We’re always told that we only get 18 summers with our kids and I can’t believe we’re already on our 11th summer in Seattle with these guys. One of the ways we make the most of our summer is by making a summer bucket list. We’ve been doing this for many years now. Usually I ask the guys for at least 3 things they want to do for Seattle in the summer and a few things that we want to do on travels outside of the city. Once we compile all the things we come up with, I write them out for accountability and so we don’t forget. It’s always fun to look back at bucket lists from past years and see what we actually did and what we still need to do, and it’s enlightening to see that over the years some of our interests change and some things stay the same.
So here is what our Seattle with kids bucket list for 2019 looks like…
We’re joining the Seattle Public Library Summer of Learning Reading Club
This year celebrates 100 years of the Seattle Summer of Learning with the Seattle Public Library and I love that it’s easy to download the Seattle Public Library kids’ Summer Learning Action Guide off their site. This year to keep track of reading, kids color a square for every 20 minutes they read or for whatever reading goal they’ve set (similar to how they keep track of reading at school) and when they complete their form they can bring it in for a prize. The guide is also full of fun activities and it’s nice that the library has so many resources to help keep kids learning during the summer. Seattle Public Library also has a book list for each grade level-my guys are going into 5th grade next year so the list for 3rd-5th grade is a handy reference for them. I didn’t know that the library has some cool free classes too like a felt cactus making class that I want to sign up with to do with my kids. I love that Seattle Public Library has a grownup summer reading bingo too.
Visiting Funko Headquarters in Everett (completed! 7/4 The Funko HQ is such a fun visit!)
We call Everett “Foreverett” in our house because every time we pass through on the way from Seattle to Vancouver or Vancouver to Seattle we somehow always pick the wrong time and end up in crazy traffic on that section of the highway. But we’re hoping that we use our next traffic opportunity to create a chance to visit the Funko Headquarters this summer-it looks like such a cool store and we keep seeing Funko products at Bartell Drugs and other stores. My kids aren’t totally into collectables but I know that will probably change once we go to the store and they keep hearing friends talk about it so it’s on their radar and therefore on our Seattle bucket list.
Tahoma Vista Fiber Mill because of Alpacas!
I first heard of Tahoma Vista Fiber Mill because Jen from Thrifty Northwest Mom posted about a field trip she took there with her kids. I absolutely adore alpacas and seeing the process of how things are made. This is going on the bucket list solely because I need to go and see this in real life. I don’t think I’ve really visited Tahoma before either so that will be a first for all of us too. (We did not end up visiting this in 2019 so hopefully add it to our list of things to do in 2020.)
We want to make our own slime because of WhiskynSunshine
Are we the only people on the planet who haven’t made slime yet? If you have a good slime recipe feel free to post a link below.
And we’ll be hunting for Ellensburg Agates this summer
Our friends just got a place at Suncadia Resort, so at some point after we get tired of hanging out at their pool the winery and hopefully the spa, we will rally the energy to go on a rock-hunting adventure with 5 boys in tow. I’ve read about Rock Hunting in Ellensburg which isn’t to far away from Suncadia or our place in Snoqualmie Pass, so we totally need to go there and explore.
Also on our list locally:
(Ps I’ve added a bunch of our summer provisions to my “Seattle Kids Unicorn Summer Bucket List” list in my Amazon Store)
A trip to Tacoma for a summer adventure and to check out a new park and the aquarium at the Point Defiance Zoo
Park picnics
Bike riding to Alki Beach and as many other bike adventures as we can fit in (7/6 rode the Iron Horse trail for 20 miles and a little bit more because we got lost at the end)
a hike at least 7 miles long and floating at the lake
a backpacking camping trip
Matcha Cafe Maiko for ice cream
Ben Paris for a meal or coffee service (completed 7/5 we went for breakfast and the ricotta pancakes are a must!)
Making sure we get our Pikebox at the Market most summer weeks and try a new-to-us market stall or food stand each time we go.
Visiting our local farmer’s market and the PM market at Pike Place Market. We stopped by the other night and had the most fantastic unicorn macaron from Alexandra’s Macarons.
And farther away:
Solo trip for mom and dad. (Any guesses were we might be headed for a summer adventure without kids from Seattle for a couple nights?)
A trip to Hawaii Island
An adventure to the Okanagan with friends
A Wenatchee Trip
An annual Valdes Island adventure
And time up in Vancouver BC and Richmond BC (please let Gram pancake be open!).
And tons of time to just sit and veg….
Looking at all our ideas I’m always overwhelmed at how quickly all the days of summer can easily fly by and I know we need days to just toss the list and laze the days away. Do you have a bucket list for the summer too? And if you’re in Seattle, are there any summer traditions you have in our city too?
Terumi Pong is a Seattle-based family travel writer and mom of twin teenage boys. She loves coffee and pastries, shopping local and looking for greener ways to live. She is also known as Scout’s mom (Scout is a 5ish pound little black yorkie-poo)
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