Parks

2017 FREE Days at Washington State and National Parks

March 12, 2017 by Keri Welch Leave a Comment

Guess what’s coming up? It’s a FREE day at our state parks (No Discover WA pass needed). If you love the outdoors as much as we do here at Sounds Fun Mom, you’ll want to be sure to put these dates on your calendar! Here are the dates and info you need to know about fee free days at Washington state parks and national parks in 2017! We also have recommendations for our favorite state parks below!

Discover Pass Free Days

If you want vehicle access to state parks or recreation lands managed by the Washington State Parks, you will need a Discover Pass. It will cost you $30 annually, or $10 for a one day pass. But, the following are Discover Pass Free Days:

Discover Pass Free Days
Washington State Parks offers several “free days” when a Discover Pass is not required to visit a state park. Following are the 2017 State Parks free days:
Jan. 1 — First Day Hikes; New Year’s Day
Jan. 15-16 — Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
March 19 — State Park’s 104th birthday
April 15 — Spring day
April 22 — Earth Day
June 3 — National Trails Day
June 10 — National Get Outdoors Day
Aug. 25 — National Park Service 101st Birthday
Sept. 30 — National Public Lands Day
Nov. 11 — Veterans Day
Nov. 24 — Autumn day

Fee Free Days Washington state parks and national parks

The nature trail at Dash Point State Park

The free days only apply to day use and not overnight stays or rented facilities, or those lands managed by the Washington State Departments of Natural Resources and Fish & Wildlife.

If you decide you want to purchase a Discover Pass, you can buy them online, from over 600 licensed vendors, from the Department of Licensing when you renew your license, at state parks where representatives are present, and at over 80 retail locations.

Two of our favorite South Sound Washington State Parks are Saltwater State Park in Des Moines and Dash Point State Park in Federal Way. Tolmie near Olympia and Kopachuck near Gig Harbor are also great. We’d love to hear about your favorites, too. Leave a comment and spill!

There are also some days when you can get free entry to national parks!

Fee Free Days at National Parks

Fee Free Days 2016 Washington State Parks and National Parks

Hiking at Olympic National Park

2017 Free Days at National Parks

January 16: Martin Luther King Jr. Day
February 20: Presidents’ Day
April 15-16 and 22-23: Weekends of National Park Week
August 25: National Park Service Birthday
September 30: National Public Lands Day
November 11-12: Veterans Day Weekend

If you are heading toward Mt. Rainier, you might find these posts helpful:

Ten Great Hikes For Kids Near Mt. Rainier
A Kid Friendly Guide To Mt.Rainier

4th Graders FREE to National Parks

In case you haven’t heard, the Every Kid in a Park Initiative allows all 2016-2017 4th graders and their families free access to national parks. Get more info at our post about Every Kid in a Park! PS You can use your free pass for everyone in the car, and it’s good all the way through August! An amazing deal!

5th Grade Ski Passport

If you’ve got a 5th grader and are planning to travel to Eastern Washington or Northern Idaho, your child can get a FREE ski passport to ride or ski at participating slopes. Get all the info at the 5th Grade Ski Passport site.

What are some of your favorite state or national parks to enjoy with your kiddos?

Playground Report: Puget Park

September 12, 2016 by Maegen Blue Leave a Comment

Sun is in the forecast all week. Just in time, our contributor Tabitha has a report on Puget Park in North Tacoma, a unique pocket park with interesting equipment, shady picnic spots, and a trail that leads down to Ruston Way.

Puget Park sits on 1.22 acres and is nestled on 31st & N. Proctor in North Tacoma, with a newly updated playground and a trail connecting Puget Gulch and the Ruston Way waterfront.

pugetpark1

The park offers a playground, trails, and shade that makes it a great spot on a hot day. There are tables for a picnic, or you can throw down a blanket and relax on the grass.

pugetpark2

The playground equipment is fairly new and has many different features. I’d say the toys are appropriate for a range of ages; 0-2 years old will love the swings and the shaded grass, 2-12 will find something they love. I’d say the big toy is geared more towards ages 2-7, as the older children get bored quickly. Ages 8-12 will enjoy the spinning toys surrounding the big toy. There are plenty of hills if your child loves to roll down the grass hills. [Read more…]

Park Report: Wildwood Park in Puyallup

August 17, 2016 by Maegen Blue Leave a Comment

This shady park might be Puyallup’s best kept secret, and it’s perfect for kids whose favorite playground is mother nature!

