Is your summer going by way too fast? Making as many memories as you can is the best way to deal with that imho! Think of it as, “Banking,” some sunny, happy thoughts for the rainy months to come (Hey, don’t shoot the messenger)! We’ve found tons of fun things to do with the kids this weekend, from unique festivals to awesome library programs and a bunch of great family theater. We love how much of it is FREE.
Calling all spelunkers! The lower Ape Cave at Mt. St. Helens is a 1.5-mile out-and-back walk through a fascinating geologic formation. This is a moderately easy hike for adults and older kids. There is almost no elevation gain, but the floor is uneven and slippery in places, making it more difficult to traverse than a regular trail. If you bring toddlers, be prepared to lift and carry them at times. Because of the tripping hazard, I wouldn’t recommend bringing babies in backpack or front packs, but we saw plenty of people who did just that. Use your own judgement when bringing very young children.
The Ape Cave, located near Mt. St. Helens in Cougar, Washington is not a cave, but is actually a 13,042-foot lava tube–the third longest lava tube in the United States. This unusual formation was created when lava flowed down the south side of Mt St Helens 1,900 years ago. The name has nothing to do with apes, much to my son’s disappointment, but is named after a group of explorers who found the cave, called the Mt St Helens Apes.
There are two hikes within the Ape Caves, the lower and upper caves. The lower cave is much easier and suitable for families. The upper cave requires physical agility as you will need to climb over large boulders and even scale an 8-foot lava wall- not recommended for young children. This post only covers the lower cave.
Getting there: From I-5, take exit 21 and follow SR 503 to Cougar. Once you drive through Cougar, follow the signs to Ape Cave. We drove in from Kelso and used google maps.
What to bring:
5 dollars cash to purchase a parking pass if you don’t have a Northwest Forest Pass. There is no place to get change, you put the money in an envelope and tear off a ticket to place on your car windshield. You can also purchase an e-pass from home before you go, print out and bring along on your trip.
Plenty of light. Two light sources per person are recommended. Headlamps are great for keeping your hands free, but make sure you have good quality ones that can rotate and point downward and have very strong light. I had a headlamp that wasn’t strong enough that I just put in my pocket because it didn’t help me at all. Same goes with flashlights. Dollar store lights or iPhone flashlights will not emit enough light. I found a strong flashlight worked best because I could point it at the ground which was very uneven. Several groups in the cave had the rental propane lanterns (available for rent at the Ape Cave Headquarters near the entrance for $5) which worked really well.
A backpack. You’ll want your hands free.
What not to bring:
No pets! Animals are not allowed in the caves because of the delicate ecosystem. We saw folks that had to leave their dogs locked in the car because they brought a pet. No smoking, food or drink (except water) allowed inside. No open flames, flares, fireworks or firearms. Littering inside the cave carries a $200 fine and you cannot take any rocks away with you. Also, don’t touch the walls. The “cave slime” that grows there takes years to regrow.
What to wear:
I recommend long pants, preferably jeans, because there are some areas in which you will climb over rocks. Bring a sweater or sweatshirt as well. The temperature stays a constant 40 degrees, and with the uneven floor, you can never really walk fast enough to break a sweat. I also recommend a hat, not necessarily for warmth, but because water drips from the ceiling.
Some reports advised bringing gloves. I didn’t feel the need for gloves, but one of the teens I brought said her hands got really cold.
Wear sturdy shoes! The floor is very uneven and wet in places. Athletic shoes with a good tread are just fine. If you have hiking boots, you could wear them, but in my opinion boots are not necessary for the Lower Cave. We saw people trying to walk in flip-flops, and it wasn’t pretty!
Parking and fees: There is a parking lot at the Ape Headquarters Center for which you will need a Northwest Forest Pass. You insert $5 cash in an envelope and put the ticket on your windshield. At this lot, there are bathrooms (vault toilets- really stinky!) and souvenirs/lantern rental at the Ape Headquarter Center.
During the winter months, this area gets snowed in and you will need to park about a mile away at the Trail of Two Forests lot, get a Sno-Park Permit, then hike in.
