The ‘Ol Swimming Hole on Anderson Island is closed as of this writing due to issues around its popularity during this time of Covid concerns. Don’t take the kids to Anderson Island if you’re hoping to swim!

This is the beach at Lowell Johnson Park, and authorities have closed it, and are asking you not to visit the island right now.

You can read the official announcement here if you want.

If you need other options for swimming with the kids, I have a list of swimming lakes here. Deep Lake at Nolte State Park is a particular favorite, though readers warn you that it does get deep quickly, as its name suggests. The lake post also has a list of rivers and creeks for wading at the bottom.

You can also go to any number of Puget Sound beaches, although the water will be cold. Here is our list of favorite beach outings. This one is the ones where you can find sand! 

Please do keep in mind that nowhere has lifeguards this year, so you need to be extra cautious with your children. As always, do only the outings that sound safe and fun for Your family!

Here’s another fun place to take the kids that is open this summer!

Old McDebbie’s in Spanaway is a petting zoo/farm where kids can meet and pet animals. Readers have really enjoyed it here, and they are open, with some special Covid related precautions.

Their hours are currently Wednesdays-Sunday from 10am-6pm. Masks are required on the grounds, and there is a limit of 1-2 families in the barn at one time.

Full disclosure-This is a stock photo because I have no Old McDebbies’s pics on hand, but they have a variety of creatures. If you go to Old McDebbies and want to send in a snap of your kiddos we can use, that would be awesome!

Admission is 10.00 and the kids get to pet all the animals. There are some extra charges if you want to fish, feed the animals, take a pony ride, etc…..Readers have always said they felt like there was plenty to do, and that they got their money’s worth.

The bathroom is a porta-potty style, so be ready for that. Personally, at any farm or outdoor adventure, I’d wear clothes and shoes that can get a bit mucky, and I’m bringing my hand sanitizer pretty much Everywhere at this point, but that’s just me!

If you try Old McDebbie’s let us know how you like it!

As with everything I’ve posted lately, I have no affiliation with this spot, and you should contact them directly if you have questions. As always, please only do things that sound safe and fun for Your family. Here is a link to Old McDebbie’s website if you’d like to check it out.

More outdoor drive in style movies are coming to Tacoma this summer!

We’re so excited to hear about this family friendly outing. Your kids will love going to see a movie drive-in style!

Movies will be held on Fridays in August at the STAR Center.

Advance ticket purchase is REQUIRED. You must show them at entry, and you can’t get them there.

The event is free, but a suggested donation of 20.00 will help fund this and future events.

Safeway Nourishing Neighbors will match your donation doubling your impact to support the community! Just about every agency around has been hit really, really hard by event cancellations and facilities closures, so if you can swing the donation, it is a nice thing to do.

Read on for the movie schedule and more FAQS as well as links to other movies this summer.

MOVIE SCHEDULE

Friday, August 7:  Star Wars Episode IV – A New Hope (Rated PG)
Friday, August 14: Hidden Figures (Rated PG)
Friday, August 21: The Princess Bride (Rated PG)
Friday, August 28: FernGully: The Last Rainforest (Rated G)

And here are some more FAQS.

• Movies will run rain or shine.
• Recommended donation of $20 per car to support this event and future programs.
• Gates open at 7:00 pm. Cars will be parked from front to back in order of arrival. The first two rows, or “premium parking,” are reserved for 10 highest donors for each movie.
• Arrive early to purchase food from select food truck vendors before the movie starts.
• Large vehicles that take up more than one parking space or are tall enough to block the view of cars behind them will be parked in back rows. RV’s, buses, and large vans are not permitted.
• Movies will begin at dusk. Once the movie has begun, vehicle entry will be limited to back row and possibly with an obstructed view.
• The audio for the movie will be broadcast on an FM radio frequency (frequency to be announced prior to movie). Attendees are strongly encouraged to bring a portable FM radio in order to avoid risk of a dead vehicle battery. FM radio apps on phones will not pick up the audio signal. Audio will also be broadcast on outdoor speakers, but may not be loud enough to hear from all areas of the parking lot.
• No idling. Engines must be off and remain off throughout the event.

You can read more about Cruise-In Cinema here. 

GET TICKETS here. (We have no affiliation with this event).

Our list of all the other South Sound area drive in style movie options this summer is here. 

If you just want Tacoma options, here is info. on the movies at the LeMay ACM.

If you go to one, I’d love to hear how you liked it!

Another popular area attraction is open again. Sort of.

Northwest Trek is opening a, “Wild Walk.”

This option will be different than what you are used to at Northwest Trek. Basically, you will get to explore the areas you walk around normally on a one way path, but it will NOT include the tram ride.

