Family Adventure Guide Summer 2019

’cause parenting is a trip!

EAT • PLAY • GO with kids

FAMILY ADVENTURE

SEATTLE + NORTHWEST

SUMMER 2019

GUIDE

• Destination: Lake Chelan • Ghost Town Hikes for Western Washington Families • Ferry Tales: Day Trips to Bainbridge and Bremerton • 5 Novel Museums to Visit With Kids • Top Tips and Trips for Family Trailer Camping

parentmap.com/adventure

where

Recreation meets

Relaxation

Sleeping Lady Resort is a natural playground for all ages, with hiking, biking and rafting right outside your door. Join us in the beautiful Washington Cascades on the banks of Icicle Creek... relax after a hard day’s play with superb cuisine, a luxurious spa, inspiring art and music, and accommodations in harmony with nature.

Plan your adventure at SleepingLady.com or 800.574.2123.

Your dollars make a difference at Sleeping Lady. Every time you spend the night or enjoy our other amenities, you are supporting the Icicle Fund. Find out more at SleepingLady.com/Imagine.

LEAVE NWORTH, WA | SLE E PI NG LADY.COM

SWIMS FOR HOURS. TUCKERED AT EIGHT. THE NIGHT IS YOURS. MILESTONES. JUST A FEW MILES AWAY. In less than two hours from Seattle, you can be peering into tide pools with your kids or treating yourself to a hot stone massage. At Semiahmoo Resort, Golf & Spa, the little moments you live for are waiting around every corner. semiahmoo.com

9565 Semiahmoo Parkway Blaine, WA 98230 855.917.3767

contents

FAMILY ADVENTURE SEATTLE + NORTHWEST

6

Lake Chelan

12

Trailer Camping

23

Ferry Hopping

SUMMER 2019

GUIDE

30

39

Ghost Town Hikes

5 Novel Museums

Ah, Summer — Pass the Sunscreen sun, swim and Syrah in the vacation paradise that is Lake Chelan (p. 6) — my family’s favorite annual summer destination. Got a camping trailer, or want to rent one and give it a shot? We’ve laid out two trailerfriendly Washington camping trip itineraries to jump-start your family’s RV adventures (p. 12). Whatever your final destination, we hope this guide helps you make the most of another gorgeous PNW summer.

The sun on your face, freckles blooming on your nose, the scratch of sand between your toes — this is the part where we get to take it easy… It’s been said that while the rest of the world makes New Year’s resolutions, Northwest families make summer resolutions, and we’re here to help with a call to adventure!

On the spontaneous day-outing docket, we’ve rounded up five local cultural and special-interest museums you may not have visited (p. 39) and two perfect walk-on-ferry itineraries to Bainbridge Island and Bremerton (p. 23). Slightly further afield, take a hike back in time to visit some of the area’s ghost towns, evidence of the boom-to-bust heyday of Washington’s mining history (p. 30).

P.S. We’re serious about that sunscreen bit.

— Patty Lindley, Interim Managing Editor ParentMap is a multimedia company (parentmap.com) providing trusted, innovative and award-winning content that supports and inspires families. Sign up for newsletters with the week’s top family activities and news at parentmap.com/enews.

If you’ve got a few days, why not hit the road for the perfect trifecta of

facebook.com/ParentMap

@ParentMap

pinterest.com/ParentMap

OUT + ABOUT EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Dora Heideman COPY EDITOR Sunny Parsons EDITORIAL SUBMISSIONS editor@parentmap.com FAMILY ADVENTURE GUIDE SUMMER 2019 PUBLISHER/EDITOR Alayne Sulkin EDITORIAL INTERIM MANAGING EDITOR Patty Lindley OUT + ABOUT EDITOR Nancy Chaney DIGITAL CONTENT EDITOR Vicky McDonald DIGITAL CONTENT PRODUCTION COORDINATOR Nicole Persun

ADVERTISING SALES + PARTNERSHIPS SENIOR ADVERTISING AND PARTNERSHIPS MANAGER Ida Wicklund PARTNERSHIP ACCOUNT MANAGER Jen Dine AD OPERATIONS MANAGER Elisa Taylor ADVERTISING CLIENT SERVICES SPECIALIST Jessica Collet

ADVERTISING CLIENT SERVICES ADMINISTRATION Angela Goodwin ADVERTISING INFORMATION 206-709-9026 or advertising@parentmap.com MARKETING/EVENTS EVENT OPERATIONS Brenna McCowen EVENT + MARKETING COORDINATOR Mallory Dehbod MARKETING + EVENTS ASSISTANT Taryn Weiner ART + PRODUCTION SENIOR DESIGNER Amy Chinn

instagram.com/ParentMap DIGITAL MARKETING DIGITAL MARKETING MANAGER Lindsey Carter SOCIAL MEDIA STRATEGIST + TRENDING EDITOR Diana Cherry MARKETING + OPERATIONS ASSISTANT Maureen Taasin ADMINISTRATION FINANCE MANAGER Sonja Hanson BUSINESS ANALYST Carolyn Brendel ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT Taracina Ullevig All rights reserved; reproduction in whole or part without permission prohibited ©ParentMap 2019 • Printed in Oregon

parentmap.com • Family Adventure Guide • 5

swimming, sunshine and syrah

DESTINATION:

LAKE CHELAN

Swimming, sunshine and Syrah — everyone finds their happy place at this central Washington lake

Campbell’s Resort

6 • Family Adventure Guide • parentmap.com

I

By Jenny Cunningham

t’s the perennial vacation dilemma for parents: Should we choose a destination that’s got a lot of stuff for the kids — swimming, waterslides, scoop shops, mini golf? Or can we get away with a grown-up escape this summer: wineries, spa time, sophisticated food? Good news! There is a magical place, just a three-hour drive from Seattle, where you don’t have to choose: Lake Chelan.

The family-delighting array of tourist offerings centered around the lake didn’t develop overnight. Creation of this beloved recreational paradise began a really long time ago, forming gradually over millions of years as a giant glacier carved the lakebed from the Cascade Crest nearly to the Columbia River. Other glaciers moved in and did some additional remodeling. The result is Lake Chelan, a roughly 50-mile-long lake snaking so far east that it ends in a landscape with a high-desert climate, offering the kind of bone-warming 90-degree days that mossy Seattle kids crave as they cannonball into the lake.

The grown-up attractions are much newer.

In 1998, the Kludt family ripped out some unprofitable apple trees and planted wine grapes.

That experiment grew into Lake Chelan Winery, which germinated AVA (American Viticultural Area) status for the area in 2009. Hear those corks popping? That’s the sound of new wineries being born, 34 and counting. What does that mean for moms and dads who don’t want to spend their vacation imbibing soft drinks by some motel pool? There is an increasingly sophisticated wine industry in Chelan that’s adding its own indulgences to the existing lake resort amenities.

THE GRANDDADDY OF RESORTS For “one-stop shopping,” a smart choice for families is to stay at Campbell’s Resort. The pioneer who started it all in 1901, Clinton Campbell, wouldn’t recognize the place today, with its 170 guest rooms, two swimming pools, a flagship restaurant boasting an award-winning

wine list, a spa and an outcropping of modern buildings hugging more than 1,000 feet of prime lake frontage. He would also be shocked to find rooms going for $300 a night instead of the 50 cents he charged. But what makes that Lake Chelan is the third-deepest lake in the United States, after Crater Lake and Lake Tahoe; its name derives from the indigenous Salish word “Tsi-Laan,” meaning deep water. Learn more about the ice-age-era formation of Lake Chelan from Central Washington University geologist Nick Zentner at kcts9.org/chelan.

price worth it for today’s families is all that there is to do at Campbell’s, much of it free for guests. There’s a marina — and boating on the lake is big — and water-sports amenities, such as floating swim platforms, are a hit with older kids and teens. If you have little ones, what do you say to dropping them off at the two-hour craft class or a fishing lesson while you slip away to the spa?

I can vouch for the Bellamia Spa at Campbell’s.

It’s part of a small chain that focuses on therapeutic massage with results that last longer than an aromatherapy candle. “Relaxation is wonderful,” masseur Garrett Maxwell said while kneading deeply into my sore upper back. “I also like to fix things.” When the hour-long massage was over, my “computer hunchback” did feel better!

