SeaTac Isn't Just an Airport Code: Discovering the Hidden Communities Behind the Runway

What if your worst travel nightmare—a cancelled flight and unexpected airport layover—could become your best adventure yet?

Join Heide and Nicky as they completely flip the script on airport travel with their incredible 4-day discovery of Southside Seattle, the vibrant communities surrounding Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. From squid fishing on a fall night to exploring a UFO mysteries trail, from a Viking-themed meadery to a botanical garden literally under the flight path, these aren't your typical "airport hotel" experiences.

In this episode, you'll discover:

• How SeaTac, Tukwila, and Des Moines each offer distinct personalities and authentic local experiences just minutes from one of America's busiest airports
• Why that "generic airport area" is actually a multicultural foodie destination with Korean barbecue, Vietnamese bubble tea, Somali cuisine, and fresh Pacific Northwest seafood
• Practical tips for transforming travel delays and layovers into mini-adventures (especially relevant as ATC staffing issues continue to disrupt flights nationwide)
• The surprising maritime culture, local history, and outdoor experiences hiding in plain sight near major airports

Perfect for women 45+ who:

• Are tired of just "surviving" airport travel and want to thrive instead
• Love authentic local food scenes and cultural discoveries
• Are dealing with current travel stress and flight disruptions
• Want to maximize those "necessary" airport hotel stays
• Are ready to see delays and detours as opportunities, not disasters

Whether you're currently stuck in an airport or planning your next trip, this episode will change how you think about those "in-between" travel days forever. Discover why sometimes the best destinations are the ones you never planned to visit.

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Transcript

SeaTac Isn't Just an Airport Code: Discovering the Hidden Communities Behind the Runway

NICKY: What if I told you that we had a fun-filled, four-day getaway that was spent entirely within a five-mile radius of an airport?

HEIDE: And not just any airport - we're talking Seattle-Tacoma International, one of the busiest in the country. But here's the thing - we didn't just survive those four days, we absolutely thrived.

NICKY: I'm Nicky Omohundro—

HEIDE: —and I'm Heide Brandes, and you're listening to Untethered & Wanderwise, the podcast for women over 45 who believe the best adventures are still ahead of us.

NICKY: And ladies, if you're listening to this while sitting in an airport or just considering flying right now, stressed about delays or cancellations - and let's be honest, with the ATC staffing issues we're seeing across the country due to the recent government impacts - this episode is especially for you.

HEIDE: Because today we're going to completely flip the script on how you think about airport hotels, layovers, and those "necessary evil" travel days we all endure.

NICKY: So Heide, let's set the scene. We're planning this trip to the Pacific Northwest, and like many travelers, we book a hotel near SeaTac for convenience. Easy airport access, right?

HEIDE: Exactly. And I have to confess, when I first heard Cedarbrook Lodge near SeaTac, my brain immediately went to "generic airport hotel with shuttle service and sad continental breakfast."

NICKY: [Laughs] Oh, how wrong we were! But before we dive into what we discovered, can we talk about the travel climate right now? Because I know our listeners are dealing with some real stress.

HEIDE: Absolutely. As we're recording this, airports across the US are experiencing reduced flights due to air traffic control staffing shortages. Flight delays and cancellations are unfortunately becoming the norm rather than the exception.

NICKY: And I'm speaking from very recent experience here! Just a few days ago, I was coming back from Paris, and it was like a masterclass in modern travel chaos. My original flight from Charles de Gaulle Airport to Atlanta was uneventful which is the best we can all hope for these days. But my flight from Atlanta home was cancelled while I was in the air somewhere over the Atlantic Ocean.  

HEIDE: Oh no! What happened?

NICKY: So I managed to rebook while I was still in the air on my phone - thank goodness for in flight WiFi - but that meant an unexpected overnight in Atlanta. And here's where this episode's message really hits home: instead of panicking or just camping out in the airport, I quickly booked a Gateway hotel at the Atlanta airport.

