2026 Washington State Guide to Sports

Washington’s Sports and Lifestyle Experience

Unforgettable attractions can be found across the Tri-Cities, Yakima, Everett and Seattle Southside

WELCOME TO WASHINGTON!

WASHINGTON’S NATURAL BEAUTY OF MOUNTAINS, forests and crystal-clear lakes is one for visitors and locals to spend time exploring. Our sports passion is world-class. Our fanbase for both professional and amateur sports is among the loudest in the nation. Our sports and lifestyle create a memorable experience for those attending the professional and amateur sports.

From professionals to amateurs, Washington is an inclusive state that proudly offers sports for everyone. Washington hospitality goes beyond the sporting venues: Our luxury hotels, award-winning restaurants and range of leisure activities make for an ideal experience for both locals and visitors attending your event.

Pickleball is Washington State’s official sports as the sport began on Bainbridge Island. Girls flag football has become a high school sport. Soccer fans from around the world will travel to Washington State to experience the beautiful game. These sports are ones to watch in 2026!

With our natural beauty, we are known for outdoor adventures. Outdoor adventures and sports happen across the state. For the outdoor enthusiasts, choose from watersports, triathlons, golf, mountain biking, and archery. Our communities have a array of outdoor sports based on each of our communities. These sports are becoming popular increasingly each year.

Sports fans and teams will also cherish a visit to Washington, as each community offers a local cuisine unique to that community. Wineries, award-winning restaurants, aviation and history museums are a few fun activities for the whole family. Plus, lovers of outdoor activities will enjoy their time in Washington as they explore the hiking and biking trails amid a picturesque backdrop that will dazzle any lover of the great outdoors.

The people of Washington will be your loyal fans, sponsors, promoters, and hosts. Dedication – It’s how we do things in the State of Washington.

Sincerely,

Tammy Dunn Executive Director Snohomish County Sports Commission

BEYOND THEGAME:

Families find food, fun and unforgettable attractions across Tri-Cities, Yakima, Everett and Seattle Southside

By Nicole Partis

Sports tournaments may be the reason many families travel to Washington, but what happens after the final whistle is just as exciting in The Evergreen State. Across Washington, communities have mastered the balance of top-notch sports venues and family-friendly adventures, offering athletes and their supporters the chance to unwind, explore and make lasting memories. From the sunny vineyards of the Tri-Cities to the cutting-edge aviation experiences in Snohomish County, here’s how to go beyond the game in Washington.

SNOHOMISH COUNTY: AVIATION AND INNOVATION

Just north of Seattle, Snohomish County invites visitors to lift their eyes skyward, where old meets new. Aviation here is more than history; it’s an experience that celebrates the past while propelling excitement into the future. At the Boeing Future of Flight Aviation Center, families can dive into interactive exhibits that showcase the ingenuity behind one of the world’s leading aerospace giants. You can even take a tour of the factory, the biggest in the world, for an experience as impressive as its scale. Nearby, the Flying Heritage & Combat Armor Collection adds another layer of awe, with restored aircraft and military vehicles sparking curiosity in kids and parents alike. And at Seattle Paine Field International Airport, travelers are greeted with sleek design and top-tier amenities, a comfortable stop before or after the big game. Families competing at Phil Johnson Ballfields or Meadowdale Playfields will find these attractions ideal for dayoff adventures. Pair this exploration with fun and games at Dave & Busters in Lynnwood, WA, and you have an ideal Snohomish County outing.