THRILL SEEKERS If you have adrenaline junkies in your clan, the town of Chelan has them covered. Slidewaters is a 7-acre waterpark offering everything from parentmap.com • Family Adventure Guide • 7

swimming, sunshine and syrah DESTINATION: Lake Chelan continued from page 7 fast tubes to a lazy floating river. And coming this summer, Slidewaters will open what it is claiming will be one of “the world’s largest” wave machines, which will create waves as high as 6 feet that can be surfed with standard-size ocean boards.

Back on the lake, you may spy people dangling under rainbow-colored parasails high in the air. You might jump to the conclusion that a high-flying sport like parasailing would be for grown-ups only, but even little children can sail above Lake Chelan as long as they are accompanied by an adult.

“Kids love it,” says mom Claudia Shipman, who took her 5-year-old daughter parasailing. “As soon as it was over, she wanted to go back again! It’s not at all scary!” Chelan Parasail & Watersports also rents boats (party boats and pontoons and sport boats, oh my!), Jet Skis and other lake-ready gear.

Is parasailing too tame? For adult adventurers, there’s also skydiving.

Skydive Chelan has something called a Tandem Winery Skydive: You jump out of a plane with the instructor, freefall, then parachute onto a grassy field in a vineyard. Which is convenient, because after that, you will need a drink.

WINE COUNTRY We wanted to stay in a vineyard, so we booked the guest house at Nefarious Cellars. Located about 3 miles west of town, it is surrounded by gorgeous vineyards. The first and last thing you will remember about this place is the view: Soaring windows frame a vision of vines spilling down the hill to the lake and then up to 7,000-foot Cascade peaks. The two-bedroom house, modern and stylish, is attached to what we concluded is the best tasting room in Chelan.

Nefarious is a play on the last name “Neff.” Heather and Dean Neff are the winemakers and owners; she makes the whites, and he makes the reds. Don’t miss the elegant Defiance Vineyard Syrah, which is grown on the vines you’ll gaze upon while luxuriating, glass in hand, in an Adirondack chair on the patio. Hey, where did the kids go? Whew! There they are, over on the play equipment.

Adjacent to Nefarious is another winery, which folks around town recommended as having some of the best wine in the Lake Chelan AVA. It’s called Fielding Hills Winery. And yes, the wine is wonderful, and the tasting room is beautiful, with its circular bar and stunning views of green vines, a purple haze of lavender and brown hills. You can bring a picnic to eat outside. Kids are welcome here, inside or out (something we found 8 • Family Adventure Guide • parentmap.com

virtual reality arcade to be true about all of the Chelan wineries). The bottle you’ll want to take home is the estate “Tribute”; it has something mysterious in its flavor profile — tea or maybe crushed roses?

Hang a left on Lakeshore Rd., and in about a mile, turn left into Karma Vineyards. A few things set this place apart. It makes sparkling wine, and you can get a generous flight for $20. It has fancy snacks, too. Tastings happen on a patio that abuts a koi pond, sure to captivate the littles. Karma’s méthode champenoise brut would be a celebratory addition to your wine cave.

LET’S EAT! Every family’s food mood and craving can be satisfied in Chelan. Local Myth Pizza has earned its name: The pesto chicken pie nearly levitated off its thin crust, it was so loaded with roasted garlic! The chicken fried steak at the Apple Cup Cafe was not greasy — a miracle given that it was blanketed in delicious milk gravy.

For a day filled with treats, take a short road trip north of the town of Chelan through a lovely countryside quilt of orchards, hills and little lakes.

A key attraction around here is Blueberry Hills, a 20-acre U-pick berry farm and down-home country restaurant, located in nearby Manson. The day we visited, fifth-generation orchardist and owner “Blueberry Kari” Sorensen was designing this summer’s T-shirt: It features the image of a screaming woman on the front, and on the back, it reads “Line Survivor.”

Yes, you’ll have to wait in line to get into the restaurant during high season, but that’s also the only time to see this place in full swing and in all of its glory: giddy city kids picking fat, juicy berries; members of a motorcycle club kicking back on the deck; and dogs munching on the free marrow bones Blueberry Hills offers to all of its canine visitors.

If you hit Blueberry Hills for breakfast (and you really must make a point of it), after eating, pick berries and then play at one of the little lakes nearby. You’ll be hungry again for another summer tradition on the way back into town: the “BBQ in the Vineyard” at Lake Chelan Winery. While grown-ups swoon over perfect Pinot Gris, Cajun-style prawns and fall-off-the-bone pork ribs, kids run riot on the open lawn as they play with Hula-Hoops — once again, demonstrating how the Lake Chelan area is a perfect vacation spot for all ages.

SUMMER VR FUN AT PORTAL Ages 8+ | Bellevue 425-595-3439 | Ballard 206-494-0102 Book now at www.portalvr.us

Individual - Groups - Parties

GETTING THERE Located in north-central Washington about 40 miles north of Wenatchee off U.S. Route 97, the town of Chelan is a beautiful three-hour drive from Seattle via I-90 east through Snoqualmie/Blewett or via Stevens Pass on Hwy. 2. ► parentmap.com • Family Adventure Guide • 9

swimming, sunshine and syrah

Local Myth Pizza

DESTINATION: Lake Chelan continued from page 9

STAY • Campbell’s Resort, 104 W. Woodin Ave.; 800.553.8225 • campbellsresort.com • Nefarious Cellars Guesthouse, 495 S. Lakeshore Rd.; 509.682.9505 • nefariouscellars.com • Explore a diverse selection of lodging options (including nearby campgrounds) at lakechelan.com/stay.

• Bellamia Spa, 104 W. Woodin Ave.; 509.888.9980 • campbellsresort.com/spa • Chelan Parasail & Watersports, 1228 W. Woodin Ave.; 509.682.7245 • chelanparasail.com • Skydive Chelan, 201 Airport Way; 509.881.0687 • skydivechelan.com

EAT

SELECT SIPS

• Local Myth Pizza, 122 S. Emerson St.; 509.682.2914 • localmythpizza.com • Apple Cup Cafe, 804 E. Woodin Ave.; 509.682.5997 • applecupcafe.com • Blueberry Hills Farm and Restaurant, 1315 Washington St., Manson; 509.687.2379 • wildaboutberries.com • BBQ in the Vineyard, Lake Chelan Winery, 3519 Hwy. 150; 509.687.9463 • lakechelanwinery.com

• Nefarious Cellars, 495 S. Lakeshore Rd.; 509.682.9505 • nefariouscellars.com • Fielding Hills Winery, 565 S. Lakeshore Rd.; 509.888.9463 • fieldinghills.com • Karma Vineyards, 1681 S. Lakeshore Rd.; 509.682.5538 • goodkarmawines.com • Learn more about Lake Chelan’s wine valley, wineries, vineyards and events at lakechelanwinevalley.com. ■

PLAY • Slidewaters Waterpark, 102 Waterslide Dr.; 509.682.5751 • slidewaters.com

Whether she is reporting for TV or writing for magazines — on topics of travel or tribulation — journalist Jenny Cunningham always likes discovering something new.

MT. RAINIER GONDOLA AT CRYSTAL MOUNTAIN Crystal Mountain is best known as a skiers paradise, but it's more than just that. It's memories waiting to be created. It's scenic gondola rides and a gourmet lunch or dinner at what feels like the top of the world. It's family hikes, horseback rides, and never-ending photo opportunities. It's Mt. Rainier bigger and more beautiful than you've ever seen it.

Purchase tickets online in advance and save up to 20%.

Open MAY - SEPTEMBER (Schedule Varies) Visit website for details - CrystalMountainResort.com 10 • Family Adventure Guide • parentmap.com

Explore Our Shores & Camp Outdoors Family Campouts at Owen Beach

July 12, August 2, August 23; 7 pm-9 am TacomaNatureCenter.org

Swan Creek Park Campfires

July 12, August 2; 8-9:30 pm TacomaNatureCenter.org

Summer Camps

Tiptoe Through the Tidepools at Titlow Beach May 19, June 2, July 5, August 1 & 30 TacomaNatureCenter.org

Explore the Shore at Owen Beach

June 5 & 17, July 3 & 17, August 2 pdza.org

A Camp for Every Age t From Art to Zoo!

Metro Parks Camps are packed with fun all summer long! Come play with new friends, learn through hands on activities, build skills through group games, explore nature, and much more!

REGISTER NOW! MetroParksTacoma.org/CAMPS

Festivals & More!

