If you're visiting, check out these spots:

• Scriber Lake Park, an oasis amid the malls, is a 23.5-acre site featuring winding nature trails with interpretive signs. The park is on the south side of 196th Street Southwest between 56th and 52nd Avenue West.

• Lynnwood Recreation Center is a city-run facility, open daily and includes a swimming pool, hot tub, sauna, racquetball courts and weight room. 18900 44th Ave. W. 425-771-4030.

• Interurban Trail is the historic trolley run. It extends for about 4 miles through Lynnwood along the west of Interstate 5. One place to get onto the trail (and leave your car) is at the I-5/44th Avenue West park-and-ride lot.

• Pal-Do is one of a number of Asian, particularly Korean, shops that have opened along Highway 99 in Lynnwood. Pal-Do is the largest. The store has groceries and gifts ranging from ox tails and Chinese medicines to rice cookers and kim chee. 17420 Highway 99. 425-742-2237.

• Wight's Home & Garden looks deceptively small from the street, but the gift, floral and garden store covers 3.5 acres. One of Lynnwood's oldest businesses, Wight's is known for its constantly changing displays and color schemes. You can find everything from imported pottery and framed art to indoor fountains and fruit trees. 5026 196th St. S.W. 425-775-3636.

• Sparta's Pizza & Spaghetti House is known for pizzas with cheese melted over the toppings. The menu also includes manicotti, eggplant parmesan, shrimp salad and other dishes. Locals like it. 17630 Highway 99. 425-745-1800.

• Buca de Beppo is the Lynnwood's latest hot spot. The restaurant features "Southern Italian immigrant food" -- think pasta and entrees, red sauce, garlic and olive oil -- and lots of it. With food served family style, Buca de Beppo is gaining a reputation for big portions and a loud atmosphere. "It's not for a quiet and romantic meal," a hostess says. "We like to say, 'Everyday is Christmas.' " 4301 200th St. 425-744-7272.

• Alderwood Mall needs no introduction. The mall is home to 130 shops in 1 million square feet of space. Among the retailers unique to the trade area are Amphora (aroma therapy), Miller's Outpost (unisex apparel) and Calla Bay (custom swimwear). The restaurants include Lucca's Pasta Bar, where tourists often videotape cooks flipping pasta.