It’s hard to believe it’s summer again in Western Washington. Honestly, we’re still stuck on the all-too-recent memory of last summer -- when Olympia hit a record 97 degrees. Whew!
Hopefully, history doesn’t repeat itself.
Thankfully, the area is filled with attractions that’ll keep you and yours cool and happy no matter what the thermometer brings -- from tried-and-true options like a cool cone of soft serve to crowd-pleasing adventures like a raging battle at Laser Fun Zone.
Slap on some sunscreen. Break out the short sleeves. Let’s beat the heat together.
Flee to the Sea
West Coast, best coast. A cliche? Maybe. But true? Absolutely.
Alki Beach is a reliable Washingtonian getaway. The crowd-drawing beach strip is only a 25-minute car ride from downtown Seattle, but you’ll have more fun cruising there on one of the water taxis that depart seven days a week from the Seattle Ferry Terminal.
Beach-walk enthusiasts love the 2-mile oceanfront path with views of the Alki Lighthouse and Birthplace of Seattle obelisk. If ‘90s nostalgia is more your speed, you can also see filming locations from Sleepless in Seattle along the Alki shoreline.
The ocean oases don’t end there! Also be sure to visit …
- Jetty Island Park. Calling all nature lovers! From July to September, take a passenger ferry to Jetty Island and spend the day exploring 2 miles of untouched natural shorelines. Bring the family on a sunny weekday at low tide for a quieter beach with more space to relax (or build a sand castle empire).
- Tolmie State Park. Who said beaches are only for the ocean? This saltwater lake is perfect for little ones with its calm, wade-perfect water. Tolmie is also a popular clamming spot, so bring some muck boots if you’re looking to dig up dinner while you’re there.
Grab a Sweet Treat
No hot day is complete without an icy treat. It’s a summertime law.
Have you ever eaten a cool cone of soft serve and thought the only thing that would make this better is a hot dog to go with it? If so, Pups Cups n Cones is the stop for you. This young, local business in downtown Bremerton offers gourmet vegan hot dogs and vegan soft serve.
Chow down in the groovy, artsy restaurant itself or the adjacent dining patio. Are you a dog parent? The dog-friendly deck makes Pups Cups n Cones a great stop during your walk with the pooches.
Other sweet treat destinations in Western Washington include:
- Mora Iced Creamery. Do you love a traditional scoop? Mora is a family-owned, Washington-based shop that makes ice cream on site the “old-fashioned” way -- in small batches using whole ingredients. The best traditions are edible ones.
- Juju’s Iced Cream & Frozen Custard. There’s no bad juju at Juju’s! At this downtown Olympia shop, you can build your own Juju by picking a base (iced cream, frozen custard, or vegan soft serve), vessel (cone or cup) and DIY toppings. Plus, Juju’s is as Instagram-worthy as it is tasty, boasting neo-vintage decor complete with umbrellas hanging from the ceiling.
Freshwater Fun
All beached out? No sweat -- just skip the saltwater and take a dip at one of Western Washington’s other water attractions.
With free, open public fountains that draw crowds every year, Heritage Park Fountain in downtown Olympia is a summertime must-visit. Everyone calls it Olympia's swimming pool, even though the water is more suited to splashing through than submerging into.
Sustenance is a must after hardcore fountain-frolicking, so after the little ones have splashed themselves out, be sure to take a stroll downtown to grab lunch or ice cream.
The park is open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. from Memorial Day to Labor Day, so bring the kids and the towels and get in your summertime splashes while you can.
Or, try one of our other favorite spots for watertime fun:
- Great Wolf Lodge. This colossal indoor water park, dubbed the best in Washington, is part of Grand Mound Resort (an hour from Seattle). Grab a couple day passes and your family is ready to scale the Fort Mackenzie water tree fort, brave the Totem Tower body slide and catch a wave in Slap Tail Pond.
- Green River Gorge Swimming Hole. TLC may have warned us not to chase waterfalls, but we think the Left Eye and T-Boz would make an exception for this 19-foot landmark. Adventure-lovers can swim in the pool at the base of the falls, while the more thrill-averse can wade in the shallower waters above the falls or relax with a towel on the beach under the bridge. Locals love this spot for its accessibility -- no hike is required to access the falls, so you can hop out of the car and into the cool water in no time.
Explore the Great Indoors
Staying in the comfort of AC is a time-honored way to beat the heat, and the Hands on Children’s Museum is quickly scaling our list of favorite indoor attractions.
With exhibits like the Arts & Parts studio, where kids can make their own masterpieces, and Move It! -- where you can scale the building’s water tower for a full bird's-eye view of Olympia — it’s no surprise that Evening Magazine voted the museum Best Family-Friendly Destination in both 2020 and 2022 (or that it’s the most visited children’s museum in the Pacific Northwest).
After running around in the museum’s half-acre play space, the kiddos are sure to work up an appetite. Stop by the Play Day Café for a hunger-crushing homemade quesadilla, a frozen lemonade or another kid-favorite snack.
Looking for a little less education and a little more physical exertion? Here are a few of our other favorite indoor oases:
- America’s Car Museum. What if you could see classic cars from a 1963 Studebaker to a 1930 Ford Model A -- all without leaving the AC? At this multilevel, 165,000-square-foot museum, you’ll walk through 12 rotating exhibits sure to fascinate every visitor from car junkie to auto novice. Need a little engine fuel of your own? Stop by the onsite Full Throttle Cafe for a caffeinated pick-me-up.
- Exit Puzzles Escape Room. The Landlord’s Escape? The Museum of Curiosity? Say less -- we’re already hooked. The puzzles in Olympia’s original escape rooms will make you feel like the hero of your own mystery novel. Plus, games are suitable for kids over 7, so bring the whole family -- the more brain power, the better!
- Laser Fun Zone. What’s better than exploring a 4,000-square-foot laser arena and a full arcade? If you said “exploring a 4,000-square-foot laser arena and a full arcade for free,” you’ll love Tuesdays at Laser Fun Zone in Lancy, where parents get in free with the price of a child’s ticket.
