Best Things to Do in Federal Way, WA
Published on July 22, 2026 | Updated for your next Pacific Northwest adventure.
Dash Point State Park
A 461-acre state park on Puget Sound with a long sandy beach, warm shallow tides for wading, and miles of forested hiking and biking trails. Low tide reveals a huge tidal flat perfect for beachcombing, and the sunsets over the Sound are unmatched.
Pacific Bonsai Museum
One of only a handful of bonsai museums in the world, displaying a rotating collection of living masterpieces from around the Pacific Rim in an open-air gallery. Admission is by donation, and the artistry on display rivals any fine art museum.
Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden
Next door to the bonsai museum, this 22-acre garden holds one of the largest collections of rhododendron species on Earth, plus a Victorian-style conservatory. Visit in spring when the blooms turn the woodland paths into a riot of color.
Wild Waves Theme & Water Park
Washington’s largest theme and water park, packed with roller coasters, water slides, a wave pool, and a lazy river. It’s the region’s go-to summer destination for families, and returns in fall and winter for seasonal Fright Fest and holiday light events.
West Hylebos Wetlands Park
A quiet boardwalk trail winding through a rare ancient peat bog and wetland forest in the middle of the city. Interpretive signs, towering old-growth trees, and abundant birdlife make this an easy, peaceful walk for all ages.