1.      Shop Shop Shop (well, you know, it IS the key to happiness … err maybe that’s the money I’d save by …) … shopping at the SuperMall of the Great Northwest! Truly good buys here in a totally undercover outlet mall. Come visit!

SuperMall
1101 SuperMall Way, Suite 1268
Auburn, WA 98001
www.supermall.com

2.      Play the ponies at Emerald Downs! — I always walk away with a coupla bucks left in my pocket … but after a full day of entertainment with the whole family, awesome nachos at the taco bar, and a couple of margaritas, life is GOOD!

Emerald Downs
2300 Emerald Downs Drive
Auburn, WA 98001-1633
(253) 288-7000

3.     Have dinner at the Auburn Avenue Dinner Theater — and laugh hysterically if you visit on Comedy Night!!

Auburn Avenue Dinner Theater
10 Auburn Avenue
Auburn, WA 98001

4.    Chase a golf ball around at one of three fantastic courses:

Auburn Golf Course
29630 Green River Road SE
Auburn, WA 98092
253-931-3005
www.auburngolf.org

A full-service 18-hole facility, the fair, but challenging par 71 course is just over 6,450 yards and hosts over 50,000 rounds of golf each year. 

Jade Greens Golf Course & Driving Range
18330 SE Lake Holm Road
Auburn, WA 98092
253-931-8562
www.jadegreens.com

A 9-hole public course that is described as very player friendly, junior and senior rates are available Monday through Friday. There are additional sets of tees that can be used when playing an eighteen hole round.

Washington National Golf Club
14330 SE Husky Way
Auburn, WA 98092
253-931-8562
www.washingtonnationalgolfclub.com

Located on the scenic Auburn plateau, the par-72 course was co-designed by John Fought and Orrin Vincent. Already recognized as one of the Northwest’s golfing treasures, Washington National combines world-class golf with a campus-like atmosphere as the entire project features a University of Washington theme.

5.       Break out the inline skates .. or skateboards … at 

Brannon Skate Park
611 28th St. N.E.
Auburn, WA 98001

Opened in 1999, this 8,000-square foot, free-form skate park is designed for both skateboard and inline skate enthusiasts. It offers a long snake, three bowls, 3-foot pyramid and grinding rails. 

6.     Bring the earplugs and visit the drags, roadraces, or karting at Pacific Raceways! For us ‘old’ folks, this was always known as SIR — Seattle International Raceways! … I remember burning up the engine on my brand new Mazda R100 …. sigh.

Pacific Raceways
31001 144th Avenue Southeast
Kent, WA 98042-4601
(253) 639-5927
www.pacificraceways.com

Okay, well technically this has a “Kent” address, but for anyone that knows Auburn, this is located just at the end of the Highway 18, 304/312 exit in AUBURN!

7.      Go to a show at the White River Amphitheatre — the biggest names play here, and the setting is spectacular with an ‘in-your-face’ view of Mount Rainier

White River Amphitheatre
40601 Auburn-Enumclaw Road SE (Hwy. 164)
Auburn, WA 98092
206494-2134
www.whiteriverconcerts.com

8.      Take in a family-friendly show at the Heavier Than Air Theatre at Green River Community College. My kids loved this and it became one of our regular “what’s going on at the Theatre?” when looking for a fun weekend afternoon!

Heavier than Air Family Theatre Company
Performing Arts Building
Green River Community College
12401 SE 320th Street
Auburn, WA 98092

9.      Did you know that Auburn boasts one of the finest symphony orchestras in all the Pacific Northwest! ?? Comprised of over 60 professional musicians from the Seattle Pacific Northwest Ballet and other Northwest orchestras, this is not just a small-town orchestra. The Auburn Symphony is a professional, incredible! group of musicians that put together highly technical performances.

Auburn Symphony
Auburn Performing Arts Center
700 East Main Street
Auburn, WA 98002
http://auburnsymphony.org/

10.      Have an outdoor picnic at Flaming Geyser State Park. Yes, there really is a Flaming Geyser at Flaming Geyser State Park

Flaming Geyser State Park
23700 SE Flaming Geyser Rd
Auburn, WA 98092

Located on the Green River, the park is another of my favorite summer-fun places. As I look through their site, though, here’s what I didn’t know: There’s a full-blown remote control model airplane field there! Whoo hoo! Gotta check this out!