Updated for 2018
Sticking around the South Sound for Spring Break? Sounds Fun Mom is here to make sure you don’t go crazy trying to figure out what to do with your Spring Breakers for an entire week!
Scroll down for enough fun ideas to get you through a week and then some whether you have little or big kids!
We have ideas by day and then some fun that works anytime!
All Week/Multiple Days
Learning Express Toys in Renton has some activities planned including mixing, “Thinking putty,” “Frost a Sweetling,” and an LOL Trading Party.
The White River Valley Museum in Auburn is offering free admission to Auburn School District students this week. Out of district? Their regular admission is very reasonable, and this little museum has a ton for kids to look at and do. They’re open Wed – Sun from Noon – 4pm. On Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday there will also be pop-up storytimes and crafts.
The stream at the East Bay Public Plaza by the Hands-On Children’s Museum in Olympia is open in case your kids want to splash in something besides puddles. Do check their fb page for updates before you head out. Scheduled hours are 10AM-6PM
Kids paint free at The Makery this week
Kids Paint Free Spring Break Special! NO RESERVATION NEEDED. This is first come, first served during our Open Paint Weekday Hours. 🙂 One Free Kids sign with Adult Sign purchase. Additional may be purchased at a discounted price. Monday, Wednesday, Friday 10-2
The Parrot Lady will be visiting Debbie Dolittle’s Indoor Petting Zoo the 10th, and 12th. Her show is included with your regular admission. Check their site for details. You may also want to read our review of this fun spot here. It has a new name and slightly different hours/rates now, but the pictures and info. will give you a good idea of what to expect otherwise.
Pump It Up has morning open jump times Mondays-Thursdays
Tiffany’s Skate Inn has specials all week.
Lattin’s Country Cider Mill and Farm in Olympia is having, “Customer Appreciation,” all April.
Monday, April 9th
The Tacoma Rainiers are playing tonight.
Tuesday, April 10th
STEM at the library. PCL branches are doing some really cool, drop in activities this week. If you have questions or want to confirm times, call your branch directly, as their calendar is currently off line for updates.
- Explore Your World: Density Towers at the Eatonville Library 3:30-4:30 for kids ages 8 and up
Explore STEM at your library! Discover the densities of different liquids by creating a density tower and explore the density of everyday objects.
- Explore Your World: Microscopes at the Dupont Library 4-5PM all ages; under 6 should bring a grown up
Explore STEM at your library! Get a peek of the microscopic world using our scopes and slides.
Pretzels and Puzzles at the Kent Library
2-4PM Please pass the pretzels! Pop in with your pals for a pleasant afternoon spent puzzling over a plethora of puzzles for young and old. Pretzels, brain teasers and jigsaw puzzles provided. Prepare to be perplexed!
Building Club at the Auburn Library 2-3 Drop in and build with Legos and other fun building tools.
Wednesday, April 11th
Free day for City of Tacoma residents at the Point Defiance Zoo
Visitors who live within the city limits of Tacoma will be admitted free! Please bring proof of City of Tacoma residency (current driver’s license or photo ID and utility bill)
Story Hour at the Seymour Conservatory at Wright Park 11-12
Join Bonnie Beaudoin in the tropical atmosphere of the Conservatory for storytelling along with a short hands-on art project.
This month featuring Flower Gardens: Miss Lady Bird’s Wildflowers: How a First Lady Changed America by Kathi Appelt
Art: Flower Bookmark; Suggested donation: $3 Photo courtesy of Metro Parks Tacoma
STEM at the library. PCL branches are doing some really cool, drop in activities this week. If you have questions or want to confirm times, call your branch directly, as their calendar is currently off line for updates.
- Explore Your World: Microscopes at the Parkland/Spanaway Library
Explore STEM at your library! Look at the microscopic world using magnifying glasses and microscopes.
Explore Your World: Egg Engineers at the Summit Library 11-12 Kids under 8 should bring a grown up.
Explore STEM at your library! Learn about the important role of inventors as you engineer safe landings for eggs
dropped from an alarming height.
- Explore Your World: Stream Table at the UP Library 2:30-3:30
Explore STEM at your library. What happens when water meets land? Find out with our hands-on stream table!
