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Magical spots for outdoor play
Inspiration most often lies outside our front door. And if kids happen to encounter something magical, say, a tree house, fort or hobbit door woven into an outing, their inspiration can go into overdrive. But where to find these secret spots designed to spark our kids’ imaginations?
We’ve collected nine places around Puget Sound that could fuel hours of outdoor play for kids, from tree houses and decommissioned forts to hobbit houses. Some are suitable for a day trip, while some are a short drive away.
- Pete’s Treefort
- Fort Casey Historical State Park
- The Treehouse at Big Rock Park Central
- Canopy tower and tree houses at IslandWood
- Tree house tower at Mercer Slough Environmental Education Center
- Fort Worden Historical State Park
- Treehouse Point
- Stump house at Guillemot Cove
- Gnome and hobbit houses
First stop: Pete’s Treefort
More outdoor adventures with kids:
Editor’s note: This article was originally published several years ago, and was most recently updated on April 17, 2026, by ParentMap’s editorial team. Krista Tsai, Meredith Charaba and Vicky McDonald contributed to this article.
Pete’s Treefort, Fall City
Location: 33429 Redmond-Fall City Rd. S.E., Fall City
Parking: There is free street parking on surrounding streets and a customer parking lot behind Aroma Coffee Co.
No tickets are needed to explore Pete’s Treefort at Fall City’s Aroma Coffee Co.! Pete Nelson and his Nelson Treehouse team — known from the popular show “Treehouse Masters” and as builders of Treehouse Point — completed this gift to the community in December 2024. The Nelson Treehouse team has built hundreds of tree houses, but Pete’s Treefort is their first public tree house in Washington.
Its unique design is inspired by Norwegian medieval wooden churches. While the interior of the tree house has a small footprint to explore, there is a viewing deck with some stools along a ledge — perfect for enjoying a treat from Aroma Coffee Co. in the trees. Climb the turning stairs, walk between two large tree trunks, and open the gothic doors to discover the small balcony that looks out toward the Snoqualmie River. The community will appreciate the intricate details, craftsmanship and whimsical feel of a tree house sandwiched between a local coffee shop and one of our favorite libraries.
The base of the tree house is enclosed by a picket fence and includes picnic tables and benches — further encouraging community connection among the trees. Aroma Coffee Co. manages Pete’s Treefort with visiting hours from 6:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday to Saturday. The treehouse is also available for private events. Visit Aroma Coffee Co.’s website for details.
Nearby things to do: Fuel up at Aroma Coffee Co. with specialty coffees, local baked goods, and other items for breakfast or lunch. The Fall City Library next door has a cozy children’s section with computers, games and puzzles and often offers free events for kids and families. Visit Fall City Farms’ pumpkin patch in October and their U-cut Christmas tree farm in December. Wander through the Art Park just steps away from Aroma Coffee Co., attend a free cultural or art program by Fall City Arts, or make a day of it by exploring other parks and dining.
— Krista Tsai
Next stop: Fort Casey Historical State Park
Fort Casey Historical State Park, Whidbey Island
Location: 1280 Engle Rd., Coupeville
Parking: A Discover Pass is required to park in this and all state parks.
Fort Casey Historical State Park forms one point in what was called the “Triangle of Fire,” a trio of forts built to protect access to Puget Sound. Fort Casey is still home to two 10-inch and two 3-inch historic gun emplacements. Kids enjoy running around the expansive grounds and climbing the stairs around the emplacements, taking in the vast views provided by these features. You’ll need to exercise considerable caution here; there are many steep drop-offs with no railings or barriers, but it makes for thrilling exploring for older kids (and parents). While some tunnels and bunkers now have lights, bring your own flashlight to explore the darkest and spookiest corners of this expansive fort.
Nearby things to do: Explore the saltwater shoreline of Admiralty Inlet or along Keystone Spit, which separates Admiralty Inlet and Crocket Lake. Or venture to nearby Fort Ebey State Park, another fun park in the Coupeville area. Fort Ebey was built for coastal defense during World War II. Concrete platforms there still mark the former gun locations and a dark tunnel makes for a short, chilly stroll.
Next stop: Sammamish tree house
The Treehouse at Big Rock Park Central, Sammamish
Location: 1516 220th Ave. S.E., Sammamish
Parking: While parking is limited in the Big Rock Central lot, there is more parking nearby at Big Rock Park North lot.
