Kristin’s Top Ten Activities for April!

Our Director (and mother of two) shares her Top 10 activity picks for getting out with the kiddos this upcoming month.

April is my favorite time of year. Not just because it’s my birthday month (that gets less and less fun as I get older), but because spring is here and the possibility of the occasional sunny day is upon us! You will see that I am longing for nice weather as most of this month’s Top 10 involve getting outside. I included a few ideas that will provide shelter for the wet spring rain, but for the most part my recommendation is to put on those rain boots and get out there!

1. Sunday Public Sail at the Center for Wooden Boats – Sundays starting March 26^th on Lake Union. This Sunday Funday tradition kicking off reminds me of how close we are to sunny weather! Besides, who doesn’t a good (free) boat ride?“A Seattle tradition for more than 25 years! Our volunteer skippers and crew take passengers out on Lake Union for unforgettable voyages. Sprit boats, steamboats, electric boats, schooners, ketches, yawls, and yachts: come every Sunday to sail them all, year-round, rain or shine for free.”

2. Skagit Valley Tulip Festival – ALL of April! I will definitely be dragging the family up to the tulip fields this year as it’s an annual tradition and one of my all-time favorites. Be sure to dress for muddy terrain and bring a camera to capture the kids frolicking through the brightly colored rows.“We invite you to come and experience the breathtaking colors and beauty of the tulip fields and display gardens.” 

3. Toddler Tales & Trails – April Wednesdays & Saturdays from 10a-11 at Seward Park. I love toddler walks. They are slow, and full of discovery. I swear my daughter could spend hours in our front yard gathering treasures (rocks) and taking tiny steps that add up to miles.“Come on an adventure of reading and exploring the outdoors! Introduce your toddler to nature with story time in our upstairs classroom, then explore the trails in Seward Park, rain or shine.”

4. Northwest Railway Museum Opening Weekend – April 1^st-2^nd from 11a-3p in Snoqualmie. My daughter is a choo choo lover, so this one makes the list as we’ve been anxiously awaiting the 2017 season.“Our mission is to operate an outstanding railroad museum where the public can experience the excitement of a working railroad and see and understand the role of railroads in the development and settlement of Washington State and adjacent areas. This five mile common carrier railroad allows museum visitors to experience a train excursion aboard historic railroad coaches through the Upper Snoqualmie Valley.”

5. Spring Safari: African Wildlife Conservation Day – April 8^th from 9:30a-2:30p at the Woodland Park Zoo. The Savanna is my family’s favorite part of the zoo because of the vast fields and long-necked giraffes and, so a dedicated event to honor these animals is a must see!“Celebrate the African Savanna and the amazing animals that live there during Spring Safari: African Wildlife Conservation Day. Attend educational keeper talks and special enrichment sessions to learn more about issues such as illegal poaching and habitat loss, and how your choices and actions can help save giraffe, lions, ostrich and other critical savanna animals.”

6. An Egg-Tastic Event at KidsQuest Museum – April 9^th from 9a-12p in Bellevue. It wouldn’t be April if an egg pun didn’t make the list. Besides, the new location of the KidsQuest museum is living up to the hype, so I’m looking forward to attending this hands-on event with my little (egg-cellent) engineers!“Join us for an EGG-tastic Event! This egg-citing event is jam packed with endless egg-ventures. Engineer an egg maze, sink and float eggs in our water gallery, and get your taste buds ready as you create an Edible Egg in our Art Studio.”

7. Free National Park Day(s) – weekends April 15^th-16^th and 22^nd-23^rd in honor of National Park Week.While my favorite is always Mount Rainier NP, the Olympics are likely a better retreat for this time of year. I’ll be tromping around Sol Duc Hotsprings and Hurricane Ridge this weekend to celebrate my family’s love of the outdoors.“The National Park Service just turned 100 years old! Celebrate the start of our second century by visiting a park in 2017. During ten days of the year, all National Park Service sites that charge an entrance fee will offer free admission to everyone.”

8. Spring Egg Hunt at the Children’s Museum –  April 15^th & 16^th from 8:30a-10a at the Seattle Center. We are huge fans of SCM over at ANFU so this is a no brainer to make the list! There are quite a few egg hunts around town but this one is a fave because it includes entry to the museum for the day (and Eco-Eggs made from plants!). Also, as a parent of two early risers, I love that this event has an early start that will fit in pre-nap!“Hop on over! We will be hiding (and hopefully finding!) thousands of Eco-Eggs throughout the Museum.” 

9. Family Fun Workshop : All the Wild Things for Tiny Tots (ages 3-6) – Saturday, April 22^nd from 10a-12p at the Seattle Art Museum. I have a budding artist who loves coloring on with her “mawkas” on most everything but paper so this is a great way to channel that artistic energy.“Each workshop begins with a sketching tour in the galleries. With the guidance of a teaching artist and a wealth of art-making materials, harness your imagination to create a masterpiece inspired by your art adventure!”

10. Green Lake Food Walk – April 29^th from 12:30p-5:30p in the Green Lake Village area (near our ANFU office!).  Calling all foodies and families! This event was a big success last year, so we will be opening our doors on a Saturday to partake in the fun and food. We will have some fun activities for the kiddos while you fill your belly with yummy eats and treats.“The event is our take on a familiar concept of an “art walk,” but with special emphasis on food. Bring your family and friends to celebrate our thriving Seattle neighborhood for this one-day event!”