Summer in Washington is what us Washingtonians live for, and Snohomish county is full of family friendly things to see and do. We've asked our patient's and the community to help us put together the ultimate family summer bucket list so that your family can enjoy all that our community has to offer!
1.) Picnic and play at Martha Lake (Lynwood): Martha Lake has a little something for everyone. Whether you'd like to picnic in the park, play on the jungle gym, take a quick dip in the lake, or take a romantic stroll on the boardwalk, Martha Lake is a must do for the summer.
2.) Tour Funko Headquarters (Downtown Everett): Escape into a wonderland of pop culture, action figures, and bobble heads. At Funko headquarters, you can sit in a life-size Bat-mobile with Batman, take a photo with a giant Hagrid bobble head, walk across the drawbridge of the Disney castle, and even create your own custom Funko! After you are done at Funko, you might consider checking out the comic store right across the street in downtown Everett.
3.) Heather Lake Hike (An hour outside of Everett): According to the Washington Trails Association, Heather Lake is "the perfect place to take children on their first ‘real’ hike". The trail is short, but is steep enough to give your child a challenge and a feeling of accomplishment when they reach the pristine lake. If you have older children, Mount Pilchuck (a neighboring trial) is a little more arduous and boasts stunning panoramic views of the valley.
4.) Bike the Bothell Landing Trail (Bothell): This 4 mile trail follows the beautiful Sammamish river and is the perfect place for a bike ride. Bring some bread along and you might get a chance to feed some of the local ducks as well!
5.) Flip Out at Elevated Sportz Trampoline Park (Mill Creek): From trampolines, to a ninja course, a dodgeball court, and a laser maze, you can bet that you and your family will have a great time at Elevated Sportz (plus jumping on trampolines totally counts as exercise).
6.) Meadowdale Beach Hike (Lynwood): We know we already posted a hike, but you can't truly enjoy Washington in the summer without exploring the outdoors. This hike is a quick, family friendly, only a 2.1 mile roundtrip, and boasts beautiful beach views. Consider going in the morning with a thermos of hot cocoa to watch the sunrise- it's breathtaking we promise!
7.) Visit Flower World (Maltby): Peruse through 15 acres of flowers and plants at one of the largest plant nurseries on the west coast. After you are done, you might consider stopping at the Matlby Cafe and getting one of their iconic giant cinnamon rolls!
8.) Go Antiquing in Snohomish: Snohomish isn't called the "Antique Capitol of the Northwest" for nothing. Grab some ice cream at the iconic Snoqualmie Ice Cream (family owned shop that serves all-natural organic ice cream) and see what treasures you can find!
9.) Hit Up The Petting Zoo at Forest Park (Everett): Get a taste of life on the farm at the animal farm in Forest Park. The farm has a wide variety of animals including rabbits, ducks, pigs, goats and ponies and a multitude of educational programs. Oh, and entrance is completely FREE!
10.) Take the Boeing Future of Flight Tour (Mukilteo): The Boeing Future of Flight tour is a one of a kind opportunity to watch 747s, 777s, or 787 Dreamliners be assembled right before your very eyes! It is the only public tour of a commercial jet assembly plant in North America and is an absolute MUST DO for Snohomish County locals. You can explore the interactive exhibits and displays in the Aviation Center; then take a 90-minute tour of the Boeing plant (where you witness the planes being assembled). If you have tiny tots, make sure that they are 4ft or taller (there is a minimum height requirement of 4 feet (122 cm) for children participating).
So what are you waiting for? Go out and enjoy the incredible attractions our local community has to offer this summer with your family. And when you take a break from your exploring, let us help you and your family see the beauty around you more clearly! Call today to schedule your annual eye exam or to schedule an appointment with one of our optometrists to take care of your eye care needs.
About Us: Since we opened our doors in 1992, Mill Creek Family Eye Center has taken pride in providing personalized, state of the art eye care to the families in Mill Creek, Everett, Bothell, Lynwood and Snohomish surrounding areas.
