We’re excited to announce that Fort Nisqually, the cool fort that serves as a living history museum at Point Defiance, IS OPEN again for the summer of 2020! This is a super fun place to take kids, and we’re so excited to see more spots like this opening.

The fort reopened July 15th. You do need to get timed, entry tickets online, in advance.

And-hot tip alert-the fort IS hosting summer camps this year, and some still have room. Woot! You can check out their camp options here.

If you haven’t been to Fort Nisqually with kids before, it’s well worth a visit. My family and I go here often because we’re big history buffs, but even young kids will have fun running around the grass field, trying out the old fashioned games, and going up the towers.

Fort Nisqually was originally located in Dupont and was a Hudson’s Bay Trading Company outpost. The buildings you can explore today are recreations and help kids (and adults) imagine life at an 1800’s settlement.

You can go shop at the store; see the quarters where workers would have lived; check out the chickens, and maybe catch a demonstration, like blacksmithing. Typically, there are also volunteers in period dress giving demonstrations or talks. Note that I don’t know how many of those folks will be around, and some interactive, high touch experiences may not be available. Indoor capacity is also limited.

As you can imagine, there are some restrictions to keep everyone safe. You will also need a timed entry ticket.

Honestly, we go here at least a couple times every summer and have never encountered more than one or two other groups here except during an event, so I think this is going to be one of the easier places in the area to socially distance.

Here are some additional measures the fort is taking:

• Limiting the number of guests onsite at any time (online ticketing for all guests)
• Ensuring social distancing and minimizing person-to-person contact (credit cards only)
• Face covering required (over 5 years old)
• Adopting stricter cleaning and sanitizing protocols (focus on high-touch surfaces, sanitizing stations)
• Following all public health guidelines (staff training)
• Reduced capacity to indoor spaces and high-touch, interactive experiences

You can read more about the fort and the enhanced safety precautions, and get your timed entry ticket, here.

Good news, Puyallup book fans! You CAN get books from the library!

While you can’t yet go into the library, the Puyallup Public Library now has curbside pick-up, so you can go get new books for you or the kids!

Wondering how it works? Here’s the scoop!

• You’ll need to place a hold on what you want via phone 253.841.5454, email puylib@ci.puyallup.wa.us, or the library catalog you log into via the web or mobile app. To do the log in you’ll need your library card number and pin. If you need help with any of that, just call your friendly librarian.
• If you don’t know what you want, or you need help picking out stuff for the kids, library staff can help with that, too! Give them a call or email, and they’ll help you find materials. You’ll want to give them an idea of what you’re looking for, and for the kids, what their reading level is.
• Allow 48 hours for your request to be processed. If your items are available, you’ll get a notification that you can come get them during the following hours:

Bad news if you’ve been wondering about Meeker Days.

Meeker Days is the latest area summer festival or event to be canceled for 2020.

Originally postponed, this big Puyallup area street fair style celebration has now been definitely canceled due to Covid concerns and issues around crowd size.

You can read the full announcement here. 

The playgrounds at City of Puyallup Parks are still closed.

You may have wondered if they’re open as the fencing has been torn down at some, but that was unauthorized. As of today, 7/11, Puyallup playgrounds are closed, and the city tells me there are no plans to open them in the near future.

You can see their responses to me below in response to whether they were open and when they would be.

Many area playgrounds ARE open, but with restrictions. If your kids are desperate to go to one, open playgrounds include those run by Pierce County Parks, Metro Parks Tacoma, City of Orting, City of Kent, the City of Auburn, and the City of University Place. Note that you will want to confirm that for yourself before you go out as openings and closings change fast.  I do my best to keep up with them, but I also always include links so YOU can confirm the details!

If you know of a playground opening or change I should add, please let me know!

I know that many folks have a lot of feels about this topic, and I’d encourage you to direct those to decision makers for your area. I try to share useful information for area families, but I am absolutely not in charge of any. of this, and I always want YOU to make decisions for your family. Have a great day!

A quick reminder that you can take the kids to a drive-in showing of the Land Before Time at the Showare Center in Kent tonight at 6:30. One ticket for your whole car, and we’ve partnered with Showare to bring you a special reader deal! Just use code SOUNDSFUN at checkout, you’ll get a free popcorn (redeem at concessions).

Thanks to their giant, LED screen, they can start the show at 6:30PM, so you’ll be done in time to get the kids home at a reasonable bedtime.

