10 Northwest Adventures for Kids in October

The weather has cooled off, the mosquitoes have died down, and it’s still light out — it’s the perfect season for hiking. Storms will likely move in by the end of the month, so head out soon to stretch your legs. Take the kids up Mount Rainier to Paradise, where you’ll find gorgeous fall colors at this time of the year. Be sure to ask about the Junior Ranger program at the new Paradise Jackson Visitor Center (Paradise Road, east of Longmire), which is generally open weekends and holidays through the winter. 

The Nisqually Vista Trail starts at the west end of the lower parking lot and is a good distance for little legs (1.2 miles). Plus, what a payoff: glorious views of Mount Rainier, the Nisqually Glacier and beautiful subalpine meadows.

Or skip the three-hour drive and stay in the city. Visit Seattle’s largest park, the 534-acre Discovery Park, where an easy 1.4-mile walk takes you to a beach with a lighthouse on the shores of Puget Sound. Kids will also love the newly renovated play area tucked in the woods near the visitor center (3801 Discovery Park Blvd., Seattle). You’ll find a zip line, a very tall slide and an area where kids can build their own tree forts.