Fun Afloat: Where to Try Stand-Up Paddleboarding, Kayaking and Sailing With Kids
Where to try rafting around Puget Sound
Why do it: River rafting provides an adrenaline rush for the whole family while getting you out on the water, close to nature.
Recommended age: Many outfitters require participants to be strong swimmers and at least 6 years of age.
Where to try it: Because river rafting involves risk, it is always best to go with an outfitter with highly trained guides and a reputation for safety. Read our complete guide to Northwest river rafting for ideas on trips and outfitters. RiverRider.com offers whitewater trips and floats on the Wenatchee River. Alpine Adventures offers family-friendly trips, an easy drive from Seattle, on its Skykomish Family Float in Gold Bar. Rafting on the Lower Yakima, a Class 1 river, is a good choice for families with young kids.
For 30 years Blue Sky Outfitters has been taking families on some of the best river rafting in the state on the Wenatachee and Methow rivers (try the “Express Half-Day” Wenatchee River trip). Outdoor Adventures Center offers a half-day beginner-level Family Raft Adventure for families with kids ages 6 and up on the Skyomish River.
Editor's note: This article was originally published in 2013 and updated for 2018.
