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August 2007

Going Places:
9 Things to Do Before Summer Ends

1. Get Wet at a Spray Park

Water play can delight little ones for hours, and the Puget Sound area has dozens of spray parks.

Three new “spraygrounds” opened in Tacoma this summer, replacing old wading pools with funding from the 2005 Park Improvement Bond. Find them at South Park, 50th Street and S. Puget Sound Avenue; Jefferson Park, N. 9th Street at N. Monroe Street; and McKinley Playfield, E. 44th Street at E. McKinley Avenue. They join Tacoma’s first sprayground at Wapato Hills Park, S. 64th Street and S. Wapato Street.

Everett opened a new spray pool playground this summer at Forest Park, 802 E. Mukilteo Blvd.

For more options – from the International Fountain at Seattle Center to Auburn’s spectacular Rotary Spray Park – read “Don’t Just Jump in the Lake! Water Play Options in the Puget Sound Area.” For King and Snohomish County options, click here. For South Sound options, click here.

2. Ride the Water Taxi

Gorgeous scenery is not exactly hard to find in the Pacific Northwest, but it’s not every day you get to see it while relaxing in the sun on your way between the bustling city and the beach.

Actually, at this price, every day doesn’t seem like such a bad idea.

The Elliott Bay Water Taxi sails seven days a week from Pier 55, at Seneca Street and Alaskan Way on the downtown Seattle waterfront, to West Seattle’s Seacrest Park. The 12-minute crossing provides all the fun of getting out on the water without exhausting little ones’ attention spans.

The service is operated by King County Metro through a subcontract with Argosy Cruises. Like the bus, exact change is required for the $3 fare, but the cost is only $1 with a Metro transfer. Children under 5 and people with a bus pass ride at no cost. Metro also operates a free shuttle, Route 773, that travels from Seacrest Park to West Seattle Junction, the Admiral District and Alki Beach.

Although it runs like a bus, it really does feel more like a cruise. The aptly-named Sightseer offers indoor and outdoor seating, from which passengers enjoy panoramic views of the skyline, Mount Rainier and the occasional sea lion. The atmosphere is friendlier than your average public transportation, welcoming pets and bikes. Restrooms and a snack bar are also available.

The Water Taxi leaves Pier 55 approximately every hour 7:10 a.m. - 6: 50 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, 7:10 a.m. - 10:30 p.m. Fridays, 8:30 a.m. - 10:30 p.m. Saturdays and 8:30 a.m. - 6:30 p.m. Sundays. Evening hours are extended for weekday Mariners games with the last water taxi leaving Pier 55 at 10:45 p.m.

Since 1998, the Water Taxi has run summer by summer as a “demonstration project.” This year, it will operate until Sept. 30.

At the Seattle waterfront, park at a meter on the street or under the viaduct for $1.50 per hour with a two-hour limit, or in one of the pay lots on Alaskan Way. Parking is extremely limited at Seacrest Park, with no designated Water Taxi parking. Metro Transit suggests catching a bus, walking or riding a bike to the dock.

For detailed schedule information, visit http://transit.metrokc.gov or call 206-553-3000 or 1-800-542-7876.

– Colleen Reed

3. Pick up a Passport to Adventure

Here’s an incentive to go out into the woods and get some exercise this summer. REI stores are inviting kids ages 5 to 12 and their parents to take family-friendly hikes between now and Labor Day – either ones recommended by staff members or ones of their own choosing.

Drop in at REI stores in downtown Seattle, Redmond Town Center, Lynnwood, Tacoma or Tukwila and pick up a passport-style journal for recording your field notes, photos or drawings. After completing a hike, get your Passport to Adventure stamped and receive a free water bottle and certificate. Three hikes are recommended, but kids are recognized for any hikes they complete.

REI staff recommendations, ideal for new hikers, come with descriptions, driving directions and helpful tips. These are the five recommendations from the Seattle/Redmond/Lynnwood stores.

  • Big Four Ice Caves is closed due to storm damage. I recommend substituting the Boulder River, Independence Lake, Kelcema Lake or Heather Lake Trails, also off the Mountain Loop Highway (State Route 530) – all are open, and I’ve taken all of them with kids under 8. Check in at the Verlot Public Information Service Station, 11 miles from Granite Falls, for maps (360-691-7791).
  • Meadowdale County Park in Edmonds features a 1.25-mile trail through a forested gully to an estuary and beach, and a steep climb back up.
  • Franklin Falls, on the way to Snoqualmie Pass, is a lovely two-mile round trip hike on a gently rising trail through old growth forest, ending with a chance to splash in the spray of a 70-foot waterfall.
  • Carkeek Park in northwest Seattle offers trails from a half mile to six miles round trip. Pick up a map at the Environmental Learning Center and follow trails along Piper’s Creek, past a restored orchard, through wetlands, along a bluff or on the beach at low tide.
  • Twin Falls State Park near North Bend has a 1.5 mile trail following the south Fork of the Snoqualmie River through a flat forested area and then up a steep rise to two dramatic waterfall overlooks.

