We’ve reached the dull days of winter. The holidays are over, school’s back in session and it’s rainy or cold (or cold and rainy) much of the time.
This time of year, I always starting looking for new ways to entertain myself and my daughter. For years, the Imagine Children’s Museum has been one of our favorites, and it still is. It’s a sure bet for several hours of happy kid time.
Imagine is a centerpiece of local fun for kids, and there are many more great places around here. So here are some ideas for places you can keep your kids and yourself busy and stay warm at the same time.
— Jessi Loerch, The Herald
Alderwood mall play area
Where: 3000 184th St. SW, Lynnwood; 425-771-1121.
What: Indoor play area in the mall.
When: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays to Saturdays, and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sundays.
Cost: Free.
Bowl &Skate
Where: 6210 200th St. SW, Lynnwood; 425-778-3133; www.bowlandskate.com.
What: Bowling, skating, arcade, cafe, pool tables, photo booths, air hockey.
Hours: Varies. Check website.
Cost: Varies. Check website.
Elevated Sportz
Where: 18311 Bothell Everett Highway, Suite 140, Bothell; 425-949-4488; www.elevatedsportz.com.
What: Trampolines, play structures, laser maze, second Monday evening of every month reserved for kids with special needs, cafe, date night on second Friday of every month, teen club night first Friday of every month, cosmic night with party lights every Saturday starting at 7 p.m. Hoppy Hour is Monday to Friday 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., least expensive tickets each week.
When: Varies. Check website.
Cost: Varies. Check website.
Everett Skate Deck
Where: 9700 19th Ave. SE, Everett; 425-337-0202; www.everettskatedeck.com.
What: Indoor skate rink, also has bouncy toys and slides.
When: Varies. Check website.
Cost: Varies.
Family Fun Center
Where: 7212 SW 220th St., Edmonds; 425-774-4263; www.fun-center.com/public/edmonds.
What: Entertainment center with attractions such as go-carts, bumper cars, virtual reality games, miniature golf and more.
When: Varies. Check website.
Cost: Varies. Check website.
Hibulb Cultural Center
Where: 6410 23rd Avenue NE, Tulalip; 360-716-2600; www.hibulbculturalcenter.org.
What: The Tulalip Tribes’ interactive cultural center features a main exhibit, temporary exhibits and a longhouse.
When: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays to Fridays, noon to 5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Also free first Thursdays until 8 p.m.
Cost: Members and tribal members, free; general, $10; students, $6; children, free.
Imagine Children’s Museum
Where: 1502 Wall St. Everett; 425-258-1006; www.imaginecm.org.
What: A variety of exhibits. Also has an outdoor playground on the roof with musical toys and a dinosaur dig area.
When: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays; 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Thursdays to Saturdays; 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays.
Cost: $10 for children and adults; babies 12 months and younger are free; admission is half price from 3 to 5 p.m. Thursdays; annual memberships available. Free admission third Friday nights.
Jump Rattle &Roll
Where: 17631 147th St. SE. Suite 6, Monroe; 425-381-5490; jumprattleroll.com.
What: Bouncy and inflatable toys.
When: Varies. Check website.
Cost: Ages 2 to 17, $7; 1 to 2, $3.50; babies under 1 and parents are free.
Marysville Skate Inn
Where: 7313 44th Ave. NE, Marysville; 360-659-3900; www.facebook.com/marysvilleskateinn.
What: The family roller-skating rink has been in business for 55 years and still has its original 84- by -164-foot maple floor.
When: Varies. Check Facebook page.
Cost: Call for prices.
Pump It Up
Where: 18027 Highway 99, Lynnwood, 425-774-2297, www.pumpitupparty.com/wa/lynnwood.
What: Bouncy and inflatable toys.
When: 10 a.m. to noon Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Ages 6 and under only. Check online calendar for a few other times.
Cost: $8 first child, $6 siblings.
Reptile Zoo
Where: 22715 U.S. 2, a mile east of Monroe; 360-805-5300; http://thereptilezoo.org.
What: A collection of reptiles, insects and spiders. Kids can hold 10 different types of snakes.
When: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.
Cost: $8 adults, $6.50 kids.
Tim Noah Thumbnail Theater
Where: 1211 Fourth St., Snohomish; 360-568-9412; thumbnailtheater.com
What: Open microphone for all ages.
