Seattle, Washington is a bustling area that offers the beauty and nature of the Pacific Northwest as a backdrop while also featuring many different places to see and venues that can entertain kids and adults alike. With all the parks, lakes, museums, and other indoor and outdoor recreation, finding activities in this area that will amuse the kids is not hard to find. The problem is deciding where to start.
Indoor Activities
Planning around the weather in the Seattle area can be a bit tricky. You can take the kids bowling at Spin Alley on Richmond Beach Road in Seattle. You can choose to go swimming at the Meadowbrook Pool on 35th Ave NE. Meadowbrook also offers a community center with an assortment of activities to choose from. Pump It Up is indoor facility with large inflatable structures that children can bounce and jump for hours. These facilities are located in the Kirkland and Lynnwood areas.
Outdoor Activities
Capture the Seattle beauty and explore when the weather permits. The Pike Place Market is always a good place to start. You can spot the occasional flying fish by fish market or walk through the many different vendors. The Ballard Locks, also known as the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks, is a well visited tourist attraction. Take a nice stroll as you watch the boats slowly making their way through the water systems and also catch a bite to each from many of the local vendors. The Mercer Slough Nature Park has an expansive 320-acre area full of forest, marshes, swamps and bogs ready to be explored. You can amuse the kids by taking them to Interbay Golf Center for some miniature golf. This is located on 15th Avenue West between Ballard and downtown.
Parks
There are several parks in the Seattle area. The University of Washington has a large arboretum that is a fun filled stroll along the water or through the numerous gardens that house many different species of plant, flowers and trees. You can even explore the area with a canoe. Magnuson Park on 62nd Ave NE has a recreation building, a gymnasium, an auditorium and the regular park staples. Kerry Park on Highland Drive will provide amazing views of the Space Needle and the Seattle area.
Lakes
Green Lake is a popular area to explore around the Seattle area. It has a designated wading and swimming area. You can also rent paddle boats and kayaks to explore the lake further. Saint Edwards Park, located next to Bastyr University, has a large play structure as well as many forested acres with hiking trails that can accommodate many different activity levels. These trails lead down to Lake Washington, which is a perfect place for a picnic.
Museums
Museums in the Seattle area pair education with play. The Children’s Museum is conveniently located at the Seattle Center and offers a Bijou Theatre and other indoor play structures for the kids to enjoy. The museum of History and Industry can give a lesson on the history of the Northwest while housing large structures for the kids to explore. The Center for Wooden Boats will allow you to learn about different boating and fishing from around the area while sitting along the banks of Lake Union. You can also take sailing lessons or go on a canoe ride.
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