It’s great if you’re looking for a park where kids can wade or keep cool,and it’s also a nice spot to meet up for a nature walk (you can even bring the stroller!) or a picnic.

The two playground structures are by the little creek (Crick?). They’re nothing special, but the kids will have fun on them. The metal slide can get hot on those very rare days when they’ve been in the sun long enough.

Wildwood Park Puyallup

For most kids, the water will be the primary attraction. It’s truly just a trickle, especially in the summer, but it’s plenty for kids to stomp in, and it’s just the right amount for making temporary dams and floating leaf boats. I always made my kids wear sandals or water shoes.

My boys and I have also spent many days here exploring the woods and walking on the trails. It’s an 80 acre park with more than 50 forested ares of towering trees.

IMG_0416 (1)

A few things to know if you go: [Read more…]

Park Report: Deep Lake At Nolte State Park

July 28, 2016 by Maegen Blue Leave a Comment

Looking for another fun place to swim? Awesome reader, Cortnie, sent in these pics from Deep Lake in Enumclaw that make me want to dive right in!

It’s in Enumclaw, so a bit of a trek for some of you, but it looks worth it if you’re looking for a quiet, clean place to splash and play. Do note that it is actually part of Nolte State Park, so you’ll need a Discover Pass, or you can get one for the day. There aren’t lifeguards, so you’ll need to watch your kiddos at all times. Motorized boats aren’t allowed, so you’ll enjoy a peaceful environment.

What else could you want? Cortnie says you’ll also find a lovely trail around the lake and clean bathrooms. Woot! Sounds playdate meet-up worthy to me! You can also check it out on the state parks site here.

For more swimming lakes, you can check our round-up here (be sure to read the comments for more reviews and recs).

For ALL our best warm weather posts just head to the home page, where we’ve pinned our, “Beat the heat guide.” We also have a post on Mud Mountain Dam in Enumclaw here. This one gets lots of raves from readers, though one of our great Facebook fans warned us that the view trail is still closed, and she encountered lots of bees and bugs in the pool and the sand. It is that time of year!

Would you like to share pics or a review with us? We love them!! Feel free to share them with us on our Facebook page or email soundsfunmom@gmail.com!

Park Report: Mud Mountain Dam and Recreation Area

July 27, 2016 by Maegen Blue 2 Comments

Update 6/6/2017-Wondering when the fountain and pool at Mud Mountain will be on? As of this writing, it is scheduled for June 17th, but staff tell us there are some problems with the pool surface, so they suggest calling before you head up. Directions and contact info. are here. Read on for our original post on this fun spot!

This park has it all: hiking, beautiful views, playgrounds, picnic shelters, outdoor grills and a fun splash pool/fountain.

A friend and I visited this park with our kids (12, 10 and 9 year olds) and our dogs.

First, we checked out the hiking trails. We started at Vista Sites, which is an observation deck overlooking the river and dam. The view of the river is amazing, and there are several informational plaques describing the history of the dam as well. The Vista Trail (.3 miles) leads from the upper deck down a hill to another observation area for a closer view of the water. Unfortunately, the Vista Trail was closed due to fallen trees, but a sign stated that it will be open soon. I’ve been on that trail before and although it is steep, the view is amazing, so don’t miss it if it is open!

Next, we found the trailhead for the Rim Trail, located just outside the main gate of the park. This trail is narrow (we had to hike single file) and a little overgrown. The main trail continues for 2 miles, but our kids wanted to get back to play in the fountain, so we hiked one mile out and back. The trail winds through thick forest so we stayed cool on a really warm day. We could hear the river, but we couldn’t see it.

This trail continues for two miles, before connecting to another trail that leads along the river for a total of 5 miles. Due to roots, inclines, and uneven ground, I really wouldn’t recommend this hike for younger kids. Ours did have fun, and we plan on returning to hike the rest. You can check out this trip report at Visit Rainier for more information. Note that it also cautions about unstable ground.

The park itself is amazing, with four separate play structures, one that has swings only (two baby swings and two regular) and the three play structures feature the usual slides, rings, etc.