HEIDE: Smart move. How was it?

NICKY: Here's the thing - it had a super comfortable bed and was a really nice hotel! I got a good night's sleep, a real shower, and turned what could have been a travel nightmare into just... a pause. A reset. And it made me think about how we approach these disruptions. Plus, we have said it before that travel insurance is essential these days. My hotel and dinner were covered expenses, and I’ll be reimbursed for them. 

HEIDE: That's such a perfect example of what we're talking about today. Because I think for women our age, there's this added layer of anxiety when travel goes sideways. We remember when it used to feel more... civilized? More predictable?

NICKY: Exactly! And the old me might have just stressed out and tried to power through. But instead, I thought, "What if I just embrace this?" And you know what? That comfortable bed in Atlanta was exactly what I needed before dealing with the next day's delayed flight home.

HEIDE: Right. So when your flight gets delayed or you're stuck with an unexpected overnight stay, it's easy to feel like your whole trip is ruined. But what if - and stay with me here - what if that delay or that airport hotel stay could actually become a highlight, or at least a positive part of your trip?

NICKY: Which brings us back to SeaTac and an area locals refer to as Southside Seattle. This trip I learned: SeaTac isn't just an airport code. It's actually a distinct community along with Des Moines and Tukwila that make up Southside Seattle. Each with its own personality, all within a few miles of each other and the airport.

HEIDE: And it makes sense when you think about it. You have an international airport, which means you have people from all over the world who work there, live nearby, have built businesses and restaurants and families. But what we discovered is that each of these communities has developed its own unique character.

NICKY: Exactly! So let's take our listeners on this journey through all three. And it started the moment we landed in SeaTac proper, picked up our rental car and headed to Cedarbrook Lodge.

HEIDE: Nicky, when you think "airport hotel," this is probably the last thing you'd imagine, right? We're talking about 18 lush acres of restored wetlands and native gardens. It felt like we'd been transported to some Pacific Northwest retreat, not parked next to a runway. And this ties into something I've been passionate about for years - finding those hidden green spaces and natural areas near airports. I actually wrote an article about hiking trails near airports because I kept discovering these amazing pockets of nature that travelers just zip right past.

NICKY: But here's where it gets really magical. On our last morning, we visited the Highline SeaTac Botanical Garden, and I need our listeners to picture this: you're walking through this gorgeous 10.5-acre garden with native plants, heritage collections, a Japanese garden, water features...

HEIDE: And overhead, every few minutes, massive jets are taking off and landing at SeaTac. You're literally standing under the flight path!

NICKY: It should be jarring, right? But instead, it's this incredible metaphor for finding beauty and tranquility in the most unexpected places. Here's this community that said, "We're not going to let airport noise define us. We're going to create something beautiful right here."

HEIDE: And that garden - it's free, it's open year-round, and it perfectly captures what SeaTac the community is about. It's this blend of practicality and beauty, of embracing the reality of where you are while refusing to let that limit what you can create.

NICKY: So that's SeaTac proper - this interesting mix of international influences because of the airport, but also deep Pacific Northwest roots. The food scene reflects that perfectly.

HEIDE: Right! We had breakfast at 13 Coins, which is this beloved local institution that's been serving all-day breakfast in these iconic high-backed booths since forever. It's exactly the kind of place airport travelers usually miss.

NICKY: And then Zain Restaurant & Bakery Cafe, which serves vibrant Somali and Mediterranean cuisine. This place is next to a halal market and it was my first time having Somali food. Portions are massive and we actually shared a plate for goat, rice, and salad. This family-owned, halal restaurant also has incredible fresh-baked pastries.

HEIDE:  Suddenly you realize this isn't just an airport area - this is where people from all over the world have made their home. Which brings us to Tukwila which is the commercial/retail hub in the area. This is where the international food scene really exploded for us.

NICKY: Tukwila has this incredible energy - it's got this urban, multicultural vibe that feels like a foodie destination hiding in plain sight.

