By Elisa Murray
We've gathered a baker's dozen of ideas for how to fill the long weekend, plus a few extras for those who have a school break next week. Help readers out by posting what we've missed in comments, and check our online calendar for much more!
1. Hone your family's bird-watching (and counting) skills by participating in the annual 4-day Great Backyard Bird Count! All you need is 15 minutes and a smidgeon of knowledge about birds. Or join Seward Park activities today. Kids can build bird feeders and do arts and crafts, too.
2. Today is free Family Fun Day at the Wing Luke Museum (1-3 p.m.), a chance to create art inspired by the exhibit "From Fields to Family."
3. Celebrate Black History Month with a free concert by the always-inspiring Total Experience Gospel Choir (Sat. Feb. 18, 3 p.m.) or a visit to the Northwest African American Museum.
4. If you're in the south Sound, or even if you're not, get an affordable dose of toe-tapping music and dance at the annual Old-Time Festival in Olympia (ends today).
5. Head to Eatonville for the annual Kids 'n' Critters weekend at Northwest Trek, which just re-opened after recovering from winter storm damage. Four kids get in free with every paying adult!
6. Take in the new Gauguin exhibit at Seattle Art Museum! SAM is open from 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday through Thursday and ticket prices for Gauguin & Polynesia are reduced by $3 for the 5-9 p.m. slot. And there are great drop-in art activities for kids.
7. Ogle an octopus during Octopus Week at the Aquarium (Feb. 18-26). While you're there, say hi to the new baby sea otter.
8. See a charming, hour-long adaptation of Fancy Nancy in Bellevue, and meet the book's illustrator (Feb. 18-19).
9. Hear the wolf's side of the story at Northwest Puppet Center's The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs by A. Wolf (Feb. 18-19).
10. Visit Tacoma's Museum of Glass on Monday, President's Day (it's open from 10 a.m.-5 p.m.), with Hot Shop demos and more.
11. Make a rocket model at the Museum of Flight (Feb. 18-19).
12. Give your kids a glimpse of the Great Depression by visiting the new "Hope in Hard Times" exhibit at the Washington State History Museum (opens Monday, Feb. 20).
13. Introduce your kids to Planet Earth at KidsQuest Children's Museum's affordable Family Movie Night on Wed. Feb. 22, 6-9 p.m.
Plus: Discover a new indoor play area, using our Rainy-Day Recess article as your guide, or check out our list of mid-winter break camps!
Hot tickets:
- A Single Shard opens at Seattle Children's Theatre on Feb. 23
- King Tut exhibit tickets are on sale at Pacific Science Center (it opens May 24).
