Here in the Northwest, even our family activities involve multitasking. On a given day you can head to a park where you can watch trains, go beachcombing and take a run down a salmon slide; or go to a farmers market, where you can pick up 10 kinds of berries, listen to folk music and pet a few goats; or visit a bookstore that doubles as an indoor play area and cafe. And half the fun of taking the kids to a new favorite family activity is sharing it with others. So thanks for sharing your top picks for 2012!
Story Time
Winner: Public Libraries
A good story time, as we all know, is often so much more: music and drama, physical activity and games. It’s no surprise then that our region’s stellar public libraries collectively won this category hands-down with their huge range of high-quality story times, from toddler hours to pajama story time to musical storytelling. Of the many comments about favorite library story times, special shout-outs were given to Puyallup Public Library (especially its “Toddler Treasures” story time for its “excellent blend of stories and songs”); Bainbridge Public Library (“fun and interactive story times designed perfectly for different age groups”); and to the Central Library in downtown Seattle.
Finalist:
Mockingbird Books, a large children’s bookstore in Seattle’s Green Lake neighborhood, has also won your hearts with its story times, both for their quantity (six days a week) and quality, and with its large play space, which makes the bookstore a top rainy-day hideout.
Choose a category:
Family Food
|
Activities for Kids
|
Shopping
|
Camps & Classes
|
Resources
|
Illustrations by Alli Arnold
