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Marysville, Washington: The Best & Fun Things To Do + Places To Visit (That Aren’t Just Walmart)

Marysville, Washington earns the stop, and it earns rather more of one than the exit sign out there suggests. The casinos and the outlets do pull all of the traffic in off the road, which is fair enough. But the kangaroo farm and the escape rooms are the ones that people actually talk about afterwards. The Centennial Trail runs a full 30 miles of it. Worth it.

Marysville, Washington sits right off the interstate, which is how most people meet it and why most people underrate it. Retail therapy, outdoor time, culture, food: the city runs all four without making a production of any of them. Solo, with family, or with friends, the day fills itself once you actually stop.

Gamers pull off the road for the Gaming Extravaganza at the Tulalip Resort Casino. Over 2,200 slot machines, more than 35 table games, and a spread of other options besides, which is more than anybody works through in one night. Break for a meal at one of the resort’s restaurants, or take in a show at the on-site entertainment venue.

Outdoors, Marysville hands you more than the map implies. Jennings Memorial Park and Ebey Waterfront Park sit at either end of the easy stuff. Rent a kayak or a stand-up paddleboard and the Snohomish River Delta opens up in front of you, which is the version of this town nobody photographs. Go and see it.

Key Takeaways

• Marysville, Washington has something for everyone, from gaming enthusiasts to outdoor adventurers.
• Don’t miss the Gaming Extravaganza at the Tulalip Resort Casino or the natural beauty of Jennings Memorial Park and Ebey Waterfront Park.
• Whether you’re traveling solo, with family, or with friends, you’re sure to have a great time exploring all that Marysville has to offer.

The Gaming Extravaganza

Marysville covers the gaming end of things properly, from arcade cabinets through bowling alleys to full casinos. Pick a lane and level up.

Arcade Games Galore

Classic arcade people should point the car at Crave 80s Arcade Bar. Over 40 classic arcade games sit in there, Pac-Man and Donkey Kong and Space Invaders among them, and the decade comes back at you the moment the door shuts. Marysville feeds you and pours for you while you play, which is how an hour turns into three.

Binary Diversions 3-D runs the other direction, into virtual reality. The equipment is current and the games put you inside them rather than in front of them. Classic arcade cabinets and pinball machines sit in there too, for anyone who prefers the old-school way.

Bowling Alleys

Bowling holds up and always has. Strawberry Lanes is the alley in Marysville, running open bowling and leagues across 20 lanes, with a snack bar and private party rooms out the back. Shoe rental is on site, so nothing needs packing.

Casino Fun

Feeling lucky, take Tulalip Resort Casino or Quil Ceda Creek Casino. Both run slot machines, table games and poker rooms, with restaurants and bars on site so the night never has to break for food. Try your luck and see where it goes.

Marysville runs a gaming scene bigger than the town’s size predicts. Arcade cabinets, bowling or the casino floor, all of it is covered. Collect the friends and the family and go.

Nature’s Bounty

Marysville has nature on every side of it, from parks through to hiking trails. Here are the ones worth giving an afternoon to.

Hiking Trails

Marysville has the workout covered if you want the scenery to come with it. Jennings Memorial Park runs nature trails that stretch the legs and clear the head at the same time. Take the camera, because the scenery earns it.

Parks and Playgrounds

Marysville runs some of the strongest parks and playgrounds in the state. Ebey Waterfront Park is where the kids come loose on the playground, and the family picnic works there too. Walk the waterfront afterwards for the views.

Wildlife Areas

Animal people should work Deering Wild Flower Acres. Marysville keeps it quiet, and the walk stays peaceful while birds, butterflies and the rest go about their business around you. Take the binoculars for the closer look.

Marysville is where nature people end up. A quiet walk or an adrenaline hit, both are on the table. Pack the bag, put the boots on, and take Marysville’s trails, parks and wildlife areas at whatever pace suits.

Retail Therapy

Retail therapy, then. Marysville has the options for it, from malls through to boutique stores. Bring a list or do not, it works either way.

Malls and Outlets

One stop for the lot, take Marysville Towne Centre Mall. This indoor mall runs clothing, accessories and home goods across its floors. Lane Bryant, Vans and Kipling are in there, along with plenty more.

Bargain hunters take Seattle Premium Outlets. Over 110 stores sit out there, Tommy Bahama’s Outlet Store among them, and this outdoor mall runs factory outlets covering everything from clothing to housewares. The deals on designer brands are real, so bring the wallet.

Boutique Stores

Something less mass-produced, work the boutique stores in Marysville. These run a more personalized experience, and the products are often handmade or locally sourced.

Bags, backpacks and accessories fill the Kipling Store, which is one of them. The designs run fun and colorful, which makes them the statement piece an outfit was missing.