From the parking lot a short, paved walkway will take you to the cave entrance. Be sure to check out the station staffed by a ranger with lots of info on the caves and bats. Before you enter, stop at the shoe brush station and clean your shoes. This helps cut down on the transmission of the fungi which causes White Nose Syndrome– a disease that harms bats. You will also need to use the shoe brushes after exiting the cave.
Enter the cave via a stairway. Once you get to the bottom, if you continue straight ahead, this takes you to the easier, lower cave. There is a sign with arrows pointing to the upper and lower cave areas but it is tucked under the staircase and we didn’t see it until we were heading back.
Our German exchange student, Sara, just inside the entrance
The cave is huge and I never felt claustrophobic at all. I found I had to keep the flashlight pointed at the floor while walking because it is extremely uneven. But my adventurous kiddos had no problem and were way ahead of me the whole time. We stopped every few minutes to just look around at the walls and ceiling. It never got boring because the inside of the tube looks different every few feet.
In addition to the uneven floor, there are a couple of areas in which you will need to climb down or over large rocks. They weren’t huge, but they could present a problem for really little kids. That being said, we saw plenty of parents lifting toddlers over rocks.
Two interesting features are the “railroad tracks” near the entrance, where a smaller tube within the tube formed, leaving a ledge on either side. Also of note is the “meatball” which is a ball of lava that floated through the tube until it got stuck. When you see the meatball, you are almost to the end.
The “meatball”
The tube eventually narrows then dead ends. At the end, there is a tunnel that a small person can army- crawl into. There is nothing on the other side, so you have to back out. Your kids will probably want to go in the tunnel (like mine did) but I don’t recommend it!
This is the end of the lower cave. From here you just turn around and walk back. We really enjoyed the walk back because we were more familiar with the terrain and could really enjoy the scenery.
My whole family really enjoyed this trek, my 13-year-old even called it the highlight of her summer! We didn’t see any bats, much to my kids disappointment. We went on a Sunday and it was very crowded. It would probably be more peaceful on a weekday. The little store offers a free brochure called Exploring the Ape Caves which I recommend picking up before you go in, it has a helpful map.
Playground Report: Wapato Hills in South Tacoma
Contributor Tabitha found a playground she says is great for bigger kids or your younger thrill seekers!
Wapato Hills is a neighborhood park located in South Tacoma; it features a sprayground, playground, basketball court, and a field. Perfect spot for some family fun! Families with older children will especially love this park!
My 8 year old instantly fell in love with the playground structure. The equipment is geared more towards ages 5-12, as the equipment is very tall, open, and gives them a challenge-perfect for a child who likes to climb or hang. A younger child might enjoy the park as there is a shorter slide and swings. The play structure is fairly new and well kept. It is not fenced in, but it is easy to view the whole playground from one spot and the streets adjacent aren’t busy.
The park does feature a sprayground, but keep in mind it is one of the older ones and doesn’t have any designs. If you have multiple aged kids, this is a great opportunity to let the little ones play in the water while still being able to watch your older child on the big toy.
Wapato Hills Park also has a beautiful large basketball court with trees surrounding it, a baseball field, and a large grass field for running around. Restrooms are open daily April through October. The landscaping at the park is beautiful with a short walking trail around the grass field and playground. There is also a longer trail that goes into the woods. I did not feel comfortable doing this one alone. **
Directions: This is NOT Wapato Park with the pagoda. This is Wapato Hills.
The address is 6231 S. Wapato St. Tacoma, WA 98409
Plan Ahead Note: The one downside to this park is that there is very limited public parking, so while I know this sounds a bit bonkers, the best thing to do is to plan ahead. Here’s the scoop from the friendly folks at Metro Parks Tacoma. I promise they’ll be glad to help you out.
Limited public parking is available. Visitors who park in “permit required” street parking are advised that they may be ticketed by the City of Tacoma. Citizens can contact 253-591-5500 or jkammerzell@cityoftacoma.org to request a no-fee parking permit that is valid for parking along the east side of Wapato Street (abutting the park).
**Note from SFM: If you’d like to explore the trail here with others, Metro Parks Tacoma regularly hosts guided nature walks here.
