subject: Things to do in Washington State with the Family [print this page] Things to do in Washington State with the Family
We currently live in North Texas. There are a lot of good things about North Texas - the shopping, the restaurants, the housing. However, it is not a real outdoorsy area. The only activities for children to participate in revolve around city parks, swimming pools and indoor activity centers - that's code for the mall. So if you want your children to have an appreciation for the outdoors, you need to travel somewhere. There are a lot of places in Texas to camp and fish, but you have to battle the searing Texas heat.
Washington state, on the other hand, is more suited for outdoor living. The temperate climate, shade, mountains, rivers, lakes, and valleys make it an ideal summer destination for anyone looking to escape the brutal summer heat. But where in Washington should a traveler go?
First of all, Washington has several different climate zones. East of the Cascade mountains, you'll find it very much like the Midwest, cold in the winter and hot in the summer. To the west though, you'll see the green valleys, majestic evergreen trees, abundant lakes and rivers, and the Puget Sound. This is the side we'll talk about today.
No trip to Washington state would be complete without first visiting Seattle. Here, you can get your fill of coffee and some of the finest seafood around. Take James Street to Pier 50 and stroll around the Alaskan Way Viaduct. You can tour the Seattle Aquarium, take a ride on a ferry, walk over to the world-famous Pikes Place Market or get a bowl of chowder at Ivar's Clam House and feed the seagulls french fries. Enjoy free parking on the weekends, but get there early. Seattle offers so much scenic beauty for such a large urban city.
If you want to get back to nature then you'll want to travel to the Olympic Peninsula. You can either drive or ride a ferry. Once there, Olympic National Park is a wonderful place to take your kids. They have scenic hikes and breathtaking views. Every where you hike, you'll want to take a picture. The park is like one large photo-op. Cascading water falls, gigantic moss-covered cedar trees, and snow-capped mountains jump out at you. You'll wish there were more hours in the day. You can vehicle camp at Heart O' the Hills or try your hand at wilderness camping, but permits are required. Oh, and just remember, don't feed the wildlife.
After you've checked out the park, it's time to head over to Sequim. This is a quiet town that has an excellent pizza shop that sells the biggest pizza I've ever seen. They call it the Sasquatch. It's 14 pounds and if 1 person can eat it all, it's free. Of course, you may have to be carried back to your car on a stretcher! After you've had your pizza, you'll want to head over to the coast, which is about 5 minutes away from the very quaint Sequim downtown. There are scenic drives and parks where you can step out and walk off some calories. Bring a light jacket or sweater though, as this isn't Cancun. The breeze coming off the water is a little chilly, even in the summer.
Next on your trip, head over to Whidbey Island and Deception Pass State Park. You are sure to see bald eagles flying overhead and the views will continue to amaze. There is a little beach called Rosario Beach that has protected tide pools that your kids are sure to enjoy. Crabs and all sorts of crusty creatures make their homes in these little protected pools. It's a rock beach, instead of sand, so make sure the kids have the appropriate footwear and remember to be careful as you climb over the larger slippery rocks.
From Whidbey Island, you can take whale-watching cruises. Several orca pods (killer whale families) make their home in these waters. Locals have also been known to see other whale species and sea otters splashing around these islands. So come and stay at one of the park's cabins or sit under the awning of a towering evergreen tree. A good time is guaranteed as, your children will explore everything the state of Washington has to offer. They won't be asking for their Nintendo DS on this trip. Instead, they'll be hiking around and getting back to nature, perhaps for the first time in their life. You'll be amazed at all the stuff they'll want to pick up and carry with them - rocks, sticks, shells, pieces of old dried up seaweed, old animal bones, pine cones, etc. By the end of the day, they'll be exhausted and go right to sleep.
Washington state is a treasure-trove of natural experiences for everyone. The best time to visit is in the summer, as it can be pretty cloudy and gray the rest of the year. However, if that doesn't bother you, then bring your rain jacket and long-johns. You'll have more of the beach and mountains to yourselves.
welcome to Insurances.net (https://www.insurances.net)
