Winter Play List: 20 Activities for Seattle Kids and Families
Filed under: Outings and activities Family fun
Need some ideas for President's Day weekend and beyond? We've updated our winter fun list with help from reader recommendations, and put together a 20-ingredient recipe for family outings.
Also see our section on DIY crafts for home and our rainy-day fun list of indoor play places.
And ... there's still room in some mid-winter break camps:
Museums, zoos and indoor play
1. Lion cubs at the Woodland Park Zoo will be finally be out and about and available for oohs and ahhs, starting Saturday, Feb. 16.
2. Rembrandt or bust! SAM has just opened a blockbuster new show. Bring the kids (free ages 12 and under) and let them get messy in the family room. You can start with the free family festival on Saturday, Feb. 16.
3.. Try a new indoor play space from our review of four hot new spots.
4. It's Octopus Week at the Seattle Aquarium, which means lots of happs around the Giant Pacific Octopus. If it's nice out, take a spin on the Seattle Ferris Wheel, too (tip: kids ages 3 and under are free).
5. MOHAI and Lake Union Park. Try one of the weekend family labs at MOHAI, with free admission for kids younger than age 15.
6. Got some model buffs in the house? Point them towards the largest scale model show in the Northwest, at the Museum of Flight this weekend.
7. Deal alert! This weekend is Northwest Trek's annual Kids 'n' Critters weekend, where four kids get in free for every paying adult.
Shows and movies
8. Splurge a bit and see one of the plays and musicals currently showing, such as War Horse at the Paramount, starring the amazing Handspring Puppets (recommended only for older kids), or the brassy, high-energy Music Man at the 5th Avenue Theatre, or the comic Altar Boyz at Seattle Musical Theatre, which opens this weekend.
9. Experience puppet magic and a classic tale at Northwest Puppet Center.
10. See an amazing short play about a boy stolen by slave traders at Book-It Repertory Theatre (Family Fun day on Saturday, Feb. 16.)
11. Love animation? See some of the world's greatest at this SIFF film fest. starring the work of Japan's top animators.
12. Or see a family film in honor of Black History at Langston Hughes (Sunday at 2 p.m.).
13. An intriguing new video game exhibit just opened at EMP -- buy tickets online to go cheaper.
Get moving
13. Get your hands dirty by getting a jumpstart on your summer garden, with these 5 easy veggies to grow with kids.
14. Turn your kids into scientists the easy way by participating in the Great Backyard Bird Count (15 minutes a day!) and learning how to bird in the backyard.
15. Go on an indoor/outdoor hike. Most of these seven hikes are close to home, easy for young hikers, and have an indoor option.
16. Go ice skating: Great ice, family deals, cheap skates and toddler-friendly skating.
17. Bond as a family while bowling. We've got the goods on deals, gear and the most fun alleys.
18. Go swimming indoors at a new pool; how about the Federal Way pool or the Bainbridge Island Aquatics Center; a reader recommends a stop at Mora ice cream afterwards.
19. Or go on one off these other winter wildlife adventures -- your kids will love seeing elk, otters and trumpeter swans!
20. Be spontaneous and take a train trip to Portland, Vancouver, Bellingham or destinations even further afield.