HEIDE: Our first night, we had dinner at Miyabi Sushi, and this is where it really hit us that we weren't just in some anonymous airport zone. The chef here has been perfecting his craft since 1990, and the restaurant is co-owned by Hisako, who's from Osaka, and former major league pitcher Masao Kida. I have to say this was some amazing sushi! 

NICKY: Then we had Korean barbecue at Sumi Korean Grill - women-owned, by the way - where we're talking about authentic Korean flavors with house-made marinades and this beautiful modern take on classic dishes.

HEIDE: Vietnamese-inspired bubble tea and treats at Natalie's Sugarcane & Dessert, which is family-owned and woman-led. Fresh-pressed sugarcane juice, spring rolls - it was like taking a mini trip to Vietnam.

NICKY: And can we talk about the meadery? Because I feel like this is where listeners might think we've completely lost it.

HEIDE: [Laughs] Right! So there we are in Tukwila and we discover Oppegaard Meadery. We're talking small-batch meads in this tasting room that's designed like a Viking mead hall, complete with rune-covered walls. We sat down with the owner Jon Oppegaard. 

NICKY: And Tukwila also surprised us with Neighborhood Cafe, which serves exactly what it sounds like - hearty, homestyle comfort food that locals have been going to for years. Not trying to be trendy, just consistently good.

HEIDE: So Tukwila felt like this bustling, international, entrepreneurial community. But then we discovered Des Moines, and the vibe completely shifts. Des Moines is waterfront. It's maritime. It's got this small coastal town feel even though you're still just minutes from the airport.

NICKY: The whole downtown area centers around this beautiful marina on Puget Sound, with views of Mount Rainier on clear days. And this is where some of our most memorable experiences happened.

HEIDE: Should we tell them about the UFO trail?

NICKY: [Laughs] Oh, we have to! Ladies, if you think airport areas are boring, wait until you hear about the Seattle Southside UFO Mysteries Trail, which is centered right here in Des Moines.

HEIDE: This is a real thing, by the way. We're not making this up.

NICKY: So apparently, back in 1947, there was this incident called the Maury Island Incident - one of America's earliest UFO encounters - and it happened right here in Des Moines. And now there's this whole trail you can follow, complete with murals and sculptures and augmented reality features. Southside Seattle has a digital app you can download and follow the trail to all the points.

HEIDE: We spent an entire morning following Harold Dahl's story, visiting places like the Des Moines Marina Pier, where he reportedly saw six donut-shaped discs over Puget Sound. And whether or not you believe in UFOs, it's this amazing local history that connects you to the area in a way you'd never expect.

NICKY: And the views! From Sound View Park, you're looking out over Puget Sound, with Mount Rainier in the distance, and you realize - this isn't just an airport area. Plus we saw witches! Well not real ones, but we were there just before Halloween and two women were doing a photoshoot in the park. 

HEIDE: They were fun to watch! They had painted their faces green and wore all black. It was fun and quirky for sure. But Des Moines also has this really sophisticated food and culture scene. We had afternoon tea at Marina Mercantile, which is this charming neighborhood gathering spot where they serve artisan teas and house-made pastries with this waterfront setting.

NICKY: And Anthony's HomePort, where we had lunch right on the marina with views of Maury Island and the Olympics. Fresh, sustainable seafood, and you're literally looking out over the waters where that fish was caught.

HEIDE: Plus Second Love Coffee Roasters, which is this specialty micro-roastery that opened in 2023. They're doing creative drinks like black sesame vanilla lattes, and it's got this welcoming, minimalist atmosphere just steps from the marina.

NICKY: We also had dinner at Wally's Chowder House, which has been a Des Moines institution for decades. It's exactly what you'd want from a waterfront chowder house - unpretentious, locally loved, and the kind of place where you can watch boats come and go while eating the best clam chowder of your life.

