Many of Seattle’s suburbs, like Woodinville, have been praised as great day trip destinations. Admittedly, Renton hasn’t really been one of them. While this vibrant mid-sized city has a lot to offer and has a great lakeside location, it has traditionally not been known for much, other than being home to Boeing and IKEA.

But spend a day exploring Renton and you just might discover how underrated it actually is. Here are a few things we recommend doing.

Renton is located 11 miles southeast of downtown Seattle, on the southeast shore of Lake Washington at the mouth of the Cedar River.
Paul Sableman / Flickr
The city's early economy was based on coal mining, clay production, and timber export. While things are very different today, it still has a lot of historic charms.
Renton often gets overlooked as a nice place to stay when people visit the Seattle area, which is a shame.
Lindsey Martin / Flickr
There are abundant parks, nature trails, restaurants, shops, breweries, and bars here, not to mention amazing lake sunsets.
Start your day at Gene Coulon Memorial Beach Park, which has a beautiful boardwalk.
BruinDan / TripAdvisor
There's also a massive playground here, so if you have little ones, bring them along.
You'll have quite a few lunch options in Renton, but make it a point to try Burger Addict if you're really hungry.
Leisa Francis / Google
There are hundreds of great burger spots in King County, but this one is quite remarkable.

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Burger Addict's owner and chef, Marcus Olson, won awards as a chef in London, Paris, New York City, and Baltimore before moving to Washington.
Burger Addict / Google
The burgers here aren't small, and that's the point. Olson loves fresh ingredients and really thick bacon.
Next, walk off your food coma by taking a stroll down the iconic Cedar River Trail ...
Ann Jones / alltrails.com
... or, if retail therapy is more your style, check out The Landing.
Joey Carfunkle / Google
The Landing has a combination of nationally known stores and local shops. And if you get thirsty, you can order a glass of wine at Vino at the Landing.
Speaking of thirsty, don't forget to stop by Puget Sound Cider Company.
Puget Sound Cider Company / Google
The hard cider here is made with Washington apples, and it's exceptional.
You'll have a ton of options for dinner, including everything from fish and chips to authentic Indian cuisine.
Water's Table / Facebook
But for dinner with a view, you can't go wrong with Water's Table. This lakefront eatery is at the Hyatt Regency Lake Washington Hotel. Downstairs, you'll find Dock & Drink, a bar that will make you swear you've left Washington and landed somewhere tropical.

This is a small sample of the many great businesses and natural attractions awaiting you in Renton. Do some exploring the next time you’re in the area. You might be surprised by what you find.

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