22 Best Things to do in Grand Mound, Washington for 2023

Thinking about making a trip up north? Make sure to check out Grand Mound, WA! The area is home to a small community of just over 2,000 residents with plenty of things to do. You’ll find a number of historical markers around town depicting townswomen’s successful attempt to vote and the iconic Oregon Trail. Of course, it’s also home to Great Wolf Lodge! Our 56,000 square foot indoor water park contains dining and shopping options, themed suites and attractions for the kids. The community is also conveniently located near more major cities like Tumwater and Centralia, WA. Check out the list below if you want to explore the town during your stay. We’re bringing you the best things to do in Grand Mound, WA and the surrounding area.

Quick View: 22 Best Things to do in Grand Mound, WA

• Great Wolf Lodge
• Airport Golf and Batting Cages
• Rusty Wallace Racing Experience
• Boston Harbor Marina
• Capital Playhouse
• Centralia Factory Outlets
• Centralia Rollerdome
• Chehalis-Centralia Railroad & Museum
• Millersylvania Park
• Hands on Children's Museum
• Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument
• Lael’s Moon Garden Nursery
• Central Glass Works
• Mt. Rainier National Park
• The Mima Mounds
• Mima Falls
• Tenino Depot Museum
• Borst Park
• Olympic Flight Museum
• Riverside Golf Club
• Visiting Nurses Thrift Shop
• Wolf Haven International

1. Great Wolf Lodge, Grand Mound

We’re kicking off the list with none other than Great Wolf Lodge, the best indoor water park in the north west! Here, you’ll enjoy a number of different rides, slides and attractions. Our indoor water park is designed to cater to groups of all ages, so don’t worry about finding the right kind of ride for you! Don’t forget to check out the wave pool or take a ride down the lazy river with the whole family! If you’re planning on sticking around the area for a few days, think about a stay at Great Wolf Lodge, Grand Mound!

2. Airport Golf & Batting Cages, Tumwater

Airport Golf and Batting Cages caters to the sports enthusiast. Their facilities are home to a great nine hole golf course, a well-stocked pro shop, an amazing 32 stall driving range (with covered and heated stalls), a chipping area, as well as batting cages and bullpens. Golf lessons and club rentals are also available.

3. Rusty Wallace Racing Experience, Rochester

Strap in for this next activity! Spend the day cruising along the track at the Rusty Wallace Racing Experience. Find out what it’s like to get behind the wheel of a NASCAR stock car. Ride along experiences are also available. Strap into the front passenger seat as a professional driver shows you what a 3-lap qualifying run is really like!

4. Boston Harbor Marina, Olympia

Source: Boston Harbor Marina Facebook

The marina is located in the historic community of Boston Harbor. It’s a quaint northwest establishment offering waterfront access and general marine related services. It's a great place to view the sights, access the water or just have a dockside picnic while enjoying the beauty of the South Sound.

5. Capital Playhouse, Olympia

Source: Capital Playhouse Facebook

Capital Playhouse is a 20+-year-old, private non-profit, performing arts, education, and performance organization in Olympia.

6. Centralia Factory Outlets, Centralia

The Northwest’s original outlet shopping destination, located in Centralia, WA (about halfway between Seattle and Portland). Get a store directory, coupons and events.

7. Centralia Rollerdome, Centralia

Enjoy some family fun at Washington State’s oldest Roller Skating Rink and one of the oldest in the nation. The attraction even has some history behind it, having been built back in 1904.

8. Chehalis-Centralia Railroad & Museum, Chehalis

Source: Chehalis Centralia Railroad Museum

Presently one of only a few steam powered standard gauge tourist railroads in the State of Washington. Their trains operate over a nine mile section of track that extends southwest from Chehalis. The line winds through scenic hills, farmland and over several wooden trestles.

9. Millersylvania Park, Tenino

Source: Washington State Parks

Bring the family to one of the most famous parks in the Grand Mound area. Millersylvania State Park contains two swimming beaches, miles of forested hiking and biking trails, watercraft launches, non-motorized watercraft rentals like kayaks and paddleboards and tons of places to fish!

10. Hands on Children's Museum, Olympia

Source: Hands On Museum Twitter

The Hands on Children's Museum stimulates curiosity, creativity and learning through fun, interactive exhibits and programs for children, families and school groups.

11. Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Saint Helens

Source: Mount St. Helens Twitter

Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument was established, in part, to promote environmental and science education. Each year, thousands of Mount St. Helens Nationguests travel to Mount St. Helens to see the dramatic effects of the 1980 volcanic eruption.

12. Lael’s Moon Garden Nursery

Source: Lael’s Moon Garden Facebook

Just a short drive from Grand Mound, Lael’s Moon Garden features the culmination of 40+ years of gardening experimentation. Witness how flat, open ground can be transformed by building mounds, creative stone work and plantings of oaks, sequoias, beeches, conifers and maples with smaller trees, shrubs and perennials. You can also tour the extensive display gardens with gravel pathways and a picnic area. Before you call it a day, take some time to contemplate the redwoods and search around for local birds.

13. Central Glass Works, Centralia

Check out some amazing blown glass created by local artists at Central Glass Works. You can also take a class to learn how to twist, cut and shape molten glass. Kids classes are also available. Master the craft and walk away with your own piece of artwork!

14. Mt. Rainier National Park, Chehalis

Source: Mount Rainer National Parks

Learn about glaciers. Discover life in a rainforest. Hike the Wonderland Trail. Explore subalpine ecology. Watch clouds shroud the mountain and disappear. Visit a rustic historic building. Dream about climbing to the summit. Study geology. Experience a mountain meadow. Listen to a glacier crack. Observe the wildlife.

15. The Mima Mounds

Source: Washington State Department of Natural Resources

The Mima Mounds span over several hundred acres and are filled with bulging mounds, covered in grass. To this day, no one has gotten to the bottom of what caused these unique formations. The early explorers first assumed it was a Native American burial site, though no skeletons were ever found. Some scientists suspect it's the result of gophers in the area, though some remain suspicious that the mounds exceed the size typically created by such small creatures.

16. Mima Falls, Littlerock

Source: Washington Trails Association 20 minutes from Grand Mound, WA stands Mima Falls.

The 25-foot waterfall can be reached through a number of different hiking paths. Named after the nearby Mima Mounds, this area offers wildlife viewing, flowers, and shady hiking trails. It’s not uncommon to see bikers or horseback riders along the way!

17. Tenino Depot Museum, Tenino

Source: Tenino Depot Museum Facebook

The Tenino Train Depot Museum contains tons of local artifacts, including the original press used to make "wood money," logging tools, quarry tools, and railroad memorabilia.

18. Borst Park, Centralia

Source: The Chronicle of Lewis County Twitter

Travel just ten minutes south of Great Wolf Lodge in Grand Mound and you’ll find Borst Park. The area features 121 acres of natural and recreational attractions. The well developed park is located by the Skookumchuck rivers and is the home to the historic Borst homestead, schoolhouse, arboretum and Fort Borst Blockhouse. You’ll also find a number of amenities including cessions stands, baseball fields, tennis courts and more.

19. Olympic Flight Museum

Source: The Olympic Flight Museum Facebook

Just a short drive from Grand Mound, the Olympic Flight Museum is an active flying museum. It is a place where aviation history is alive and honored. Get a first-hand look at a wide variety of planes and helicopters, perfect for the aspiring pilot in your family.

20. Riverside Golf Club, Chehalis

Riverside enjoys a mature landscape, defined fairways and true putting greens that will impress any player. Come and enjoy the "new" on-site ownership, remodel, course improvements, hospitality, pro, and commitment to customers. It all adds up to an engaging golfing experience at Riverside.

21. Visiting Nurses Thrift Shop, Chehalis

Stop by Visiting Nurses Thrift Shop for a fun and unique shopping experience. Proceeds benefit home health and hospice patients. Discover recycled treasures, collectibles, vintage clothing, books, furniture and costumes!

22. Wolf Haven International, Tenino

Since 1982, Wolf Haven International, a nonprofit organization, has been protecting wild wolves; providing sanctuary for captive-born wolves; promoting wolf restoration in historic ranges; and educating the public on the value of all wildlife. Take a tour of the sanctuary or check out all of their special events.

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That’s it for our list of things to do around Grand Mound! Remember, the Great Wolf Lodge indoor water park is kept at a comfortable 84-degrees, all year round. That means you can come visit us any time of the year! We also have plenty to do on dry land. Grab a wand and battle a dragon in MagiQuest, our live-action adventure game. Let the kids face new challenges on our ropes course from the safety of a climbing harness, or win prizes at our Northern lights arcade! Head over to our official site to learn more about what you can expect to find at the lodge!