Lane Bryant is the other one, specializing in plus-size clothing. The styles and sizes run broad, so the fit and the personality both get served.

Whatever the shopping style, Marysville has a version of it. Take the credit card and give it the day.

Culinary Delights

Local Restaurants

Dining in Marysville is better than the signs off the interstate suggest. The city runs local restaurants with their own flavors and styles. Seafood, burgers or pizza, one of them will land.

Take the Village Restaurant first in Marysville. This family-owned place has been putting out comfort food for over 50 years, which is its own argument. The breakfasts run hearty, the burgers run juicy, and the pies are homemade.

Something more upscale, work 5th Street Bistro. This one runs farm-to-table, with fresh and locally sourced ingredients and a menu that changes with the season. Turn up in a different season and it will not be the same meal.

Picnic Spots

Good weather turns the picnic into the plan, and Marysville’s parks are built for it. Here are the spots we keep going back to:

• Jennings Memorial Park: This park has plenty of picnic tables, as well as a playground and walking trails.
• Ebey Waterfront Park: Located on the banks of the Snohomish River, this park offers stunning views and plenty of space for a picnic.
• Strawberry Fields Athletic Park: This park has a large picnic shelter, as well as sports fields and a playground.

Wherever the picnic lands, take sunscreen and bug spray with you. And clear up afterwards, because Marysville stays good-looking only if everybody does.

Outdoor Adventures

Outdoor people get plenty out of Marysville. Kayaking, fishing, camping, biking, and no obvious end to the list.

Kayaking and Fishing

Paddle in hand, hit the water. Marysville runs some of the strongest kayaking in the state, and Allen Creek is where people go, especially through salmon season. Take the fishing gear too, because Allen Creek fishes as well as it paddles.

Camping Spots

Pitching a tent, Marysville has the ground for it. Kayak Point County Park takes most of the campers and puts Puget Sound in front of them. Somewhere quieter, take nearby Lake Goodwin, which runs campgrounds that stay peaceful.

Biking Trails

Marysville runs some of the strongest biking in the state. The Centennial Trail takes riders of every skill level, running 30 miles from Snohomish to Arlington with the landscape open on both sides. A harder ride, head for nearby Pilchuck Tree Farm, where the trails run through forest and do not go easy on you.

Whichever outdoor thing you pick, Marysville runs a version of it. Take the gear and go.

Give the casinos an evening and give all of the parks a morning, because that is how the light works. The outlets want a full half of a day, and the Hibulb Cultural Center wants a slower one than that. Book the escape room well ahead of turning up, because those rooms fill right up on weekends. The kangaroo farm runs tours, so call ahead first. Bring cash for the farmers market.

Cultural Experiences

Culture in Marysville holds up better than expected. The city carries a long history, with museums and historical sites to work through. Live music events run alongside all of that.

Museums and Historical Sites

The Hibulb Cultural Center covers Native American history and culture. The exhibits are interactive. There is a longhouse and a research library on site. You can learn about the Tulalip Tribes, their history, their art and their traditions.

Another one is the Marysville Opera House, built in 1903 and restored to what it was. It works as a venue now, for concerts, plays and other events.

Live Music Events

Music people do well here. Marysville runs a live music scene with real weight to it, and the city puts on concerts and music festivals through the year.

One of them takes a whole week: the Marysville Strawberry Festival. Live music, parades and carnival rides run through it, and the town turns out for all of it. This is where the local culture stops being abstract.

The other one is the Marysville Summer Concert Series, and it costs nothing to attend. It runs in Jennings Memorial Park across a spread of musical genres. Take a blanket and a picnic and let the evening go under the stars.

Whatever the interest, Marysville has a version of it. Museums or dancing to live music, the day works out.

Family Fun

Marysville takes the whole family for a day out without much effort. Children’s attractions or dog parks, both are covered. Here is what works:

Children’s Attractions

Kids first, and Marysville has plenty for them. The Imagine Children’s Museum is the opening move. This interactive museum is built for ages 1-12 and runs exhibits on science, art and culture. Kids work out how the human body goes together, climb over a real fire truck, and make their own art.

Dinosaur Park is the other one. Life-size models of T-Rex and Stegosaurus and the rest stand around the place, and there is a playground shaped like a dinosaur for the climbing, sliding and swinging.

Dog Parks

Traveling with a dog, Marysville has the parks for it. Strawberry Fields for Rover Off-Leash Park is the opener, running two separate areas for large and small dogs plus agility equipment to work them on.

Doleshel Park is the next one. A large off-leash area takes the running, and there is a playground and picnic area so the rest of the family gets something out of it too.

Northpointe Park is the scenic option. The off-leash area is large, and hiking trails and mountain views come with it.

Whatever you are after, Marysville has family activities to spare. Pack the picnic, collect the kids and the dog, and take the day outside.