TRI-CITIES: A BLEND OF ADVENTURE AND FLAVOR

Set along the shimmering Columbia River, the Tri-Cities, Kennewick, Pasco, and Richland, are a great playground for families. The water offers amazing opportunities for outdoor enthusiasts like kayakers and paddleboarders, while the 23-mile Sacagawea Heritage Trail offers a smooth ride for cyclists and strollers alike. When hunger strikes, the region satisfies every craving; savor inventive burgers at Foodies Brick & Mortar in Kennewick or indulge in a farm-to-table feast straight from the valley. Parents may raise a glass at one of the 200+ wineries within the 50 miles area, many with picnic-perfect lawns where kids can run free. And with youth baseball to hockey tournaments, play at the Toyota Center or Gesa Stadium flows seamlessly into afternoons of adventure. In the Tri-Cities, the scoreboard may end the game, but the fun carries on.

YAKIMA: OUTDOOR BEAUTY AND LOCAL FLAVOR

In Yakima, sports and scenery go hand in hand. Between basketball tournaments to soccer showcases at the Yakima Valley SunDome or Sozo Sports Complex, families can lace up sneakers for a stroll along the Yakima Greenway; a 10-mile paved trail that traces rivers, parks, fishing lakes, and playgrounds, that is perfect for a quick walk or family picnic. The city’s roots in agriculture do make for a delicious stop. Cowiche Canyon Kitchen elevates local produce into inventive dishes, while Los Hernández Tamales, a James Beard Award winner, serves a taste of Yakima tradition in every bite. Families can also venture into nearby orchards for fruit-picking or peek behind the curtain of the valley’s hops production. Yakima is proof that the flavors off the field are as memorable as the victories on it.

SEATTLE SOUTHSIDE: COASTAL VIBES AND CULINARY GEMS

Conveniently anchored near Sea-Tac International Airport, Seattle Southside makes tournament travel easy and entertaining. Families can enjoy a scenic stroll at any time of year at Des Moines Beach Park, wander the wooded shoreline of Saltwater State Park, or shop till they drop at Westfield Southcenter, the largest retail hub in the region.

Foodies will find no shortage of flavor, from fresh-off-theboat seafood at Anthony’s HomePort to global cuisines that reflect the area’s cultural diversity. Add in the awe-inspiring Museum of Flight, one of the world’s premier air and space museums, and it’s clear that free time here is anything but ordinary. The region is also a hub of all-ages entertainment, with go-kart racing, bowling, virtual reality games, and the famous Family Fun Center—an indoor and outdoor amusement park. At the heart of it all, Starfire Sports Complex hosts high-energy soccer, rugby, and lacrosse tournaments, placing families just minutes from all these attractions and plenty of post-game fun.

SNOHOMISH COUNTY, WASHINGTON

Snohomish County, Washington is located 15 miles north of Seattle in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. The county has the Salish Sea to the west and the Cascade Mountains to the east. Snohomish County is home to the Boeing Future of Flight Aviation Center, where the whole family can experience the innovation of aviation by taking The Boeing Everett Factory Tour, watch planes on the Sky Deck, discover and engage with multiple exhibits in the Gallery. Everett Boeing is the largest building in the world. Historic Downtown Snohomish exudes a sense of nostalgia with its classically Main Street America appearance. Funko Headquarters is located in downtown Everett. Enjoy the world of POP characters including Disney, Sports, Harry Potter, and Marvel. Create your own POP character. This attraction is a family favorite.

ANGEL OF THE WINDS ARENA

Basketball, Figure Skating, EnduroCross, Gymnastics, Hockey, Wrestling

This arena is a 10,000seat facility with two NHLice sheets that convert into 57,000 square feet for trade shows. It includes meeting rooms, a ballroom, and hosts Everett Silvertips, major events like WWE and Skate America. Nearby hotels and restaurants attract locals and visitors for over 20 years.

EVERGREEN STATE FAIR PARK

Horse Shows, Trade Shows, Swap Meets, Auto Races

This 193-acre park has welcomed thousands yearly since 1949. It features yearround facilities for horse shows, races, and trade shows, including a 36,000-squarefoot events center, 7,500-seat NASCAR speedway, 4,000-seat arena, RV areas with dump stations, and other permanent exhibition spaces at the Evergreen State Fairgrounds.