Presented by Sound Credit Union Supported by Titus-Will July 19 Summer Bash at Stewart Heights Park hosted by Eastside Community Center August 6 National Night Out and Summer Bash at People’s Center August 9 Summer Bash at the Center at Norpoint August 23 Summer Bash at STAR Center MetroParksTacoma.org/Bash

Food Truck Fest at Wright Park

July 21; 10:30 am-6 pm Presented by Titus-Will Supported by Bloodworks NW MetroParksTacoma.org/FoodTruckFest

parentmap.com • Family Adventure Guide • 11 'JOE .PSF *OGP &WFOUT .FUSP1BSLT5BDPNB PSH t

trailer camping

12 • Family Adventure Guide • parentmap.com

Let’s Get Hitched!

Top tips and itineraries for fantastic trailer-camping trips with the family

By Lauren Braden

T

By Gemma Alexander

o camp in the woods is to experience the great outdoors in every way — the cold rain that drips on your nose as it seeps through your tent’s seams in a downpour; feeling your way in the dark to the outhouse at midnight, hoping that shrub you just stumbled into isn’t poison oak. After all, “roughing it” is what makes camping so much fun! Isn’t it?

Well, not necessarily, as I learned when my family borrowed an Airstream Basecamp travel trailer for a two-night camping trip to Deception Pass State Park on Whidbey Island, a natural playground of deep forests, driftwood beaches and a fair bet for the possibility of spotting a whale. My husband and I love to camp, so we’d batted around the idea of purchasing our own small travel trailer to ease the “roughing it” part for our reluctant kiddo, Isaac, who sometimes shuns the great outdoors in favor of video games. The first step was to try one on for size.

When we pulled our silver toaster-on-wheels into the RV campground loop, which was dotted with sleek teardrops, kitschy vintage trailers and mammoth motor homes, our hearts sunk a little. Would this feel like real camping? After navigating to our reserved campsite, we found ourselves unable to back the trailer into the space without the help of a camper next door named Jack, who quickly stepped in to share his expertise. (Pro tip: If you want the trailer to go left, turn your steering wheel to the right.)

Camping in style The Basecamp is Airstream’s entry-level camper: Compact and lightweight enough to be towed by many midsize SUVs, it retains all the throwback charm and modern features that make Airstreams so beloved. Two banquette couches with storage convert into a comfy kingsize bed that fit all three of us. There’s a tiny bathroom with a shower, plus a kitchen outfitted with a sink, microwave, fridge and two-burner stove. Hot water, heating and air conditioning, modern LED lighting, USB ports and Bluetooth speakers complete the package, all efficiently packed into the space of a walk-in closet on wheels. The Basecamp shouts retro cool, but the price tag may make you whimper: A new one will set you back $37,000. ► parentmap.com • Family Adventure Guide • 13

South Sound Fun!

trailer camping

• Summer Day Camps • Backyard Campout in Priest Point Park: 6/29 • Kayak Trips & Classes • Summer Softball Leagues • Adult Sailing Classes • Youth & Teen Learn to Skateboard Classes • Arts Events • Park Stewardship Events • And so much more!

Let’s Get Hitched! continued from page 13

Our new friend Jack would return a few more times as we novices futzed our way through leveling our camper and hooking up the water and electricity cables. However, once the tasks of setting up were out of the way, the fire was soon crackling and marshmallows were toasting.

After a few games of ring toss, we cooked up some quesadillas and snacked on s’mores. There was no tent in sight, but we were camping!

The biggest draw to trailer camping? You can hitch up and hit the road anytime, with minimal prep. If you want a campsite with electrical and water hookups, not to mention a nearby RV dump station, reservations are a must in summer. For “dry camping” (i.e., without hookups), spontaneity is well within reach.

Ready to give it a try?

Trips y Classes y Camps olympiawa.gov/experienceit

Got a trailer, or want to rent one and give it a shot? We’ve laid out two trailer-friendly Washington camping trip itineraries to jump-start your RV adventures.

Olympic Peninsula odyssey Your camper will keep you warm and dry even on this verdantly forested peninsula, which is so verdant because it gets 140 inches of rain per year.

Follow Hwy. 101 as it loops around Olympic National Park, beginning at shellfish-rich Hood Canal and ending on the wild Pacific Coast.

DAY 1 Dosewallips State Park, near Brinnon on Hood Canal, is a favorite destination for families because of its variety of natural attractions; among them, forested trails, a pristine river with wide gravel bars that attract herds of elk, and saltwater beaches that are loaded with oysters and clams. Note: You’ll need a shellfish license (available at area gas stations) to harvest them. The campground has 48 full hookup campsites that accommodate RVs as long as 60 feet. Reserve online (parks.state.wa.us) or by calling 888.226.7688.

DAY 2 Salt Creek Recreation Area, west of Port Angeles, is great for families with children of all ages; there’s playground equipment for young kids, historic military installations for older kids (this land was previously Camp Hayden, a World War II site) and rocky tide pools full of marine life for everyone! Most of the campsites have views of the Strait of Juan de Fuca and across to Vancouver Island. Half of the 92 campsites are reservable, and most of these have full hookups. Reserve online (sunrisereservations.com).

14 • Family Adventure Guide • parentmap.com

DAY 2 Moran State Park, on Orcas Island, is the crown jewel of the islands — encompassing more than 5,000 acres of forest and lakes, it is home to the island’s highest point, 2,400-foot Mount Constitution. Our favorite area to camp at the park is at Mountain Lake, where you’ll enjoy a bit more privacy. Of the 151 available campsites, most can accommodate travel trailers, though none has hookups, so pack your solar batteries.

Reserve online (parks.state.wa.us) or by calling 888.226.7688. ►

World Class Aquatic Center Expert Instructors Techniques for confidence, comfort and fun Lessons now available for non-prime time hours.

All ages and abilities.

SW

T

DAY 1 San Juan County Park, on the west side of San Juan Island, will take your breath away. Perched on a high bluff facing Haro Strait (aka “whale central”), you have a chance of spotting a pod of orcas from the restful comfort of your camping chair. (If you’re an avid orcaholic, Lime Kiln Point State Park, a short distance south, is even more reliable for spotting orcas.) As for camping, there are specific sites suitable for RVs up to 20 feet in length, all with amazing views of the strait, but, alas, no hookups.

If you have a larger RV or need hookups, reserve a space at the county fairgrounds near Friday Harbor, which furnishes eight RV campsites with electrical and water hookups. Reserve online (sjcfair.org).

Teaching more kids to swim than anywhere in the Northwest.

BES

Camping on the rocky, emerald San Juan Islands is bucket-list material for many Pacific Northwest families. Most campgrounds on the islands don’t provide utility hookups, so this trip is best for trailers and camper vans that can get by with battery power or propane for cooking, lighting and heating needs.

The best order in which to visit all of the three main islands on just one ferry fare from Anacortes is to sail first to Friday Harbor on San Juan Island, then to Orcas Island, and lastly to Lopez Island. It’s a good idea to make ferry reservations (wsdot.wa.gov/ferries) for the sailing from Anacortes — and don’t forget to reserve adequate space for your vehicle plus travel trailer.

LESSONS

NS

Island hopping in the San Juans

SWIM

SO

DAY 3 Bogachiel State Park, south of Forks, is one of the few campgrounds on public lands in this coastal region of the Olympics that offers utility hookups, and there are only six campsites available. Make this your base camp while hiking the Bogachiel River Valley, the Hoh Valley or the coastal trails of La Push and Rialto Beach. Reserve online (parks.state.wa.us) or by calling 888.226.7688.

IM LES

Swim Camps ONE-DAY CAMPS | HALF-DAY CAMPS FULL-DAY CAMPS | AGES 3–15

COMPETITIVE SWIM D A I LY F U N D A M E N TA TA L P I R AT TES & MERMAIDS SHARK CAMP J U N I O R L I F E G UA R D I N G SEA ANIMAL CAMP MERMAID CAMP SYNCHRONIZED SWIMMING J U N I O R L I F E G UA R D I N G LEADERSHIP (425) 861-6274 or aquaticsinfo@proclub.com parentmap.com • Family Adventure Guide • 15

trailer-camping

Let’s Get Hitched!

HITCH YOUR OWN: Renting or Buying a Camping Rig

DAY 3 Spencer Spit State Park, on Lopez Island, is home to a wide beach of sand and pebbles that juts into a salty bay. Kids will love exploring at low tide, spotting sea stars and other marine critters. The stroll to the tip of the spit is about 1 mile round-trip. There are 37 campsites (most can accommodate RVs up to 20 feet long), but no utility hookups.

