Kids love exploring the city of Seattle. With its abundance of parks, playgrounds and outdoor activities, there's never a shortage of things to do here. Warm weather gives opportunities for playing in the water and at the beaches, while winter opens up the nearby mountains for snowy adventures. Even in the rain, there are libraries, museums and fun shops to keep kids and parents occupied.
Fly a Kite
On a breezy day near the lakes, there a few spots to have fun flying a kite. Gasworks Park was named "Best Place to Fly a Kite" in 2009 in Evening Magazine's Northwest Escapes contest. The park juts into Lake Union with views of the downtown skyline across the water. Other popular places to fly kites are Warren G. Magnuson Park and Matthews Beach Park.
Low-Tide Walk
Check the tide calendars and go stroll the beaches when the tide is low. Kids will enjoy spotting all the different sea creatures. Low tides will reveal colorful starfish, sea cucumbers, tiny crabs and all kinds of interesting plants and animals. Bring a camera and a notebook and have the kids explore and observe the environment that each creature lives in and take notes like a marine biologist. Remind kids to never touch the animals or disturb their habitat.
Canoeing
The University of Washington's Water Activities Center is open to the public. Rent a canoe and explore the inlets and marshes of the University's arboretum--it is a great way to spend a hot summer day in Seattle. Rental prices as of 2010 were $8.50 on weekdays for the general public and $10 on weekends, as of 2010. Kids will love exploring Lake Union and seeing the fish and wildlife in the area.
Botanical Gardens Adventure
The University of Washington's botanical gardens offer families a chance to explore with their kids. You can rent an adventure pack filled with supplies for field studies for the young botanist. Geared toward grades kindergarten through sixth for a group of five or less, the adventure packs provide scavenger hunts, magnifying glasses and activities. There is a guided "Wetland Wonders" adventure and a "Family Tree" adventure where you can explore on your own.
Karate
Enroll your kids in karate classes from the Washington Karate Association. With three locations in the Puget Sound region, two in the Seattle area and one in Tacoma, the WKA offers quality training in the discipline of Haysahi-ha Shito-ryu, the traditional form of karate. Kids will have a chance to gain self-confidence through learning this ancient discipline. The WKA has had many students and instructors win numerous awards since its beginning in 1966.
Winter Fun
Take the kids skiing or snowboarding at Snoqualmie Pass, about an hour drive on I-90 east from Seattle. There is a snowboarding park there as well as the chance to cross-country ski or snowshoe. Further southeast, close to Mount Rainier, is Crystal Mountain, the largest ski resort in Washington. They offer numerous classes for kids starting at age 2.
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