The following are recommendations from the Tukwila and Tacoma stores:

  • Grove of the Patriarchs near the eastern entrance to Mt. Rainier National Park is also closed because of extensive storm damage. However, most of the roads into the park have been re-opened and numerous trails, between a mile and eight miles long, are clear. If you drive in the main Nisqually entrance, stop at the Longmire Visitor Center for maps and updates (360-569-2211; www.nps.gov/mora).
  • The Squak Mountain State Park Trail near Issaquah – also called “The Pretzel Tree Trail” – is an easy one-mile loop with lots of interpretative signs and possibly wild raspberries to sample. There are longer, steeper options available.
  • The Talapus Lake Trail is inaccessible due to a washout. I recommend Lake Annette or the Denny Creek Water Slide Trails, also west of Snoqualmie Pass. Check with the Snoqualmie Ranger District, 360-888-1421, for trail conditions.
  • Twin Fall State Park is described above.
  • Weyerhauser Headquarters Trails near Federal Way range from .3 to 4.6 miles round trip, passing through open meadows and forested areas and near streams and two little lakes. Some parts are accessible to strollers and wheelchairs.

For full descriptions of the hikes, go to www.rei.com, scroll down “REI News,” and click on “Passport to Adventure.” For more information, call the Seattle store at 206-223-1944, Redmond at 425-882-1158, Lynnwood at 425-640-6200, Tacoma at 253-671-1938 or Tukwila at 206-248-1931.

Need more ideas? Find 183 hikes with descriptions, directions and helpful tips in Best Hikes with Kids: Western Washington & the Cascades, by Joan Burton (The Mountaineers, 2006).

Rather bike than hike? The Passport to Adventures program incorporates bike trails this year. For recommendations, call or visit the stores or go to www.rei.com click on “Passport to Adventure” and select “Local Bike Rides” at the top of the state-by-state listing of stores.

– Wenda Reed

4. See a Movie Outside

Ah, the open sky, the trails of dwindling sunset over your head, the flicker of the projector, and the feel of the grass under your lawn chair. Summer outdoor movies turn a whole park into your living room. Less formal than a theater, outdoor movies are great for kids. While a ringing cell phone won’t be appreciated, giggling, quiet talking and a little rambunctiousness will fit right in.

Outdoor theaters often have a hot dog vendor, popcorn seller or some other purveyor of snacky goodness, but you can bring your own food. You also have to bring your own seating. Most outdoor venues encourage low-backed chairs or blankets, though many have reserved areas for high-backed seating. However, all venues are first-come, first-serve, and many fill up fast. If you have special needs, it’s best to arrive early. Films start at dusk, and seating is usually open an hour or more before.

It’s a good idea to pack sweatshirts or extra blankets as it can get chilly when the sun goes down. Some venues have restrictions on pets or coolers, so check ahead before your final head count. Most venues don’t allow alcohol or have designated beer gardens.

Unless otherwise noted, screenings are free and begin within 30 minutes of dusk. All films listed are rated G or PG.

Seattle

  • Movies at the Mural, Seattle Center, 206-684-7200 or www.seattlecenter.com. Aug. 3: The Princess Bride. Aug. 11: Corpse Bride. No pets, coolers or cameras.
  • Fremont Outdoor Cinema, 206-781-4230 or www.fremontoutdoormovies.com. Aug. 11: Cat-Women on the Moon, with family-friendly improv troop commentary. Aug. 25: The Princess Bride. Pre-show entertainment includes silly contests for prizes. Pets welcome. Suggested $5 donation.
  • West Seattle Sidewalk Cinema, www.sidewalkcinema.com. Aug. 4: The Wizard of Oz. Aug. 11: Raiders of the Lost Ark. Aug. 18: Monty Python and the Holy Grail.