Cinematic Adventures

Movie people, then. Buttered popcorn and a new film on a big screen still works, and Marysville has the options for it.

Movie Theaters

Regal Marysville 14 comes first. Stadium seating and digital projection, so the film gets shown properly. With 14 screens running, one of them will suit. Take the latest blockbuster or run a classic movie night with friends.

Outdoor Movie Nights

But indoor theaters are not the only option. Through the summer months, Marysville puts outdoor movie nights on in parks across the city. Take a blanket and some snacks and settle in under the stars. Watch the city’s event calendar for what is coming.

And for anyone wanting more out of it, Regal Marysville runs 3D showings as well. The film comes off the screen at you.

Indoor or outdoor, Marysville covers the cinema end of it.

Unique Experiences

Something well outside the ordinary, Marysville has two of those. Both stay with you.

Outback Kangaroo Farm

Yes, you read that correctly. Marysville has a kangaroo farm in it. Outback Kangaroo Farm puts you right up against the marsupials, petting them and feeding them, and you can hold a baby kangaroo, or a joey as they are properly called.

And that is not the whole of it. The farm keeps wallabies and alpacas as well. Take the tour and work through the animals, or simply sit in it and let the place stay quiet around you.

Entangled Escape Rooms

Wanting a challenge, head to Entangled Escape Rooms. Rooms run across a spread of themes, but the Alien Crashed Ship Room is the one we point people at. The group gets locked into an alien spacecraft that is about to self-destruct, and there are 60 minutes to solve the puzzles and get out.

Be warned though, this room is not gentle. It runs dark and creepy and full of surprises. Working together and thinking sideways are the only ways out of it.

Kangaroos or aliens, or both, Marysville has something out of the usual run. These are the ones that stay in the story afterwards.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are some activities in Marysville that won’t break the bank?

On a budget, Marysville still fills a day. Jennings Park Arboretum costs nothing and runs gardens and walking trails. Marysville Farmers Market runs June through September, with fresh produce, food trucks and live music. And the nearby Ebey Waterfront Trail climbs to views out over Puget Sound.

What’s the best way to explore Marysville’s outdoors?

Get out into it, is the honest answer. Rent a bike and take the Centennial Trail, which runs 30 miles through Snohomish County. Or rent a kayak and paddle the Snohomish River, where the wildlife runs broad. And for a scenic drive, take nearby Chuckanut Drive along the Pacific Northwest coastline. Marysville’s outdoors works best from a seat that moves.

Are there any hidden gems in Marysville that tourists often overlook?

Yes, and plenty. The Hibulb Cultural Center is one, covering the history and culture of the Tulalip Tribes. Strawberry Fields for Rover Off-Leash Park is another, running over 10 acres of fenced field for the dog. And antiques people should work the Marysville Antique Mall, with over 100 dealers selling vintage and unusual items.

What’s the funniest thing to do in Marysville?

For the laugh, head to the CRAVE 80s Arcade Bar. This retro arcade runs over 50 classic games, Pac-Man and Donkey Kong and Space Invaders among them. Feeling competitive, take a friend on at pinball or air hockey. And the Marysville Comedy Club puts stand-up on every weekend.

What’s the best way to spend a rainy day in Marysville?

Rain does not shut Marysville down. The Imagine Children’s Museum runs interactive exhibits and activities for kids. Or take a film at the Regal Cinemas Marysville 14, which has comfortable seating and the snacks to match. And the Fired Up Ceramics studio lets you paint your own pottery and carry a souvenir home.

Are there any quirky museums or attractions in Marysville?

Yes, a fair number of them. Quilting gets the Pacific Northwest Quilt & Fiber Arts Museum, covering the art and its history. Outback Kangaroo Farm is another, where you feed and handle kangaroos, wallabies and other exotic animals. And vintage car people should work the Marysville American Legion Post 178 Car Museum, which holds classic cars and motorcycles.

Frequently asked questions about Marysville, Washington

Which one of the farms near Marysville actually holds all of the kangaroos themselves, then, really now, in the end?

Outback Kangaroo Farm out there, and you get right up close to the whole of the marsupials on it. You can pet them and feed them, and you can hold a baby joey out there. Wallabies and alpacas live out on the whole of the same farm as all of that. Tours.

How long exactly do you actually get inside the alien room at Entangled Escape Rooms, then, really now, in the end?

You get a full 60 minutes of it, and the ship is set to self-destruct at the end. Book the Alien Crashed Ship Room out of the whole of the set of them out there. It is dark and it is creepy, so bring people who think out loud. Teamwork.

How far does the Centennial Trail actually run out of Snohomish, then, really now, in the end?

A full 30 miles of it, and the whole run of that goes from Snohomish out to Arlington. Bikers of every single skill level take it, so the gradient never turns hard on you. The views out of it hold the whole of the way through. Rentals.

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