22 places to take kids on dull winter days

  • By Jessi Loerch Herald Writer
  • Thursday, January 17, 2013 8:43am
  • LifeGo-See-Do

So, it’s January. It’s been winter for about a year. And winter will last for, oh, at least another two years. At least that’s how it feels to me right now, especially as the mother of a toddler.

Winter around here is tough. Kids need activities. They need to run and jump and play. But when it’s raining buckets, the playground doesn’t sound very appealing.

So for those days when you don’t want to brave the elements, here are some fun places in Snohomish County where you can take your kids to run off energy or to try something new.

Pump It Up

  • Where: 18027 Highway 99, Lynnwood, 425-774-2297, www.pumpitupparty.com/wa/lynnwood/home-p1q147.htm
  • What: Bouncy and inflatable toys.
  • When: 9:30 a.m. to noon Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Ages 6 and under only. Check online calendar for a few other times.
  • Cost: $6.50 first child, $4.50 siblings.

Jump Rattle &Roll

  • Where: 17631 147th St. SE. Suite 6, Monroe; 425-381-5490; jumprattleroll.com.
  • What: Bouncy and inflatable toys.
  • When: Open jump times change weekly. Check website.
  • Cost: Ages 2 to 17, $6; 1 to 2, $3; kids under 1 and parents are free.

Absolute Air Park

  • Where: 18802 67th Ave. NE, Arlington; 855-788-5867; absoluteairpark.com.
  • What: An indoor trampoline facility. Includes Wild Child Alley, an area for kids from walking age to 5 years old. Parents can use the main facility while their kids play.
  • When: Various times, check website.
  • Cost: Open jump time: Mondays to Thursdays: $10 for first hour, $7 for each hour after that. Fridays to Sundays: $11 for first hour, $8 after that. Wild Child Alley: Mondays to Thursdays, $5 per hour; Fridays to Sundays, $6 per hour.

Reptile Zoo

  • Where: 22715-B U.S. 2, a mile east of Monroe; 360-805-5300; www.reptileman.com.
  • 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: $6 adults, $5 kids.

Imagine Children’s Museum

  • Where: 502 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: $9 for children and adults; kids 12 months and younger are free; admission is half price from 3 to 5 p.m. Thursdays; annual memberships available.

Flying Heritage Collection

  • Where: 3407 109th St. SW, Everett; 877-342-3404; www.flyingheritage.com.
  • What: A collection of historic planes, lovingly restored to fly again.
  • When: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays. Open 7 days a week from Memorial Day to Labor Day.
  • Cost: $8 kids, $12 adults, $10 seniors/military, kids 5 and under free.

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.

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: Hours vary. Check website.
  • Cost: Prices vary, but start at $5 for those with their own skates and $6 with a skate rental.

Comcast Ice Rink

  • Where: 2000 Hewitt Ave., Everett; 425-322-2653; www.comcastarenaeverett.com.
  • What: Ice skating on a regulation hockey-size rink.
  • When: Various times. Check website.
  • Cost: Varies. Starts at $3.50 for younger kids. Generally $5 or $6 for older kids and adults. Skate rental $2 to $3.

Forest Park pool

  • Where: 802 E. Mukilteo Blvd.; Everett; 425-257-8309; www.ci.everett.wa.us/default.aspx?ID=1083.
  • What: Indoor swimming pool with diving tank and rope swing. Inflatable toys on Fridays.
  • When: Check website for schedule.
  • Cost: $3 for kids, $3.50 for adults, $8 for family swim.

Mountlake Terrace indoor pool

  • Where: 5303 228th St. SW, Mountlake Terrace; 425-776-9173.
  • What: Indoor swimming pool with lazy river, shallow area for very young kids, spray toys and other toys.
  • When: Check website for schedule.
  • Cost: Various rates, starting at $3.50. $2 happy hour is offered several times a week.

Lynnwood Recreation Center indoor pool

  • Where: 18900 44th Ave. W., Lynnwood; 425-670-5732; http://www.ci.lynnwood.wa.us/PlayLynnwood/RecCenter.htm.
  • What: Indoor swimming pool with lazy river, shallow play area, waterslides, family hot tub and more.
  • When: Check website for schedule.
  • Cost: under age 2 free; 2 to 12 $4; 13 to 17 $4.50; adults $5; family $15.