North

  • Outdoor Movie Nites, Edmonds, 425-771-0230 or www.ci.edmonds.wa.us/calendar.stm. Aug. 3: The Sandlot.
  • Brier SeaScare Outdoor Cinema, Brier, 425-778-4389 or www.seascare.com. Aug. 8: The 3 Worlds of Gulliver.
  • Sundquist Homes Outdoor Movies, Snohomish, 425-388-3411 or www.co.snohomish.wa.us. Aug. 2: Happy Feet. Aug. 9: Dreamer. Aug. 16: The Princess Bride. Aug. 23: Charlotte’s Web.
  • Cinema under the Stars, Everett, 425-257-7107 or www.everettwa.org. Aug. 3: Happy Feet. Aug. 10: How to Eat Fried Worms. Pre-show performances and attractions.

South

  • Movies in the Park, Burien, 206-988-3700 or www.burienparks.net. Aug. 3: The Sound of Music.
  • Movie Nights at Lake Meridian Park, Kent, 253-856-5055 or www.ci.kent.wa.us. Aug. 10: The Princess Bride. Games and entertainment preceding.
  • Outdoor Cinema Series, Federal Way, 253-835-6900 or www.cityoffederalway.com. Aug. 17: Happily N’Ever After. Aug. 31: Charlotte’s Web.
  • Outdoor Cinema at Liberty Park, Renton, 425-430-6700 or rentonwa.gov/living. Aug. 4: E.T. Aug. 18: Raiders of the Lost Ark.
  • Auburn Summer Sounds and Comcast Outdoor Cinema, 253-931-3043 or www.auburn.wa/gov. Aug. 3: Grease. Aug. 17: Charlotte’s Web. Live music preceding the films.
  • Zoo Cinemas, Point Defiance Zoo, 253- 591-5337 or www.pdza.org. Aug. 3: Happy Feet. Aug. 10: Racing Stripes. Aug. 17: Over the Hedge. Aug. 24: Charlie & the Chocolate Factory.
  • Metro Parks Tacoma Summer Sounds Cinema, 253-305-1000 or www.metroparkstacoma.org. Band at 6:30, movie at dusk. Aug. 4: Yours, Mine, and Ours (2005). Aug. 11: Everyone’s Hero. Aug. 18: Charlotte’s Web. Aug. 25: Night at the Museum.

East

West

– Breanne Boland

5. Build a Sand Castle

You’re at the beach. You’ve been in and out of the water five times. What else have you got to do?

There’s always the family project of building a sand castle.

Bert Adams, master sculptor at this month’s Sand in the City event in Olympia, travels around the Northwest and the world building sand castles – as well as trolls, animals and buildings. He has some tips for beginners:

  • Use lots of water and keep pressing it down. Sand + water + compaction = hard pack (like concrete). It won’t crumble as you work.
  • Piles often fall when you press them together using a “patty-cake” technique. Try using a form – made from plywood, lightweight plastic material used for above-ground swimming pools, roofing felt sealed with duct tape, trash cans or buckets.
  • To make a basic shape, use a 5-gallon bucket with the bottom cut out. Invert the bucket and fill it with sand and water in alternating layers. Mix the sand and water every 3 inches. Pound it down every 6 inches. When the bucket is full, let the excess water drain off and carefully pry the bucket off, taking care not to shake or bump the hard-packed sand.
  • Carve the sand from the top down. Carve larger details first, using bigger tools such as spades, shovels and trowels. Use smaller tools, such as spoons, palette knives or cake decorators to carve the details. You can make delicate finishing touches with straws or brushes.

Household items and simple bucket-and-spade sets work fine, but if you want to get more elaborate try the multi-award-winning Can You Dig It Sand Tool Set. Find it at local toy stories or online at www.canyoudigit.com ($12.99 plus shipping).

Need inspiration or practice?

Visit Olympia’s Sand in the City, the largest sand sculpting festival in the state, Aug. 24-26, at Port Plaza. You can watch professional and commercial teams and competitors mold 240 tons of sand into fantastical shapes. Kids can try their hand in giant sand boxes, as well as touch sea creatures, make fish prints and enjoy more than 40 other hands-on activities. The event is free, under the sponsorship of the Hands On Children’s Museum in Olympia. Hours are Friday, 10 a.m. - 11 p.m., Saturday, 10 a.m. - 8 p.m. and Sunday, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. (360-956-0818; www.hocm.org/sitc/html/index.html).

Check out the 2007 Sandfest in downtown Seattle Aug. 25, 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. at Westlake Park and Plaza, 4th Avenue and Pine Street. The sandy beach party will include professional sand-sculpting, live music, children’s sand boxes, family activities and special offers from surrounding retailers. The event is free. There is a small requested donation to some of the kids’ activities. Proceeds benefit the Moyer Foundation, which helps children in physical, emotional or financial distress (www.downtownsummer.com).

