenges climbers with more than 200 bouldering, lead, or top-rope routes in a wide variety of difficulty levels. The gym hosts competitive youth teams that have gone on to national or world tournaments. The gym's staff of climbers and guides also leads outdoor excursions that build confidence and teach novices how to identify a rock wall in the wild.

Located inside Everett Mall, Everett Minigolf Adventures features a nine-hole course designed by Cost of Wisconsin. Golfers enjoy bouts of friendly competition as they make their way through a round, trying for a hole-in-one. A party room is also available to rent for birthdays or teambuilding exercises and includes unlimited mini golf for two hours and opportunities to give inspirational advice on how to pick the luckiest color of golf ball.

The Everett Rowing Association has been catering to novice and veteran rowers alike for more than three decades. Founded by Martin Beyer and Lynn Dykgraaf in 1982, the association helps aquatic enthusiasts of all levels hone their rowing skills. Newbies can enroll in a variety of introductory classes—some for adults, others for youth—that teach paddling basics as well as the little-known second verse to “Row, Row, Row Your Boat.” Advanced rowers, meanwhile, can try out for the competitive Masters Team or the junior team for student-athletes.

Surrounded on every side by the city's urban landscape, Lake Union affords a unique vantage point from which to see the Seattle skyline. The captains of Lake Union Charters and Adventures take advantage of this view by chartering adventures aboard the Solana, a sailing sloop outfitted with a full galley, icebox, and bathroom. Sailing adventures range from sunset cruises to girls' night out sails, as well as sailing lessons that give students hands-on experience in tacking, jibing, and whittling a peg leg. For an elevated experience, the captains also sweep passengers off on dinner cruises aboard the schooner Lavengro, a historic, 63-foot wooden vessel first launched in 1926 and named after George Borrow's novel Lavengro: The Scholar, the Gypsy, the Priest.

Billed as the Ultimate Trisport Event, TruAthlete is a competition in which coed teams of 6-10 players each battle each other tournament-style in each of three sports: flag football, volleyball, and soccer. For each game, six team members will take the field at a time; two women must be in play at all times, and teams can have up to four substitutes on the bench. There are two levels of registration: Division I, which is for serious athletes looking to win a cash prize, or Division II, a casual, sponsored-prize bracket for groups interested in socializing and finally figuring out how their feet work.

Because the event takes place at Starfire Sports Complex, a 54-acre facility with a 4,000-seat stadium, TruAthlete is making the competition as eventful for spectators as for the athletes. As matches take place on the grounds’ fields, there will be live entertainment inside the stadium (including MTV-featured artist DeLon), as well as local food trucks and vendors.