We haven’t seen last summer’s scorching temps yet. But when the mercury starts rising, the sidewalks begin sizzling and your ice cream’s melting in record time—you’re going to need a strategy to keep yourself and your kid crew cool. That’s why we’ve put together a list of 13 ways to chill out on those rare days when Seattle’s too hot to handle.
photo: Clappstar via flickr
1. Go Jump in a Lake! Make the splash beachside at one of our area’s awesome swimming beaches. Gene Coulon Memorial Beach Park, Matthews Beach Park, Juanita Beach Park and Mount Baker Beach Park are all Lake Washington faves. Green Lake offers a cooling splash at two swimming holes and there’s fun family swimming at Lake Sammamish State Park, too. All have lifeguards on duty and enclosed swimming areas with shallow water for splashing tots and diving areas for daredevil big kids and grown-ups.
photo: Alanna M. via Yelp
2. Ice, Ice Baby. Up the cool factor this summer by hitting the ice. Kent Valley Ice Centre, Sno-King Ice Arena in Kirkland and Highland Ice Arena in Shoreline all offer drop-in times, so your little ones can practice their figure eights, hockey moves or even broomball skills. Just remember to wear long pants and layers. You might even need to dig out your scarf and gloves!
photo: Sno-King Ice Arena
3. Hop Aboard! When the temps really begin to sizzle, catch a breeze on a Washington State Ferry. Criss-crossing Puget Sound is a great way to cool off—kids can ride on the breezy outdoor decks and grown-ups can retreat inside to the air-conditioned passenger cabins. It’s easy to find an excuse for a day trip to Bainbridge Island, Bremerton or Vashon Island.
photo: Helen Walker Green
4. Library Adventures. We all know reading is cool, but it’s doubly cool when your little bookworms are in an air-conditioned library. Most Seattle Public Library and King County Library locations have AC, so grab your library cards and set off to find some awesome summer reads.
photo: King County Library
5. Dive In! Take the plunge at one of our area’s fantastic outdoor pools: Colman Pool on the shores of Puget Sound, Magnolia favorite Mounger Pool or Peter Kirk Pool in Kirkland. Looking for a free option? Hit a neighborhood wading pool in Seattle or on the Eastside. Don’t forget the sunscreen!
photo: Seattle Parks and Recreation via flickr
6. Spray and Splash. There’s nothing like a blast of cool water on a hot summer’s day. Hit a Seattle spray park or Eastside splash pad for an instant cool down. Like an oasis in the desert, when it’s hot, these cool spots beckon not just the Littles, but the whole fam!
photo: Seattle Parks and Recreation via flickr
7. Slip Slidin’ Away. If your kid crew is into water slides, lazy rivers and wave pools, Wild Waves and Enchanted Village and Renton’s Henry Moses Aquatic Center are the places to go when it’s hot, hot, hot! Psst… be sure to check out our Insider’s Guide to Wild Waves and Enchanted Village for the scoop on this year’s park changes.
photo: Kristina Moy
8. Head Indoors. Great for super hot days (and rainy ones too), indoor play spaces like PlayDate SEA, Wunderkind Seattle and Roo’s World of Discovery will keep everyone in your crew happy and cool. On the Eastside? Check out these three exciting indoor play spaces.
photo: Dabuda Playhouse and Cafe via Yelp
9. Two Thumbs Up! Ahh, the silver screen. The perfect escape from reality… and the heat! Remember to bring a jacket, as we all know, movie theaters can be a little too chilly! If you don’t mind seeing an oldie but goodie, check out the Regal Summer Movie Express and Cinemark Summer Movie Clubhouse for $1 movies all summer long.
photo: Alison M. Seward
10. Be Bowled Over. Put a cool spin on your hot summer’s day with a trip to your local bowling alley. During the summer, kids can bowl for free at hundreds of spots across the country. Sign your kids up here for two free games of bowling every day, all summer long! And don’t forget to check out our guide to the best bowling alleys around the city.
photo: Roxbury Lanes Facebook page
11. Night at the Museum? The exhibits may not actually come to life, but with a little imagination and some cool whizz-bang effects you and your sweltering crew will have an awesome time at the museum. Uncover dinosaur fossils at the Burke Museum, take your little historian to MOHAI (be sure to grab a gallery pack full of fun activities), reach for the skies at the Museum of Flight or try the family programs and little artist spaces at the SAM (Seattle Art Museum) and Asian Art Museum.
photo: Christine Southam
12. Explore a Different Children’s Museum. We are spoiled with the many children’s museums in our area. If you haven’t gone further than your closest one, be adventurous and explore a new one the next time the mercury begins to spike. Some of our favorites include the Seattle Children’s Museum, Children’s Museum of Tacoma, Imagine Children’s Museum in Everett, Hands On Children’s Museum in Olympia and Kids Discovery Museum on Bainbridge Island (which requires a hop on a breezy ferry!).
photo: Imagine Children’s Museum Facebook page
13. Take the Plunge, Indoors! Catch a wave on the Flowrider at the Snohomish Aquatic Center, hurtle down the two-story slide at the Federal Way Community Center Pool or relax in the awesome lazy river at Rainier Beach Pool. There are lots of indoor pools to splash in on a steaming hot day. Psst… to help narrow down the choices, check out our guide to the best indoor public swimming pools.
photo: Sherill Y. via Yelp
Do you have any tips or tricks to beat the summer heat? Tell us in the Comments below.
— Helen Walker Green