When: 7:30 p.m. Fridays. Performer sign-up begins at 6:30 p.m.
Cost: Suggested donation of $3 performers, $5 audience
Paine Field
Make a day of it and visit the Flying Heritage Collection, Historic Flight Foundation and Future of Flight Aviation Center.
For more information, see our story from December at www.heraldnet.com/painefield.
PlayHappy Cafe
Where: 4114 198th St. SW, Suite 3, Lynnwood; 425-582-7007; www.playhappycafe.com.
What: Indoor play area with toys, bouncy house, slides, trains, ride-on toys, costumes and more. Area for babies and toddlers.
When: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays to Thursdays, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Fridays, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.
Cost: $10 for first child, $7 for sibling or crawler; $1 off for 8 or more unrelated kids, per child. Discounted passes for multiples visits are available. Adults and non-crawling infants are free.
Traxx Racing
Where: 4329 Chennault Beach Road, Mukilteo; 425-493-8729; www.traxxracing.com.
What: Go-kart racing, bouncy house, climbing wall, velcro wall, food, video games, more.
When: 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sundays to Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 1 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays
Cost: Varies. Check website.
Time4Kidz
Where: 3333 184th St. SW Suite F, Lynnwood; 425-678-0376; www.time4kidz.com.
What: Drop-in child care for kids 2 1/2 to 10 years old. Some classes for older kids.
When: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday to Thursday; 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
Cost: $9 per hour for first kid; $5.50 for additional sibling. $3.50 per meal, per child.
Western Heritage Center
Where: SE corner of the Evergreen State Fairgrounds, 14405 179th Ave. SE, Monroe; 425-232-3493; www.westernheritagecenter.org.
What: An interactive museum of mining, logging, agriculture, transportation, construction and wildlife.
When: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays, noon to 5 p.m. Sundays
Cost: By donation.
Xfinity Community Ice Rink
Where: 2000 Hewitt Ave., Everett; 425-322-2653; xfinityarenaeverett.com.
What: Ice skating on a regulation hockey-size rink.
When: Varies. Check website.
Cost: $6 admission, $4 skate rental; $4.50 for kids 5 and under, including skate rental.
Pools
Forest Park indoor pool
Where: 802 E. Mukilteo Blvd.; Everett; 425-257-8309; https://everettwa.gov/738/Swim-Center.
What: Indoor swimming pool with diving tank and rope swing. Inflatable toys on Fridays.
When: Varies. Check website.
Cost: $3.50 for kids and seniors, $4.25 for adults, $8.75 for family swim. Punchcards available.
Lynnwood Recreation Center indoor pool
Where: 18900 44th Ave. W., Lynnwood; 425-670-5732; www.ci.lynnwood.wa.us/PlayLynnwood/RecCenter.
What: Indoor swimming pool with lazy river, water playground, waterslides, family hot tub and more.
When: Varies. Check website. Closed. Jan. 10.
Cost: under age 2 free; 2 to 12, seniors and disabled, $4.25; 13 to 17 $4.75; adults $5.25; family $16.25.
Mountlake Terrace indoor pool
Where: 5303 228th St. SW, Mountlake Terrace; 425-776-9173; bit.ly/1wFH9sX
What: Warm indoor swimming pool with lazy river, lazy river, shallow-water area, spray toys and other toys; lifejackets available.
When: Varies. Check website.
Snohomish Aquatic Center
Where: 516 Maple Avenue, Snohomish; 360-568-8030; www.snohomishaquatic.com
What: Indoor pool, surf-simulator machine, warm-water pool, shallow area, lazy river, spray area, waterslide, diving lessons, more.
When: Varies. Check website.
Cost: Under 2 free; 2-6 and seniors $4.50; 7-18 $5; adults $5.50; families $17. Extra fee for surf-simulator.
Other ideas
Buses: It’s a cheap and fun way to keep your kids entertained.
Ferries: Take a ferry ride or just watch the big boats come and go.
Train: Ride the Amtrak to Seattle and back.
The Schack Art Center: Take an art class with your kid; www.schack.org.
Libraries: Most local libraries have story times and a place for kids to play, with toys for younger kids. Various programs are also offered. Check www.sno-isle.org or www.epls.org to see what’s coming up.
Pet stores: It’s fun to admire the animals and some stores will let you visit animals up for adoption.
Restaurants: Some fast-food restaurants have free play areas attached to their dining rooms.
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