Your Age-by-Age Summer Bucket List
For tweens
- Living it up on the sound: A heated saltwater pool and stunning views of the sound converge at West Seattle’s Colman Pool, located within Lincoln Park. It can get pretty crowded when the weather heats up, but the giant tube slide and two diving boards make this a super happening scene for tweens.
- Tip: Call the pool for special events, such as night swims and other fun summer goings-on.
- Beach blanket bingo: The 2-mile-long spit of land known as Jetty Island in Everett is worth the drive. This huge expanse of walkable beach and shallow, swimmable water is a great way for your family to beat the heat. In addition to the beach, there are miles of gorgeous nature trails to explore.
- Tip: Pack light as it can be quite a walk from the car to the beach.
- Paddle around the sound: The outfitter Outdoor Odysseys specializes in kayaking adventures around the San Juan Islands, which teem with an assortment of native wildlife, including orcas. Even if the whales don’t make an appearance, you’ll find tons of other island critters and natural beauty galore.
- Tip: The minimum age is 12, but private family tours are also available.
