Seattle Family Calendar
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Seeking sunshine
Seattle winters aren’t just wet, they’re dark! As we trudge through the Big Dark, a season of short and gloomy days, you might wonder: Where can we escape to the sun, on a short, nonstop flight? Gather your crew, grab your sunglasses and visit one of these warm winter vacation spots. They’re perfect for Pacific Northwest families. Send us a postcard!
Use the arrows above the image to stop at each locale, or take a direct flight to the destination of your choice:
- Phoenix, Arizona
- Las Vegas, Nevada
- Palm Springs, California
- San Diego, California
- New Orleans, Louisiana
First stop: Phoenix, Arizona
More travel ideas for Seattle-area families:
Editor’s note: This article was originally published several years ago. It was most recently updated by ParentMap writer Krista Tsai with two new sunny destinations and a fact-check.
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix may be the fifth-most-populous city in the United States, but it’s also mere minutes away from stunning wilderness. Get to know the desert, which is pretty much the antithesis of winter in Seattle.
There are more than 15 non-stop flights a day from Seattle to Phoenix; flight time is less than three hours.
Lost Dutchman State Park
The saguaro cactus is perhaps the most recognizable icon of Arizona, and you’ll be surrounded by them in Lost Dutchman State Park. While some of the trails within the park are decidedly not kid-friendly, Treasure Loop Trail (2.4 miles roundtrip) and Jacob’s Crosscut Trail (0.8 miles before connecting to other trails) are more doable — especially if you’re not opposed to bribing reluctant hikers with M&Ms. Be sure to share some local legends with your kids; one legend has it that a prospector found an epic gold mine in the area’s Superstition Mountains. If your kids are like mine, they’ll look for that long-lost cave for the entire hike!
Pro tip: To identify animal and plant species as you hike, grab a free pamphlet at the park’s visitor center, stroll the quarter-mile native plant trail or download the PictureThis app before your visit.
Desert Botanical Garden
Who knew there were so many kinds of cacti? This beyond-beautiful garden grows more than 4,000 plant species — including over 500 that are rare or endangered. Trails and walking paths wind through different habitats and past towering saguaro cacti and agave plants. Don’t miss the butterfly enclosure, which is located conveniently next to the outdoor kids play area. In addition, the Desert Botanical Garden partners with artists to bring the museum experience outdoors.
Pro tip: The garden attracts plenty of wildlife. Keep your eye out for lizards, roadrunners, woodpeckers, hummingbirds, quails and more.
Phoenix Zoo
You could easily spend an entire day exploring the Phoenix Zoo. Winter is a terrific time to visit, as animals are more active in the milder weather. With roughly 400 species calling the zoo home, chances are good your kids’ favorite animals are here. Don’t miss the petting zoo, carousel and water-play areas (just remember to bring a change of clothes). Check for family-friendly events and programs, such as the art and local life interactive scavenger hunts, sessions where you can feed stingrays and giraffes by hand, and several Backstage Adventures.
Pro tip: If you’re a member of Woodland Park Zoo or Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium, bring your membership card. You’ll get half off your admission!
Oasis Water Park
While this 7-acre water park is located within a resort, you can buy day passes to swim, slide and, of course, sun yourself. A lazy river winds through most of the park, and the Wildcat Springs area is best for the littles. For kids wanting more adventure than a lazy river can provide, waterslides turn and plummet, and a wave pool lifts tubes along 2-foot-high swells. Bonus: The water is heated for year-round use.
Pro tip: Guests are allowed to bring in sealed bottled water but no other beverages or food, so budget for the water park’s grill and snack bar.
Next stop: Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas might be one of the country’s biggest partying destinations, but it’s totally underrated for families. There are so many off-the-Strip, kid-friendly adventures to have!
More than 15 non-stop flights a day will whisk you from Seattle to Las Vegas; flight time is just two and a half hours.