HEIDE: Des Moines also gave us Des Moines Beach Park, which is this gorgeous 19.6-acre waterfront park with a 635-foot saltwater beach. Perfect for beachcombing, and again, just minutes from one of the busiest airports in the country.

NICKY: And speaking of Des Moines experiences, can we tell them about the squid fishing?

HEIDE: Oh, we absolutely have to! So it's our last night, and we've connected with Cal Smith from the MaST Center - that's the Marine Science and Technology Center - and he takes us squid fishing at the Des Moines Marina Pier.

NICKY: At night! In 40-degree weather! And before this trip, if someone had told me I'd be squid fishing at a marina near SeaTac, I would have looked at them like they were crazy.

HEIDE: But it was magical! We're out there with this local volunteer who's passionate about marine education, learning about the ecosystem of Puget Sound, and being battered by wind and a little drizzle. It felt like the most authentic Pacific Northwest maritime experience we could have asked for. We didn’t catch anything, unless you count seaweed. But it’s an experience we’ll never forget.

NICKY: And this brings me back to something important for our listeners who might be dealing with travel stress right now. Sometimes the universe forces us to slow down - whether it's a flight delay, a cancelled connection, or just exhaustion from our regular lives.

HEIDE: Yes! Instead of fighting it or seeing it as time lost, what if we saw it as time found? Time to actually connect with places instead of just passing through them. Like Nicky's experience in Atlanta - instead of a disaster, it became exactly what she needed.

NICKY: Exactly! Because here's what we learned about these three communities: they exist because of the airport, but they're not defined by it. SeaTac has this beautiful blend of international influences and Pacific Northwest nature. Tukwila is this vibrant, multicultural foodie destination. Des Moines is maritime and artsy with incredible waterfront experiences.

HEIDE: And when you approach these places with curiosity instead of just trying to survive until you can leave, people respond to that. Every single person we met - from the staff at the meadery to the marine educator who took us squid fishing - was excited to share their community with visitors who were genuinely interested.

NICKY: So let's talk practical tips for our listeners. Because I know someone's listening right now thinking, "This sounds lovely, but how do I actually do this?"

HEIDE: First tip: change your mindset before you even book. Instead of searching for "airport hotels," search for hotels in the actual city names. So instead of "SeaTac airport hotels," search for "SeaTac hotels" or "Des Moines Washington hotels" or "Tukwila hotels."

This trip we stayed at the Cedarbrook Lodge which was like an oasis with an award-winning spa and monthly culinary delights like the Cider Dinner featuring the local FinnRiver Cidery. We also stayed at the Hotel Interurban which is a newer hotel walking distance to Southcenter Mall and has easy access to the Sounder Train.

NICKY: Great point. You'll get completely different results and you'll start to see these places as destinations rather than just transit points.

HEIDE: Second, when you check in anywhere, ask the front desk staff where they like to eat. Not "what's close" or "what delivers" - where do THEY eat? Where do their families go for special occasions?

NICKY: Love that! And third, give yourself permission to explore. We rented a car, but many of these places were walkable from our hotels or a quick rideshare away. The three communities are really close to each other.

HEIDE: Fourth - and this is crucial - plan for at least one full day in each area if you can. Each community deserves its own time because they really do have distinct personalities.

NICKY: Yes! SeaTac for that blend of international culture and surprising nature like the botanical garden. Tukwila for the incredible food scene and unique experiences like the meadery. Des Moines for waterfront beauty and maritime activities.

HEIDE: And here's a specific tip for women our age: don't be afraid of activities that sound "young" or "adventurous." The UFO trail, the squid fishing, trying mead for the first time - these weren't designed for college kids. They were designed for curious humans.

NICKY: Now, can we address the elephant in the room? Because I know some listeners are thinking, "This all sounds great, but what about safety? What about the fact that airport areas can feel sketchy?"

HEIDE: Such a valid concern. And honestly, we had some of those preconceptions too. But what we found was that these established communities around major airports often have really good infrastructure, lighting, and security precisely because of the airport traffic.