Tickets are here! 

Information on their future shows, including The Goonies and Raiders of the Lost Ark (!) is here! 

Guys! If you’re in or near Tacoma, and you’d like your kids to have a few days or weeks of summer camp fun, you’re in luck. Metro Parks Tacoma has a bunch of cool, specialty camps that are still going on, and they do still have spots!

You do not have to live in Tacoma to sign up for one of these camps. Most of these are now being held outdoors, with special safety protocols, but obviously you’ll want to do your own research. The only one of these camps I know about personally is the Bricks 4 Kidz camp. My boys have done several of those.

As of this writing, each of these camps had spots, but they are limited, so if one of these sounds great to you, don’t wait long.  As always, I provided links so you can confirm all the details. I don’t have any relationship with any of these camps.

Fort Nisqually Camps 

Various camps for all ages, all but one of which has space available. Kids learn about history and enjoy a variety of old fashioned fun and games.

Martial Arts and Ninja Camp

Held at Wright Park for kids ages 4-10. All camps have spots as of this writing, including a full day option.

Dance and Arts Camps

Five dance camps still have spots, including Garden Fairy Ballet Camp, a one week dance intensive, and a Llama Llama ballet themed camp.

Tacoma Arts Live Camps

All the Tacoma Arts Live Camps have space, including drum camp!

Visual Arts Camp

We found four different arts camps that still have spots!

Skyhawks Lacrosse Camp

This is a trendy new sport around here!

Fencing Camp

If my kids were the right age for this one, they would totally be signing up!

Tennis Camp

Skyhawks has a variety of sports options still on the calendar.

Bricks 4 Kidz Camps

Lego and engineering type fun.

You can find even MORE options by going to the Metro Parks Tacoma camps page here.

The 2020 Washington State Fair is cancelled.

Yes, this is the big one in the fall that many of us still call the Puyallup Fair.

While this isn’t unexpected given the restrictions still in place due to the Covid pandemic, it’s still super sad hear that this annual tradition in Puyallup is cancelled for this year.

Wondering where you can hike with your dog near Mt. Rainier or just looking for a good, easy hike that allows dogs and is fun for kids?

The short answer is that you can’t hike with your dog within the actual park, but there are several dog friendly hikes just outside the park on National Forest Land, and they are hikes that are kid friendly and dog friendly, so you can take the whole family!

Here are three favorites! I’ve linked to the WTA site for each of them, and I always encourage you to bring the Ten Essentials and check current conditions. Please also do make sure that you are recreating responsibly and that your four legged friend is a good canine citizen, so keep him leashed and under control and be prepared to clean up after!

Our rescue lab and the hubs at Skookum Falls-with water!

• Greenwater and Echo Lakes  This one is just after the little town of Greenwater (Watch the speed limit signs here!!) and well before the Mountain. It’s a great option for an easy, closer hike. There are a lot of skinny log bridges to cross, which may not be fun with a toddler. It’s shaded and gentle the whole way, with lots of lovely views of the river. Note from SFM-Early in summer the water will be high and fast. You may want to wait for later. In any case, do read the trip reports. There are also lots of good turn-around points-no need to go farther than you want!   This area would also be an excellent first backpacking destination. Open but trail reports mention bugs and some issues with out bridges. Go with a flexible spirit (and bug spray!). You’ll need a Northwest Forest Pass.

• Skookum Flats/Skookum Falls  Pretty views, and almost the whole hike is flat and shaded. You do have to scramble straight up a hillside if you want to get right up by the waterfall at the end-NOT for anyone but the sure footed (or mountain goats). Young children can just enjoy a peek-a-boo view. Do note that getting to the trailhead  requires going down one very bumpy road! If you want to see the waterfall in full force go during the late spring/early summer. Open; you need a Northwest Forest Pass. This is a very popular trail with mountain bikers and folks hiking with their dogs, so do be prepared to share the trail and socially distance. Also, you may need to go early to score parking.

• Sheep Lake A bit of this goes up hill, but it’s generally easy, and very pretty. The very first bit is the steepest, and may not be suitable for young children on their own.  We also had relatively little company on this one, something that can’t be said for most of the hikes on this list.  It ends at a bona fide alpine lake where kids (and your dog) could easily play the day away. You do need to bring bug spray. We got eaten alive doing this one late in August. Open; a few snow patches to cross. You will need a Northwest Forest Pass.

