2019 Golden Teddy Awards — Out + About

Winner: Mountlake Terrace Pool

Families around the Puget Sound area love the Mountlake Terrace Pool. The youngest of swimmers can’t get enough of the large, beach-like swimming area, the fun lazy river and the wonderful opportunity to practice swim moves in an area so shallow that most kids can touch the bottom with their feet. Older kids will enjoy water basketball hoops and diving boards, and everybody appreciates the warm, 88-degree Fahrenheit water.

Finalists

Last year’s winner, the Lynnwood Recreation Center has room for every type of swimmer. Spray features, a lazy river and a sensational waterslide are hits with kids. Parents love the hot tub within watching distance of the pool, the warm-water therapy pool for quiet time and a lap pool for serious teen swimmers.

Tucked just off Interstate 5 in North Seattle, the Northacres Park spray park is a voter favorite that feels like a hidden gem. The beautiful tree canopy keeps everyone cool, and beyond the fantastic spray park, there’s a divided playground for younger and older kids.

Home to the region’s only FlowRider surf-simulation machine, Snohomish Aquatic Center is a reader favorite once again. This 52,000-square-foot swim center also features an epic waterslide for older kids, a lap pool and a lazy river. 

Warm indoor pools are a must in our region, but nothing beats a day at a seasonal outdoor water park. Wild Waves Theme & Water Park in Federal Way is an irreplaceable part of a Pacific Northwest childhood.