Valley of Fire
It’s practically a crime how many people visit Las Vegas and don’t realize how close they are to this superlative state park. Just an hour’s drive from the city, Valley of Fire is the perfect day trip for when your eyes need a break from neon lights. Climb boulders at The Beehives, a complex of rocky outcroppings near the western entrance of the park, then check out the petroglyphs carved into Atlatl Rock. Choose a short hike, and bring more water and snacks than you think you’ll need — you’re in the desert, after all.
Pro tip: You’ll need to drive between destinations within the park. Encourage your kids to watch for bighorn sheep out the window to keep them entertained in the car.
Discovery Children’s Museum
The Strip is home to incredible collections of art you can see for free — but for some hands-on fun, your kids need to check out the Discovery Children’s Museum. This multistory museum is packed with things to do, from making music and constructing a kid-size house to upcycling in the makerspace to climbing through a maze of tunnels and slides. My kids especially loved the water-play area and the stage, where they dressed up and performed for their adoring fans — that is, their parents.
Pro tip: Click the calendar icon on the museum’s website to see the many special attractions on the day you visit. A given day might include an art project about animal adaptation to cold weather, a coding project for pre-K kids and a lesson in reading maps — plus a chance to navigate to hidden treasure!
Downtown Container Park
What would you get if you crossed a shipping port with a playground? Downtown Container Park, of course! This retail hub’s centerpiece is a playground with a tree fort that is partially made out of old shipping containers. You may also see live music or performers. Check the website to see if you can time your visit with the famous nighttime “mantis show,” when flames are blasted out of an enormous metal sculpture of a praying mantis. It wouldn’t be Las Vegas if it weren’t over the top, right?
Pro tip: The park (more of a shopping mall than a typical park) does not allow outside food or drink, so eat beforehand or plan to grab a bite at one of the park’s restaurants and cafés.
Springs Preserve
Part museum, part natural area, Springs Preserve is a family-friendly destination for all. The enormous complex sprawls across 180 acres, so don’t feel pressured to see it all. Instead, tailor your visit to your kids’ interests. You can check out rattlesnakes and tarantulas (behind glass, thank goodness!), clamber around on a playground, learn about the history of the city, stroll along paths lined with native plants, and even hold very still while a butterfly perches on your nose in the butterfly garden (open seasonally).
Pro tip: Membership to Springs Preserve can be worth the cost, even if you don’t live in Las Vegas. That’s because the preserve has a whole slew of reciprocal agreements, so you’ll get free or discounted entry to other parks and attractions across the country.
Next stop: Palm Springs, California
Palm Springs, California
Palm Springs has long been a choice destination for Hollywood stars, but you don’t have to be a celebrity to enjoy this sunny city.
There are several non-stop flights a day from Seattle to Palm Springs; flight time is approximately three hours.
Joshua Tree National Park
The Dr. Seussian trees of Joshua Tree National Park are unmistakable, and they make for an unforgettable outing. Choose from many short and family-friendly hikes (some of which are good for strollers), and let the kids scramble over the enormous boulders and rock formations. Don’t miss Skull Rock, which wind and weather have carved into a perfectly climbable playground; and Barker Dam, where wildlife come for a drink of water.
Pro tip: If you have a fourth-grader, you get into all national parks for free. Sign up for the Every Kid Outdoors pass before you arrive.
Palm Springs Aerial Tramway
If you’re heading to Palm Springs, you’re probably ready to soak up the desert sun. But who can resist riding an aerial tram 6,000 feet up to a winter wonderland? The 10-minute trip on the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway climbs to the top of the cliffs of Chino Canyon. Sip hot cocoa at one of two restaurants, visit the natural history museum, or bring your sleds or snowshoes to play in the snow (seasonally). Explore the 50 miles of trails at the top but one of the best views feels like cheating — once at the Mountain Station, find the stairs to the V.W Grubbs Viewpoint where you’ll find 360-degree views on this peak.
If you’re in the mood for a milkshake before or after your tram ride, Great Shakes is a locally owned must-stop for our family. Get an over-the-top milkshake in any combination you can dream of — topped off with homemade whipped cream or toasted marshmallows and a homemade baked mini donut around the straw. They even have locally made lactose-free ice cream so everyone can enjoy the same level of quality!
