Ideas for family fun (Seattle, Everett: hotels, camping, living)

[blesstd]

Hi,

We are somewhat new to Washington and live on the Eastside. Although it's been over a year here, we're still learning about living here and places to see. With summer right around the corner, would anyone have suggestions on where we could take our 5 yo daughter for a long weekend family vacation? A ferry ride would be wonderful but where should we go to? Or how's about a drive to Portland - what's fun there?

Also, where are the best parks for kids? When we can, we enjoy exploring new places on the weekends.

Thank you for sharing any ideas!

[running-girl]

Portland is such a fun city with kids! Bring her scooter or bike, and she can ride along the waterfront--the Eastbank Esplanade is fun because it has a floating portion. Visit OMSI, the Children's Museum, ride the OHSU tram, visit Portland Saturday Market. There is a beautiful little Beverly Cleary tribute park with statues of Ramona Quimby, Henry Huggins, and Ribsy the dog with a nice shady playground. Take a hike up in Forest Park, visit the zoo, pick berries on Sauvie Island. And it's just a great walkable city--we spend lots of Sundays just wandering around downtown with the kids. So much fun. There's also great local family-friendly pub called Laurelwood with good beer and delicious garlic fries and a play area for the kids.

I also really recommend a trip out to the Oregon coast. It is so beautiful. Cannon Beach, Manzanita, Seaside, all darling little towns with beautiful beaches. Dress for all weather possibilities. It's occasionally warm, but usually a light jacket is most comfortable on the beach. Bring some kites and have a day relaxing in the sand, visit the tide pools by Haystack Rock at Cannon Beach.

You'll want to avoid Portland/the Oregon Coast the weekend of August 22. It's Hood to Coast (big relay race) and hotels are pretty booked up and the beach is crazy.

Or a weekend trip to Victoria BC! We took my kids there when they were 5 and 3 and they loved it. We went to the bug zoo (tiny, but fantastic!), Butchart Gardens, ...also a big park with a petting zoo, can't remember the name. We rode the ferry across, but you could also take the Clipper. There are some great travel deals online for that. I need to get in applications for passports for the kiddos so we can do that again this summer.

We haven't done the duckboat in Seattle yet, but our friends' kids are crazy about it, so it's on our list. There's a slightly older post similar to this that has some great recommendations as well.

Have fun!

[CityGirl72]

We do alot of family camping in the summer

One of the top ten camp grounds are just right inside oregon - we were highly impressed

We've also gone to Lake Wenatachee, it was wonderful too (lotsof bugs though)

And we adore Mt Rainier, plus you can do a family trip together and help the enviroment by rebuilding trails with the WTA (Home — Washington Trails Association)

I also say that Victora BC is a great suggestion - tons of family things to do there

[sean98125]

You can plan a trip around one of the county fairs, such as the Clallam County Fair in Port Angeles or the Chelan County Fair in Cashmere. There will be lots of animals and exhibits and rides, though not on the scale of the Puyallup or Evergreen State Fairs. They are also a lot cheaper and I think a lot more fun and less intimidating for a five year old.

Portland is a great weekend destination.

[seattlerain]

The Cascade Loop is a spectacular drive from the Puget Sound area across the Cascade Mountains and into the high desert climate of the Columbia River Valley. The drive itself is about 400 miles. For more info: The Cascade Loop

[MiJo]

You can also check out Ruby Slipper Guide to the Eastside- it's for families that live on the Eastside and has lots of great ideas for activities.

As for parks, have you ever been to St. Edwards in Kenmore? It's great and has a huge playground.

-sorry about the URL... not very web savvy!

[CityGirl72]

As does Parent Map

ParentMap Seattle. Family events calendar, directory and information for parents and kids. - ParentMap

[blesstd]

These are great ideas! Thanks everyone for these suggestions! It's time to do some research!

Have a wonderful summer!

[allforcats]

This recent thread is chock full of great ideas:
http://www.city-data.com/forum/seatt...nths-what.html

[xirxious]

My sister was just out here with her 4 year old son and we went to the childrens meuseum downtown and there is another in Everett called imagine. The aquarium is geared well for kids as well. We also took a trip up mountain loop highway out past lake stevens. The back stretch is closed, but you can still get up to the snow. The Ferry ride is near for kids, and its cheaper just to ride it back and forth once rather than take an auto one it.