There are many covered picnic areas, some with grills, and lots of grassy meadow for lounging. A clean bathroom with a baby changing table is right next to the splash pool.

The favorite for our kiddos was the giant, mushroom-shaped fountain and wading pool. Be sure and pack the kids’ bathing suits, because only swimwear is permitted in the water. Note from SFM-In the summer of 2016 one of our readers reported a lot of bees/insects near the pool. That was not our writer’s experience, so we suspect something must have been blooming. We haven’t heard reports of anything like that recently, but there are some other links at the bottom of this post if you need a back up option (You could also do a hike/playground and skip the pool-if your kids would be ok with that).

If you go-Mud Mountain Dam Recreation Area is at 30525 SE Mud Mountain Rd, Enumclaw, WA 98022 You’ll see a sign on your right, and the park is at the end of a short road/driveway. There is ample parking and no fee. I’ve only found it to be close to busy if there is a group there. It is a bit out of the way, unless you’re in Enumclaw, so we suggest you pack a picnic and your suits and have a full day of play and relaxation with some pals! The water is typically on until the first freeze. You can get more detailed directions here.

Article and pictures by contributor Tiffany Doerr Guerzon.

We have more great summer hikes with the kids here! One to consider that is somewhat close to Mud Mountain is Federation Forest.

Park Report: Sunnyside Beach Park in Steilacoom

July 21, 2016 by Maegen Blue Leave a Comment

If you’re looking for things to do with the kids near University Place or Lakewood, head on over to Sunnyside Beach Park, a terrific park that offers beach play, a playground, and even some train spotting, all in the charming little town of Steilacoom. Read on for all the scoop from new contributing writer, Tabitha!

Playground at Sunnyside Beach in Steilacoom

Sunnyside Park truly is perfect for all ages. Kids 2-8 will love the playground. Do keep in mind it is not fenced in, so you’ll want to watch your little ones to make sure they don’t wander to the beach without you. There is a fence between the playground and train tracks. The playground has a colorful climber and swings for babies and big kids.

sandy beach near Tacoma at Sunnyside Beach

The park also features a beach with sand in spots for sand castle making! A train track nearby means you’re sure to see a train or two while playing, and it is fenced in except for the entrance, which isn’t very close to the playground. It’s definitely a great outing for the little train lover. There are also plenty of picnic tables and bbq pits throughout the park, one picnic shelter, bathrooms with showers, and two volleyball courts great for teenagers or game loving families (bring your own ball).

Sunnyside Beach Park The Sugar Shack sells cold treats, drinks and snacks during the weekends Friday-Sundays 1-7PM.

The park is at 2509 Chambers Creek Rd, Steilacoom WA There is ample parking available, though you do need to bring some cash as it is fee based. 5.00 will cover non residents for the day. If you don’t want to pay, you can typically find free parking a short walk away.

Tabitha Black- local mom, lifestyle, travel and family blogger. Check her out at her blog, Love, Tabitha.

Need more ideas to enjoy this (Finally!!) sun filled day? Our beat the heat round up has more beaches, places to swim, and everything else you need to know today! You can also always find more under the summer tab in the menu bar.

Park Report: Kobayashi Park in University Place

July 20, 2016 by Maegen Blue 1 Comment

Contributing writer, Tabitha, has a report on a fun park to try in University Place.

Update from SFM-One of our awesome readers on Facebook let us know that the water is quite high, cold, and swift right now (probably from all the Spring rains and snow melt), so keep that in mind. Also, keep in mind that some parts are swift and not good for very small children year round. More on that ahead…. I know you’re always cautious with your children around water!

I also want to let you know that another reader said she’d observed some homeless folks drinking here. I really don’t want to spoil a lovely park for you, but there’s all your information…..

Moving on….

Kobayashi Park is a hidden gem just perfect for Tacoma and Lakewood area families looking for a short nature walk for beginning hikers, or just a pleasant place to picnic, splash, and play with the kids.

We discovered this local secret in University Place a few years back.

It’s called Kobayashi Park, and it’s where Leach Creek meets Chambers Creek and flows into the Puget Sound. It is the perfect spot to have fun, get wet, and cool off during the summer months, and explore nature and rejuvenate during the cold months.

