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Right under your nose!
Take the stairs! Walk up and down, zig-zag back and forth, step up and over and down and under. Seattle is home to more than 650 public stairways, all ready to be explored, some leading to magical places, others little-known passages between city streets in quiet neighborhoods. Take a heart-pumping walk and climb to promote whole family exercise – not to mention a good night’s sleep for kids and parents. Check out stairway walks on the Seattle’s Child website. — Jasmin Thankachen
3seattleschild.com/5-seattle-stair-walks-that-are-funand-worth-the-work-with-kids
»Romp Things to do with kids
5 things to do
5 Boats You’ll Want to Float 1 Zip on over to Vashon Island or West Seattle aboard the King County Water Taxi at Pier 50 on the Seattle Waterfront. At $5.75 per ride (free for kids 5 and under), it’s an inexpensive way to sail away. kingcounty.gov/depts/ transportation/watertaxi/west-seattle.aspx
2 Wanna wow the young boat lover in your family? Visit the massive cruise ships that dock at Smith Cove and Pier 66 at Bell Harbor throughout the summer. Challenge: How many windows can you count?
3 Cool off with ice cream and other treats on the Seattle Water Tours Ice cream Sail. You’re certain to feel the breeze on this 45-minute trip around Lake Union. Bonus: Pups are welcome aboard and frozen treats are available for them too! seattlewatertours.com/ ice-cream-cruises
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STA I RWAY: COU RTE SY OF @ SE N SA P L AYRE N TA L S BOATS : COU RTE SY O F TH E CE N TE R FOR WOO DE N BOATS
The O’Neill family takes a self-guided tree walk through Ravenna.
Seattle tree walks Birds, bugs and history galore by L A U R A M U R R A Y / photo by J O S H U A H U S T O N
From winter hibernation to spring blossoms and fall foliage, trees in Seattle are fascinating to watch, season after season. They bring shade and fresh air and they beautify city parks and busy streets. The city’s Trees for Seattle program helps educate and
engage the community in tree stewardship and appreciation by offering a series of self-guided “tree walks” all over the city. Many are family-friendly, including a stroll in Ravenna that’s all about trees and birds. Other tree walks offered by the program include a scavenger hunt for trees at the zoo and a
pairing of trees with art at the Olympic Sculpture Park. Other walks highlight the history of unique trees and some integrate play areas along the way. Trees for Seattle offers easyto-follow directions with maps on both their app and website. We used the app (find it at seattle.gov/trees/get-involved/treewalks) to enjoy the colorful and stroller-friendly Ravenna Tree CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE >
Row, row, row your... peapod? The Center for Wooden Boats offers families the opportunity to cruise around in a wooden boat (called a peapod) on Lake Union for an hour, at no cost. Spots fill fast. Great for beginners. cwb.org/free-programs
5 Get ready for some swashbuckling adventure aboard the Emerald City Pirates Family Treasure Cruise. Arrrr matey! emeraldcitypirates.com/ family-treasure-cruise/ — Jasmin Thankachen
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