NICKY: Right. Des Moines marina area felt safer to walk around at night than many traditional tourist areas we've been to. And remember, we were squid fishing at 8 PM in late October! The communities are well-lit, well-maintained, and full of local families and businesses.

HEIDE: Plus, when you're staying in actual community establishments rather than just generic chain hotels in industrial areas, you're automatically connected to local networks of people who care about the area.

NICKY: Absolutely. Whether it was the staff at Cedarbrook Lodge in SeaTac, Hotel Interurban in Tukwila, or any of the restaurant owners we met, these weren't just hospitality workers - they were community members who could tell us about local history and recommend their genuine favorites.

HEIDE: So let's bring this full circle for our listeners who might be facing travel disruptions right now. You're sitting in an airport, your flight's delayed, maybe you're looking at an unexpected overnight stay near SeaTac or any other major airport.

NICKY: Instead of doom-scrolling on your phone or stress-eating overpriced airport food, what if you used this as an opportunity? Look up the actual communities around where you are. See what's within a reasonable distance.

HEIDE: Ask yourself: what would I want to know about this place if I lived here? What stories do the local people have? What are they proud of? What's their version of a botanical garden under the flight path?

NICKY: And here's the thing - even if you only have a few hours, even if you just make it to one local restaurant or coffee shop or that unexpected green space, you've transformed a travel headache into a travel memory.

HEIDE: Because at the end of the day, travel isn't really about checking places off a list. It's about connecting - with places, with people, with parts of ourselves we maybe don't get to explore in our daily lives.

NICKY: And sometimes those connections happen in the most unexpected places. Like standing in a beautiful garden while planes take off overhead, realizing that someone decided to create beauty right here, right in this supposedly "undesirable" location.

HEIDE: For women our age, I think this approach to travel is especially powerful because we've moved beyond needing to prove anything. We're not trying to hit the most Instagram-worthy spots or keep up with some impossible itinerary.

NICKY: Exactly. We have the confidence to be genuinely curious, to strike up conversations with locals, to try things that might seem silly or different. To appreciate that SeaTac, Tukwila, and Des Moines each offer something unique.

HEIDE: And we have the life experience to appreciate authenticity when we find it. That conversation with Jon at the meadery, or learning about marine ecology from Cal during our squid fishing adventure, or just sitting in that botanical garden watching planes go by - these weren't just activities, they were windows into how other people live and work and find meaning.

NICKY: So whether you're dealing with a travel delay right now, or planning a trip where you'll need to stay near an airport, or just feeling like your usual destinations have lost their spark - consider this your permission to explore the in-between places.

HEIDE: Because here's our biggest takeaway from those four days: SeaTac isn't just an airport code, it's a community with international flair and surprising natural beauty. Tukwila isn't just a place your rental car return is located, it's a multicultural foodie destination with unique experiences. Des Moines isn't just where your flight connects through, it's a maritime community with incredible waterfront experiences and local history.

NICKY: These are real communities with real stories, incredible food, amazing natural beauty, and people who are excited to share their corner of the world with travelers who care enough to notice.

HEIDE: And in our current travel environment, where so much feels unpredictable and stressful, finding that human connection and sense of place - whether it's in a garden under a flight path or sharing mead with a Viking enthusiast or learning to squid fish from a marine educator - can be exactly the antidote we need.

NICKY: So our challenge to you: the next time travel throws you a curveball, instead of just enduring it, explore it. You might just discover that the detour becomes the destination, and that some of the most beautiful experiences are hiding in the most unexpected places.

HEIDE: Thanks for joining us on this episode of Untethered & Wanderwise. If this inspired you to explore an unexpected destination, we'd love to hear about it.

NICKY: You can find us on Instagram at @untetheredwanderwise. Don't forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode of travel inspiration for women who know that adventure doesn't have an expiration date.

HEIDE: Until next time, stay curious—

NICKY: —stay wandering—

BOTH: —and stay untethered!