5 Northwest family getaways

Anacortes
anacortes.org
Don’t just drive through to catch the ferry to the San Juans: Stick around and explore Anacortes. The town is steeped in history, and the walking tour is not to be missed. Hearty hikers will enjoy a trek up Mount Erie for sweeping views out to sea. For easier trails, explore Washington Park’s many nature paths. Farm-to-table dinners, boating and plenty of other pleasures await.

Lake Chelan
lakechelan.com
The perfect destination for the whole family, Lake Chelan offers a wonderland of vacation options. For the kids, there’s plenty of space for active fun: biking, hiking, swimming and lakeside play. Adults can indulge at wineries, spas and gourmet restaurants. It’s the ideal vacation to keep everyone happy.

The Olympic Peninsula
olympicpeninsula.org
Known for its rugged ocean beaches, lush green rainforests, mountain peaks, hundreds of miles of trails and beautiful waterfalls, the peninsula offers much to see and do. Stay at one of the many lodges, cabins or resorts, ranging from rustic retreats to spa getaways. Walk the beach to the Tree of Life at Kalaloch, find the largest spruce tree in the world near Lake Quinault, sail a boat on Lake Crescent, or take a dip in the hot springs at Sol Duc. 

[ Read also: Olympic National Park: Your guide to a family trip ]

Winthrop
winthropwashington.com
Take the scenic route on North Cascades Highway to the town of Winthrop, where the wild, wild west lives on. Grab your cowboy hat and ride horses at a local stable, play by the water at Pearrygin Lake State Park, or treat yourself to a large scoop of ice cream and mini-golf at a local sweet shop. Winthrop delivers a quaint vacation with a healthy dose of old Americana. 

[ Read also: Kids will love Winthrop for the Wild West — and the water ]

Skagit Valley
visitskagitvalley.com
Skagit Valley isn’t just about the springtime tulip festival. The valley has so much more to offer families looking for a nearby getaway any time of year. Rent a tiny cabin in Mount Vernon, stop at the Padilla Bay Interpretive Center to view the touch tanks, hike to Craft Island at low tide to check out anemones and crabs. A short distance away is Larabee State Park, where you can explore rock formations and Teddy Bear Cove and drive the famous Chuckanut Drive. Eat farm-to-table foods, pick fresh berries and indulge in homemade treats from local retailers. You may find you walk away from this vacation with a new appreciation for rural life.

More family travel in Seattle’s Child 

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Here are some family-friendly guided hikes around the Seattle area that provide nature programs. Expert naturalists show you around and teach you about all the animals, plants, wildlife and history around you. 

Beach naturalists

Seattle Aquarium sends volunteer naturalists to show people around the intertidal zone. During low tides May through August, you’ll find these guides at 11 spots along Puget Sound, from Shoreline’s Richmond Beach to Dash Point State Park in Federal Way. Naturalists are available to answer questions about sea stars, anemones, crabs and all the other sea creatures found at these beaches. Volunteers wear red caps and carry red flags. Free.

Seward Park Audubon Center

Learn about the wild creatures of Seward Park at one of the Audubon Center’s naturalist-led events. From fungi and trees to birds and bats, these informative walks and talks cover the bases and then some. Cost: $5 – $10 per person.

Bellevue ranger programs

Park rangers lead guided hikes in Bellevue parks, including Lake Hills Greenbelt, Lewis Creek, Mercer Slough and Coal Creek. Enjoy ranger-led night strolls that examine owls and bats on a hike in the dark or learn about native birds and pollinators on the trail in the day. Join Story and a Stroll, a great experience for younger children. Free. Registration required.

Seattle parks

Explore the intertidal zone with a Seattle Urban Nature Guide on Discovery Park’s sandy South Beach. Touch sea anemones, dodge a clam squirt, search for sea stars and learn more about all the sea creatures. $10 per person (best for ages 8 and older). Search “tidepools” for upcoming events. 

Check out our guide to tide pooling.

Take a hike to one of these kid-friendly waterfalls.

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Free Museum Days

Once a month on Thursday, the public gets the run of some wonderful Seattle museums. This is a great way to explore the city on the cheap, if you don’t mind bigger crowds than usual. Some museums offer free admission on the first Friday of the month. The Frye Museum and the Olympic Sculpture Park are always free. For more information read “Seattle-area museums to explore for free on First Thursdays”.

Explore the parks on National Parks Days

For five days a year, national parks that normally charge an entrance fee offer free admission to all. The remaining entrance fee-free days in 2022 are August 4, September 24 and November 11.

Visit Seattle with the City Pass

Purchase a pass that includes admission to three or five Seattle attractions for one low price. Attractions include the Space Needle, Seattle Aquarium, Argosy Cruises Harbor Tour, Museum of Pop Culture, Woodland Park Zoo and Chihuly Garden and Glass. Get your passes and use them within nine days of the first visit to an attraction.

KCLS Park and Museum Passes

In an effort to help families explore different parks and museums around Seattle, the King County Library System supplies free museum and park passes by reservation. Check out a Discovery pass for 7 days to use at local parks or sign up for passes to a museum like Bellevue Arts Museum, KidsQuest, MOHAI, MoPOP and others. 

Every Kid Outdoors

If you have a fourth grader in the family, traveling and seeing our national parks, lands and waters just got easier. Sign up for a pass at the beginning of the school year, travel to your desired park and you will be admitted free. Pass holders can take the whole family, anyone under age 16 and up to two adults. Go see the wild animals, trek through the forest and camp under the stars. The national parks in Washington are the Olympic National Park, Mt.  Rainier National Park and the North Cascades National Park.

Need more things to do while touring Washington? Check out these ideas.

Read more about the exhibits back open at the Pacific Science center.

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