- W.R.

6. Make a Beach Fire

One evening last summer, friends called at the last minute asking our family to join theirs at Golden Gardens for a beach fire and picnic. Firm in our belief that spontaneity is the key to a successful summer, we were out the door in 15 minutes. We packed swim suits, Frisbees®, matches, newspaper for fire starting, napkins, plates, forks, cups, mustard, ketchup and campfire forks (essential for marshmallows and hot dogs). Since we did not have the other supplies on hand, we ran by the grocery store to grab a deli salad, fried chicken, hot dogs and buns, s’more supplies (marshmallows, chocolate bars and graham crackers), drinks and a bundle of kindling (found at the front of most grocery stores).

In less than half an hour we were greeting our friends, who had gone ahead to find us a campfire spot. Several satisfying hours later, as the pink rays of the sunset faded, we loaded back into the car, feeling that we’d managed a simple and fun mini-vacation in just four hours.

Where to Go

Fires are legal at the following beaches.

Alki Beach Park, 1702 Alki Ave. S.W., Seattle.
Fire pits. 6 a.m. - 11 p.m. 206-684-4075; www.cityofseattle.net/parks.

Golden Gardens Park, 8498 Seaview Place N.W., Seattle.
Fire pits. 6 a.m. - 11:30 p.m. Firewood for sale, while supplies last, at the Golden Gardens Bathhouse. 206-684-4075; www.cityofseattle.net/parks.

Richmond Beach Saltwater Park, 2021 N.W. 190th St., Shoreline.
Beach fires allowed in designated area between dawn and dusk. 206-546-5041; www.cityofshoreline.com/parks.

Camano Island State Park, on Lowell Point Road, 14 miles southwest of Stanwood on Camano Island. One fire circle. 6:30 a.m. - 10p.m. www.parks.wa.gov.

Mukilteo Lighthouse Park, 609 Front St., Mukilteo.
4 a.m. - 10 p.m. 425-355-4141, ext. 251; www.ci.mukilteo.wa.us.

Jetty Island, accessible by the free Jetty ferry departing from the 10th Street Boat Launch and Marine Park, 10th Street and W. Marine View Drive, Everett.
Campfires in designated areas only. 10 a.m. - 5:25 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays, 11 a.m. - 5:25 p.m. Sundays. 425-257-8300; www.everettwa.org.

Saltwater State Park, on Marine View Drive, two miles south of Des Moines.
Two fire circles. 8 a.m. - 9 p.m. www.parks.wa.gov.

Kopachuck State Park, five miles west of Gig Harbor.
Two fire circles. 8 a.m. to dusk. www.parks.wa.gov.

Good to Know

  • Fire pits, circles or designated areas are available on a first come, first served basis.
  • Adults should be present at all times.
  • Burn clean, dry firewood without the use of accelerants, and don’t build a fire higher than 2 feet.
  • Douse the fire completely with water before leaving. If containers are provided, use them to dispose of ashes.
  • Call the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency to find out if burn bans are in effect. 206-343-8800 or 800-552-3565.
  • Tide charts can be found at www.tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/tides07.

– Ann Bergman and Chris Stay

7. Get to the County Fair

If there’s only one chance for a family outing before summer is over, make it a trip to a county fair. No other venue can offer the sheer variety of experiences that a fair can. Originally started as showcases of the agricultural world, county fairs mix pleasures of a rural nature with diversions from the modern world, offering up animal competitions, home economics displays (think food preservation and quilts), zany contests, 4-H exhibitions, all-ages entertainment, midway rides and fabulous fair food.

The Evergreen State Fair in Monroe
“Be Somebunny! Hop to the Fair!” is this year’s theme. Visitors to the fair on Friday, Aug. 24, will have a chance to help set a Guinness World Record for the largest number of people doing the bunny hop. The first 2,000 hoppers get free bunny ears. This old-fashioned fair includes a carnival ($25-$28), concerts and a rodeo (Aug. 31 through Sept. 3, $7). The fair runs Aug. 23 through Sept. 3. Hours are 10 a.m. - 10 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays, 10 a.m. - 11 p.m. Fridays through Saturdays and on Sept. 2, and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sept. 3. Tickets are $9 for adults, $7 for seniors, $5 for youth ages 6 - 15 and free for kids ages 5 and younger. Family passes are $25 for two adults and up to four youths/seniors, weekdays only; other packages and discounts are available. On Aug. 23 and 30, children 15 and younger are free. All admissions are discounted on Sept. 3. Evergreen State Fairgrounds, 14405 179th Ave. S.E., Monroe. 360-805-6700; www.evergreenfair.org.

