Summer… Summer… Summer… SUMMER! It's here, Seattle and although we want you to stay online long enough to read this article, it's time to get out there and have some fun with your kids! We've pulled together 75 new ways to explore Seattle this summer and we can't wait for you to find the perfect ones for your family. Now, get out there and soak up as much vitamin-d as possible before those Seattle rain clouds start rolling their way back into the city again.
kids at fair1. Watch the cruise ships come and go at Smith Cove Park.
2. The King is coming to Seattle this summer…King Tut, that is! Visit him at the Pacific Science Center all summer long.
3. Splish and splash on those hot summer days at a cool outdoor swimming spot.
4. Take a drive to Kenmore, at the tip of Lake Washington, and explore the hidden gem of Rhododendron Park.
5. Eastside families need to put Summer Outdoor Movies in the Park dates on their calendar, located at Downtown Bellevue Park.
6. Book at cabin at Seattle's only in-city campground.
7. Discover a sweet little beach and family-friendly seaside aquarium at this hidden seaside gem.
8. The Fun Forest at the Seattle Center may be long gone (RIP), but the Seattle Center Playway is here all summer… including its 250-foot zipline!
kids playing9. Explore a man-made waterfall right in the heart of Seattle.
10. Rainy summer day? Grab some friends and book a group tour at a delicious donut factory.
11. Have you heard that the Seattle wading pools got extra funding this year and will be open an extra day each week? Check out the updated schedule.
12. Make the drive to check out a 70-acre wetland preserve complete with hiking trails and even a nature-inspired playground.
13. Cougars? In Issaquah? (No, not that kind of cougar!) We love the Cougar Mountain Zoo!
14. Experience a classic summertime tradition and catch a flick without ever having to leave your car.
15. Explore your favorite Seattle beach with the experts from the Seattle Aquarium in their Family Summer Series sessions. Available at Golden Gardens and Alki Beach.
16. Drag your kids to the EMP to check out their newest exhibit. It will leave them thunderstruck.
17. Too hot for the beach, or more likely too rainy? Hit the sand and ditch the sunscreen and this indoor playspace.
18. Ride the ferry to an island will make you feel like you're worlds away from the city. Daily runs start on July 1st!
girl playing in water19. The cure to the "my kids are going to be home for three-months" crazies? A mom date! Check out six more great places to meet your favorite mom friend.
20. Put some cool campuses on your visit list - from UW to Seattle Pacific University in Queen Anne and Seattle U on First Hill. It's never too early to make those college plans!
21. Take advantage of the free and low-cost kid-friendly nature walks through theSeward Audubon Center.
22. Sample some of Seattle's best places to eat… all at once! The Bite of Seattle is a summer favorite and admission is free!
23. Get those green thumbs dirty and start planting your own garden with a little help from the experts.
24. Catch the tail-end of the Seattle International Film Festival's Films4Families.
25. Play archaeologist with your little diggers at the sand pit in Discovery Park.
26. Rock out with the fish and boats at this family-friendly summer concert series.
kids on bridge27. Climb aboard a fire engine and check out fire safety equipment with your fire truck-obsessed kid.
28. Discover the artistic beauty of the glass garden at the Seattle Center.
29. Does your kiddo love creepy crawlers? Indulge them with a trip to the Serpentarium.
30. Have your summer ice cream with a slice of pie on the side!
31. Plan the perfect day trip for your train-loving kid and make it an extra special trip during July when a special train will be stopping into the station.
32. Sure you've been camping, but how about breakfast camping? It's a perfect idea for the kids' first time roughing it.
33. Raise those scarves and cheer on your local Sounders this summer!
kids on slide34. Sign up for a Kids on the Farm Tour with Farmer Jayne at Kelsey Creek Farm.
35. Head to this unique farmer's market and spend an evening picking up fresh fruits and veggies to make a home-cooked feast.
36. Play some retro arcade games at the Northwest Pinball and Arcade Show where you can play over 300 different pinball machines… all set on free play!
37. Cool off when the weather gets hot with a frosty pint for mom and dad and a chilled rootbeer for the kiddos.
38. Family-friendly concerts at family-friendly University Village? Yes, please!
39. Catch one of the summer blockbusters at these local theaters that are perfect for little moviegoers.
40. Seattle has two public outdoor pools - you'll need to see them both this summer, for sure. Visit Colman Pool in West Seattle and Pop Mounger Pool in Magnolia.
41. Stay cool this summer with a few games of family bowling.
42. Kids bugging you? Take them to the Seattle Bug Safari...
43. ...or, throw them in jail.
44. While hiking Mt. Si should be reserved for an adult-only day date, Little Si is the perfect challenge for kids who are up to more than a leisurely nature stroll.
45. Ditch the tent and go yurt camping!
46. Support local farmers and get fresh produce for cheap at the farmer's market.
47. Pinball and ice cream? Sold!
girls playing on slide48. Discover a few hidden parks in this quaint Seattle neighborhood and have yourself a playdate.
49. Want to see Bill Gate's house? Book a Seattle Lakes tour and check out the pads of the rich and famous.
50. Snack on peanuts, cheer for your favorite players, and maybe catch a foul ball at the ballpark.
51. Check out the kid-friendly events all summer long at Bellevue Square, including kiddie concerts, LEGO building days, story times and more.
52. Plan a day trip to a nature-filled playground where you can go hiking, swimming, and picnicking.
53. Spend the day playing tourist in Seattle - take a trip up the Space Needle and see if you can spot your house or neighborhood.
54. Find a new way to get to Alki Beach - take the Water Taxi
55. There's nothing like grubbing on BBQ fare to really make it feel like summertime.
56. Zip through these cool Seattle parks your kids will love.
57. Head to the theater and catch an inexpensive summer show at a children's theater that's all about the kids.
58. Email your mama friends and get together a bunch for an afternoon of kid-friendly bowling!
emma swimming59. Practice your short game with the kids and try to shoot for a hole in one at any of these fun mini golf spots.
60. Ride scooters or bikes through the mile-long tunnel that goes from Sam Smith Park in Mt. Baker to the I-90 lid. Then turn around and come back and play at the playground.
61. Stroll down this neighborhood avenue for a day of shopping, eating, and browsing through the cool stores.
62. Take a tour of the Boeing factory where they make real-life airplanes and watch your plane-crazy kid's eye go wide with excitement.
63. Bring a pillow and kick back to watch super cool laser show to the music of kid faves such as Lady Gaga, the Beatles or Michael Jackson.
64. Pump up those bike tires and head out for a leisurely ride around Lake Union.
65. You know we love Portland at Red Tricycle - plan a weekend getaway to Seattle's sister city to the south!
66. Ever wonder where all those ferries go? Find out! Head to Bainbridge, Kingston or Whidbey and see what's on the other side!
67. Pack a blanket and some food and have a picnic.
68. Saddle up this summer and trot down the trail on horseback.
69. Grab a "discovery backpack" at this nature center and explore the outdoors with your kiddos.
boy playing in water70. Treat your budding thespian to a live performance they will love.
71. Visit a farm that's anything from ordinary--there's no chickens or cows here!
72. Go on a train hunting adventure
73. Help your little one find their summer "ohm" with a yoga class
74. Beat the heat with ice cream or frozen yogurt
75. Take the ride to the top of Smith Tower for a fun new view of the city