When the water is warm enough, kids (and you), can splash around in the creek, throw rocks, search for bugs and crawfish (kinda hard to find, though), and just have fun cooling off. Even if you don’t want to play in the water, this place is still the perfect spot for summer time, because plenty of tree coverage equals lots of shade. This park is truly perfect for all ages.

Keep in mind, Leach Creek is not very deep and the stream of the water is very mellow, so this side is perfect for children! Leach Creek flows into Chambers Creek and that is the creek you need to use more caution around, especially with young ones. There is also very small waterfall.

Besides the creeks, this park offers a trail to explore, and it’s a great place to walk the dog and get some exercise. It’s also perfect for anyone looking for a short and easy hike or nature walk with young or beginner hikers. There are a couple benches throughout the 5.5 acre park, if you want to just sit and relax.

The park also is a great spot to picnic or have a get together; there are flushing toilets, picnic tables, two covered picnic shelters with electrical plugins and bbq pits. During the warmer months, this is a popular location for family picnics and for good reason.

Getting there: We drove by this park for years without knowing it was here. The address is Kobayashi Park Drive University Place, WA 98467 If you do happen to get lost, just keep in mind it is down 67th Ave W just before it turns into Chambers Creek Rd. Once you turn onto Kobayashi Park Drive (it has a Dead End sign), drive down and you will see a white fence. Then to your right you will (finally) see the park sign. The park itself is down the small hill.

Parking: the park only has about 10 parking spaces(wheelchair parking available) down below, and on a hot day this is a popular spot, and you may have a difficult time finding a parking spot if you come at prime time. Don’t let that scare you away, though. If there are absolutely no parking spaces available down below, you are allowed to park up on Kobayashi Park Dr. It is a short walk down the hill, and there is usually not much traffic to worry about while you’re walking down.

Hope you enjoy this beautiful park as much as we do.

Note from SFM: I found another post by a travel site that has driving directions that are a teensy bit more specific if these don’t work for you. It’s here!

Tabitha Black- local mom, lifestyle, travel and family blogger at Love Tabitha

If you enjoyed this post, you may also like our round up of South Sound parks with shade. Got kids who love to splash and wade? The bottom of our post on swimming lakes has a short list of places for the wading set!

If you would like to write for us, we are currently accepting submissions for Gig Harbor, Bonney Lake, Auburn, and Tacoma area outings. Please search our archives first and send an inquiry with your just your idea to soundsfunmom@gmail.com. We’d love to read your stuff! 🙂

50 FREE or Almost FREE Things to Do in the South Sound This Summer

June 28, 2016 by Keri Welch 4 Comments

Updated for 2017

When you’ve got all summer long to keep the kiddos having fun, things can get pricy. We’re here to help! Try out all kinds of these things for FREE or nearly FREE all summer long. Put them on your summer bucket list, write them on your calendar, or gather friends to do something fun!

PS If you like this post, we think you’ll LOVE the weekend lists we put up on the home page every Friday (there’s one there now)! You can also sign up for our weekly newsletter!

Things to Do for FREE this Summer Tacoma, Puyallup, Federal Way, Bonney Lake, Lakewood, Auburn, Renton, Kent

Get Wet!

1. We’ve got a huge list of places to cool off in the summer sun. Try out one of many South Sound spraygrounds, fountains, splash pads or pools from Auburn to Olympia!

2. If something a little more outdoorsy is more your speed, try out an area lake that’s great for swimming! We’ve got a huge list of Great Lakes for Swimming in the South Sound.

Great lakes for swimming in the South Sound

Lake Tapps North, photo courtesy Pierce County

3. Explore one of the Best Beaches for Kids in the South Puget Sound. One of our family favs is Dash Point City Park. There is fishing pier, a little playground, sandy beach that turns rocky, and beautiful sunsets that you can only get in the PNW.

50 Free Things to do in the South Sound this Summer

4. Kiddos can stay busy for a very long time by playing in the sand. Choose from one of the Best South Sound Beaches with Sand, or make a day of it and drive to the ocean!

5. Explore the beach at low tide and find all kinds of critters and sea life. Seattle Aquarium beach naturalists will be at various South Sound beaches throughout the summer to help us all learn more about the amazing marine life that surrounds Puget Sound and what we can do to make sure it’s around for generations to come. The link has info. on similar programs from Harbor WildWatch, Metro Parks Tacoma, and the South Sound Estuary Association. There is one near you no matter where you live around here!