The Pierce County Fair in Graham
“Straw Hats & Blue Jeans” is the theme of the 60th annual Pierce County Fair, a celebration of rural life, agriculture and family values. One of the goals of the fair is to support the projects of Pierce County’s 4-H, one of the largest 4-H groups in the state. In addition to entertainment, food, carnival rides and games, the Pierce County Fair offers glimpses of rural life, including forestry activities, needlework, large and small animal shows, horticulture, bread baking and more. Hours are 10 a.m. - 10 p.m. Aug. 9 - 11 and 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Aug. 12. Admission is $5 for adults, $3 for seniors and youth ages 6 to 17, and free for children 5 and younger. Kids are free Aug. 9 with a paying adult. Frontier Park, 21606 Meridian Ave. E., Graham. 253-847-4754; www.piercecountyfair.com.

More Fairs…

“What’s Growin on at The Thurston County Fair.” Aug. 1 - 5. Thurston County Fair Grounds, 3054 Carpenter Road S.E., Lacey. 360-786-5453; www.co.thurston.wa.us/fair.

“Fiesta at the Fair,” Skagit County Fair. Aug. 8 - 11. Skagit County Fairgrounds, 1410 Virginia St., Mount Vernon. 360-336-9453; www.skagitcounty.net.

“Discover the Treasure” at the Jefferson County Fair. Aug. 10 - 12. Jefferson County Fairgrounds, 4907 Landes St., Port Townsend. 360-385-1013; www.jeffcofairgrounds.com/fair.htm.

“Come Home to Roost” at the Southwest Washington Fair. Aug. 14 - 19. 2555 N. National Ave., Chehalis. 360-736-6072; www.co.lewis.wa.us.

“All Roads Lead to the Island County Fair.” Aug. 16 - 19. 819 Camano Ave., Langley, Whidbey Island. 360-221-4677; www.islandcountyfair.com.

The Kitsap County Fair and Stampede. Aug. 22 - 26. Kitsap County Fairgrounds, 1200 N.W. Fairgrounds Road, Bremerton. www.kitsaprodeo.com.

– Chris Stay

8. Look to the Heavens

The Perseid Meteor Shower puts on an amazing show on Aug. 13, and a total lunar eclipse happens Aug. 28 – the best view is 3 - 5:30 a.m.

Every month, the Seattle Astronomical Society has free star parties on the north shore of Green Lake on a grassy area west of the Bathhouse Theatre and at Paramount Park, N.E. 155th Street and 8th Avenue N.E. in Shoreline. Everyone is welcome to look through any of the instruments at whatever is in the sky that night. This month’s events are Aug. 18 at 7 p.m. (don’t come if it’s raining or completely overcast). For more information, call the society at 206-523-2787 or visit www.seattleastro.org/events.

The Theodor Jacobsen Observatory is open to the public the first and third Wednesdays, March 1- Nov. 30, on the University of Washington campus, 17th Avenue N.E. and N.E. 45th Street. Upcoming open viewing nights are Aug. 1 and 15 and Sept. 5, 9 - 11 p.m. For information on speakers and programs, call 206-685-7856 or visit www.astro.washington.edu/observatory.

– W.R.

9. Play Around in Your Backyard

Keeping fit doesn’t require special classes or equipment. A few props, a sense of fun and a little imagination are all you need to incorporate outdoor fitness into your family’s summer routine

Obsta-Cool Course

Planning to water your lawn

Set up a get-wet, get-fit obstacle course in your yard. Activities can include drop-kicking a water balloon, jumping rope in the sprinkler spray or shooting at a target with a squirt bottle. Use a stopwatch to keep track of time for each player or run a relay with two teams going through the obstacle course in opposite directions.

Sponge Tag

In this game, the player who is “it” throws a wet sponge, rather than a ball, to tag other players.

Duck, Duck, Squirt

All the players sit in a circle, except for the one who is “it.” She must walk around the circle, tapping players and saying “Duck, Duck, Duck…” Instead of saying “Goose,” she squirts the water bottle at one of the sitting players, who then jumps up and begins the chase.

– Deean Marsh, program manager, Children’s Museum of Tacoma
(253-627-6031; www.childrensmuseumoftacoma.org)


 

 
 

 

 

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