June is here and it’s dishing up the first sweet tastes of summer. School is wrapping up, balmier weather has arrived, and there are oodles of opportunities to make family memories. Along with the sun and more out-of-school free time, June brings us long-awaited openings of some of our fav spots, outdoor adventures, exciting virtual events and more. So, get out your family calendar and fill your days with early-summer bliss!
Check out the famed rooftop playground plus two more levels of indoor and outdoor fun at Imagine Children’s Museum in Everett. After more than a year, the museum officially reopens Wednesday, June 2. Open select days, 11 a.m.– 4 p.m.; $14, 12 months and younger free; preregister.
Get a jump-start on Father’s Day (June 20) and sign up for Pierce County Parks’ Daddy Daughter Adventure Day. Dads and daughters will bond over adventurous games and activities in three Tacoma-area parks. Saturday, June 5, 10 a.m.–2 p.m.; $15 per dad-and-daughter pair, $6 for each additional daughter; preregister.
June is Orca Month, so let’s show our love for our iconic marine mammal neighbors. Join a virtual Orca Month Kick-Off event and learn more about our southern residents and how your family can help all orcas. Sunday, June 6, 11 a.m.; free; preregister.
Puget Sound beaches are brimming with marine life to discover. Explore one of 11 beaches during a minus tide when a Seattle Aquarium beach naturalist will help you decipher what you find. June 12–13 and 23–27, times vary; free.
Plan a farm-tastic day at Remlinger Farms’ Family Fun Park. Delight in 25 carnival-type rides and attractions, pony rides, animals galore, yummy eats and more at this expansive family farm destination. Open weekends through June 13, Tuesday–Sunday beginning June 19; $16– $19, ages 2 and younger free; preregister.
Take the family on an educational outing and relish the beauty of the Seattle Asian Art Museum, nestled in lush Volunteer Park. After a three-year closure for renovation, the reimagined museum was open only one month before the pandemic hit. Its doors finally reopened (again) on May 28 to welcome visitors Friday–Sunday, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.; $10–$15, ages 14 and younger free.
Learn about local food at Oxbow Farm & Conservation Center in Carnation. Stock up on fresh produce at the farm stand and then explore the grounds, complete with trails, picture-perfect picnic spots and a living playground. Farm stand open Saturday–Sundays, 10 a.m.– 4 p.m.; free entry; items for purchase.
Visit a new-to-you Washington State Park for free on June 5, 12 or 13. On these fee-free days you do not need a Discover Pass to park your vehicle. Choose from beaches, woods, rivers or urban greenspaces.
Splash into summer at our region’s only water park. After a long closure, Wild Waves in Federal Way reopens Friday, June 18 to bring your fam thrilling summer fun. Open daily through Sept. 6. Check the website for pricing and to make reservations.
Join together with friends and neighbors to celebrate Juneteenth and support Seattle’s Black community. Othello Park hosts food, music, education on the history of Juneteenth and activities for kids. Saturday, June 19, 11 a.m.–6 p.m.; free.
Catch a thrill at one of our regional playgrounds that offer more challenging play equipment for adventurous kids. Test out the tallest slide, the fastest zip lines, the best climbing walls and more.
Celebrate our slimy, silly, slow-moving Northwest cohabitants with games and crafts at Northwest Trek Wildlife Park’s Slug Fest. Saturday–Sunday, June 26–27, 9:30 a.m.–4 p.m.; free with admission; preregister.
Ever find yourself lingering at a construction site with your truck-obsessed tot? If so, then you must check out Dozer Day at the Washington State Fair Events Center. Get a hands-on, up-close view of construction machines and first-responder vehicles for a vroom-filled day to remember. Saturday–Sunday, June 26–27, 10 a.m.–3 p.m.; check website for pricing.
Celebrate and learn about Japanese culture and traditions at Japan Fair, held virtually this year. Enjoy performances and demos, visit with exhibitors and more. Saturday, June 26, 1 p.m.; free.
Wave your rainbow flag from home, as Seattle Pride is going virtual again this year. Log on for performances and entertainment, and to celebrate the past, present and future of the LGBTQ community. Saturday–Sunday, June 26–27, 11 a.m.–6 p.m.