In a quiet corner of Big Rock Park Central in Sammamish, there is an impressive tree house to explore. The tree house was constructed in 2013 and includes a stylish tapered stair entrance, a fully enclosed room featuring nature-inspired activities and games, a rigid bridge, a suspension bridge and a lookout. In short, this is a very fancy tree house with lots of unique features and a polished finish.
The tree house is open to the public on scheduled dates, May through September, depending on the weather. Visits are limited to 20 minutes and a waiver must be filled out at the time of your visit. More details, including open times, are listed on the city of Sammamish website.
Nearby things to do: Opposite the tree house, you can explore a heritage garden with a variety of fruits, vegetables and herbs. Even if you don’t snag tickets for the tree house, you can admire it from the outside. And you can always visit nearby Big Rock Park North and its cool nature playground, which includes a zip line, a hillside slide and a mile and a half of easy hiking trails — plus, as the name suggests, a seriously large rock!
Next stop: Canopy tower and tree houses
Canopy tower and tree houses at IslandWood
Location: 4450 Blakely Ave N.E., Bainbridge Island
Parking: IslandWood has a parking lot near the entrance.
Reasons to visit IslandWood abound. This unique 255-acre outdoor learning center on Bainbridge Island offers three fantastic options for kid explorers, along with 6 miles of wooded trails and an amazing garden.
One exciting feature for kids is the 150-foot-tall forest canopy tower, a rebuilt fire tower. Formerly situated in the North Cascades, it now sits on the edge of IslandWood’s ravine. At the top, the view is spectacular, with sightlines to Puget Sound and the mountains. (Note: This spot probably would not suit those who are afraid of heights.)
In addition, IslandWood’s grounds include two tree houses, the Bog Tree House and the Learning Tree House. The Learning Tree House appears more modern; the Bog Tree House looks more magical, as if elves or fairies might live there.
It’s important to note that you can only visit IslandWood during public events, and those fill up quickly. Keep their events calendar on your radar — and note that the events listed as “adult-friendly” but not including the term “kid-friendly,” such as a public site tour, are designed for adults only. Instead, look for “Afternoon on the Trails” or other events marked as “kid-friendly” and be sure to RSVP early. Pets are not allowed at IslandWood.
Nearby things to do: Cross the 190-foot suspension bridge 60 feet above Mac’s Creek and see a giant Douglas fir beam, 92 feet long and weighing almost 9,000 pounds, built into the truss system of IslandWood’s Welcome Center.
Next stop: Tree house tower
Tree house tower at Mercer Slough Environmental Education Center
Location: 1625 118th Ave. S.E., Bellevue
Parking: Take the first right into the parking lot, just before the center’s light blue sign.
Tucked away in Bellevue near Interstate 405 is one of Bellevue’s largest and most wildlife-rich parks, Mercer Slough Nature Park. Start your exploration of the park’s wetland ecosystems at the Mercer Slough Environmental Education Center, a complex of classrooms, stairways and lookout spots that allow visitors to see the forest from many vantage points.
The star lookout spot is the tree house. Climb the ladder and go through a hatch onto what is essentially an elevated platform with handrails and a roof. Here, you are at eye level with the surrounding forest canopy. It’s magical!
The center is open daily, 10 a.m.–4 p.m., though occasional unscheduled closures do happen — meaning you may find a sign on the door indicating the center is closed for the day.
Nearby things to do: Grab a trail map at the center and hike on the shady trails, which are almost never crowded. A short walk from the center, you’ll come to the Bellefields Trail, which offers loops of several distances. At one point, you can cross the bridge over the main channel of the Mercer Slough, where visitors often see wildlife.
Next stop: Fort Worden State Park
Fort Worden Historical State Park, Port Townsend
Location: 200 Battery Wy. E., Port Townsend
Parking: A Discover Pass is required to park in this and all state parks.
Stunning Fort Worden Historical State Park, once a military fort, boasts more than 2 miles of saltwater shoreline, historic buildings and miles of trails, some of which lead to battery structures. Set your young explorers loose on Artillery Hill’s trail system.
Highlights include being able to walk the dank, unlit tunnels of 12 former batteries. These batteries served as emplacements for guns that once protected the entrance to Puget Sound and the naval shipyard at Bremerton.
“The Fort, along with Forts Casey and Flagler, were constructed between 1897 and 1905. The guns were removed from the forts beginning in World War I and never replaced. All three forts were decommissioned by 1953, having never fired a gun in anger,” said Tim Caldwell, Fort Worden’s guest services representative.
