5 Nearby State Parks for Seattle-Area Families to Visit

We are lucky here in Washington to have so many amazing state parks to discover. We've picked out five that are not too far for families who live in the Puget Sound area to visit. Hike, run, climb a tree and play on the beach. And even though they're fairly close by, these parks provide a huge dose of wide-open space and an easy change of scenery.

A year ago at this time, state parks were just reopening for day-use recreation. We can play more freely now, but let's not drop the ball: Wear your masks when around people outside your household and go play.

Remember that in all state parks a Discover Pass is required to park your vehicle. The state offers a few free days each year when you can park without a Discover Pass — there are three coming up in June — but if you have the means, consider spending the $35 for an annual pass. This way you can go whenever you like, avoid potential crowds on the free days, and help keep our parks clean and green and thriving.

Use the arrows above the images to browse through the parks.