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List of Summer Lists: Best Summer Activities for Seattle-area Kids and Families

Spray parks, swimming, berry picking, top tours, road trips, getaways, museum exhibits and more

Jen Betterley
 | 

Published on: May 29, 2013


Beacon Mountain spray park, Nate Cormier

Bring the heat! Summer is what we live for around Puget Sound, and we've rounded up umpteen ideas for summer fun, getaways and learning for your little summer fiends. Enjoy!

Water play and staying cool

Super spray parks: Our picks for a splashing good time

Best DIY water play ideas: DIY sprinklers, sponge bombs and more splashing fun

Wading pools: For toddler, tween and grown-up toes alike

Shady hikes: Water-full rambles for a hot day

Outdoor pools and water parks: What's worth the drive

Big sand: 11 great family beaches around Seattle


 

Mini-adventures, outings and day trips

56 free and almost-free things to do. Fantastic free and almost-free outings around the Sound.

Your summer 2016 bucket list: Top attractions for summer 2016, from new playgrounds to must-see museum exhibits

Forts, treehouses and hobbit houses: Cool spots that will inspire hours of imaginative play

Day trip to Redmond: Ice cream, biking, splashing, parks and more Redmond fun

Walk-on ferry adventures: Six fun day trips involving ferries, ice cream, museums and more.

Awesome guided tours: From chocolate to airplanes

I-5 play stops: 24 fun and educational ways to break up road trips


 


Hiking Little Si. Photo credit: Sonja Hanson

Outdoor adventures: Berries, biking, hiking, fishing

19 U-pick berry farms: Go-to guide for strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, tayberries

9 new, nearby hikes: When you don't want to drive far for a nature hit, here's where to go

Secret urban hikes: You don't have to leave the city!

8 cool hikes for hot days: Hike to lakes and through old-growth

9 must-do waterfall hikes: Stay-cool on these shady hikes with spray built in

Clamming adventure: An expert shares how to dig for your dinner

13 great scoot bike paths: Safe, fun places for push bikes and scooters

10 spots to try fishing in Puget Sound: Teach a kid (and yourself) to fish

12 secret gardens: Blooming spots that take you right out of the city



Photo credit: Cameron Graves

Let's go camping!

The 101 on KOA: Why it might be your new favorite cushy-camping expeerience

Procrastinator's guide to no-reservation camping: It's totally possible with kids in tow, and you might find your best campground yet

Planning a group camping experience: With built-in child-care and many cooks in the kitchen, why not?

10-plus nearby campgrounds that might still have space: Great choices for procrastinators and planners alike

8 Eastern Washington camping adventures: Camping on the sunny side

Family backpacking 101: How to plan your first wilderness adventure



Peddler Brewing. Courtesy Peddler Facebook page

Best summer restaurant adventures, eats and and treats

Great outdoor eats. Family-friendly decks, patios and other fresh-air dining destinations

Best burger joints and brewpubs: Parents and kids love these casual, kid-friendly eateries and pubs

Play-full summer eats: Fun eating experiences around Puget Sound, plus a nearby adventure

 10 fun foods on a stick

15 amazing burgers to make

15 homemade popsicles to make

10 fresh and fast summer potluck dishes



Marymoor Park movies

Summer arts

Cheap summer movies: Dollar matinees, $3 first-run movies, movie story times

Summer movies, theater and concerts: An epic list of cheap or free outdoor concerts and movies

This week's shows: From cheap kids' theater to outdoor music


 

 


Guemes Island, flickr cc

Getaways and adventures

Fab farmstaysKids learn to do farm chores and commune with critters, while grown-ups relax and enjoy farm-to-table cuisine.

Road trips: The six best family road trips to do from Puget Sound, including Mount Rainier, Lake Chelan and the Olympic Peninsula

3 great Oregon vacations for families: From high desert to hidden coast

San Juan Islands on the cheap: Hostels, smaller island gems, tenting: Yes, it's possible to get on island time at a discount

17 wonderful Northwest lodges: Rustic mountain lodges, beachside retreats, ranches and more

Best Washington beach getaways: From the Olympic Peninsula to a unique family resort

Vacations for families that rock: Fossils, lava tubes, caves and other geologic wonders

Family camp: Why should kids get all the summer camp fun?

Yeehaw! Dude ranch vacations: A round-up of western-themed vacations

Great train vacations: Ditch the car and head to urban paradises and national parks

Rafting on the river: It only takes a couple of hours to get the thrill of a lifetime

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