KASCH PARK

Softball, Soccer, Lacrosse, Ultimate Fisbee

Kasch Park features four lighted softball fields and one Little League field. There’s also three lighted synthetic turf fields for soccer, lacrosse and Ultimate Frisbee. Other features include a barbeque, picnic shelter and tables, playground, restrooms and ample parking.

KAYAK POINT DISC GOLF RESORT

Disc Golf

This 290-acre resort offers four disc golf courses with 80+ tee pads and 75 baskets across 26,508 feet. It includes an 18hole pitch and putt, driving range, restaurant, pro shop, rentals, and camping. Two courses rank top 100 globally and top five in Washington for disc golf.

LYNNWOOD EVENT CENTER

Board Games, Card Games, Esports, Martial Arts

This facility provides 34,000-square-foot of total floor space on two floors. Two grand ballrooms with 11,000-square-foot and 6,000-square-foot can accommodate up to 1,200 people. There are 400 parking spaces available, in addition to wired and wireless internet connectivity, catering, and technology support options.

NORTH COVE PARK

Swimming, Fishing

North Cove Park rests on a four-acre waterfront park located in downtown Lake Stevens. The park features a picnic shelter and tables, playground, boardwalk, observation deck, fishing pier, public dock, swimming area, restrooms and decent space for parking. North Cove Park has hosted Aquafest, Lake Stevens Spring Sprint Regatta, Lake Stevens Triathlon and the Lake Stevens Farmer’s Market.

PLANNER PERSPECTIVE

“When Eventuris initiated planning for the inaugural Everett 3on3, presented by Boeing, the Snohomish County Sports Commission was an instant supporter. Beyond introducing us to members of the greater Everett community, Tammy Dunn and her team guided us through grant funding, obtaining hotel partners, and tracking economic impact. Gratefully, Tammy, Dan Olson and Nathan Caferro all directly contributed towards the tournament’s success. We’re excited for year 2 in 2023 and know we have a friend in the Sports Commission.”

— Rick Steltenpohl, Tournament Director, Principal | Eventuris

Olson Sports Development Coordinator (425) 535-5188

landyn@snocosports.org

www.snocosports.org

YAKIMA VALLEY, WASHINGTON

The Yakima Valley is nestled in the middle of beautiful hills and mountain ranges in central Washington, making it an excellent place to pull competitors and spectators from Portland, Oregon and Seattle via I-82. The Valley has something for everyone within a stone’s throw distance from their great facilities. When your event is finished, head on over to the Cowiche Canyon trail system, which boasts over 30 miles of hiking and biking trails and has some beautiful views that range in difficulty for both novice and experienced hikers alike.

For those that want to get away from the action, you will be right in the midst of Washington’s wine country. With more than 90 excellent wineries in the area, you can partake in a wide variety of selections for tasting. There are many local breweries that serve great food and drinks, starting with Bale Breaker Brewing Co., which specializes in craft beers and has a rotating special in their food trucks each night.

YAKIMA VALLEY SUNDOME

Basketball, Volleyball, Boxing, Esports

Located on the grounds of State Fair Park & Event Center, the Yakima Valley SunDome annually hosts WIAA State High School Championships in volleyball, basketball, and dance/drill. This multipurpose indoor facility is an ideal venue for tournament planners, where 8,000 spectators can attend tournaments, events, and conferences.

GATEWAY SPORTS COMPLEX

Softball, Baseball

With a professional staff dedicated to taking care of your tournament needs, the Gateway Sports Complex has you covered. This state-of-theart complex features eight softball fields, each with firstclass lighting, professional infield mix, electronic scoreboards and more. The complex is the host site for several WIAA State Softball Championships each year.

SOZO SPORTS COMPLEX

Soccer, Futsal, Basketball, Pickleball, Running, Football

The Sozo Sports Complex saw its ninth year of development in 2025, when it continued to work on the Sozo Arena, a proposed 120,000-square-foot indoor facility that will hold up to eight basketball courts or 16 volleyball courts. The complex is home to 13 multipurpose outdoor fields, making it a powerhouse for any competition throughout the Pacific Northwest.

