Kent’s attractions offer a variety of experiences, from birdwatching and nature trails to earthworks art and local history. Along the banks of the Green River Trail, you’ll find osprey nests and several covered benches for birdwatching. The self-guided Earthworks Tour, meanwhile, follows a signed cycling route to four internationally acclaimed earthworks art installations. When looking for a hotel in Kent, it helps to first decide what you want to focus on during your stay. Trail lengths and collection themes highlight some of the differences.
Parks, Waterfront and Nature Trails
The popular Green River Trail runs for almost 20 miles along the Green River from Kent to Seattle’s southern city limits. In Kent, trail parking is available at its intersection with the Interurban Trail on S. 259th Street. The six-mile Soos Creek Trail passes through forests, wetlands and meadows in Kent. It is paved throughout, with an unpaved bridle path running alongside it in some sections. Parking is available at both trailheads in Kent: at the intersection of SE 192nd Street and 124th Avenue SE, and at the intersection of 148th Avenue SE and SE 266th Street.
The trails differ considerably in length: the Soos Creek Trail is six miles long, while the Green River Trail runs for almost 20 miles. Along the Soos Creek Trail, its continuous pavement and the bridle path running alongside it in some sections offer additional guidance on what to expect along the route. The parking areas at the intersections listed above can help you plan your visit to either trail.
The parks offer different experiences, too. The Green River Natural Resources Area is a 304-acre wildlife sanctuary in the heart of Kent. Clark Lake Park covers 154.3 acres. Lake Meridian Park has a designated swimming beach. When choosing an outing, you can focus on a natural area, park grounds or a swimming destination.
Earthworks Art Along the Route
The self-guided Earthworks Tour is a signed cycling route to four internationally acclaimed earthworks art installations that visitors can experience up close. Tour options range from 12 to 23 miles. The family-friendly 12-mile option is flat, takes you to the Green River Natural Resources Area and loops back. If you’re comparing different distances, it offers a specific shorter option alongside the longer routes.
Mill Creek Earthworks Park is home to an internationally acclaimed collection of earthworks art. Sculpted earth, paths, water features and lawns make the Earthworks site both a public park and a work of earthworks art. This combination offers a different way to experience earthworks art than the cycling route, which connects several installations.
Museums and Local History
The Hydroplane & Raceboat Museum has historic hydroplane boats spanning seven decades and more than 200 hours of historic racing films. The films cover hydroplane racing from the 1940s to the present day. The boats and film collection offer two different ways to explore the history of the sport.
The Greater Kent Historical Society Museum is housed in the historic Bereiter House. Seven historic rooms offer a glimpse of life at the turn of the 20th century. Rosebed Park adds another perspective on the city’s history: it was established in 1906 as the City of Kent’s first park. Kherson Park offers a very different theme, with unique space-themed play equipment inspired by NASA’s Apollo missions.
If you’re planning to cycle, you can choose from the listed Earthworks Tour options. If you’re interested in local history, you’ll find several different places to explore it. Search for hotels in Kent that suit the outings you want to prioritize during your stay, rather than treating these destinations as one single route.
Discover more destinations: Snoqualmie, Redmond, Shoreline, Seatac, Seattle, Normandy Park, Tukwila, Vashon Island.
For the broader travel overview: King.
