With the first day of summer just days away here's a topline of all sorts of fun going on for the next three months—events, ideas by age and a handful of camps and classes.
I'll do my best to update things from time to time but life has gotten even busier with two teens. Who would have thought! Thankfully there's a lot of info below to explore and you can check out the WS Blog's calendar too. Happy adventuring!
EVENTS
June
- West Duwamish Greenbelt hike / Saturday, June 17@9:30am
- Low Tides (June dates)
Discover what's under the sea on your own or with a Seattle Aquarium beach naturalist at certain beaches on the dates below. Read my post for more details. - Saturday, June 17—10am-12:30pm (-2.4 at 11:05am)
- Sunday, June 18—10:30am-1pm (-2.4 at 11:41am)
- Morgan Junction Community Festival / June 18—1-4PM
Morgan Junction Park, 6413 California Ave SW - Native Plant and Forest Ecology Walk@Camp Long /June 18—2:30 pm – 4:00 pm
5200 35th Ave SW
Ages 3 and up, families welcome. Meet at the visitor's center, wear good shoes and be prepared to walk 2 miles. Cost: $10. Registration required. - Summer Solstice / June 21
Alice usually hosts an event at Solstice Park. The WS Blog is great at posting the info and here's a link to Alice's website. - Mountain Fest / June 24th—11am-5pm
Camp Long 5200 35th Ave SW
Celebrate all things climbing, for people of all backgrounds and abilities. - Family Day at The Log House Museum / June 24th—1-3pm
3003 61st Ave SW
Join SW Seattle Historical Society and the Seattle Public Library for a family activity from 1-2pm and story time from 2-3pm. Free event. - Opening day for Colman Pool and Lincoln Park wading pool / June 24
Other wading pools open throughout the week. More details here.
July
- Low Tides(July dates)
Discover what's under the sea on your own or with a Seattle Aquarium beach naturalist at certain beaches on the dates below. Read my post for more details. - Sunday, July 2—9:30am-12pm (-3.2 at 10:38am)
- Monday, July 3—9:30am-1pm (-3.8 at 11:24am)
- Tuesday, July 4—10am-1:30pm (-4.0 at 12:12pm)
- Wednesday, July 5—11am-2:30pm (-3.7 at 1pm)
- Thursday, July 6—11:45am-2:45pm (-3.0 at 1:48pm)
- Monday, July 31—9:30am-12pm (-3.1 at 10:21am)
- 4th of July Kids Parade / July 4@10AM
Starts at 44th/Sunset ends up at Hamilton Viewpoint Park. - Family Day at The Log House Museum / July 8th—12-3pm
3003 61st Ave SW
Get hands on with Delridge Neighborhoods Development Association Environmental Educators and learn about Longfellow Creek. Activities include watershed models where participants can experiment with different ways stormwater and pollutants move through a watershed like Longfellow Creek and impact local salmon and salmon art projects with recycled art supplies and found objects from nature. Free event. - Seafair Pirates Landing@Alki Beach / July 8th / 1-3PM
- Summer Fest / July 14-16
Annual event in the Alaska Junction with music, food, kids area and shopping. - West Duwamish Greenbelt hike / Saturday, July 15@9:30am
- West Seattle Grand Parade / July 22@11AM
Marching bands, floats and more. - West Seattle Outdoor Movies
Schedule isn't up yet but will post once it is. - Shakespeare in the Park
Green Stage's annual summer event with both full productions and shorter family-friendly ones with their Backyard Bard (BYB) series. Variety of locations throughout West Seattle. - Fri, July 7 @ 7:00 pm
Comedy of Errors - BYB (High Point Commons) - Sat, July 8 @ 7:00 pm
Cymbeline - BYB (High Point Commons) - Fri, July 14 @ 7:00 pm
Romeo and Juliet (Camp Long - West Seattle) - Fri, July 21 @ 7:00 pm
Henry VI, part 1 (Camp Long - West Seattle) - Fri, July 21 @ 7:00 pm
Romeo and Juliet (Lincoln Park) - Sat, July 22 @ 7:00 pm
Henry VI, part 1 (Lincoln Park) - Sun, July 23 @ 3:00 pm
Comedy of Errors - BYB (Delridge Playfield) - Sun, July 23 @ 3:00 pm
Henry VI, part 1 (Lincoln Park) - Sun, July 23 @ 4:15 pm
Cymbeline - BYB (Delridge Playfield) - Sun, July 23 @ 7:00 pm
Romeo and Juliet (Lincoln Park)
August
- Low Tides (August dates)
Discover what's under the sea on your own or with a Seattle Aquarium beach naturalist at certain beaches on the dates below. Read my post for more details. - Tuesday, August 1—9:30am-12:30pm (-3.5 at 11:09am)
- Wednesday, August 2 —10am-1pm (-3.5 at 11:57am)
- Thursday, August 3—11am-2pm (-2.9 at 12:44pm)
- Annual Night Out / August 2
Neighborhood block parties. - Duwamish River Festival / August 5th
- West Duwamish Greenbelt hike / Saturday, August 19@9:30am
- West Seattle Outdoor Movies
Schedule isn't up yet but will post once it is.
