Free Admission at Woodland Park Zoo for Winter Break

The kids are all out of school for winter break. Now what to do?

Well, you're in luck. The Woodland Park Zoo is offering free admission to kids ages 12 with each paying adult every day until January 3 (except December 25). Just mention "Winter Fun" to get a child in free!

The Zoo has lots of fun events for the holiday season. Enjoy the Zoo's Winter Celebration, where each of the animals receive holiday-themed treats and toys, a program designed to enrich each animal's lives and keep them mentally stimulated.

While the forecast looks sunny for Seattle, the temperatures might require some inside time as well. Check out the Zoo's Zoomazium, a year-round, indoor play space designed for kids. Check out Famplosion.com to find times of specific activities held at the Zoomazium, such as the Nature Exchange.

The Great Book Trade

Bellevue Library is sponsoring the "Great Book Trade" on Friday, August 21 at 10:00am. Kids can bring up to 5 books that they are tired of and trade them for 5 others. It's a great way to clean out your shelves, and maybe get rid of some books that you have read far to many times!

Free Passes to KidsQuest and Bellevue Arts

I just found out that you can get free passes to Bellevue Arts Museum and KidsQuest Museum through the Bellevue Regional Library. For more information, look here. (Scroll down to the events that talk about Free Passes.)

The passes can be signed up for online—there is no need to visit the library itself!

Kids Bowl Free Every Day!

Several bowling alleys in the Seattle area are offering free games of bowling (up to 2 a day) for any child. All you have to do is register here. The offer is open to all kids 15 and under at the alley I checked out.

You still have to pay to rent bowling shoes, but if you're planning on using this deal often, it might be worth it to find a pair of junior bowling shoes on ebay!

In order to accomodate parents and older children in your family that may like to bowl, the participating bowling centers are offering a Family Pass. The Family Pass provides the same great "2 games a day" package for up to 4 adult family members for a one-time payment from $23.95.

Jetty Island Opening Day Sandblast

Looking for the perfect beach for your kids this summer? I just learned about Jetty Island in Everett, and I am thinking that it would be a great place to take the kids. Jetty Island is a man-made island 5 miles off of Everett, so that means that a visit not only includes the beach, but a free ferry ride as well!

Best of all, tomorrow, July 1, is the island's Opening Day Sandblast, and event complete with a flag raising, pirate landing, and a treasure hunt! And it's all free!

To find out more info about Jetty Park, see the website here. (The calendar of events is located to the right of the webpage.) The free Jetty ferry departs from the 10th Street Boat Launch and Marine Park, located at 10th Street and W. Marine View Drive. The ferry travels to and from the island at 30 minute intervals throughout the day. You can pick up your individual boarding passes at the kiosk located in the park. Donations are accepted.

Helicopter Air Show at the Museum of Flight

Head down to the east parking lot of the Museum of Flight this weekend to catch the American Heroes Helicopter Air Show. The event is free, and will include:

• Helicopter displays, flyovers and tactical demonstrations
• Interactive exhibits and hands-on family activities
• Public safety and emergency preparedness displays
• Helicopter rides
• Live local entertainment
• Public safety career fair
• Concessions

The helicopters will begin arriving at 7:30pm. Come early to see them fly in. (If you have very young kids, the noise might scare them, so please use judgment in seeing them fly in early!)

Regal Entertainment Free Family Film Festival

Who wants to go to the movies for FREE this summer? I guess the real question is, who wouldn't? Regal Cinemas is offering G and PG movies at 10:00 every Tuesday and Wednesday this summer for free. And good thing for you, there are lots of different locations where this is offered. The movies all look like fun, and with all that you'll be saving in movie tickets, you'll have to get some popcorn!

Click here for FREE movie times and locations.

Seafair Fleet Week

During Seafair's Fleet Week (held July 29 to August 2, 2009), some lucky people will get the chance to ride on some of the navy's ships through the Seafair Ship Rider program. Riders will be chosen randomly among the applications received. We can't find out exact details on which boats are coming for security reasons, but previous Seafair guest cruises have included destroyers, frigates, cutters and hospital ships.

The cruises will last from 6 to 8 hours, including embarking and disembarking, and include lunch and the chance to walk through passageways, climb ladders, tour the different decks, and get a real taste of life at sea as you cruise the Puget Sound. What a cool opportunity!

The cruises are only open to passengers age 8 and up, but this could be a once-in-a-lifetime adventure for you and your older kids. Find the applications and more information on Fleet Week cruises here.

