Visiting Puget Sound

Treat the kids to a spring they’ll never forget in Puget Sound. Found in northwestern Washington, Puget Sound is a gathering of small, scenic islands just north of the Olympic National Park. Enjoy the adventures of seatowns like Friday Harbor and Tukwila, or explore the Washington metropolises of Tacoma and Seattle. Let the kids get a good view of Puget Sound from the Space Needle, or reward some recent good grades with a day at the Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium. Hundreds of Puget Sound activities await your family – like beaches, zoos and Washington parks – so get on your feet this spring in the Evergreen State.

Set your coordinates for Friday Harbor, a small Puget Sound town home to some incredible whale watching, kayaking, fishing, and any other aquatic adventure you can imagine. Let the kids run loose on the beach where they may collect shells and spot wildlife, or head over to the American Camp National Park for a family picnic. Visiting families are also welcome to the San Juan Golf & Country Club – where dad can get in a game of golf while mom and the kids hit the tennis courts. For the animal lover in your family, adopt a whale at the Whale Museum in Friday Harbor, and grab a museum store t-shirt for the road.

Spend your spring in Seattle, and find your favorite kid-friendly spot in the Emerald City. Spend a morning amongst the prolific cherry blossoms of University of Washington, or let your little artist roam through the Seattle Art Museum in downtown Seatown. And to really get your sea legs, check out the Seattle Aquarium – open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and home to some incredible exhibits. Don’t miss the “Puget Sound Fish” display for some insight on the fascinating fish of the area – including an eelgrass exhibit. Challenge your fear of sharks at the “Searching for Sixgills” exhibit, or catch a feeding at the Seattle Aquarium’s underwater dome.

Just south of Seattle, Tukwila is an interesting town home to the Museum of Flight – a great place for the little ones – and many great city parks. Hungry? Grab lunch at the Family Fun Center and Bullwinkle's Restaurant in Tukwila for everything from arcade games and prizes to go karts and bumper boats. Enjoy some time in the batting cages this spring – baseball season is almost here – or challenge a family member to a round of miniature golf.

South of Tukwila, Tacoma awaits your family with a day at the Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium. Open daily come March, Point Defiance features fascinating animal and aquatic exhibits – not to mention festivities like the 2012 Valentine's Day at the Zoo, and the not-to-be-missed 2012 Earth Day Weekend. Let your wild side free this spring in Puget Sound.

Puget Sound Hotel Map