ONGOING:
- Alki Point Lighthouse Tours Sundays / 1–3:45PM
3201 Alki Avenue SW
See website for details and age restrictions. - Low Tides
Discover what's under the sea on your own or with a Seattle Aquarium beach naturalist at certain beaches on the dates below. Read my post for more details.
Dates: - Saturday, June 17—10am-12:30pm (-2.4 at 11:05am)
- Sunday, June 18—10:30am-1pm (-2.4 at 11:41am)
- Sunday, July 2—9:30am-12pm (-3.2 at 10:38am)
- Monday, July 3—9:30am-1pm (-3.8 at 11:24am)
- Tuesday, July 4—10am-1:30pm (-4.0 at 12:12pm)
- Wednesday, July 5—11am-2:30pm (-3.7 at 1pm)
- Thursday, July 6—11:45am-2:45pm (-3.0 at 1:48pm)
- Monday, July 31—9:30am-12pm (-3.1 at 10:21am)
- Tuesday, August 1—9:30am-12:30pm (-3.5 at 11:09am)
- Wednesday, August 2 —10am-1pm (-3.5 at 11:57am)
- Thursday, August 3—11am-2pm (-2.9 at 12:44pm)
- Summer Reading
- Family storytime at Delridge P-Patch / Tuesdays at 6PM (June - October)
5078 25th Ave SW
Enjoy a few stories followed by a garden activity. - Read and Go—7 local outings paired with a book
- Reading and Running—4 local libraries paired with a nearby playground
- SPL summer reading program
- Storytimes at Paperboat Booksellers
- Toddler Time—Wednesdays 10:30-11am
- Family Storytime—Saturdays 11-11:30am
- Wading pools / Spray park / Pools
So many choices! See my detailed and updated post here.
IDEAS BY AGE
My bucket list from last year's post.
Preschool
Preschool
- Try a new playground.
- Discover an un-playground playground.
- Explore the beach at low tide.
- Cool off at a wading pool, spray park or pool.
- Check out a new park.
- Take a look at these places for learning to ride a bike.
- Have a kiddo that loves heavy machinery at work? Do a terminal tour at Jack Block Park.
- Take a ferry ride, making sure to check out a cool park right next to the Fauntleroy ferry terminal before or after.
- Participate in the Summer Reading Program at Seattle Public Library.
- Collect beach glass along Alki Beach and then visit Whale Tail Park.
- Explore the Duwamish—the river, multiple parks, a longhouse and cultural center, activity booklet and more.
Kindergarten-5th grade
- Try a new playground.
- Discover an un-playground playground.
- Explore the beach at low tide.
- Cool off at a wading pool, spray park or pool.
- Try biking a longer trail with fun stops.
- Take a ferry ride, making sure to check out a cool park right next to the Fauntleroy ferry terminal before or after.
- Discover a scavenger hunting activity called letterboxing.
- Explore the Duwamish—the river, multiple parks, a longhouse and cultural center, activity booklet and more.
- Climb the highest stair in Seattle located right here in WS.
- Check out an urban nature adventure with these tree walks.
- Participate in the Summer Reading Program at Seattle Public Library.
- Explore secret spots in West Seattle or hidden-ish gems on Vashon.
- Take a day trip to Des Moines to discover UFOs, donuts, pinball and more.
- Rainy day? Check out this list of ideas.
Tween/Teens
- Explore paddleboard/kayaking spots.
- Go swimming at Colman Pool.
- Try a new sport—Pickleball at Delridge and Walt Huntley, Skimboarding at Alki or Disc golf at Dick Thurnau Park which is just over the WS limits in White Center.
- Do a biking day trip (or overnight) from the Fauntleroy ferry dock to Manchester State Park and back.
- Giving back—This is a big one in our family and there are several options to volunteer in a variety of ways. Here's a post I did with oodles of options.
- Play a new game with friends at home or at one of the two gaming cafes—Meeples Games on the north end and The Missing Piece on the south end.
- Catch a movie at the Admiral Theater. Bonus if it’s a hot day — they have AC.
- Check out TeenTix, a cool program for 13-19 years old to experience art. In normal years ArtsWest is a participant but until then there are a lot of online options.
- Explore secret spots in West Seattle or hidden-ish gems on Vashon.
- Take a day trip to Des Moines to discover UFOs, donuts, pinball and more.
- Rainy day? Check out this list of ideas.
CAMPS/CLASSES
- Alki Adventure Camp
- Biking with Pedalheads
- GreenStage—Shakespeare Summer Camps
- Parkour@Lincoln Park
- RecTennis Summer Camp@Solstice Park
- Seattle Parks and Rec
- Skate Like a Girl summer camps
Posts that include places that offer classes and camps:
(Note: Not all posts have been updated so double check dates/times before going)
(Note: Not all posts have been updated so double check dates/times before going)
- Sports—List of who, where and when to play different sports.
- Indoor Fun—Organized by age and activity (movement, music, art and indoor sports)
- Art (Explore and Create)—Variety of local art options, including a mural walk, plus list of places offering classes and camps.
- Theater—Where to see a show and places for kids to take classes and camps.
- Music—Places to go listen along with classes and camps.
- Dance—Where to see performances and take classes/camps.
