12 Best Things to Do in Mountlake Terrace
Last Updated on April 17, 2024 by Kelly
Mountlake Terrace, located about 14 miles north of Seattle, is a quiet suburb with plenty of things to do. I think that it’s an exciting time for the city because plans are underway to build a new Town Center. There’s also current construction for the new light rail line, which will make traveling to Seattle so much easier. Even though Mountlake Terrace is only 4 square miles, there’s quite a lot to do! My favorite thing to do in MLT is visit the local parks. I particularly like the forested trail in Terrace Park. In this post, I’ll share 12 things to do in Mountlake Terrace, as well as our favorite restaurants and nearby activities.
Things to Do in Mountlake Terrace, Washington
1. Visit Ballinger Park
Ballinger Park is a 55-acre park located along the shores of Lake Ballinger. The park has a boat launch, fishing pier, beach access, restroom facilities, barbecues, and picnic tables. There’s also large grassy areas, play fields for baseball and soccer, and a playground. The community clubhouse is available for rentals. It’s a beautiful place to spend a sunny summer day.
The Hazel Miller Universally Accessible Playground recently opened at Lake Ballinger. This large playground is fenced and contains lots of different types of playground equipment. We recently visited this new playground, and it kept our little one busy for hours!
2. Watch a Movie at the Cinebarre
The Cinebarre movie theater is one of our favorite places to go on a date night. With comfortable seating and a full menu, we’re able to have a burger and a cocktail while we watch a new movie. This movie theater is open for adults 21 years and older because there is a full bar in the lobby. Most of the time when we go to Cinebarre there aren’t a lot of people around. It could use a bit of an update, but overall we like going to this theater.
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3. Play a Game of Disc Golf
Disc golf, also known as frisbee golf, is a sport in which you try to throw mini-frisbees into baskets. Mountlake Terrace has one of the few disc golf courses in the Seattle area. This course has 18 holes in a hilly and wooded portion of Terrace Park. Be sure to bring a map of the disc golf course, because some of the baskets can be a little tricky to find. We’ve found that some of the trails are a bit overgrown, but it’s pretty cool that there’s a full 18-hole course in the forest. When we went, we followed the trail to various concrete slabs that represented the launching point. We then had to look to find the baskets. Some of them are topped with orange cones, which helped us to find where we were supposed to throw the disc. We had to be a bit cautious as we were walking around through the forest, because we didn’t want to get hit by someone else’s disc.
4. Try Your Luck at Bingo
Mountlake Terrace has a bingo hall at 220th High Stakes Bingo. We’ve been several times and have always had a lot of fun there. They are a non-profit Bingo hall, and proceeds help support the Seattle Junior Hockey Association. Just remember to play responsibly and have fun!
5. Play a Game of Real Golf
There is an 18-hole golf course at Nile Shrine Golf Course that is open to the public. You can choose to play either 9 or 18-holes. They have golf carts, early-bird rates, and discounts for juniors and seniors. (During the fall, they also have an awesome Haunted House!)
6. Go Ice Skating
There is an ice skating rink that is open year-round at the Olympic View Arena. The arena has a full schedule of ice skating and hockey available. Be sure to check their website for the current schedule.
7. Head to the Casino
In the Terrace Village strip mall there is a small casino called Crazy Moose Casino. Just be sure to play responsibly.
8. Go Swimming at the Pavilion
The Mountlake Terrace Pavilion has a large indoor swimming pool that is open year-round. In addition to the main swimming pool, there’s also a shallow-water leisure pool, a lazy river, therapy pools, and a dry sauna. You can participate in swimming lessons or in open swim. It’s the perfect place to burn off energy and have fun!
In addition to the swimming pool, the Pavilion also hosts fitness classes, dance classes, and community events. There’s also an indoor playground which is perfect for a rainy day.
9. Go for a Walk through Terrace Creek Park
Terrace Creek Park is a 60-acre park that contains a playground, grassy field, and lots of trails. (In addition to the disc golf course mentioned earlier.) There’s approximately a two mile loop that runs through the forest and along the creek. The playground is also known as the “candy cane playground” because of the red and white stripes on the swing sets.
10. Play Soccer at the Evergreen Playfield Complex
The city of Mountlake Terrace just installed a brand new soccer field at the Evergreen Playfield Complex. The new field has a synthetic turf surface that is good for all-weather, new LED lights, and new fencing. When there’s no matches going on, we often see kids running around the field and practicing soccer drills. In addition to the soccer field, there’s also 5 baseball/softball fields, 4 lighted tennis courts, and a 1/4 mile track. (There’s often big puddles on the track during the rainy season, but the new soccer field has a good drainage system.)
11. Attend an Event at the Library
The Mountlake Terrace Library is part of the Sno-Isle library system. The library hosts a variety of events for children (such as reading groups and story time), adult educational events, and community events. Be sure to check their current schedule of online and in-person offerings.
12. Go for a Walk Along the Interurban Trail
The Interurban Trail is a 24 mile paved trail that winds through Shoreline, Mountlake Terrace, Lynnwood, and Everett. The Mountlake Terrace portion is about 1.6 miles.
| See our post on things to do in the nearby town of Edmonds. |
Best Restaurants in Mountlake Terrace
Turns out that Mountlake Terrace has some pretty delicious places to eat!