6. Go fishing! Keep summer days easy with fishing at a local pier or river. You can even stop by Jim’s U-Fish in Spanaway if you want more of a sure thing! There are also animals to feed and pet here. This one can add up a bit, but readers have said it’s loads of fun.

50 Free things to do in the South Sound this summer

7. Try one of Five Fun Swimming Pools for South Sound Kids. One of our favs is Kandle Pool in Tacoma, which has the first wave pool in Pierce County. There’s also a shallow tot pool and sprayground. Admission is FREE for ages 4 and under. All Tacoma pools will be FREE on the 4th of July.

8. If you rather stay out of the sun and get wet indoors, we’ve got a great list of Cool Indoor Pools in the South Sound just for kids! Entrance to the Covington Pool for a family is only $13.50 and kiddos under age 4 are FREE.

Cool indoor pools for kids tacoma, covington

The Octopus at the Covington Pool

9. Splash and explore at the Mashell River in Eatonville. It’s great for kiddos who are a little bigger. And, my kids never seem to tire of skipping rocks.

mashell river in eatonville

10. Have you visited the Brown’s Point Lighthouse? You can opt to stay dry here or take a dip in the Sound. If you go on a Saturday afternoon from 1-4PM, you can take a tour of the Lighthouse Keeper’s cottage for free!

11. The Mast Center at Redondo is such a treasure! It’s a small aquarium with touch tanks, and it’s totally FREE to visit. 10-2 every Saturday, and they also have some special open times in the summer months. More about that soon!

12. American Lake in Lakewood hosts FREE water safety classes in the summer. This is a partnership with the YMCA and the City of Lakewood and includes basics like floating and treading water. This year, you can catch them on July 14th, 17th, 20th, and 29th, or August 4th, 13th, or 18th from 4-6PM. This is primarily intended for children, and it repeats-so think of it as a one time safety lesson/water introduction; not a replacement for lessons.

Opt Outside

13. Try a new to you playground. Here’s our list of Best South Sound Playgrounds.

14. What little transportation lover doesn’t want to Touch a Truck?! Explore some of the biggest trucks around that service your community. Get all the details on upcoming events in our South Sound Touch a Truck Roundup.

15. One of our favorite things to do in the South Sound is explore a nature trail. Here’s our list of Ten South Sound Nature Walks Perfect for Young Hikers. Hylebos Wetlands in Federal Way is a great first start!

16. If you’re ready to explore an actual hike, you can’t go wrong with Mt. Rainier. We’ve wrangled some of the best hikes near Mt. Rainier for kiddos!

If you actually go in the park, you will have to pay for a pass unless you go on a FREE day! For hikes outside the park the pass you’ll need varies, so do check on that. Got someone who just finished 4th grade? You can go to national parks for FREE through August!

Free activities with kids in the South Sound

Skookum Falls

17. Are your littles not yet ready for hiking or nature trails? Try one of the beautiful South Sound Stroller Friendly Trails. If you’ve got one with a bike and one in the stroller, try out the Puyallup Foothills Trail, which is wide enough for all of you!

18. Explore one of our many state parks or a national park for FREE on one of the Fee Free Days.

The nature trail at Dash Point State Park

19. Have you tried geocaching yet? There are some great caches in Pt Defiance, with some easily discovered near the Rose Garden area. Or, take a hike where you can find some that are slightly more difficult. Want something less high tech? Get in on the painted rock craze and you’ll be creating and hunting for painted rocks at area parks in no time. So much fun!

20. Now that it’s listed on the National Register of Historic Places, a visit to the Puyallup Fish Hatchery should be on your summer agenda! Explore the Educational Center (by appointment), take a walk around the hatchery, and even stroll the grounds into Clark Creek’s Park.

puyallup fish hatchery

Free Your Mind

21. Sign up for a Library Summer Reading Program, where your kiddos can avoid the summer slide and win cool prizes, too! When you go in to sign up be sure to get a list of all the awesome programs being offered for FREE and mark some on your calendar so you don’t forget! You might also want to check out special summer story hours at the Seymour Conservatory and the Job Carr Cabin Museum.

22. Hit up a museum for free! There are FREE days during each month at area Tacoma and Seattle museums. Or, go on your own schedule by checking out a pass from your library.