Reserve online (parks.state.wa.us) or by calling 888.226.7688.

For an additional three-day trailer-trip itinerary down the Oregon coast, go to parentmap.com/trailer.

Ready to give trailer camping a whirl?

Here’s the lowdown on renting or buying a travel trailer or camper van.

continued from page 15

RENTING • RV Share (rvshare.com) and Outdoorsy (outdoorsy.com) are websites where owners of travel trailers and RVs post them for rent by the night. You’ll find everything from small Airstreams to huge motor homes.

• Escape Campervans (escapecampervans. com), in Seattle, converts boring cargo vans into custom-outfitted campers that are handpainted in fun psychedelic colors. Each has a kitchen, a table that converts to a queen bed, most of the camping gear you’ll need and an optional rooftop bunk for more sleeping room. The vans are powered by solar and propane, so no hookups are needed.

• PacWesty (pacwesty.com), on Bainbridge Island, rents Volkswagen Vanagon campers outfitted with everything from stoves to beach chairs and sleeping bags.

DISCOVER IMAGINATION Explore what’s new around every corner in our wonder-filled 150-acres on Bainbridge Island.

BAINBRIDGE ISLAND | OPEN TUESDAY– SUNDAY | bloedelreserve.org 16 • Family Adventure Guide • parentmap.com

►

SHOP

EAT

PLAY

STAY

Discover the beauty of Anacortes, the crown jewel of Fidalgo Island. Explore our beaches, marinas, lakes and forestlands, or stroll through the fine boutiques and cafés in our vintage downtown. Enjoy live music, community theatre, festivals and more!

Click or call to learn more | anacortes.org | (360) 293-3832

2 0 1 9

S E A T T L E

M A R I N E R S

T-MOBILE PARK TOURS Take your experience to the next level.

BALLPARK TOURS

BIRTHDAY PARTIES

Year-round tours are available at T-Mobile Park, the spectacular home of the Seattle Mariners.

The 19.59 acre outdoor ballpark features real grass, a retractable roof and state-of-the-art amenities. Bring your camera and take a “behind the seams” tour including areas normally restricted to the public such as the Press Box, Owners Suite, Field, Dugouts, Visitors Clubhouse, All-Star Club, and more. (All areas of the ballpark are subject to availability based on ballpark activities.)

Parents should enjoy their child’s birthday party as much as the kids…and you can…when you host it at T-Mobile Park! The lineup includes a ballpark tour with stops on the field and at the playground, food and festivities in a group suite, and a final surprise with your child’s name on the Out-of-Town Scoreboard. For extra fun, add a Mariner Moose appearance or test your skills at the batting cage.

The only thing to worry about with this party is how you will top it next year.

Mariners.com/Tours parentmap.com • Family Adventure Guide • 17

trailer camping

Let’s Get Hitched! continued from page 16

BUYING • Shining examples: Seattle Airstream Adventures Northwest (seattleairstream.com), in Covington, boasts a huge inventory of polished aluminum Airstreams. Touring the interior of various models is a surprisingly fun way to spend an afternoon.

• Modern and compact: If you’re into functional design and mod aesthetics, you’ll be delighted with the plethora of unique options in compact travel trailers for smaller families (most can sleep two adults and two young children). Portland-based High Camp Trailers (highcamptrailers.com) creates steel-frame teardrop campers outfitted with a queen bed and galley kitchen. The HC1 fiberglass trailer from Happier Camper (happiercamper.com) has a modular interior that can sleep as many as five and can haul gear such as bikes or small kayaks.

• Vintage: Love the retro vibe and curved corners of vintage “canned ham” campers, like those from Shasta, Serro Scotty and Aristocrat?

Trailer camping was very popular in the mid-century era, and

many of the thousands of trailers used by road-trippin’ families then are still in good shape today. You can find and restore an original yourself, or purchase an already-rehabbed trailer that’s been restored to mint condition. Browse models for sale on Tin Can Tourists (tincantourists.com), Vintage Camper Trailers (vintagecampertrailers.com) or eBay. • Contemporary: Poulsbo RV (poulsborv.com; also with locations in Kent, Fife, Auburn and Everett) stocks a huge selection of new and used mass-market travel trailers and RVs. The contemporary RV style is less outdoorsy — think of it as more like a tiny motel room, with carpeting, traditional cabinetry and a mounted television — but these campers can sleep several people if you have a large family.

Poulsbo RsV also stocks pop-up tent trailers. ■ Lauren Braden is a Pacific Northwest writer who focuses on recreation and local travel. She blogs at nwtripfinder.com.

ARRIVE LEAVE CURIOUS. INSPIRED.

ALWAYS FREE

18 • Family Adventure Guide • parentmap.com

NEXT TO SEATTLE CENTER 440 5TH AVE N.

discovergates.org | discovergates Tuesday–Saturday, 10 am – 5 pm

22 • Family Adventure Guide • parentmap.com

walk-on ferry trips

5 things to do after a walk-on ferry ride to Bainbridge or Bremerton

Ferry Hopping

By Jennifer Kakutani

T

he first time I walked onto the Bainbridge Island ferry, I was pushing a stroller with my three children in tow. We were planning to be gone for only the afternoon, but the prospect of crossing Puget Sound, just me and the kids, felt like a grand adventure. Whitecaps crashed against the side of the ferry, and the kids pointed and shouted at them

in excitement. I let out a sigh of relief when an older gentleman greeted me with a smile and held the door for me. We exchanged “good mornings” and made genuine eye contact. I felt myself relax and downshift into island time.

Day-trippin’ to Bainbridge Island Ready for a relaxing jaunt to beautiful Bainbridge parentmap.com • Family Adventure Guide • 23

walk-on ferry trips

Ferry Hopping continued from page 23 Island? Here is my clan’s perfect day-trip itinerary. Tip: Check the Bainbridge Island events calendar before heading over to see what’s happening on the day you plan to visit (bainbridgeisland.com/events).

a jump to the Kids Discovery Museum, affectionately known as KiDiMu (kidimu.org; $8 admission for kids and adults; regular hours are 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Monday–Saturday, noon–4 p.m. Sundays). There, your little scalawags can scamper around the pirate tree house and explore a child-size version of downtown Winslow in the “Our Town” exhibit. Sensory and craft activities are offered daily for kids ages 9 months and older.

you arrive at Eagle Harbor Waterfront Park, a popular locale for annual festivals, performances and other special events. On the waterfront, you can wander down to the boat dock to rent kayaks, paddleboards and canoes; or visit the small playground located on the hill above the beach.

Stay left as this trail continues through town to the long boardwalk above the marina; along the trail, you’ll pass several tempting family-friendly food stops, including Bainbridge Thai (bainbridgethai.com), Doc’s Marina Grill (docsgrill.com) and Pegasus Coffee House (pegasusbainbridge.com).

2. Directly across the street from the adjacent Bainbridge Island Museum of Art (biartmuseum.org) are Waypoint Park and access to a new set of trails leading to the waterfront and nearby restaurants. Follow the path downhill and to the right, crossing a bridge along the way, until

3. The Bainbridge Island Historical Museum (bainbridgehistory.org; open daily 10 a.m.–4 p.m.) is housed in a 1908 schoolhouse and features many kid-friendly interactive exhibits on island history topics, such as Native American lore, whales, the exploits of explorers who charted Puget

1. From the ferry terminal on Bainbridge, it’s just a short hop, skip and

Celebrating Pierce County, Peninsula to Paradise!

TUESDAYS

6:3m0 p

WEDNESDAYS

Children’s Entertainment Series

Concert Series

6:30 pm

July 10 – Aug 14

Noon – 1:00 pm

12:00 noon

July 9 – Aug 13

SATURDAYS Music AND Movies

p

Concerts at 7:00 pm Movies at Dusk July 20 – Aug 10

HUNTAMER PARK

7:0m0

Corner of 7th & Woodland Sq Lp

For more information visit www.ci.lacey.wa.us/events or call 360.491.0857

18ft x 18ft Screen • Concessions for Sale • Bring Your Own Seating

24 • Family Adventure Guide • parentmap.com

LIT_3.625x4_Ad_2019.indd 1

3/14/19 10:03 AM

August 8-11, 2019 Frontier Park, Graham Free Entertainment & Activities for all ages Unlimited Ride Bracelet available See website for tickets & special discounts!

piercecountyfair.com

9

► TRAVEL TIP Start your trip off to nearby Bainbridge or Bremerton by saving yourself the hassle of parking downtown near the ferry terminal (wsdot.gov/

Sound and the internment of Japanese-American island the free waterfront shuttle residents during World War II. at Seattle Center or in the Don’t miss a peek into drawer “Z,” which displays a giant Chinatown–International mammoth tooth that was District. The first pickup is at discovered protruding out of 10 a.m. on weekends, and it a steep embankment about a runs every 20 minutes. mile south of Point Monroe.