Because of this, the ticket prices are quite a bit less than normal. Whether you’ll think it’s worth it at the reduced price, is up to you. It’s not a huge area, and if your kids are the type who just race right by stuff, and/or they’re too young to read or learn much, it may not be. On the other hand, if your peeps are big time into nature and animals, and you really need to get out of the house, it just may be.

We’ve heard from readers who really enjoyed it and thought it was easier to socially distance and see animals than at the zoo.

Our Trek friends tell us there are also a lot of baby animals now. Cute alert!

You will need a timed ticket, and you will need to buy them online, in advance.There are also a few other important things to know below.

Again, the big one is that this is a Wild Walk option, but not a full Trek experience with the tram.

There IS an option to drive thru the tram area in your own car, but that Wild Drive experience requires a whole separate (and pretty pricey) ticket. It’s also been super popular, with tickets selling out fast.

Here is more on the Wild Walk straight from the Trek site.

Wild Walk Experience Details 

You can read more about the Wild Drive experience here at the Trek site or here in our post!

What else is open?

You can now go to the Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium, Fort Nisqually, and many area playgrounds. All of these have some restrictions, mostly to keep you socially distanced.

I’ll continue to do my best to keep you posted on what’s open and what’s closed. If there is something particular I can help with, or if you have a tip, come on over to one of the social channels, and let me know!

The Puyallup Taco Bus is finally going to open-now as a bricks and mortar restaurant!

This isn’t our usual family fun content, but tacos are MY kind of fun, and, “When is the taco bus going to open?” has been the question for Puyallup for a while now.

Los Amigos Taqueria posted this on their fb page:

Another area parks department has opened its playgrounds.

The playgrounds at Fife parks are now open, with restrictions.

You (or your kids) are asked to play in groups of five or less and to stay six feet apart. Playgrounds are inspected but not disinfected or sanitized, so you should bring your own hand sanitizer and remind your kiddos not to touch their faces.  You’re also asked to limit your time so others can play, and please don’t visit if you’re sick or have recently been sick or exposed.  Be nice, basically.

You can see the official announcement here.

If you’re not quite ready to hit the playground, Fife has a really nice trail system, and those are also open for your socially distanced strolling pleasure!

Here’s a fun outing if you’d like a place to take the kids for a picnic near Auburn. Yes, it has open hours for the Summer of 2020.

The Mary Olson Farm is a quiet little treasure. It’s a preserved farm on Green River Road, and a visit is a bit like stepping back in time.

“It is said to be King County’s best preserved subsistence farm and has been fully restored.”

Due to social distancing the weaving shed and farmhouse are closed, but you can still wander around the farm grounds and imagine a time when folks really did depend on what they grew and made themselves. It’s not a, “Wow!” kind of outing, but it’s a nice, quiet place to have a picnic and unplug the kids for a bit. It’s also a nice, wide space, so social distancing shouldn’t be a problem. My boys always enjoyed running around and seeing the animals.

And if your kids need a livelier outing after, it’s close to many of Auburn’s fun trails (open) and playgrounds (open with limits on number of children). Practice social distancing and recreate responsibly.

Mary Olson Farm Hours and Open Times This Summer

The Mary Olson Farm will be open every Saturday and Sunday June 20 – August 30, 2020 from 11am – 4pm. Bring a picnic, meet our animals, and enjoy a summer day at this beautifully restored historic property!  Free admission during regular open hours. To help us maintain this wonderful property, a suggested donation of $5 per adult and $2 per child is greatly appreciated.

Their fb page is here.

The farm website page is here.

I’m excited to have found another chance for you to take the kids berry picking! All the strawberry picking that I know about is done for the season, but some places are still doing u pick raspberry picking and I have a whole list of spots for blueberry picking, too.

This weekend, Spooner Farms in the Orting Valley, is hosting u pick raspberry picking. Yum!  Note: I haven’t done this personally, and I got this info. straight from their fb. Links are provided for you to confirm details!

Here are the details straight from their Fb event page. 

U-PICK RASPBERRIES in Orting available Friday, July 17th from 10:00-4:00, Saturday, July 18th – 10:00-4:00 and Sunday, July 20 th – 10:00-4:00. Children welcome with adults. No pets allowed in field. Field is loaded with beautiful Tulameen variety raspberries. Picking boxes provided. Location: 15308 188th St. E., Orting. Look for signs. Additional information and directions call (253) 840-2059 or (360) 893-0693. There is a 5 pound minimum and $3.00 per pound.

Scholz Farm and Garden has also been doing raspberry picking. I’m not sure if that’s still going on or not, so give them a call before you head out. Do let me know if you know for sure!

Would you rather pick blueberries? I have a guide to area blueberry picking spots right here!