Applications must be received by July 10, so get moving!

Jim Henson's Muppets at EMPSFM

Have you checked out the Experience Music Project/Science Fiction Museum's new exhibit Jim Henson's Fantastic World? If not, make a date on your calendars for the EMPSFM Free First Thursday tomorrow from 5 to 8pm.

The exhibit features illustrations, tv and movie props, photos, and even real puppets from Jim Henson's collection. There is also a hands on puppet theatre where visitors can try out handling puppets themselves while the puppets perform music from the Muppet's repertoire.

The museum is usually crowded on it's free days, so get there early and head straight for the hands-on parts. Those usually are crowded first.

Find out more about the exhibit here.

Bellevue Botanical Garden

We visited the Bellevue Botanical Garden the other night to take advantage of the beautiful weather and the springtime blooms. There were kids running around the paths and the flowers and rhododendrons were out in their glory. Unfortunately, the mosquitoes were too, and if there is one thing that I hate, it is mosquitoes. We took a quick walk around the gardens, but I think we'll be coming back again when it is windy, or a little earlier in the day.

I particularly enjoyed the Yao Garden, and I've heard good things about the Perennial Border and the 1/3 mile loop trail (a good length for kids!). Next time we'll have to frequent those.

The garden is open dawn till dusk and is free. Check out the picnic area by the parking lot if you'd like to bring along dinner.

Directions here.

For links to other gardens in the area, look here.

Free Days at Seattle Museums

Many museums in the Seattle area have free days for the public. Here's a comprehensive list of the museums and their scheduled free days.

*When I say 1st Thursday, it means the 1st Thursday of every month, etc.

Bellevue Art Museum—1st Friday
Burke Museum—1st Thursday
Children's Museum of Tacoma—1st Friday
Experience Music Project and Science Fiction Museum (EMPSFM)—1st Thursday 5-8pm
Frye Art Museum—Always free, but they do accept donations
Hands On Children's Museum (Olympia)—1st Friday
Henry Art Gallery—Thursdays
Imagine Children's Museum (Everett)—No free day, but Thursdays from 3:30-5:30pm are 1/2 off.
Kids Discovery (Bainbridge)—1st Thursday
KidsQuest (Bellevue)—Fridays 5-8pm
Klondike Gold Rush National Park—Always free.
Museum of Flight—1st Thursday
Museum of Glass (Tacoma)—3rd Thursday 5-8pm
Museum of History and Industry (MOHAI)—1st Thursday
Northwest African American Museum (NWAAM)—1st Thursday
Pacific Science Center—The PSC does not have free days listed on their website.
Seattle Art Museum (SAM)—1st Thursday, 1st Friday (for seniors), 2nd Friday 5-9pm (for teens)
Seattle Asian Art Museum (SAAM)—1st Thursday, 1st Saturday, 1st Friday (for seniors)
Seattle Children's Museum—The SCM does not have free days listed on their website.
Shoreline Historical Museum—4th Saturday 11am-3pm (creating projects)
Tacoma Art Museum—3rd Thursday 10am-8pm
Washington State History Museum (Tacoma)—Thursday evenings
Wing Luke Museum—1st Thursday, 3rd Saturday

If you are unable to go on the museum's free day, or the museum you would like to go to doesn't have a free day, keep in mind that many times a museum's membership packages are cheaper or close to the same price as paying for admission. Also, check your local Entertainment Book for special deals.

Frye Art Museum

Are you interested in exposing the kids a bit of culture, but aren't sure about some of the admission prices at the local art museums?

Have you tried the Frye Art Museum?

The Frye is always free, and it's not so big that it would be overwhelming to the little folk. Located east of the I-5 in Seattle, its central location makes it easy to get to. Plus, you can even enroll the kids in a variety of summer art classes. Free tours are also always available, which makes so that you aren't left explaining to the kids why that funny [insert odd art image of choice] is in that picture.

I was able to see a German collection that is currently on display until April 26. I enjoyed it. There were quite a few pictures that I thought were beautiful, and the kids I saw on a field trip seemed to be enjoying the artwork as well. It was a surprisingly good collection for a smaller (and free!) museum

Find directions to the Frye here.

Fremont's Lenin

Have you seen the statue of Lenin in Fremont? This statue is from the former country of Czechoslovakia (now Slovakia). Lewis Carpenter, a resident of Issaquah, Washington, was teaching English in the former Soviet block when he found the statue lying in a junkyard. Convinced this statue was a work of art and an artifact that should be saved, Carpenter mortgaged his home in order to bring the statue to Washington. In the midst of the uproar over bringing such a statue to Washington, Carpenter was killed in a car crash. His family has been trying to sell the statue since his death in 1994, but so far no takers. In the meantime, Fremont has been happy to keep the statue.