A visit to Pastiche Antiques (187 Ericksen Ave. N.E.) next door may seem like an invitation to take your little bull into a china shop, but its trove of vintage treasures entrances customers young and older alike with an amazing collection of items, including live lovebirds (and cookies are also often on offer). As you head back into the town of Winslow, you won’t fail to miss the delightful Calico Toy Shoppe (calicotoyshoppe.com) with its bubble-blowing teddy bear out front; or, for ferries). Instead, hop on

an even furrier stop, pop in at Lollipops Children’s Boutique (Facebook, “Lollipops Children’s Boutique”), home to a sweet resident bunny.

4. Featuring a variety of food vendors, farm stands and beekeepers, the farmers market (bainbridgeislandfarmersmarket.com) runs from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays, April 6–Dec. 14 in 2019, and is located in front of the Bainbridge Performing Arts building. Close by, on Madrone Ln. N., you will find a courtyard set with tables and umbrellas, a perfect perching place to eat grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup from the Fork & Spoon (Facebook,

CLIMB ABOARD THE QUEEN ANNE’S REVENGE PUBLIC CRUISES

• Family Treasure Cruise

1.5 hour interactive pirate adventure for a� ages!

• Adult Pirate Party Cruise (21+)

1.5 hour party cruise with games and great music!

PRIVATE CHARTERS

• Plan Your Own Voyage Ca� to book Queen Anne’s Revenge for your private event up to 48 guests. Birthday Parties • Family Reunions • Holidays

• We also offer Corporate Events and Team Building, as we� as adult cruises for Moms and Dads!

FAS19_emerald_city_pirates_1-2h.indd 1

EMERALDCITYPIRATES.COM or (206) 639-8689

parentmap.com • Family Adventure Guide • 25

3/22/19 2:06 PM

walk-on ferry trips

Ferry Hopping continued from page 25 “Fork & Spoon”). It’ll be hard to choose your sweets on Bainbridge, but you can’t go wrong with a treat from Blackbird Bakery (blackbirdbakery.com) or J’aime les Crêpes (jaimelescrepes.com), and the kids will always vote for a cone from Mora Iced Creamery (moraicecream.com).

5. Bike! If you’re feeling extra energetic, hop on your bikes and pedal 2 miles to Owen’s Playground. An inclusive playground for all ages and abilities, Owen’s boasts a sand-and-water feature that includes a handcranked pump and dig panel. Kids can wander the sensory garden, scramble up a boulder and explore the large sculptures created by local artists with kid’s play in mind.

Stay the night If you decide to stay overnight on the island, check out the beach cabin rental options at Fay Bainbridge Park (biparks.org) as well as the funky yurts (and even a “jungalow”!) offered on Airbnb (airbnb.com).

Bremerton: Ships, ships and more ships!

The ferry ride from Seattle to Bremerton is one of the most beautiful of Puget Sound boating excursions. It takes about an hour and winds through the narrows of Rich Passage, squeezing between Bainbridge Island and Port Orchard. Bring the game Battleship to play on the boat to get your kids thinking about the many hands-on experiences with naval vessels that await.

1. After you unload from the Bremerton ferry, head to Harborside Fountain Park, a spectacular 2.2-acre waterfront park featuring five interactive copper fountains. “It’s a volcano!” yells my son. “No, it’s an orca whale spout!” shouts my daughter. I think they’re reminiscent of both.

The surrounding park features sculptures by Bremerton-born artist Will Robinson that were built for climbing, sliding and playing peek-a-boo.

Your kids’ imaginations can run wild as they find places to hide out within the sculptures’ slots, chutes and key holes. Adults will appreciate the stylish aesthetic of the fountain works, designed by the same masterminds who created the Fountains of Bellagio in Las Vegas.

2. Once you dock in Bremerton, the USS Turner Joy DD-951 (ussturnerjoy.org) can be seen off the starboard side. Make your way past the “Lone Sailor” statue on the Bremerton Marina pier toward the naval destroyer. Built in 1959 and decommissioned in 1982, the vessel has taken on a new tour of duty as a comprehensive naval destroyer museum. It’s open 10 a.m.–5 p.m., seven days a week, from March to October.

26 • Family Adventure Guide • parentmap.com

3. Just steps away from the ferry dock, the Puget Sound Navy Museum (pugetsoundnavymuseum.org; hours of operation are 10 a.m.–4 p.m.; closed Tuesdays, October–April) awaits your visit. Its location is a significant marker, honoring the heritage and support provided by the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard for more than 100 years. Admission is free, and the museum presents a kid-friendly area that beckons littles to crawl and play while learning what life might be like living on a submarine. The many hands-on exhibits offer everyone a chance to better understand the grand scale of the work accomplished at the Bremerton shipyard. In the permanent exhibits, more information about ship operations and missions is conveyed through the reallife experiences on board one of the U.S. Navy’s nuclear aircraft carriers.

4. Ride the historic Carlisle II, a 1917 foot passenger ferry that still FAS19_tacoma_nature_center_1-4.indd carries riders between Port Orchard and the Bremerton waterfront. When the Kitsap Peninsula and surrounding islands were thick with forests and really soggy terrain, there were no good roads. But there was a mosquito fleet, composed of about 1,000 small, independently owned boats, that transported people, supplies and mail to shoreline communities from the mid-1800s to the 1940s. The Carlisle II is one of only two remaining boats of Puget Sound’s mosquito fleet and one of the oldest continuously licensed vessels in the United States. The 10-minute sailing costs $2 each way (cash or ORCA cards accepted).

It’s time 1

3/22/19 1:59 P

5. Hungry yet? The Horse & Cow Pub & Grill (horseandcow.com) offers great food and submarine-themed dining. You might even get a table next to a little sub! Be sure to save your pocket change for a visit to Quarters Arcade (quartersarcade.net) next door. If you’re up for a longer jaunt, the little waterfront community of Manette offers cute cafés and a brewery. There’s also the quaint Boat Shed Restaurant (boatshed.restaurant), situated right under the bridge on the water. If you bring your bikes, take a 3-mile pedal over to Illahee State Park, which features a gorgeous waterfront trail (and a few bike camping spots, if you’re really adventurous!) ■ Jennifer Kakutani, a mother of three, creates lifelines in the form of writing, painting and photography.

To make this a reality To Serving youth, families, recreational users, athletes, rehabilitation & therapy users, and seniors

SPLASHForward

Water for All | Water for Life

Follow us @ SplashFwd to learn more and get involved www.splashforward.org parentmap.com • Family Adventure Guide • 27

section

28 • Family Adventure Guide • parentmap.com

parentmap.com • Family Adventure Guide • 29

into the wild

Ghost Town for Western Washington

30 • Family Adventure Guide • parentmap.com

Hikes Families

Head into the wild and travel back in time

M

By Maegen Blue

y family’s first ghost town hike was motivated by a modest desire to take a walk that would feel like an adventure without requiring us to trek too far from home. Ever since that first ramble, we’ve been hooked on hikes that take us into the wild and back in time.

The term “ghost town” generally refers to a town that has been abandoned by its residents, usually after the boom-to-bust cycle of its local economy has played out. In western Washington, most ghost towns were once at the center of an active coal mining industry, which boomed during the late 1800s and early 1900s, and collapsed almost as quickly with the rise of petroleum, gas and hydroelectric power. ►

By Gemma Alexander

parentmap.com • Family Adventure Guide • 31

into the wild

Ghost Town Hikes continued from page 31

Newcastle/Red Town: A baseball meadow and coal trails on Cougar Mountain It is hard to believe that the wilderness of Cougar Mountain was once the heart of a booming coal industry and home to bustling communities with names such as Red Town and Rainbow Town. You can still find evidence of this mining heyday via several easy, family-friendly hikes that can be accessed at the Red Town trailhead.