CARLON PARK COMPLEX

Softball, Baseball

This top-notch complex features four girl’s tournament-quality fastpitch fields with permanent 200-foot fences and stateof-the-art lighting systems. The complex hosted the 2025 WIAA 2A State Softball Championships along with numerous USA Softball of Washington tourneys.

APPLE TREE GOLF COURSE

Golf

Carved from the natural rolling terrain of 100-year-old apple orchards, Apple Tree is one of the Pacific Northwest’s premier golf destinations. Over 6,900 yards of championship course features a variety of scenic challenges, including its signature 17th apple green. Apple Tree hosts a wide variety of tournaments every year. Great dining and beverage options are available at the Apple Tree Grill and the Slice Outdoor Lounge.

YAKIMA TENNIS CLUB Tennis, Pickleball

This well-maintained and visually striking tennis club is a hotspot for tournament action, seeing competition from the high school, collegiate, and adult levels on an annual basis. The facility maintains 13 outdoor courts, eight indoor courts (at a separate facility), a renovated swimming pool with a children’s play area, a clubhouse with locker rooms, a catered snack bar and a pro shop.

PLANNER PERSPECTIVE

“The coordination led by Rich Austin, of hoteliers, restaurants, host facilities and the local leadership is phenomenal. From the moment a team arrives in the Yakima Valley until it departs, they are treated with great hospitality. There is no doubt the Yakima Valley Sports Commission delivers more than promised.”

— Mick Hoffman, Executive Director of the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA)

YAKIMA VALLEY SPORTS COMMISSION

Rich Austin rich@yakimasports.org (509) 594-2742 www.yakimasports.org

TRI-CITIES, WASHINGTON

Centrally located within the Pacific Northwest, the Tri-Cities of Kennewick, Pasco and Richland have a slew of great activities.

Explore the mighty Columbia River in an exclusive and unique fashion on Water2Wine Cruises. Experience a breathtaking Tri-Cities’ sunset, Northwest wines, fine cuisine aboard a 96-foot luxury yacht.

USS Triton (SSRN 586) made history in 1960 as the first submarine to circle the earth underwater, following the path of explorer Ferdinand Magellan. Port of Benton worked with the U.S. Navy to preserve the submarine’s sail and conning tower that are on display at the USS Triton Sail Park to honor submariners.

The Gesa Carousel of Dreams is the Tri-Cities ultimate historic destination for all generations young and old. Open year round the carousel features concessions and state of the art banquet facilities.

The Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory (LIGO) seeks to open a new window on the universe using the world’s largest gravitational wave detectors. Cutting-edge science and engineering fuel the Observatory’s quest to measure the faint ripples of gravitational waves from outer space. It’s quite a trip.

COLUMBIA PLAYFIELD Softball

Located in the heart of Richland, Columbia Playfield stretches across nearly 29 acres with five top-quality softball fields. An upgrade has provided new fixtures to the park, giving it updated LED lights and aluminum bleachers with fabric covers. The complex is home to annual youth and collegiatelevel tournaments.

PLANNER PERSPECTIVE

“The Tri-Cities is a very hospitable and welcoming community. The facility and lodging staffs are easy to work with and everyone rallies around the tournament to make it a successful event”

— Steve Jensen, National Softball Association of WA VISIT TRI-CITIES (509) 735-8486

Sales@VisitTri-Cities.com www.VisitTri-Cities.com

PASCO SPORTING COMPLEX

Baseball, Softball, Soccer

This complex, located in Pasco, hosts baseball and softball tournaments and contains six softball fields, two sand volleyball courts, a playground area, a water play area and a concession building with restrooms. Adjoining to the complex is Gesa Stadium, home field of the Tri-City Dust Devils professional baseball team, and one of the finest youth soccer facilities in the Northwest, the Pasco Sporting Complex soccer fields, which includes 15 full-sized soccer fields on 45 acres.