Current price: $250,000

Find the statue of Lenin here.

Alki Beach

Alki Beach in West Seattle

Most of the coastline on the Sound is rocky, but there is at least one place in Seattle where you can let your feet sink into the sand. You probably won't want them to, this time of the year, but it's just nice knowing it's possible.

Head out to Alki Beach in West Seattle to find the sand, a great boardwalk path, and a gorgeous view of the Seattle skyline. Alki Beach was actually the first place white settlers landed at when they got to Seattle. They named their settlement New York–Alki, or New York By-and-by, which showed their great hopes of what their city would turn out like. Maybe because of this, you can find a small replica of the Statue of Liberty on the beach.

The 2.5 mile boardwalk

The greatest feature for this time of the year is the 2.5 mile pathway that goes along the side of the beach—a great way to get out of the house this time of year, get some exercise, and still feel like you're getting to see something beautiful. Let the kids bring their bikes and scooters.

Also check out the Alki Point Lighthouse. It's still maintained by the Coast Guard. It opens at noon and is free to the public.

What a gorgeous view of Seattle!

In the summer, check back to enjoy the picnic sites, open fire pits, boat launch (for hand-carried boats), and bathhouse—in case you decide on taking a dip. If you're looking for a romantic evening without the kids, check out Salty's restaurant just off the beach. The views are spectacular!

Find directions to Alki Beach here.

Seward Park

Seward Park has 300 acres of forest, occupying all of a peninsula in Lake Washington. This park boasts beautiful old growth forests, and the best paved, flat, walking trail that I have found in Seattle. Unfortunately, when I visited, I forgot my camera! But one look at the location will give you an idea of how beautiful this park is.

Seward park has 2.4 mile trail on the outside of the park—paved, flat, and perfect for kids on bikes, scooters, or just for a walk around.

Look for wildlife along the way. There are eagles, turtles, frogs, ducks, and even some feral parrots! The visitor's center near the parking lot can give you additional information of what to look for.

The park also features a playground, tennis courts, and picnic areas, as well as an amphitheater for large events.

Coal Creek Falls Hike

It's hard to believe that this picture was taken in the middle of last winter!

Just off I-90 on Exit 13 (Lakemont Boulevard), there is a wonderful little hike that is perfect for kids and perfect for winter. In fact, I believe it's better this time of year, as the moss is prolific in the cold weather and the bugs are not. The falls are also supposed to be more full between the months of January and February. This hike is 2.5 miles roundtrip, relatively flat, and actually has a bit of history around it!

The area of Coal Creek was once an old mining camp, known as Red Town. As you hike to the falls, you'll notice areas off the trail where the ground has slumped in. These areas were once underground mines, but as the ground has weakened, the weight of the soil has made the mines collapse. Your kids will enjoy imagining this area as a mine camp, far away from the city of Seattle. Make sure that you stay on the trail—some of these mines may not have fallen in and could be dangerous.

The falls are beautiful, and the kids will enjoy playing on the bridge nearby. If you're feeling adventurous, don't go back the way you came. Instead, continue on past the falls. The trail will eventually pass by Redtown Meadow, where the miners used to hold baseball games. The meadow is now reclaimed by natural grasses, shrubs, and vines, so the kids can't run around on it, but there are a couple of interesting signs explaining how the meadow was once used. If you do decide to take this route back, make sure you study the map at the trailhead before departing.

To find the falls, take Exit 13 of I-90 and drive south on Lakemont Boulevard until it becomes Newcastle-Coal Creek Road. Continue on until you see the a trailhead and parking lot on the left (eastern) side of the road. If you come to the Newcastle Golf Course, you've gone too far.

For a map to the Coal Creek Falls, look here.

Fremont Troll

If your kids haven't see this Seattle site yet, they are in for a big surprise.

Found under the Aurora Bridge (otherwise known as the George Washington Memorial Bridge) in Fremont is the biggest troll your kids will have ever seen. If they are at all familiar with the story "The Three Billy Goats Gruff," this giant figure will spark their imaginations. If they don't know that story, check it out from your local library before making a visit.


The troll has a real Volkswagon Beetle in his hand like it swiped it from the road. You are even allowed to climb on the statue, which might make it less scary for the kids.

Find directions here.