Museum of Glass

23. Catch an excellent planetarium show at Pierce College that’s just for kids! Shows are just 6.00 for ages 3-12 and FREE for everyone else. What a great time of year to get interested in star gazing-especially this summer with the eclipse coming!

Free or Nearly Free Activities south sound

24. For only $3/parking you can explore the beautiful Nisqually Wildlife Refuge near Olympia. Kids will have extra fun becoming Junior Wildlife Refuge Managers while you’re here.

25. Do your kiddos enjoy getting dirty in the garden? How about signing them up for FREE gardening classes with the Pierce County Master Gardeners in Puyallup. These programs are FREE and include a short story time, lesson and activities. Programs are designed for children ages 3-11.

Get the Wiggles Out

26. Need a place for your kids to play a game that won’t make a mess in your house? Sign them up for Kids Bowl FREE all summer long!

27. Alternate the bowling with skating! Kids can skate FREE all summer long, too at Skate Tiffany’s in Puyallup.

Beat the Heat Indoors

28. No AC at home? Getting cranky with the stickiness of summer? Hit up one of the many South Sound Mall Play Areas. Meet up with friends and make it extra fun! Unless you do some shopping, it’s always Free to play!

29. You can also opt for an Indoor Playground. We suggest investing in the unlimited play pass from WiggleWorks. Yes, it will cost you upfront, but if you go enough you can get each visit down to just a couple of bucks (or less). Challenge accepted!

30. Want something more Mom friendly? Grab a latte at one of the Five Kid Friendly Coffee Shops in the South Sound.

31. Catch a cheap movie! Regal Summer Movie Express is offering $1 movies on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings this summer.

Catch a Show

32. There are all kinds of FREE Summer Concerts and Shows for Kids in the South Sound all summer long! One coming right up is the popular Kindie Rock group Recess Monkey in Lacey!

Fun with Recess Monkey

33. Want something a little more magical? Enjoy the sights and thrills of magician Jeff Evans! He brings the magic of science alive to kids in a way that’s engaging, entertaining and FUN! Check out the schedule of FREE shows all summer long featuring Jeff!

34. Nothing says summer like FREE outdoor movies under the stars! We’ve got a HUGE list of Outdoor Summer Movies in the South Sound just for you and your kiddos!

Visit a Fair or Festival

35. There is an awesome variety of festivals around the South Sound all summer long. You could go to a different one each weekend. Coming up soon on July 8, catch the SummerFest in Lakewood. It’s a FREE all day festival with activities, food, entertainment, car show, Kids Zone and more!

Olympia Harbor Days over Labor Day weekend is full of low cost fun for the whole family. Watch tugboat races, try your hand at a remote controlled tugboat, stop by one of the many activity booths, and much more!

You’ll need to look at the whole list-there are so many to choose from!

Summer Festivals Tacoma, Kent, Puyallup, Bonney Lake, Lakewood

36.The Pierce County Fair is in Graham Thursday-Sunday, August 10-13 This small fair has lots of animals on display and is an annual celebration of rural life. Don’t tell on us, but we think it’s a great, down-home alternative to the, “Big one,” and you can spend less, too! Another option is the Thurston County Fair the week before.

37. Drive up to Seattle for any of the SeaFair events. My family loves to check out the Torchlight Parade (July 29, 7:30pm), featuring awesome local celebrities such as Sounders & Seahawks players, 100 parade units, lots of pirates, cultural demonstrations, and the giant helium balloons.

38. For awesome fireworks on the 4th of July, check out the Tacoma Freedom Fair . A full day affair featuring a fireworks spectacular, Freedom Fair Air Show, and fun on Ruston Way featuring an airshow, food, vendors, exhibits, rides. This is a big PARTY, which culminates in a huge fireworks show over Puget Sound. We have more fireworks options here!

39. The Kite Festival at Chambers Creek (Saturday 10:00am-3:00pm) is fun for the whole family! Head down to the Central Meadow for an amazing day of kite demonstrations, family kite flying, face painting, and more! The first 250 kids will have an opportunity to make their own kites!

Take a Day Trip

40. Hop in the car for a day trip! There is so much variety all within 3 hours driving distance of Tacoma, including Leavenworth, Port Townsend, and Snoqualmie Falls!