Trail maps are available at the Commons building on the Fort Worden campus. Use caution when climbing the stairs of the gun emplacements, since many lack banisters or handrails. Bring a flashlight to explore the fun but very dark and twisty tunnels. There are open areas in front of most of the gun emplacements that lead to the bluff overlooking the Strait of Juan de Fuca and Puget Sound.
Nearby things to do: Memory’s Vault, an area on Artillery Hill, features pillars of poetry written by Sam Hamill; the poems speak of the fort’s sights, sounds, history and weather. The charming town of Port Townsend is always worth a visit. Or venture to Fort Flagler State Park on the other side of Port Townsend Bay on Marrowstone Island, about a 30-minute drive away. Fort Flagler also has gun emplacements to explore, along with a 1905 military hospital and plenty of beach for building forts.
Next stop: Treehouse Point
Treehouse Point, Fall City
Location: 6922 Preston-Fall City Rd. S.E., Issaquah
Parking: There is a free parking lot for guests.
Why just watch reruns of “Treehouse Masters” when you can tour Treehouse Point, a renowned tree house hotel built by Pete Nelson and his crew? A spruce tree holds the first tree house built here: Temple of the Blue Moon. Trillium has 80 window panes, while the Upper Pond tree house contains a queen bed along with two single bunk beds to accommodate up to four people. The Nest (bird-themed) was built during a workshop, and its roof has the best rainfall acoustics. Bonbibi has the only covered deck; and guests of the Burl must traverse a 40-foot-long steel bridge to arrive at their quarters.
Treehouse Point offers a handful of tours each week for $40 per person; the minimum recommended age is 4 but all ages are welcome. Tours book up fairly far in advance so plan ahead for your visit. Tours last one hour. Overnight stays are geared toward adults. Guests must be 16 or older, and a tree house stay with a shared bath can cost some $400 a night. You’ll also need to book far in advance, as reservations fill up fast.
Nearby things to do: From visiting a local wallaby ranch to eating at unique restaurants, there is plenty to do around Fall City. Make a day of it!
Next stop: Stump house at Guillemot Cove
Stump house at Guillemot Cove, Seabeck
Location: 19235 NW Stavis Bay Rd., Seabeck
Parking: At Guillemot Cove Nature Reserve, park at the Stavis Bay Road parking area. The hike down into the cove is about a mile in length. Know that this can be a steep hike back up for young children. Wander a trail through the Guillemot Cove Nature Reserve, on the Kitsap Peninsula near Seabeck, and you’ll be rewarded with the sight of an awesome stump house. The house was created from an old western cedar tree stump after it was logged. Follow the Stump House Trail to reach it.
“The two notches in the front of the tree [that look like eyes] are old springboard cuts. The cuts were made by loggers. They placed boards that they stood on while operating their crosscut saws into these cuts,” explained Stewardship Coordinator Lori Raymaker.
While no one knows who built the stump house, urban legend suggests an outlaw used the stump as a hideout.
Keep in mind that after or during rainy periods, the meadow may be flooded, so pack extra shoes or rain boots. Check the Washington Trails Association website for a description of the trail and the latest trip reports. Note that pets are not allowed. It’s about a two-hour trip from Seattle to reach Seabeck, not including ferry wait time.
Nearby things to do: Explore the beach at low tide and you will likely find oysters, sand dollars and sea stars.
Next stop: Gnome and hobbit houses
Gnome and hobbit houses
Location: Various locations throughout Seattle
Even if your child hasn’t yet read J.R.R. Tolkien’s classic “The Hobbit,” it’s easy to love a hobbit-size habitat. The Brothers Greenhouses in Port Orchard has a hobbit-inspired tiny house, open year-round during business hours.
You can also pedal along Seattle’s Burke-Gilman Trail and you’ll discover a hobbit door built into a gnarly tree, near Matthews Beach Park in Northeast Seattle. Or you can spy a nifty hobbit door (also called “the gnome home”) at the Bellevue Botanical Garden. Find the hidden spot in the Shorts Ground Cover Garden. This hobbit door used to be the cellar door to Cal Short’s root cellar. Short and his wife donated their house and property, which became the beginning of the entire garden. While at the garden, don’t miss the Ravine Experience, involving an exciting suspension bridge you can walk across, right in the heart of the garden.
Young tots will love finding the gnomes — some hiding out in natural homes and forts — along Maple Valley’s Gnome Trail.