For your first foray into history, follow the trail down to the meadow restoration project (1.5 miles round-trip). This vista of native plants and blooming flowers was once the field for the Red Town baseball team. You won’t see any relics here, but a bench and a plaque invite you to sit a spell, close your eyes and imagine the crack of a bat and the cheers of the crowd.

Retrace your steps as far as the sign for the Rainbow Town Trail. Walk downhill to find a sealed mine shaft and old mining equipment. This is all that remains of the once-booming Ford Slope mine. A sign offers some historical photos and information. Imagine the trails around you being traversed by men with soot-covered faces and the sounds of carts clacking

hundreds of feet below sea level.

From here, you can take a short walk to the foundations of the hoist. Our boys loved spotting bricks and other remnants of mining history in the creek.

Head back uphill, or take one of the trails to the right for a route that isn’t as steep.

The Coal Creek Trail is across the road from the Cougar Mountain/ Red Town trailhead. As you wander this easy trail adjacent to the creek, look for remains of what was once a prosperous hotel. You’ll also come upon another sealed mine shaft.

Take the short interpretive trail just to the left of it and look for timbers from the old railroad bed in the creek. Coal Creek Falls are just past it, and there you’ll find benches where you can take a breather and enjoy the view.

Getting there: These trails are easily accessed via I-90 or I-405. Arrive early to snag a parking spot.

Music and movement classes for babies, toddlers, preschoolers, and the grown-ups who love them!©

www.littlesproutsmusictogether.com Everett - Mill Creek - Mukilteo

32 • Family Adventure Guide • parentmap.com

GHOST TOWN ETIQUETTE Pair with: This hike provides a great excuse to visit Triple XXX Rootbeer Drive-in (triplexrootbeer.com), a famous diner in Issaquah. It will only take you as far back as the 1950s, but your kids won’t complain.

Although it’s possible to find the remains of some of these towns today, there are a few things you should know before you go:

Monte Cristo: A gold and silver mining town in the heart of the Cascades

• Be safe. Although some of the outings described here are more like walks than hikes, it’s still a good idea to dress appropriately and carry the “10 essentials” (search “10 essentials” on wta.org) when and where you go.

Monte Cristo, located about 35 miles east of Everett and accessed by a 4-mile hike from a trailhead off U.S Hwy. 2, is probably the most famous of western Washington’s ghost towns. Gold and silver were mined here.

At the peak of the local mining boom, thousands of hopeful prospectors staked their claims, and a railroad and other infrastructure were built to haul ore out of the mountains.

As it turned out, the ground was far less productive than geologists had initially thought, and the weather presented a constant obstacle to mining efforts. Later attempts to renovate the area into a resort destination also failed.

Today, what’s left of Monte Cristo has been saved, thanks in large part to the efforts of the Monte Cristo Preservation Association (mc-pa.org). ►

• Be cautious. All the mine shafts described in this article have been sealed, but still be careful when approaching old mining sites and structures.

• Be respectful. No souvenir seeking allowed — if you’re lucky enough to find a real relic of history, leave it for others to enjoy.

CELEBRATE YOUR STATE

so ck Al a r T Kids es 3-10! g for A

Ages 14 to Adult Drop-In & Race Ages 11-13 - Call to Schedule Training (Training Courses Available Daily)

OPENS LABOR DAY WEEKEND! BECU FREE KIDS WEEKEND Aug. 30 - Sept. 2

To see the special activities and deals available on Labor Day weekend, visit THEFAIR.COM

4329 Chennault Bch Rd. - Mukilteo (425) 493-8729

traxxracing.com

CLOSED TUESDAYS & SEPT. 4

parentmap.com • Family Adventure Guide • 33

into the wild

Ghost Town Hikes continued from page 33

Does anybody have a map?

Trailhead: You reach the Monte Cristo hike from U.S. Hwy. 2, a scenic byway that winds through the Mount Baker–Snoqualmie National Forest.

Park at the lot for Barlow Pass and find the start of the trail just down the road behind an intimidating sign urging caution.

We’ve got you covered.

Parenting tips, community events, local resources, fun outings and MORE.

Hike description: The hike is 8 miles round-trip. Shortly after you leave the parking lot, you’ll come to a bulletin board with yet more warning signs and a map of the area. A path branches off to the right, but proceed straight ahead.

Much of this route is a wide, well-maintained gravel path that hikers of any age can easily maneuver. Along the way, you’ll be treated to spectacular views of craggy Cascade peaks towering over the Sauk River.

Our boys also loved spotting wildflowers and polliwogs.

The tricky part: At about a mile in, the path comes to a river where the bridge has been known to wash out — one reason for all those cautionary signs, no doubt! Check on current conditions before you head there by calling the Verlot Ranger Station/Public Service Center (360.691.7791). You can also check the Washington Trails Association website (wta.org) for recent trip reports.

HO

OL PR

E

E!

PAGE 3

EWS

PRESC

Find the perfect preschool for your child

parenting is a trip!

VI

’cause

FR

E

Get in Gear in the New Year PAGE 28

What to look for, and how to find the right one 36

PARENT DAY JOBS: THE MINDFUL DOC

How Tiffany Spanier, M.D., helps children thrive 46

Good Growing newsletter inside

JANUARY 2019

WHY EVERY CHILD DESERVES A MENTOR

SPONSORED CONTENT

Worrywart to Worry-Wise When to be concerned and what to do p.16

Get ParentMap magazine delivered to your door. Just $1 per issue!

>> ParentMap.com/subscribe << 34 • Family Adventure Guide • parentmap.com

The Monte Cristo town site: If you’re able to continue, the town site is about 3 miles farther along the trail. You’ll stay on the path, crossing the river again on a high bridge (this time a wooden one, in decent condition) just before the entrance to the town. An old welcome sign greets you, and there you’ll find old buildings, mostly boarded up, as well as rusted signs and equipment. Sit awhile and imagine the scene bustling with enterprising men seeking their fortunes!

Note: Be sure not to disturb any of the buildings, signs or tools you may find.

Also be aware that there are still some privately held mining claims and cabins located near the town site. Do not approach areas marked as private property.

Seattle Skills Center

Pathways to career, college, and life Amenities: There are several picnic benches, but be sure to pack in your own water; the water here is known to be contaminated with arsenic and other heavy metals. We also found the bathrooms unusable, so take advantage of the one at the Barlow Pass trailhead.

Getting to the Monte Cristo trailhead: From Seattle, head toward Granite Falls. Take the Mountain Loop Hwy. east to Barlow Pass.

You’ll need a National Forest Service Pass to access this popular trail, which can have some snow on the ground into late spring.

The Seattle Skills Center is a free program in Seattle Public Schools that prepares students for careers, college, and life. We provide this training through our regular school year courses and our summer program.

To learn more and apply:

skillscenter.seattleschools.org OUR MISSION:

Every student, every classroom, every day at the Seattle Skills Center is fully engaged in academic and hands-on learning, working towards their future.

Pair with: This adventure leads directly into the heart of the Mount SkillsCenterInfo@seattleschools.org • 206-252-0730 Baker–Snoqualmie National Forest, where you’ll find many other hikes, picnic areas and campgrounds if you want to extend your adventure.

If you’re ready to head back to civilization, Granite Falls beckons with kid-friendly restaurants. Playa Bonita (playabonitarestaurant.com) is a FAS18_seattle_public_schools_br_1-4.indd 1 popular choice with local families.

3/27/18 8:36 P

Franklin: A museum, a cemetery and a coal mining history lesson Begin your trip to the former coal boomtown of Franklin, about a 45-minute drive from Seattle, with a stop at the historical Black Diamond Museum (blackdiamondmuseum.org; open Thursdays 9 a.m.–4 p.m., weekends noon–3 p.m.; admission is free, but operational expenses are covered by donations and membership dues). Though small, the museum is packed with relics of the area, including pictures of the men and women who walked on the long-abandoned paths you’ll be exploring. My children were fascinated by the display of old mining tools. Be sure to check the exhibits outside, which include a restored locomotive with a bell to clang and a horn to sound.

