We’re finally getting settled on the Eastside (Bellevue). Oldest is 10 and the twins are nearly 6.
What are some good day trips for us to do in the Seattle area? Keep in mind that the youngest twin has some special needs so nothng too wild (she can’t walk long distances, and gets pretty antsy after 20 minutes of sitting). We don’t mind driving somewhere, let the kids play in a park and then grab a pizza or something.
Whidbey Island was recommended but not sure where to actually go once we are there.
And ya, I wouldn’t mind some sun. Given the amount of overcast days, some indoor recommendations would be good.
Does anyone live in Sequim? Is it really significantly more sunny than Seattle? Any thing to recommend for me to do there with the bambinas?
It’s a little outside Seattle, but Forest Park in Everett is one of the best parks around. It has a GREAT playground (better than most in Seattle) and a small animal farm with baby goats, lambs, chickens, rabbits, etc. The forest setting is astounding. Call and make sure the animal farm is still going this late in the season. St. Edwards Park in Kenmore also has a wonderful playground. Woodland Park Zoo is always fun. If you hold a bag open in front of the orangutans, they’ll come right over and try to peer inside. There’s a carousel there for the kids. Woodland Park playground is a small playground next to the zoo. I don’t know of any kid stuff in Sequim or Whidbey Island, but a ferry ride itself is worth a trip.There are some giant slides of varying length built in the hill between the two levels of the Phinney Neighborhood Center - not worth a trip all on its own, but if you’re in the area (like the zoo), it’s fun. Powell Barnett playground in Seattle was recently featured in a Seattle parent’s magazine; I haven’t been there but it looks fun. The Serpentariumin Monroe is surprisingly fun, and I’m a reptile-phobe. Carkeek Park and Golden Gardens both feature majestic Puget Sound beach for running and splashing and nice playgrounds. Matthews Beach is on Lake Washington and has a nice little playground, with the Burke-Gilman bike trail running alongside it. Cowen Park is the greatest - a nice playground, and a trail through a ravine that feels like you’re in the land of Hobbits. It’s a very easy walk, but feels out of this world. It’s right next to the University District and the Roosevelt District with lots of food options.
Others will know more about proper day trips, but right in Bellevue, Kelsey Creek Farm has animals, and also a nice little playground. Right near it is Wilburton Park, which is a fun park to play at - the equipment is a little older, but it has a zipline, and unlike most of the Bellevue parks, it has actual trees. Lewis Creek Park is also very nice, with a nice area for walking and a good playground, plus some big playfields that are good for kites or whatever (although we’re getting to the end of weather for that). On a nice day, I would recommend Newport Beach Park for playing in or around the water and then a picnic (but it can get pretty crowded).
Issaquah is pretty nice, you can check out Snoqualmie falls and depending on the time of year, you can tour Boehm’s Chocolate factory (free samples and it’s supposedly haunted by a ghost!)
Good! My daughter went to the Kelsey Creek day camp for most of the summer this year, and had a really wonderful time. I don’t know if you’re in need of daycare, but yours might like doing it just for fun for a week or two even if they’re normally home in the summers. (The Girl Scout camp in Carnation, River Ranch, is also a ton of fun and very convenient - there’s a bus that goes right through Redmond and Bellevue. They have both day camp and overnight programs. You don’t have to be in a Girl Scout troop - just register with Girl Scouts USA for $12 and you’re eligible.)
How about the Hiram Chittenden Locks in Ballard? When the salmon are running the kids can watch them in the fish ladder. Always fun for kids to watch the boats in the locks - and it is free.
A drive to Port Townsend is an easy day trip, just pay attention to ferry backups - on the way, Port Gamble has a small museum if you want to see what went on in a turn of the century mill town.
In the spring, the tulip festival in the Skagit Valley is an easy day trip, other times - LaConner is a small town with lots of galleries in the few blocks of downtown.
As far as sun, there is more of a rain shadow at Sequim and Port Angeles but not too much I"ve found to do. Hurricane Ridge is beautiful, but best if you can catch on one of the few cloudless days.
I hate to say it, but we are still experiencing some summer weather, if it is too overcast, you have a real shock coming…
We did Golden Gardens today. Bambinas had fun on the beach and the playground. Although it was pretty windy and cold this morning. BTW, they are doing a $500k remodel project Jan - Mar for the playground.
We’ll have to check out Cowen Park.
Any other beaches that you recommend? Again, I’m on the Eastside and looking for somewhere the bambinas can just run around. My youngest has special needs, and the beach is a nice safe tactile place as long as she doesn’t run in the surf.
I took my kids to the Woodland Park Zoo a lot at that age. Lots of walking, but you don’t have to do it all in one outing. The Aquarium on Seattle waterfront is good too. I was never too impressed with the Pacific Science Center, but it’s probably worth a trip over next year or two. (Good IMAX theater there)
The Eastside has lots of good ones. I’ve only been to a few: Meydenbauer Beach in Bellevue, and Houghton Beach in Kirkland. There are many more; check the city parks websites. Newcastle’s supposed to be the largest. Lake Sammamish State Park is good. (Ted Bundy got his first victim there.) If you go to St. Edwards Park in Kenmore for the fantastic fort play structure, you can then continue down Juanita Dr. to Juanita Beach (I’ve never been to the beach). Downtown Park in Bellevue is a gorgeous park that’s great for running around. It has a gigantic lateral fountain that is fascinating to look at and play at/in, and a playground. It’s hidden behind Bellevue Square.
If you are up for a Seattle trip, try out Carkeek Park. It has a great beach and a cute playground with water features and a salmon slide. You get to walk across a bridge over a set of train tracks which is really cool when there’s a train going by.
Another fun trip is over to Alki Beach in West Seattle. There’s a playground, great beach, bike riding, and people watching. Then, afterwards, swing by Husky Deli at the West Seattle Junction (SW Alaska & California Ave. SW) for homemade ice cream. It’s a Seattle institution and the heart of the West Seattle neighborhood. Say hi to the owners for me (cousins of ours).
My “to try” list is getting longer. We live within walking distance of the Bellevue Downtown Park.
Grass Lawn park in Redmond is a lot of fun too. They have 2 kid’s play areas. One with some squirting water thing that Serena just loved (but even in summer was on the cold side).
Marymoor in Redmond, Luther Burbank on Mercer Island, Sammamish State Park in Issaquah.
When I was little, we always went to Enatai & Meydenbauer beaches in Bellevue (which are close to where you are if you can walk to the downtown park) - but I haven’t been to either in a quarter of a century, so I have no idea what they look like today. I have been to Coulon Beach in Renton semi-recently, and it might suit your “place to run around in” needs. Juanita Beach is a good beach - but it’s currently under construction. If you just drive down Bellevue way until it becomes Lake Washington Boulevard, there’s a bunch of tiny little beaches and parks that they might like. St. Edwards is good.
Quite close to where you are is Mercer Slough, where you can go blueberry picking. Safe for running around in, although the sight lines aren’t great if you actually need to keep your daughter in view at all times. But it’s a fun way to spend an afternoon, and then you can come home and make blueberry cobbler for dinner.
Someone mentioned Juanita beach: it’s in the middle of a big renovation, wait until next year.
Idlewood is a nicer swimming beach/park than Sammamish state park and closer to you (head down bel-red towards redmond, turn right on west lake sammamish and it’s a little ways down).
Farrel McWhirter in Redmond is a good one, also has some animals, kind of similar to Kelsey Creek that ENugent mentioned (Kelsey Creek is a good recommendation, used to take my kids there all the time, hills to run up and down, big grassy area, little stream, animals, and trails in the woods behind it).
