10 Kid-Friendly Spring Hikes in the Seattle Area
Written by Jennifer Johnson
Filed under: Outings and activities Family travel Family fun
Padilla Bay
An hour-and-a half north of Seattle, near Anacortes, is a marvelous Estuarine Research Reserve worthy of exploration.
Favorite Trails: You have a few choices of trails to take. There is a wooded loop (0.8 mile long) you can access from the parking lot; check out a backpack with learning activities for along the path. Add a few hundred yards by walking the paved path down to the beach and explore the mudflats. Or drive a mile south of the Interpretive Center to the South Shore Trail and walk along the tops of dikes, with water on one side and fields on the other. All trails are great for birding and for giving kids room to explore.
Indoor Options: The Breazeale Interpretive Center has a free museum chronicling life in the estuaries of the Salish Sea. We love the floor-to-ceiling aquarium full of sea life, and the hands-on room will keep the youngest children busy.
Extras: Padilla Bay is close to Anacortes. Pick up a bite to eat in the historic downtown afterwards, visit the beach and playground at Washington Park, or drive to the top of Mt. Erie to watch the sunset.
Logistics: Go to the Padilla Bay website for info about hours and directions.