Franklin town site: After you’ve primed the troops for your adventure, head just a few miles out of Black Diamond on Lawson St., which eventually turns into Green River Gorge Rd. The entrance to the town site is right before the bridge across the gorge, and is marked by a chain-link fence. Find parking at the cemetery and walk back approximately a quarter of a mile, being careful of traffic on this curvy, two-lane road. ► parentmap.com • Family Adventure Guide • 35

into the wild

Ghost Town Hikes continued from page 35 The hike: From here, you’ll head up a wide gravel road. At the top of the hill, you’ll see an old coal cart and signs. There are a few pieces of old foundation just down the road to the right, which leads into what was once the main part of the town. This is Palmer Coking Company property, but the company is happy to issue you a permit at its office. Note that it’s only open on weekdays, so plan ahead if you’d like to do this.

Mine shaft and cemetery: Alternatively, stay on state parkland by heading left at the coal cart and following the sign that points toward the cemetery. You’ll first come to a sealed and gated mine shaft. My children were wowed by its depth and enjoyed dropping rocks through the grating.

A pretty wooded trail leads to the cemetery, though the path is overgrown in some sections and muddy in others. Eventually, you’ll come upon the remains of an old wooden trestle on the right. Shortly after that, you’ll see the first stone grave markers for former residents who died more than 100 years ago. Look for a short path to the right to explore a small, fenced section around more tombstones, along with signage.

BE CURIOUS.

If you’d like a longer adventure, or more of a true hike, pick up a permit and scramble up some of the hills on Palmer Coking Company land for impressive views of the Green River Gorge.

Pair with: Finish your hike with a stop for pie at the Black Diamond Bakery (blackdiamondbakery.com). It’s just down the street from the museum. ■ Maegen Blue is the editor of Sounds Fun Mom (soundsfunmom.com), a blog for South Sound families. She lives in Puyallup with her husband and two sons.

Sign up for fun!

LOOK UP.

Curiosity expands at PacSci’s planetarium. Six interactive shows every day. pacsci.org/planetarium

s

Get our weekly picks for the top local outings and activities, delivered to your inbox.

8 Hidden-Gem Playgrounds With Beautiful Views

ParentMap.com/eNews 36 • Family Adventure Guide • parentmap.com

SUMMER CAMPS THE BEST FACILITY

THE BEST CAMPS

THE BEST KIDS

=

THE BEST SUMMER EVER!

NINJA WARRIOR • BASKETBALL • SOCCER ALL SPORT • THEATER • DANCE • TENNIS RACQUET SPORTS • S.T.E.M. & ROBOTICS

LEADERSHIP • COOKING • OUTDOOR ADVENTURES SWIMMING • MERMAID & SHARK • CHEERLEADING LIFEGUARDING • SUPER SAFE SITTER TEEN X-TREME • BUDDING ARTISTS • AND MORE...

RENT MA PA N T P

D

E

Y

IN NE

R

W

E

DD

G OL

AGES 3–18. EXTENDED CARE AVAILABLE. LUNCH INCLUDED WITH MOST DAY CAMPS.

OPEN TO EVERYONE!

No membership required

proclub.com | (425) 885-5566

parentmap.com • Family Adventure Guide • 37

Phase II - Summer 2019 Hands-On Exhibits

Preschool Program Special Events

Parties & Field Trips School Break Camps

www.SkagitChildrensMuseum.net Monday-Saturday 10:00am-5:00pm Toddler Tuesday 8:30am-10:00am Sunday 12:00pm-5:00pm Closed some holidays

*Come see our new facility!* Located in Burlington, WA Tel: 360.757.8888

38 • Family Adventure Guide • parentmap.com

VisitBurlingtonWA.com VisitSkagitValley.com

JIAYING GRYGIEL

unique museums

5 Novel Museums to Visit With Kids

Enjoy hands-on fun at these family-focused Northwest museums

W

By JiaYing Grygiel

hen you’re on a first-name basis with the front desk staff at your favorite children’s museum, you know it’s time to shake up your routine. Luckily, the greater Seattle area is a treasure trove of cool cultural and special-interest institutions. Next time you’re looking for something new and fun for the whole family, try one of these parentmap.com • Family Adventure Guide • 39

unique museums

5 Novel Museums continued from page 39

museums just off the beaten path.

9404 East Marginal Way S., Seattle • museumofflight.org • Admission: $25 for adults, $16 for youth 5–17, free for kids 4 and younger.

There’s no better place to learn about airplanes than Seattle, the city where aviation giant Boeing was founded. The sprawling Museum of Flight’s vast collection occupies buildings located on both sides of East Marginal Way. Favorite attractions are a 1978 Concorde supersonic jet and a 1968 Aerocar III, a “roadable” flying car that, sadly, never made it to mass production.

Make sure you go in time to catch the traveling exhibit “Destination Moon,” which features the historic spacecraft that took astronaut Neil Armstrong to the moon: the NASA Apollo 11 command module Columbia. The exhibit will be at the Museum of Flight April 13–Sept. 2.

Need to get some wiggles out? Head straight to the kid-tailored Flight Zone on the first floor, designed so even waddlers can put on their pilot wings.

Discounts: The museum is free from 5 to 9 p.m. on first Thursdays, and will hold free community days to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the moon landing (dates TBA). You can snag free tickets for four though the Seattle Public Library’s Museum Pass program; and active-duty military personnel and their families get free admission from Memorial Day through Labor Day courtesy of the Blue Star Museum program. The very best deal is the Museum of Flight’s Connections enrollment program — it’s like a free membership! Sign up at a special event and get free admission for kids ages 5–18 plus one accompanying adult. ► 40 • Family Adventure Guide • parentmap.com

JIAYING GRYGIEL

The Museum of Flight

SEABROOKWA.COM

SEATTLE SEABROOK

2.5 Hours Away

PORTLAND

3 Hours Away

Kick back and enjoy summer at Washington’s Beach Town, home of over 200 unique vacation rentals, fun events and activities all year long, seaside and town experiences, new restaurants and shops, and so much more!

#HowDoYouSeabrook?

Oceanfront and dog-friendly homes available.

Stays start at $120 per night.

parentmap.com • Family Adventure Guide • 41

unique museums

5 Novel Museums continued from page 40

Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park 319 Second Ave. S., Seattle • nps.gov/klse • Admission is free.

IGNITE THEIR INSPIRATION As you walk through the Galleries, Garden and Glasshouse, Chihuly Garden and Glass immerses you in Dale Chihuly’s work in a whole new way.

LOCATED AT THE BASE OF THE SPACE NEEDLE, SEATTLE CENTER

CHIHULYGARDENANDGLASS.COM

ASK FOR A COMPLIMENTARY INTERACTIVE KID’S GUIDE

EXPLORE PLAY LEARN

Gold! Seattle went crazy in 1897 when gold was discovered in Alaska.

Some 70,000 fortune-seeking “stampeders” passed through Seattle, the “Gateway to the Gold Fields,” on their way to Alaska, stocking up on supplies and transforming the port city during the three-year-long rush. You’ll recognize some of these prospectors by name, including John Nordstrom and George Bartell. This hidden gem of a National Park museum will get the kids thinking about adventure and danger, and whether it would be worth it for a chance to strike it rich.

The museum is full of historical artifacts, and is perhaps better suited for school-age children. Ask for a Junior Ranger booklet at the information desk upon arrival; kids earn a badge after completing the activities. You can also download a scavenger hunt from the museum’s website that is designed for kids in pre-K through sixth grade. Be sure to step up on the supersize scale: It registers your weight in gold!

Want to learn more about Seattle history? Pick up a “Trail to Treasure” map and take a self-guided walking tour of Pioneer Square.

Or join Bill Speidel’s Underground Tour (undergroundtour.com), where irreverent guides take you under the surface streets to discover what those purple squares on the sidewalk are all about. (Ticket prices run $10–$22; not recommended for kids younger than 6.) While you’re prowling around Pioneer Square, don’t forgo a stop at Magic Mouse Toys (magicmousetoys.com), a two-story store brimming with the best toys ever made.

LeMay – America’s Car Museum 2702 E. D St., Tacoma • americascarmuseum.org • Admission: $18 for adults, $14 for students, $10 for youth 6–12, free for kids younger than 6; $5 to park in the museum’s lot.

kidsquestmuseum.org 42 • Family Adventure Guide • parentmap.com

The sleek, tube-shaped building next door to the Tacoma Dome looks like something out of a sci-fi film. Inside is a heart-revving collection of more than 300 vehicles that is sure to captivate all car lovers, young and young at heart. LeMay — America’s Car Museum, which opened in 2012, includes four levels of exhibits, with a wonderful Family Zone on the lowest level. Kids love to race the slot cars and pinewood derby cars, and the whole family can pile into a 1923 Buick touring car for a free keepsake photo. Time your visit for the third Saturday of each month to take part in the museum’s Family STEAM Day activities.

