Things to Do in Maple Valley

A day at Emerald Downs can take on many forms. Some visitors sprawl across blankets in the facility's park, while some scoot to the edge of their reserved seats in the grandstand. Still others relax in the Redhook Turf Club, an all-inclusive, members-only area for dining, wagering, and watching the races. It's this flexibility that has made Emerald Downs a popular summer destination since 1996. On every level, the stadium features self-service or clerk-operated betting windows, and its programs come packed with jockey bios, postpositions, and other bettor-friendly tools. Even during non-racing season, Emerald Downs offers full-card simulcasting so fans don't have to resort to betting on slowly drifting clouds.

Lake Wilderness Golf Course is cleaved through tunnels of towering fir trees between Wilderness Lake and Lake Lucerne. Measuring 5,292 yards, the course is comprised of narrow fairways that make up for their lack of length with slender safe zones, causing many players to put their golf balls on a pre-round diet. Upon holing out on the last green, groups can saunter over to the 19th Hole Grill to pair appetizers and exaggerated hole-in-one stories with post-round drinks.

Course at a Glance:

• 18-hole, par 70 course
• Total length of 5,292 yards from the back tees
• Course rating of 66.6 from the back tees
• Course slope of 118 from the back tees

The gridiron showdown will commence at the ShoWare Center in Kent. Redeem your Groupon at the stadium’s will call for the best available seats in your chosen section. Check out the seating chart here.

As Seattle Food Tours takes you on a two-and-a-half-hour perambulation of Pike Place Market, they'll introduce you to their handpicked favorite restaurants, chefs, farmers, gourmet shops, and artisanal food purveyors. Depending on the tour, you might try award-winning local clam chowder, sample fresh English crumpets, or lick authentic Italian gelato made with fresh local fruit. Past tours have also included Chinese herb teas, locally produced cheese, alder-wood-smoked salmon, and a whole bunch of other James Beard award-winning chefs, organic seasonal fruits, international wines, and more. The surprise is much of the fun, so buy extra Groupons for up to three friends, and spend an afternoon telling each other, "Here, you have to try this."

The buzz of motors rises and falls as bright-red blurs zip around the track at PGP Motorsports Park. Here, in the shadow of Mount Rainier, racers ages 15 and older loop around an 8/10-mile track at speeds of up to 48 miles per hour, leaning back in the ergonomic seats of Italian-built Birel N35 karts. The 30-foot-wide asphalt track can be altered to take on 12 different configurations and is centered in a velodrome, which puts spectators at an elevated angle so they get a good line of sight no matter where they sit.

For safety reasons, drivers should wear long sleeves and pants and closed-toe shoes. Drivers are equipped with helmets and driving suits, and since races take place rain or shine, they will also be provided with rain gear that includes waterproof gloves and booties.

Maxrider's “4D” theater safely jets participants off into fantastical, three-dimensional worlds bursting with stunning imagery and educational discoveries. During each three- to five-minute adventure, a 12.5-foot screen projects jaw-dropping locales into the eyes of up to six riders, who bounce, rattle, and shake up cartons of orange juice from within the simulator's oscillating cart. Patrons will have the opportunity to choose from up to 23 different experiences, which may include a roaring spin around a rocky canyon, an information-packed journey through the human body, or an adrenaline-pumping plunge into a mother-in-law's infamous meatloaf. To further forge an authentic experience and re-create reality, rides also spritz explorers with water and blow wind on them depending on the chosen enterprise.