41. Head to Seattle for the day! The kids will get a kick out of the simple pleasures such as exploring Pike Place Market, the Gum Wall, and the Olympic Sculpture Park. Also worth a visit is the Ballard Locks, where kids will be mesmerized by boats passing through the locks or viewing the salmon in the fish ladder.

Our friend Angela at The Coupon Project also has a big list of frugal outings in Seattle.

Good Eats!

42. Kids can eat FREE lunches all summer long at locations all across the Puget Sound. Find the location nearest you at USDA Summer Food Rocks site. These are usually offered at local parks and schools. Schools seem to be really slow on updating this for 2017, so if you can’t find a location near you, call your district office!

43. All year long, there are lots of places where kids can eat FREE in the South Sound with a paying adult or through a rewards program.
eat

44. While this isn’t free, getting ice cream is a cheap outing that your kiddos will LOVE. Hit up one of our Reader’s Favorite Ice Cream Spots in the South Sound! Don’t miss Ice Cream Social if you’re near Tacoma!

45. Summer fun should always include some berry picking! Be sure to put this one on the calendar because it always seems to sneak up on us with everything else going on all summer. For where to get the best berries, head to our South Sound Berry Picking Guide.

South Sound Pride

46. If you haven’t been to Cabela’s in Lacey or Bass Pro Shop in Tacoma, summer is the perfect opportunity. How can you resist a free excursion with a description like this: the 185,000-square-foot retail showroom is an educational and entertainment attraction, featuring a decor of museum-quality animal displays, huge aquariums and trophy animals interacting in realistic re-creations of their natural habitats. Bass Pro Shop boasts a 12,000-gallon freshwater aquarium, 3-D diorama of a running waterfall with mountain lion, big horn sheep, and mountain goats against a backdrop mural of Mount Rainier, not to mention the unique bowling alley!

47. Got a kid who is into military history? Visit the McChord Air Museum for FREE, Wednesday-Friday, 12:00pm-4:00pm, and as of April 2016 open to the public. There are specific document requirements for gaining access to the base, so be sure to check those out before promising your kiddos this one!

Free South Sound summer events

48. Kitsap Live Steamers invites you to Port Orchard on the 2nd and 4th Saturday of each month through October to ride a miniature steam train for FREE (donations are welcome).

Free South Sound summer events

49. Have you been to the new Point Ruston? The Playground on the Waterwalk is made to look like a large ferry, and kiddos can pretend they are charting their own course across the Sound. You’ll also want to check out the Grand Plaza Sprayground, open from noon-10pm, daily. This is more of a splashpad for littles, but it’s free and even has a light show at dusk. Read our full review on the spray ground with tips from the folks at Point Ruston on parking and bathrooms.

50. Visit Daddy or Mommy at work for lunch! This can be a fun way for the kids to see what Daddy or Mommy does, and also break up the long workday! Find a nearby park to make it a fuller trip, and explore the area. There may even be other family members who would enjoy a visit like this from your kiddos!

If all else fails, a good old fashioned slip n slide from Target is always fun!

Need still More ideas?

You can find even more fun in our complete summer guide! We’ll also have our awesome weekend round ups every Friday all summer long plus more playground reviews, hike reports, and outing ideas the rest of the week! We’d love to see you every day!

PS If you liked this post, we think you’ll Love Our Emails

Puyallup Sprayground Opens!

May 25, 2016 by Maegen Blue Leave a Comment

Hey, Puyallup, wondering when your sprayground will open?

The sprayground-splash pad has had periodic openings already, but it will officially open for the season on May 26th with a summer kick off party at 5PM.

After that, it will have daily hours beginning May 27th!

The sprayground is right by the downtown library (Get your books first because wet kiddos and books don’t mix)!

There is also a fun playground with Big slides at Pioneer Park, and on weekends there is one of the area’s best farmer’s markets, which means this place is hopping!

The sprayground isn’t huge, but it’s plenty of fun. My son and his pal had a ball there on one of those really hot days a couple of weeks ago. There are fountain things for little ones to walk by and over, and there are some interactive, overhead features that can dump a Lot of water when kids get them going.

All the kids I saw were having a ball! Tomorrow’s event will also include vendors and other kick-off style fun!

Tomorrow’s event will go on rain or shine unless there is an outright downpour, in which case it will be canceled.

Check the parks Facebook page for updates.

