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: 21 Best Things to do in Grand Mound, WA
- 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. 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.
2. 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!
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. 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!
9. 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.
10. 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.
11. 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.
12. 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!
13. 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.
14. 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.
15. 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!
16. 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.
17. 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.
18. 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.
19. 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.
20. 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!
21. 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.
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!
FAQ's
There are so many things to do in Grand Mound, Washington, and it starts with one of the most famous paths in American history: The Oregon Trail. Passing directly nearby, it’s a must-see experience for families. And while the town itself is quite small, there’s so much more to discover: Nearby cities like Tumwater and Centralia offer a host of iconic tourist destinations. And with the seemingly endless natural beauty of its forests and mountains, there’s no shortage of fun things to do in Washington state.
Any list of “Grand Mound, WA Things To Do” will contain many sights and experiences that can only be found in a visit to the Pacific Northwest. Nearby cities like Tumwater and Centralia contain a host of appealing activities, while landmarks like Mt. Rainier are vital sightseeing destinations. Plus, the natural wonders of the coastline offers beautiful outdoor adventures. Of course, any visit should include a stay at our Great Wolf Lodge in Grand Mound—click here to learn more.
There are many things to do with kids in Washington state outside of Great Wolf Lodge. These include popular attractions, historical landmarks, famous tourist stops, and more. See our list of the “22 Things To Do In Washington State” for a longer list of options.
A number of the most fun things to do in Grand Mound, WA can be found on our list above. From a visit to the Oregon Trail, to the natural beauty of the forests and mountains, to the numerous museums, parks, and other travel destinations, Washington state contains many popular attractions for tourists and families.
