Bring the heat! Summer is what we live for around Puget Sound, and we've rounded up umpteen ideas for summer fun, getaways and learning for your little summer fiends. Enjoy!
Water play and staying cool
Super spray parks: Our picks for a splashing good time
Best DIY water play ideas: DIY sprinklers, sponge bombs and more splashing fun
Wading pools: For toddler, tween and grown-up toes alike
Shady hikes: Water-full rambles for a hot day
Outdoor pools and water parks: What's worth the drive
Big sand: 11 great family beaches around Seattle
Mini-adventures, outings and day trips
56 free and almost-free things to do. Fantastic free and almost-free outings around the Sound.
Your summer 2016 bucket list: Top attractions for summer 2016, from new playgrounds to must-see museum exhibits
Forts, treehouses and hobbit houses: Cool spots that will inspire hours of imaginative play
Day trip to Redmond: Ice cream, biking, splashing, parks and more Redmond fun
Walk-on ferry adventures: Six fun day trips involving ferries, ice cream, museums and more.
Awesome guided tours: From chocolate to airplanes
I-5 play stops: 24 fun and educational ways to break up road trips
Outdoor adventures: Berries, biking, hiking, fishing
19 U-pick berry farms: Go-to guide for strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, tayberries
9 new, nearby hikes: When you don't want to drive far for a nature hit, here's where to go
Secret urban hikes: You don't have to leave the city!
8 cool hikes for hot days: Hike to lakes and through old-growth
9 must-do waterfall hikes: Stay-cool on these shady hikes with spray built in
Clamming adventure: An expert shares how to dig for your dinner
13 great scoot bike paths: Safe, fun places for push bikes and scooters
10 spots to try fishing in Puget Sound: Teach a kid (and yourself) to fish
12 secret gardens: Blooming spots that take you right out of the city
Let's go camping!
The 101 on KOA: Why it might be your new favorite cushy-camping expeerience
Procrastinator's guide to no-reservation camping: It's totally possible with kids in tow, and you might find your best campground yet
Planning a group camping experience: With built-in child-care and many cooks in the kitchen, why not?
10-plus nearby campgrounds that might still have space: Great choices for procrastinators and planners alike
8 Eastern Washington camping adventures: Camping on the sunny side
Family backpacking 101: How to plan your first wilderness adventure
Best summer restaurant adventures, eats and and treats
Great outdoor eats. Family-friendly decks, patios and other fresh-air dining destinations
Best burger joints and brewpubs: Parents and kids love these casual, kid-friendly eateries and pubs
Play-full summer eats: Fun eating experiences around Puget Sound, plus a nearby adventure
10 fresh and fast summer potluck dishes
Summer arts
Cheap summer movies: Dollar matinees, $3 first-run movies, movie story times
Summer movies, theater and concerts: An epic list of cheap or free outdoor concerts and movies
This week's shows: From cheap kids' theater to outdoor music
Getaways and adventures
Fab farmstays: Kids learn to do farm chores and commune with critters, while grown-ups relax and enjoy farm-to-table cuisine.
Road trips: The six best family road trips to do from Puget Sound, including Mount Rainier, Lake Chelan and the Olympic Peninsula
3 great Oregon vacations for families: From high desert to hidden coast
San Juan Islands on the cheap: Hostels, smaller island gems, tenting: Yes, it's possible to get on island time at a discount
17 wonderful Northwest lodges: Rustic mountain lodges, beachside retreats, ranches and more
Best Washington beach getaways: From the Olympic Peninsula to a unique family resort
Vacations for families that rock: Fossils, lava tubes, caves and other geologic wonders
Family camp: Why should kids get all the summer camp fun?
Yeehaw! Dude ranch vacations: A round-up of western-themed vacations
Great train vacations: Ditch the car and head to urban paradises and national parks
Rafting on the river: It only takes a couple of hours to get the thrill of a lifetime