Tabitha Black- local mom, lifestyle, travel and family blogger at Love Tabitha.
We’re so excited to tell you more about the Walk Tacoma Scavenger Hunt, a real life, family friendly adventure right through downtown Tacoma.
It’s brought to you by our friends with Downtown on the Go, and we’re super excited to be sponsors of this walk along with Pierce Transit, Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department, and BIA.
You can do the hunt as a family, or grab some pals and make a team!
The idea of the hunt is that you explore different locations around town on foot or by using public transportation.
Solve clues to lead to cool spots around the community, and then take a picture with your camera or phone. You may also find yourself answering trivia questions or doing activities. There will be grand prizes for top finishers, but there will be something for everyone-no one walks away empty handed!
Fun, right? If you’re a fan of the Amazing Race or have a little bit of a competitive side (You know who you are!), you’ll love this event. But it’s also great for those of you who just love to get out in the community and discover new places with your family.
It’s an all ages event, so bring the baby in the pack, unplug your teen, grab your grade schoolers, and come on down! The Children’s Museum of Tacoma will also have activities!
The whole thing is FREE!
Ready to join in? The event will start and end at Tollefson Plaza at S 17th and Pacific, where there will also be live music and other fun (We’re hoping to be there, too)!
Check in and begin your hunt between 4:30-5:30 and finish by 7!
You can find out more about Walk Tacoma events and Downtown on the Go Here or check out the Facebook page for the Scavenger hunt!
You can register at the event, or go here to register in advance so you and your team can hit the ground running!
August 2nd is right around the corner, so do make a plan now! This is an adventure your kids will be bragging about come fall!
We’re proud to be media sponsors of this event! We’d be grateful for your mention of Sounds Fun Mom when you check in! Good Luck!
A quick heads up that Wild Waves is on Groupon! I’ve had a really hard time finding deals to this spot, so if you’re planning a day here, I think it’s definitely checking out. This is my link and the offer is for admission for Two or Four with Parking at Wild Waves Theme & Water Park for up to 36% off! .
Seems like a solid deal to me!
As always, read all the fine print, and if you go here regularly, I’d love for you to leave any tips and weigh in on this deal.
If that’s a little splurgy for you, or just not your speed, Groupon also still has one of my very favorite deals, and one I’ve bought myself in the past-Admission for One, Two, or Four to Hands On Children’s Museum in Olympia for (Up to 42% Off)!
That’s almost half and definitely makes this outing more affordable. There are Some options that will get you admission to the HOCM for free, but if you aren’t eligible for those or can’t take advantage of them, I’d definitely pick this up. You can easily spend the whole day with your kids at the HOCM. It’s summer day trip worthy for sure.
Disclosure: When you use my Groupon links, the site receives a teeny bit of your purchase price. It does NOT change the cost to you at all, and we do appreciate it!
Wow! If you’re looking for free fun for the kids in South King County or Tacoma, you are definitely in luck! Don’t worry if you live elsewhere. We’ve got great things to do this weekend all over the 253 and the rest of the South Sound!
Playground Report: Sunset Terrace
Tabitha has a report on a University Place park that’s family friendly and has a playground great for toddlers to big kids! Plus, it’s close to Fircrest and East Tacoma. What more could you want? Read on for all the scoop!
This University Place park is very close to Fircrest and East Tacoma on 19th St W, not far from Highway 16 and is a perfect spot to play with kids of all ages.
The playground is spread out so kids aren’t crammed together, and it’s a great park if you have multiple children.
A couple structures focus on ages 2-5. They’re not as tall, have small slides, a cute, small bench, and a small climbing wall that the little kids also use as a slide. The playground also has a bigger section for ages 5-12. It’s taller and has stuff to climb on and hang from. There are also swings for all ages and a tire swing to spin on. The playground isn’t fully fenced in, but it does have a fence adjacent to the main street.
MaST Center at Redondo Pier
28203 Redondo Beach Drive South, Des Moines
If you or your kids love marine life, you have got to visit the MaST center! MaST stands for Marine Science and Technology Center and is a public aquarium belonging to Highline College located right on the pier at Redondo in Des Moines. This FREE resource makes for a fun and educational outing.