You might also like this post on easy hikes and nature walks, some of which are Fido Friendly.

Or this post has more options for kid friendly hiking at Mt. Rainier, but NOT with the dog.

While there is not an organized Summer Playground Program in Tacoma this year, there are still six park locations in Tacoma where area kids can get a free lunch this summer.

Read on for more straight from our friends at Metro Parks.

Summer lunch program continues in six parks despite the impacts of COVID-19

Free lunch is available to all youth under 18 years of age at the locations listed below. The District’s Grab & Go meal service may be expanded to include a playground component later this summer, but that will be dependent on Pierce County progressing from its current phase of reopening and the District being able to secure service providers with COVID-19 safety training and experience.

The free lunch program is available from noon to 1 p.m., Monday-Friday through August 28 at these park locations:

Several Tacoma community partners are also offering meal services this summer to help meet community-wide needs. Learn More

“Now, perhaps more than ever, we all need to ensure that kids in our community don’t suffer from food insecurity,” Metro Parks Board President Tim Reid said. “We’re extremely grateful for partnerships with Safeway and Safe Streets that enable us to provide this vital service for their health and well-being.”

Play Safe this Summer
Parents are advised to visit the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department website regularly, for the latest guidance for playing safely in public spaces and limiting their family’s risk of exposure to COVID-19.

For information on Metro Parks Tacoma playground openings head here.

Information on summer meals in Puyallup is here.

Outdoor Drive In Movies at Showare in Kent at a Kid Friendly Time

If you’re looking for something fun to do with the kids this weekend, I’ve got a great idea! The Showare Center in Kent is offering drive-in style movies.  How fun is that?

There are two shows most Wednesdays-Sundays, starting  THIS Wednesday the 8th when you can see The Land Before Time.  What’s really cool is that because they have a massive LED screen, they can start the show at 6:30, so you can have a great time with your family and still get the kids home and in bed at a reasonable hour!

Jurassic Park is also an option at 9:30, but that one is pretty late and scary for younger kids. Maybe for your big ones or date night, though? You do need a separate ticket for each show.

Clear daytime viewing!

New shows are announced every Wednesday!

I think Land Before Time sounds like about the cutest ticket for your whole summer, AND I have a special deal just for you!

Free Popcorn With Reader Code

I’ve partnered with our friends at Showare to get you a fun freebie! Note that they have provided me an affiliate link for ticket sales.

When you buy your ticket to the 6:30PM Showing of Land Before Time on Sunday July 12th and use code SOUNDSFUN, you’ll get a free popcorn!

Tickets are sold per car and the price is super reasonable compared to a regular night at the movies. Plus,  if you’ve been practically nowhere since March (raises hand), you’re probably due for a family night out!

You can head right here to get your tickets! Don’t forget to choose the 6:30PM showing of Land Before Time on Sunday if you want to use the SOUNDSFUN code to score your free popcorn! *Just take your ticket to the concession stand to get your free popcorn*

Here are some more details from our friends at ShoWare:

Showtimes*: 
Wednesdays: 6:30pm & 9:30pm
Thursdays: 6:30pm & 9:30pm
Fridays: 6:30pm & 9:30pm
Saturdays: 6:30pm & 9:30pm
Sundays: 6:30pm and 9:30pm
*Show times and dates are subject to change week by week

Prices* Per Vehicle:
$20 for Motorcycles
$30 for General Admission Parking
$40 for Premium General Admission (First 4 rows)

*Prices do not include fees.
*All ticket sales are final. No refunds or exchanges

– Each vehicle entering accesso ShoWare Center’s Outdoor Cinema requires one ticket. The amount of people allowed in each vehicle will be determined by the amount of seat belt’s per vehicle.
Example: A Toyota Prius will require one ticket, and will allow five people to enter.

No RV’s will be allowed.

– Food & non-alcoholic beverages will be available for purchase.

– We will have an FM Radio Station for you to tune from your vehicle. This station will be displayed on the screen before the movie begins.

Wondering about masks or safety precautions? More FAQs are right here! 

When you get tickets to the 6:30 showing of Land Before Time on Sunday the 12th don’t forget to use your code for free popcorn! 

Disclosure: If you purchase tickets to the Sunday showing via my link the site will receive a small percentage of the sale. I do appreciate it. As with all site content, you assume responsibility for your family’s experiences, and I want you to only do the things that Sound Fun for your fam! If you go, I’d love to hear your report!