Pro tip: Wear layers for the tramway — at 8,516 feet elevation, it can be chilly at the top of the tramway, even when it’s hot-hot on the valley floor.
Indian Canyons
Mountain springs, waterfalls and more than 60 miles of hiking trails are features of Indian Canyons, the ancestral lands of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians. The bodies of water and towering fan palms offer a stark contrast to the dry, rocky desert surrounding the canyons. Many of the trails are gradual, well-graded inclines, ideal for hiking families. Watch for mule deer and, if you’re lucky, endangered bighorn sheep. While Palm Canyon can be dried up during the winter months, Andreas Canyon is still a desert oasis with spring water flowing through it.
Pro tip: Download and print the Junior Ranger Activity Book, which includes a fun park-themed bingo game, before you fly to Palm Springs.
The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens
Budget about three hours to explore The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens, where you’ll see cheetahs, a jaguar, African wild dogs and adorable fennec foxes (a crowd favorite!). Feed a giraffe for just $10 ($8 for members) — which is way cheaper than animal encounters at many other zoos. If your child is over 5 years old, you can also book a Rhino Encounter for $50/person ($45/member). Once kids have had their fill of animals, check out the model trains that run past replicas of the Grand Canyon and the Rocky Mountains. If you still have energy, take a short hike in the nature preserve along the Eisenhower Peak Trail (access is included with your zoo tickets).
Pro tip: If your kiddo has sensory processing needs, borrow a sensory bag. It includes fidgets, noise-canceling headphones, weighted lap pads and other resources.
Next stop: San Diego, California
San Diego, California
Escape to sandy beaches, hike and bike, and make a short drive to several theme parks. You can really choose your own adventure and vacation pace here.
From Seattle, the flight time is about three hours and there are over 10 non-stop flights a day.
San Diego Zoo
The San Diego Zoo is the most visited zoo in the United States — a well-deserved ranking. Prioritize which animals you want to see the most, as it’s impossible to see everything in one visit. My kids always enjoy a ride on the Skyfari Aerial Tram (no larger strollers allowed but we were able to bring our small collapsible one), with great views of Balboa Park. The 30-minute tour bus is another great way to move about the park with littles while learning a lot. Be sure to step into the Wildlife Explorers Basecamp (opened in 2022) where kids can play alongside animals in their habitats and “feel what it’s like to be wild.”
If you have more time, check out the separate San Diego Zoo Safari Park, with various safari-like driving tours as well as walking paths throughout the zoo to see the animals roaming more freely.
Pro tip: On a hot day, pack bathing suits and water shoes to cool off at the splash pad at Explorers Basecamp. They even have a human-sized dryer to walk through for a few dollars.
Beaches and playgrounds
Visit the La Jolla Cove seals at the Children’s Pool Beach, take the Coronado Ferry from downtown San Diego to Coronado Island to visit the iconic Hotel Del Coronado’s beach, fly a kite at Mission Bay Park (bonus — come during the annual Ocean Beach Kite Festival, the oldest running children’s kite festival in the U.S.!), check the tide times for tide pooling at La Jolla tide pools, or play at a fun beach playground like the Maruta Gardner Playground at Bonita Cove Park. Our favorite beach for playing, strolling and biking is the 2-mile stretch between Pacific Beach and Mission Beach.
Pro tip: Start your day like a local at Woody’s for coffee, smoothies and bowls, breakfast burritos (breakfast served until noon), and ocean views.
Legoland
Drive about 35 minutes to Legoland, which has more than 60 rides, shows and attractions designed for adults and children ages 2 and older. (Your child doesn’t have to be into Legos to enjoy this amusement park.) Some of our favorite rides include Driving School, where kids can earn their “driver’s license”; the virtual Emmet’s Flying Adventure; and the Ninjago interactive ride. If you have dinosaur lovers, the new Dino Valley is full of adventure for the whole family!
While ride requirements are sometimes based on height and sometimes age, there are rides for all kids to enjoy. Walking through Miniland USA is a must. More than 32 million Lego pieces form this iconic section of Legoland. Legoland also has a seasonal water park and Sea Life Aquarium to explore if you have more time.