If you’re wondering where to park on a busy day, I suggest the parking garage at city hall, which has ample, underused public parking. You can also find street parking. Parking by the spray park itself will be next to impossible. I don’t recommend changing at the library for various reasons, so my suggestion is you do all your dry play first, then enjoy the spray park, and bring dry stuff they can easily throw over their suits in the car or whatever….If you’ve got a better routine, let me know!

Thanks to Puyallup dad and city councilman, Tom Swanson for the photos!

Stroller Friendly Trails in the South Sound

April 12, 2016 by Keri Welch 3 Comments

Looking for a trail you can walk with a stroller, or maybe just a walk that the whole family can enjoy? We’ve rounded up some favorite South Sound options featuring paved, stroller friendly trails.

Note-While we enjoy all these trails, we do want you to use reasonable caution; don’t leave valuables at the trailheads-even for a minute! Read on for the list, and be sure to check the comments for more!

Stroller Friendly Trails near Tacoma, Olympia, Gig Harbor, Spanaway

Milton Interurban Trail

Stroller Friendly Hikes in the South Sound

Photo Credit: City of Milton

This trail is paved and good for walking or biking, and perfect for strollers. with lengths as long as 2.8 miles. If your kiddo has a time limit on how long they’ll sit in the stroller, simply make a u-turn when you feel you’ve gone far enough. The scenic route includes forest views as well as a peak at the East Branch of Hylebos Creek. There are also picnic tables on this trail that you access at 70th Avenue.

Bradley Lake Park, Puyallup

Photo Credit: City of Puyallup

Walk a loop around Bradley Lake along the paved 0.8 mile trail. There are also some shorter paved and unpaved side trails. If your littles need a spot to stretch their legs, they can roam around the playground.

Puyallup’s Foothills Trail

Photo Credit: Pierce County

If you live near Puyallup, the Foothills Trail is the perfect spot to take your little one for a walk in the stroller. There are 15 miles of paved trails stretching from Meeker to South Prairie, and also a 2 mile section in Buckley. The trail is 12 feet wide, so bring your friends and walk side by side. View the map and trailheads on the Foothills Trail page. Eventually the Foothills Trail will also connect with the Puyallup Riverwalk Trail.

Tehaleh, Bonney Lake

Find your way to nature's living room today #Nature #Tehaleh #OutdoorLife

A post shared by Tehaleh by Newland Communities (@tehaleh) on Feb 28, 2016 at 10:04am PST

If you’ve got a jogging stroller or off-roading type stroller, Tehaleh is the place to be. This beautiful, newish community in Bonney Lake boasts over 10 miles of trails, some of which are paved, others are smaller gravel. There are parks, ponds, and “outdoor living rooms” nestled within the trails. Explore their handy Trail Map online before you go. This community is so picturesque, you won’t want to leave without checking out some of the homes for sale.

Chambers Bay, Tacoma

If you’re looking for a trail with a view, this is the spot. There are 5 trails to choose from, ranging in length from 0.5 miles to 2 miles. The trails are primarily paved and easy to traverse with the most basic stroller. Get more info on this hike on our post on South Sound Rainy Day Hikes and Trails with Kids.

Spanaway Park Trail

Take a 3 mile walk through beautiful Spanaway Park. While the trail is only partially paved, you should be able to traverse it in a decent stroller. You’ll enjoy views of the lake, wetlands, and rolling hills. Be warned, there is also an awesome playground at this park that your kiddos will insist on checking out.

Cushman Trail, Gig Harbor

cushman-trail-1

Near Gig Harbor? The SFM grandma recommends Cushman Trail, a paved, but non-motorized trail that’s perfect for beginning bike riders. Wide paths and multiple bathrooms along the way! There are multiple access points along the trail, including 96th St NW, Grandview, Hollycroft and 14th Ave NW. Check out the site to see a map and choose the spot best for your crew.

Chehalis Western Trail, Olympia

This trail boasts over 22 miles of public space, featuring a variety of terrain and views, including wetlands, Puget Sound, Chambers Lake, forests, and more. Almost all 22 miles of the trail are paved. You can choose from 7 trailheads, but be sure to check out the map before you go so you’ll be sure you know when to turn around.

Do you know of any other stroller friendly trails in the South Sound?

Be sure to visit our Premium Sponsors!