SOUTHRIDGE SPORTS AND EVENTS

COMPLEX

Baseball, Softball, Basketball, Lacrosse, Soccer, Volleyball, Gymnastics, Futsal, Pole Vaulting

This 52-acre multisports development in Kennewick offers a variety of sporting, recreation and event amenities to enjoy. It offers baseball and softball fields, an indoor sports pavilion, multiuse fields and the Gesa Carousel of Dreams, a world-class piece of art the whole family can touch and ride. The complex houses the Numerica Pavilion, the only indoor sports pavilion in the region.

SEATTLE SOUTHSIDE, WASHINGTON

With world-class sports facilities, tons of family-friendly parks and activities, and dozens of highly rated hotels, Seattle Southside is the ideal location for traveling youth sports teams. The region, which encompasses SEA airport and the cities of SeaTac, Tukwila, and Des Moines, is a convenient home base from which to explore Seattle and the Pacific Northwest. But visitors need not go far to find fun ways to fill their free time in Seattle Southside, which is home to more than 100 restaurants (many of which cater to teams or families), and plenty of unique attractions. At Family Fun Center & Bullwinkle’s Restaurant, the whole team can live it up with arcade games, indoor rides, go-karts, and more. Or they can get inspired at the Museum of Flight, one of the largest air and space museums in the world, which offers hands-on activities such as flight simulators. Thrill-seekers will love iFLY Indoor Skydiving, where they can (safely) leap into a vertical wind tunnel, no matter the weather. And if fresh air calls, visitors can check out one of the area’s lush parks or beaches, where they can catch stunning views of Mt. Rainier, or walk for miles along the Puget Sound coast. Whether the team wants to wind down or turn up, they’ll find the perfect activity for the moment in Seattle Southside.

STARFIRE SPORTS

Soccer, Lacrosse, Rugby 54-acre campus boasts world-class athletic fields, amenities, and staff. Features of the campus include twelve outdoor fields; a 3,500-seat stadium with press box, scoreboard, and PA system; a pre-wired pavilion for vendor tents and booths; and an 81,000 square foot athletic center containing two indoor fields, locker rooms, large meeting and banquet rooms, restaurants and retail. Home practice field to the Seattle Reign and home stadium to the Seattle Seawolves.

FOSTER GOLF LINKS

Foster Scramble, Glow Ball, Tukwila City Am

The 18-hole golf course plays just less than 5,000 yards, with one par 5 for men, two for women, and five par 3’s, two of which cross the river. Foster is recognized as a rewarding and fun course that is easy to walk and challenging for the average golfer. Many players fondly remember Foster as the course where they recorded their best tournament score.

PLANNER PERSPECTIVE

“We really like to come to the Southside area…It’s right here, so everything that you want to be able to do this right here. We can pop over to the mall, go to the Cheesecake Factory, support a small Mexican food truck; it’s just a chance to really do something that’s different than what we get back at home.”

— Graeme Sandlin, North Whidbey Soccer Club

SEATTLE SOUTHSIDE SPORTS

Cydney Marks-Nicholes (206) 743-5345

cydney@seattlesouthside.com seattlesouthsidesports.com

NORTH SEATAC PARK

Hiking, Baseball, Softball, Soccer, BMX

The 205-acre North SeaTac Park has room for everything—even a BMX track! This multi-use park is home to three grass baseball and softball diamonds and two synthetic turf soccer fields. Both soccer fields have lights, and both diamonds and fields can be rented by the hour or for tournament play. The BMX track, operated by SeaTac BMX is a USA BMX sanctioned track and hosts weekly races. The park also has paved and dirt RC car racetracks, an outdoor basketball court, and a 27- hole disc golf course.