Pro tip: You can usually find a “kids go free” promotion coupon on the packaging of small Lego sets, and inside the Lego Magazine. This coupon is for a complimentary child ticket with the purchase of an adult ticket. My Lego-loving kids look forward to their free magazine delivery full of inspiration, puzzles and comics.
Annie’s Canyon Trail
If your kids are up for a hike, Annie’s Canyon Trail is a popular trail in the area (distance varies based on which trailhead you use, but the one described here is 2.3 miles round-trip). With sweeping ocean and lagoon views, a sandstone slot canyon, and the San Elijo Lagoon Ecological Reserve, this trail differs from what we are used to back home in Seattle. Keep in mind that this trail is doable for kids, but is considered moderate, including some stairs, narrow passages through the slot canyon and ladders. Toddlers may need to be carried up the ladders.
Pro tip: Wear good shoes or hiking boots for this trail, and pack your ten essentials. Park for free on the street by starting at the Solana Hills trailhead.
— Krista Tsai
Last stop: New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans, Louisiana
It goes without saying that when you visit New Orleans you need to get a beignet, wander the streets of the historic and lively French Quarter, and ride a streetcar. When in “The Big Easy,” right? New Orleans is so much more than Mardi Gras beads and Bourbon Street — it’s rich in history and full of surprises in terms of family-friendly stops.
From Seattle, you’re a bit limited on non-stop flight options but there are two a day; flight times are about four and a half hours.
City Park
This iconic park is one of the largest urban parks in the United States and is home to year-round family fun. Explore 24 miles of walking trails, Carousel Gardens Amusement Park, the Sydney and Walda Bestoff Sculpture Garden with over 90 sculptures along footpaths, New Orleans Botanical Garden, Louisiana Children’s Museum, an art museum, and the enchanting Storyland playground, where classic storybook characters are larger than life.
Pro tip: If you have a train lover, the Train Garden within the Botanical Garden highlights the architecture of New Orleans and takes you back in time to the early 1900s and what the streetcars and trains looked like then. While the Train Garden is open during the Botanical Garden hours, the trains only operate on the weekends.
Audubon Aquarium and Insectarium
Renovated in 2023, the Audubon Aquarium and Insectarium are the newest major attractions in New Orleans. Wander through the butterfly garden and learn about the region’s coastal plants and animals. The aquarium is one of the top five aquariums in the country, featuring a walk-through tunnel, bayou creatures, touch tanks with rays and sharks, and a large jellyfish tank.
Curious and adventurous kids can learn how other cultures around the world value bugs as a food source at Bug Appétit inside Audubon Insectarium — try a sample of the bug chef’s creations for a memorable snack!
Pro tip: The splash pad along the riverwalk outside the aquarium is a fun reprieve on hot days.
The National World War II Museum
History buffs will enjoy spending a day at the official WWII museum of the United States. Some of the interactive experiences like the “Final Mission: USS Tang Submarine Experience” and the “Beyond All Boundaries” 4D screening are not suitable for young children, but are valuable experiences for more mature audiences. Nineteen immersive galleries bring World War II experiences to life through settings in jungles, beaches, mountains and oceans. No matter how much time you have to spend here, you will walk away with new knowledge and appreciation.
Pro tip: Storytime at the museum is offered on Tuesdays and Saturdays at 10 a.m. and includes fun activities and crafts for kids ages 3–8; this is included with admission.
Swamp tours
Step out of the city and board a swamp boat or kayak tour where you can learn more about the unique ecosystem and its creatures. Encounter various birds, alligators, wild boars, raccoons and more. All ages are welcome on the 22-passenger flat-bottomed boat, whereas you have to be at least 12 years old to tour by kayak. The boat tour is about two hours long.
Pro tip: Disney’s new Tiana’s Bayou Adventure ride was inspired by the swamps of New Orleans — watch “The Princess and the Frog” to get your kids excited for this adventure!
— Krista Tsai