Here’s our list of some of the best places to go:
Diamond Knot
The Diamond Knot Brewpub @ Mountlake Terrace is a popular restaurant and brewpub. Their burgers are delicious. (Our favorite is the Black & Blue Burger.) On-site you can see their full-scale production brewery, which produces up to 1,500 barrels of beer each year. Grab a pint, order a burger, and enjoy!
Gabriel’s Fire
In the mood for barbecue? Check out Gabriel’s Fire! We especially like their brisket and pork ribs.
Chez Grand Pere Bakery
Chez Grand Pere Bakery is a French bakery that has fresh-baked croissants and pastries every morning. I thought their almond croissant was absolutely delicious!
Aliberto’s
For a quick meal, check out Aliberto’s Mexican food. The crisp beef tacos are our favorite thing to order.
Time Out Greek & American Restaurant
We love going to Time Out for their sandwiches! My husband used to live in New York, and he swears the reuben sandwich at Time Out is better than any he has ever had. Be sure to also get the onion rings!
Mazatlan
Mazatlan is a Mexican restaurant that is located right by the Cinebarre. We recommend stopping there for dinner before a movie.
Snohomish Pie Company
Turns out Snohomish Pie Company has a second location in Mountlake Terrace! They of course have excellent pies, but we also recommend their pie milkshakes!
Las Espuelas
Mountlake Terrace has no shortage of good Mexican food! Las Espuelas is another great Mexican restaurant in the area. We really like the salsa and margaritas.
Countryside Donut
The old fashioned donuts at Countryside are so delicious. We always pick up at least one of them when we visit!
Hemlock State Brewing Company
Hemlock State Brewing Company opened up fairly recently and we are here for it. Their taproom has indoor and outdoor seating. It’s a fun place to hang out and have a pint!
Shahi Tandoor & Grill
Shahi Tandoor & Grill is a new Indian restaurant that recently opened in Mountlake Terrace. We checked it out and we really enjoyed our meal there. Of all the dishes we ordered, the Butter Masala Chicken was our favorite!
Urban City Coffee
One of the best places to grab coffee in the city is Urban City Coffee. Check them out! (And also see our post about the best coffee shops in the Seattle area!)
Double D Meats
Although technically not a restaurant, this grocery counter sells high-quality meats as well as aisles full of different types of barbecue sauces and hot sauces. Double D Meats has an excellent reputation in the area.
Patty’s Eggnest
Just recently the Patty’s Eggnest franchise opened up a new location in Mountlake Terrace. We tried the apple strudel french toast and it was so yummy!
Baguus Little Asia
Baguus LIttle Asia features a wall of beers, wines, and ciders that you can self-pour from the tap. Once you show ID, they’ll give you an electronic key that will keep track of how much you pour and automatically charge it to your bill. Their menu consists of Asian-inspired small plates and noodles. Make sure you get dessert. Their ube ice cream is delicious!
Directions
One of the best things about Mountlake Terrace is that there is really good public transportation. Community Transit, Metro, and Sound Transit all provide bus service from Mountlake Terrace to Seattle. The Mountlake Terrace Freeway Station makes it really easy to hop on a bus and head downtown. Construction for the new light rail line is also underway with operations expected to begin in 2024. Once construction is completed, it will be even easier to commute to the University of Washington, Capitol Hill, downtown Seattle, and SeaTac International Airport.
Events
Mountlake Terrace hosts several annual events that are a lot of fun. Be sure to check the websites listed below for an updated schedule. During the pandemic, many of the events were canceled, re-scheduled, or altered.
- Tour de Terrace: This summer festival takes place every July. There’s typically a parade, street fair, carnival rides, and live entertainment. We’ve attended this event several times, and it’s always a lot of fun! The parade can be a little loud, so bring headphones if you have anyone that’s sensitive to noise in your group. The carnival rides are well-suited for younger kids, with some adult attractions. The food counters are my personal favorite. There’s nothing like fair food!
- 3rd of July Fireworks: Why have fireworks on the 3rd of July? I honestly don’t know, but I like being able to stretch out the 4th of July fun a little bit by celebrating a day early!
- Arts of the Terrace: This art festival highlights local artists in the region. We have never been, but hope to attend one day after the pandemic.
- National Night Out: For one night each August, the city hosts the National Night Out event at the Evergreen Playfield. Kids will love to see police cars and fire trucks up close, and there’s also live entertainment and food booths. The last time we attended this event, the firefighters were letting children spray water from a real fire hydrant.
- National Day of Service: Every September, the city hosts an event in which residents help clean up local parks.
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Tree Lighting Ceremony: The Tree Lighting Ceremony is a lot of fun. The last time we attended, there was free cookies and free hot chocolate.
If you’re looking for a place to stay in Mountlake Terrace, there aren’t too many options because it is such a small city. The only motel located within the city is Studio 6. We suggest you look for hotels in the nearby city of Lynnwood. Recommended hotels include the Embassy Suites by Hilton Seattle North Lynnwood property as well as the La Quinta Inn by Wyndham Lynnwood.
Summary
Mountlake Terrace is a quiet city that has undergone a lot of recent developments. We hope you enjoyed this post about things to do in Mountlake Terrace!
Disclaimer: We always strive for content accuracy. Since the time of publishing, travel-related information regarding pricing, schedules, and hours may have changed. Please look up such information directly from each vendor or institution for the most current information.