The center is open every Saturday 10AM-2PM and 4-7PM on Thursdays during the summer.
There is free street parking if you can find it, and a paid lot right across from the pier. It is $1/hour, up to $8/day. The restrooms are just to the left of the MaST Center. They are flush toilets, but, well- they are also public restrooms…
You’ll see the signs for the center just to the right of the restrooms. There are two buildings.
When you enter the first building, pick up a “Self-Guided Tour through the MaST center” brochure. Not only will this tell you about the marine life, but it includes activities for the kids.
The day we went, a Thursday afternoon, it was not crowded and there were plenty of volunteers to answer questions.
We were wowed by the gigantic 38-foot gray whale skeleton hanging from the ceiling.
A helpful volunteer showed us some marine animal skulls and let us feel otter and seal pelts. One tank was filled with what was found in the gray whale’s first stomach. (Don’t worry- the whale died of natural causes and was later examined for educational purposes.) The boys I brought were fascinated by this, it included a golf ball, a toy telescope and of course lots of plastic bags.
There were also skeletons of a seal and sea lion.
The next building houses the aquariums and touch tanks. All of the aquariums feature marine animals native to Puget Sound. There are 20 tanks, ranging in size from tiny to huge, and they have an open flow system, which means they circulate water from Puget Sound. They have even found new residents that entered the tanks from the Sound as plankton, then grew up in the aquarium!
My kiddos favs were the touch tanks. Sea anemones, starfish, urchins were all touchable. One tank had skates, a fish similar to sting rays– but without stingers! The other tanks were interesting too, the kids enjoyed trying to find and ID different fish. It was also cool to see stuff you wouldn’t find at the zoo aquarium, like live sand dollars (they look completely different!) huge, living scallops and some of the biggest starfish I’ve ever seen.
Once you emerge from the aquarium, you will be on the end of the pier. Be sure and make use of the telescope to look out at the ocean.
You can easily spend several hours in this area. Check out this post for other activities!
Wow! I can’t believe it’s mid July, but the weekend list is jam packed with family friendly festivals, so it must be true! We’ve also found free library programs, nature activities, movies, and just about everything else you can think of to have fun with the kids this weekend!
Redondo boardwalk, pier, and beach makes a nice outing for families with kids of all ages. The boardwalk was rebuilt recently, creating a beautiful walk with beach access.
Parking: We were lucky enough to find free, street parking but there is also a paid parking lot right across the street from the pier for $1/hour-$8/day. We went on a weekday, and I imagine $8 will be a bargain on a crowded weekend. Note from SFM: One of our awesome fb readers let us know that you need to bring exact change. She only had a ten and wasn’t able to get change from the meter. Yipes!
Once you park and cross the street, check out the pier. You’ll see plenty of folks with fishing lines in the water and you can catch a beautiful view.
Between the pier and the boardwalk there are two stands; one selling coffee and another renting kayaks and paddleboards, as well as selling ice cream and other snacks. There is also a stand with fish n chips from Salty’s that is reader recommended!
The boardwalk is wide and stroller/dog friendly. Starting near the boat launch, it’s a little less than a mile if you go out and back.
There are several staircases leading to the beach from the boardwalk, which you will probably want to make use of if the tide is out because about halfway to the endpoint of the boardwalk- the beach changes from rock to sand. The boardwalk offers a scenic stroll with the ocean on one side and cool beach real estate, some with gorgeous flowers, on the other. Note: The boardwalk does go along a busy street with only a low barrier- so if you have littles with you, take care.
Bonus! We found several painted rocks, both along the boardwalk and on the beach.
The sand beach was totally worth the walk, but be sure and use the bathrooms by the pier before you head out, because there aren’t any facilities on the walk or beach. We saw lots of seashells, seagulls, boats and even a great blue heron. If you have an aeronautically inclined kid, we saw planes taking off every few minutes (I assume from Seatac airport) that seemed really close– really fun to watch. Plus, the water was calm and not too cold!
Don’t forget the sand toys!
Tiffany Doerr Guerzon