Normally I wouldn’t tell fellow RVers to make a pit stop at a mall on their way through a city. But the SouthCenter Westfield Mall, located in Tukwila, Washington, just south of Seattle, is no ordinary mall.

I first discovered the joys of being in a Westfield Mall during a snowbird escape to Los Angeles a few years ago. We were spending the month of February in Mid City. One overcast day, we decided to check out the nearby Westfield Culver City Mall. Once inside the mall, I was immediately struck with how bright, airy and open it was—not to mention family-friendly. The same feeling overcame me during a recent visit to SouthCenter Westfield Mall in Tukwilla.
A festive, happy vibe engulfed me the minute I stepped into this mall. I have a feeling the same could happen for most visitors. Be sure to clear your calendar, as a visit to SouthCenter Westfield Mall could easily turn into a day-long event. RVers with small kids in tow will also appreciate some of the mall’s features—like the kid’s play area and the large, family-friendly bathroom near the food court.

If you and your family are planning to spend the day, I suggest you head there early and meander through the abundance of shops that cater to shoppers of all types. Once you’ve worked up an appetite from all that window shopping, it’s time to head over to the bright, open food court and grab some lunch. Options include hearty burgers from Johnny Rockets, bean burritos from Chipotle Mexican Grill, and tasty Indian dishes at The Lotus Grill, to name just a few.

Next it’s time to head to the kid’s play area to watch your kiddos play while you let that lunch settle. When you’re ready to get moving again, you can do more shopping at any of the hundreds of different stores. Stop by Abercrombie and Fitch for some great threads, get your makeup at Bare Minerals, stock up on your body butter at The Body Shop, and catch a little Disney magic at the Disney Store. It’s all there, and then some.

Once you’re tired of shopping, you can catch a movie at the AMC Theatre located inside the mall. Then round out the day with a nice dinner at one of the many restaurants located within the mall—like the famed, and an incredibly family-friendly. Rainforest Café.

Once you’ve gotten the mall out of your system, you can go back to doing more RV touristy things—like visiting Pike Place Market, the Space Needle and the rest of the wonderful city of Seattle. For more on visiting Seattle, check out my article titled “Good Fun in Seattle.”