Science Magic with Jeff Evans at the Summit Library 3-4PM
Magic tricks can be explained by science and Jeff has been fascinated with science experiments and demonstrations since he was a child. He brings science and magic together to spread amazement and the desire to learn to youth. Note from SFM: Jeff is great! Highly recommended! The PCL calendar is currently off line; contact the library directly with questions or to confirm the time.
Curious what it’s like to hold a violin bow or try a clarinet? Now you and your family can find out! Through this hands-on program you can touch, hear and play many instruments and be introduced to the world of music!
Ozobots – Program Miniature Robots Using Color
at the Swasey Library 4-6PM Registration required.
Thursday, April 12th
Minecraft Young Builders at the Puyallup Public Library
Make sure to call first to see if there are still spots.
Spring Break Crafternoon at the Summit Library 1-3PM
Choose your own crafting adventure! Try sewing, paper circuits, Perler beads, duct tape and more.
Math and Marbles Madness at the South Hill Library 6:30-8:30
Have fun learning about math and motion with the library’s tangram blocks, marble ramp and more!
We’ll have ideas for Friday up in our regular weekend list. That goes up on our home page Friday mid-morning. Or get it sooner as an email newsletter. Those go out on Thursdays.
Read on for more fun ideas for your spring break staycation or anytime!
Any Week Destinations and Ideas
We’ve also rounded up some favorite ideas that are fun for the whole family any week!
Cool Pools
Indoor Play
Bargain Flicks
Outside Adventures
Here are some of our favorite posts for opting outside:
- Ten South Sound Nature Walks Perfect for Young Hikers PS If you’re one of our Gig Harbor area readers on break, try one of these great spots!
- Geo Caching in Pt Defiance
- Best South Sound Playgrounds
- South Sound Rainy Day Hikes & Trails with Kids
- Painted Rock Hunting and Hiding
- Prefer your outdoors indoors? Bass Pro Shops in Tacoma and Cabela’s in Lacey both offer lots to look at and things to do!
Get Cultured At A Museum For FREE!
Check out a free museum pass from your local library! Yep, just use your card and get in free to popular choices like the Washington State History Museum. Or head to the Children’s Museum of Tacoma, which is always pay as you will.
The Hands-On Children’s Museum in Olympia is well worth the trip from anywhere (and aren’t you lucky if you’re close by!). They have special activities planned for all area spring break weeks including science demonstrations and live animal visits. This spot is free to EBT card holders (this post has info. on other discounts as well).
Plan a Playdate
Plan a meet up with your pals at a local park or your favorite indoor spot. Create a Facebook event and invite anyone who can show up at a specific day/time. This is a fun way to see lots of folks at once, and it’s a built in play date for the kids. One suggestion? Our lovely sponsor WiggleWorks offers discounts when you come with friends on Mondays, or call for a group rate if you want to get the whole gang together another time. They even have a room where you could hold your book club or whatever….
Sip and Play
If you need an escape from the house and want to drink some strong coffee while doing that, check out one of our favorite Five Kid Friendly Coffee Shops in the South Sound.
Visit Mommy or Daddy at work for lunch
Let your kiddos see what the grown ups in their lives do when they’re not at home! It’s a fun way to break up the work day for mom or dad and fun for kids to see somewhere different for lunch and exploration.
Take a Day Trip
We have 15 fun trips within 3 hours of Tacoma in this post. Many would also make for good overnights. We did originally write this post for the summer, so check the links carefully as some of them may not be, “In season,” yet-save those for your summer adventures!
And, as always we’ll also have lots more fun here at the site including our huge weekend events lists each Friday. You might also want to explore our 100 Places To Go In the South Sound round up. Our contributor, Tiffany, has been working hard on this, and it’s all spiffed up and better than ever. New here? I hope you’ll think about subscribing to our emails, joining us on Facebook, or following Sounds Fun Mom on Twitter or Instagram.
I don’t see the weekend list. You said it was one post down but I only see the post about Alan Yorke Park.
Did you find it? I think maybe you came by just before I published it. You can also email soundsfunmom@gmail.com if you’re ever having issues on the site. I hope you found something great to do!