JIAYING GRYGIEL

Discount: AAA members get 10 percent off admission and membership.

The Center for Wooden Boats 1010 Valley St., Seattle • cwb.org • Admission is free.

There’s never a charge to visit The Center for Wooden Boats, a living maritime museum in the South Lake Union neighborhood. With a focus on hands-on education, the center welcomes the public to come and explore its exhibits. In March, the CWB celebrated the grand opening of its Wagner Education Center. The new 9,200-square-foot building, named for center founders Dick and Colleen Wagner, allows the museum to expand from its longtime tiny boathouse headquarters.

The CWB hosts a wealth of wonderful free or low-cost family programming. On Sundays, sign up for a free public sail around Lake Union with volunteer skippers. Part of the adventure is getting a water view of the houseboats, including the one made famous by the film “Sleepless in Seattle.” Spaces are first come, first served, so try to arrive right at 10 a.m. to snag a spot. Boat rides take place every Sunday, yearround, unless winds on Lake Union reach or exceed 13 miles per hour.

Want to captain your own vessel?

Reserve a free rowboat rental through the Seattle Public Library’s Museum Pass program. ►

SUMMER AT SAM: FAMILY FIELD DAY SAT JUL 20, 11 AM – 3 PM OLYMPIC SCULPTURE PARK

Be a mover and a maker this summer!

Bring the family for a free day of art making, performances, family-friendly yoga, and community partner activities.

Summer at SAM is an entire season packed full of activities and performances that combine visual art, music, and community. These free events take place every Thursday and Saturday from July 11 through August 22.

visitsam.org/familyfieldday Presented by

Sponsored by RealNetworks Foundation

Media Sponsor

Photo: Robert Wade

parentmap.com • Family Adventure Guide • 43

unique museums

5 Novel Museums continued from page 43

If you’re not sure about your sea legs, bring a miniature boat to sail on the 2-foot-deep model-boat pond. It’s open year-round and home to friendly ducks. On weekends from June to September, kids can rent a 39-inch racing yacht to sail in the pond (suggested donation of $5).

Tots and preschoolers will love Tugboat Storytime, held on the first and fourth Thursdays of each month aboard the historic Arthur Foss tugboat (suggested donation $2).

National Nordic Museum 2655 N.W. Market St., Seattle • nordicmuseum.org • Admission: $15 for adults, $10 for students and youth (K–12), free for children 4 and younger.

No one knows how to cope with cold, dark days better than the Scandinavians — except Seattleites, perhaps. Last year, the Nordic Heritage Museum (now known as the National Nordic Museum) relocated to a stunning, light-filled new building located in the heart

44 • Family Adventure Guide • parentmap.com

of Ballard — a fitting locale, given the neighborhood’s historically Norwegian heritage.

Settle onto soft rock-shaped cushions in the movie theater to watch a film showcasing the natural beauty of Scandinavia. You’ll leave inspired by the spirit and art of Nordic culture. Don’t forget to browse the wonderful children’s toys in the museum’s shop, and try the personal smorgasbord at the Freya Nordic Café & Bar. Discounts: Admission is free on the first Thursday of each month, or you can check out a free pass for two tickets from the Seattle Public Library’s Museum Pass program. AAA members get two tickets for the price of one. ■ JiaYing Grygiel is a freelance photographer and writer who lives in Seattle, where you’ll often find her out and about exploring with her two boys, ages 7 and 3. She blogs at photoj.net.

Discover the History and Culture of the Tulalip Tribes

Visit the

Award-Winning

um Children’s Muse terfront INSPIRED LEARNING

On Olympia’s East Bay Wa

Tinker,Create & Explore!

150 Exhibits • ½ Acre Outdoor Discovery Center MakeSpace • Art Studio • Nature Play

The mission of the Hibulb Cultural Center

OPEN 7 DAYS A

and Natural History Preserve is to revive,

WEEK!

restore, protect, interpret, collect and enhance the history, traditional cultural en values and spiritual beliefs of the Tulalip Tribes.

T

VI S IT US MON TUE–FRI (PSWIH ȦȉAMƳȍPM

SAT–SUN ȦȶPMƳȍPM

HibulbCulturalCenter.org

Located less than a mile west of Fěă )ƻĜƋ ŏŀŀ ȰȏȦȉ ȶȴVH &ZI 3* 8YPEPMT ;& ȟȁȶȮȦ ȴȰȉ ȮȦȰ ȶȰȉȉ

Proudly Presented by

June 22 - August 25

Fire Rescue Spectacular! • June 22 Featuring Olympia Fire Department

Make a Mega Mess • July Featuring Fantastic Foamy Fun

Mermaids & Pirates • August

Mermaid “Linden” & “The Pyrates of the Coast”

Summer Splash! Gala

• August 23

414 Jefferson St. NE • Olympia, WA 98501 • (360) 956-0818 • www.hocm.org parentmap.com • Family Adventure Guide • 45

Our insiderâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s guide to fun!

ParentMap.com/52Adventures

parentmap.com

advertisers America’s Automotive Trust . . . . . . . . . 44

Find more ideas for chasing fun under the summer sun on

parentmap.com

Anacortes Chamber of Commerce. . . 17 Argosy Cruises . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Bloedel Reserve. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Chihuly Garden of Glass. . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 Children’s Museum of Skagit County 38 City of Bellevue Parks & Rec. . . . . . .20, 21 City of Olympia Parks, Arts and Recreation Department. . . . . . . . . . . . . .14

Go fish!

Want to get started fishing with your kiddos? It’s easy! For tips on gear and first trips, drop a line in at parentmap.com/fish.

Your weekend, planned Never miss another all-around awesome family adventure. Visit ParentMap.com every week to learn about top family events for Seattle and the Eastside. parentmap.com/weekender

City of Redmond Parks and Rec and Events. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Clipper Vacations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 Crossroads Shopping Center . . . . . . . . . 8 Crystal Mountain. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Discover Mukilteo. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 Elevated Sportz. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Emerald City Pirates. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Gates Foundation Visitor Center. . . . . 18

Put that wallet away

Gotta Dance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18

The best things about a Puget Sound summer really are free (or nearly free!) — bookmark our evergreen list of 60+ cheap summer thrills at parentmap.com/freefun.

We really know how to pick ‘em!

Nothing captures the flavor of summer more than a juicy, sun-ripened berry.

Use our guide to plan berry-pickin’ family fun all summer long. parentmap.com/ berries

Beat the heat with cool summer treats No need to wait for the ice cream truck to come by when you’ve got homemade summer treats already chillin’ in the freezer.

Hands On Children’s Museum . . . . . . . 45 Hibulb Cultural Center. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 KidsQuest Children’s Museum. . . . . . . 42 Lacey Parks & Recreation Dept. . . . . . .24 Leavenworth Chamber of Commerce. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 Little Sprouts Music Together. . . . . . . . 32 Living Computers: Museum + Labs. . .40 Metro Parks. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Ocean Shores Marketing Co-op. . . . . . 19 Pacific Science Center. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36 Pierce County Fair. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Portal VR Lounge. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 PRO Club. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 PRO Club. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 Seabrook. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41 Seattle Art Museum. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43 Seattle Public Schools Skills Center. . . 35 Semiahmoo Resort. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

‘52 Seattle Adventures With Kids’ While the rest of the world makes New Year’s resolutions, Northwest families make summer resolutions. Snag a copy of “52 Adventures With Kids” and the sun will never go down on another boring day again. parentmap.com/52adventures

Sleeping Lady Resort. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Space Needle. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35 Splash Forward. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27 Stillaguamish Tribe- Festival of the River. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Tacoma Nature Center. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27 The Seattle Mariners Ballpark Tours and Events. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

parentmap.com/summer-treats

Tillamook Coast and Rockaway Beach. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28, 29 Traxx Indoor Raceway. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Washington State Fair. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33

parentmap.com • Family Adventure Guide • 47

WHE RE Y U R HEAR SKIP T SA BEAT

Ride your bike at the park, go on a scavenger hunt, pet goats and horses, and delight in the candy and ice cream shops! Fall in love with nature on a river walk, celebrate at the festivals, and always ďŹ nd fun for the whole family in charming Leavenworth!

Find what you love at LEAVENWORTH.ORG #LOVINLEAVENWORTH | 509-548-5807