Creation Station

  • Where: 19511 64th Ave. W., Lynnwood; 425-775-7959.
  • What: Arts-and-craft store that offers space and material for creating art on a drop-in basis. Recommended for ages 4 and up, but parents may decide for themselves. Reservations needed for groups of 5 or more.
  • When: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays to Saturdays; noon to 5 p.m. Sundays. Closed Sundays from Father’s Day to September.
  • Cost: $6.95 for 2 hours.

Chuck E. Cheese

  • Where: 3717 196th St. SW, Lynnwood; 425-771-1195; www.chuckecheese.com.
  • What: Games, rides and toys. Also includes a restaurant.
  • When: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sundays to Thursdays; 10 a.m to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays.
  • Cost: Free entry. Need to buy tokens for rides and games.

Parents Morning Out

  • Where: 2800 SW 196th St. SW, Lynnwood; 425-775-1320; www.wholefoodsmarket.com.
  • What: Morning gathering for parents and kids. Activities and snacks available along with free coffee for adults.
  • When: 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Thursdays.
  • Cost: Free.

Traxx Racing

  • Where: 4329 Chennault Beach Road, Mukilteo; 425-493-8729; www.traxxracing.com
  • What: Go-kart racing, video games, bouncy house, climbing wall, velcro wall, pool and air hockey.
  • When: 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sundays to Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 1 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays
  • Cost: Varies. Call or check website.

Playdate Cafe

  • Where: 4114 198th St. SW, Suite 3, Lynnwood; 425-582-7007; www.playdatecafe.biz.
  • What: Indoor play area with toys, bouncy house, slides, costumes and more.
  • 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: $8 for first child, $6 for sibling or crawler; $1 off for 8 or more unrelated kids. Discounted passed for multiples visits are available. Adults and non-crawling infants are free.

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 and miniature golf.
  • When: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sundays; 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays to Thursdays; 12 p.m. to 11 p.m. Fridays; 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturdays.
  • Cost: Varies. Call or check website.

Other ideas

  • Public transit: It’s a cheap and fun way to keep your kids entertained, especially if they’re fascinated with buses or trains.
  • Ferries: Take a ferry ride or just watch the big boats come and go.
  • 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.
Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Life

Brandon Hailey of Cytrus, center, plays the saxophone during a headlining show at Madam Lou’s on Friday, Dec. 29, 2023 in Seattle, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Lynnwood-based funk octet Cytrus has the juice

Resilience and brotherhood take center stage with ‘friends-first’ band.

FILE - In this April 11, 2014 file photo, Neko Case performs at the Coachella Music and Arts Festival in Indio, Calif. Fire investigators are looking for the cause of a fire on Monday, Sept. 18, 2017, that heavily damaged Case’s 225-year-old Vermont home. There were no injuries, though a barn was destroyed. It took firefighters two hours to extinguish the blaze. (Photo by Scott Roth/Invision/AP, File)
Music, theater and more: What’s happening in Snohomish County

Singer-songwriter Neko Case, an indie music icon from Tacoma, performs Sunday in Edmonds.

Dominic Arizona Bonuccelli
Tangier’s market boasts piles of fruits, veggies, and olives, countless varieties of bread, and nonperishables, like clothing and electronics.
Rick Steves on the cultural kaleidoscope of Tangier in Morocco

Walking through the city, I think to myself, “How could anyone be in southern Spain — so close — and not hop over to experience this wonderland?”

chris elliott.
Vrbo promised to cover her rental bill in Hawaii, so why won’t it?

When Cheryl Mander’s Vrbo rental in Hawaii is uninhabitable, the rental platform agrees to cover her new accommodations. But then it backs out. What happened?

The Moonlight Swing Orchestra will play classic sounds of the Big Band Era on April 21 in Everett. (submitted photo)
Music, theater and more: What’s happening in Snohomish County

Relive the Big Band Era at the Port Gardner Music Society’s final concert of the season in Everett.

2024 Honda Ridgeline TrailSport AWD (Honda)
2024 Honda Ridgeline TrailSport AWD

Honda cedes big boy pickup trucks to the likes of Ford, Dodge… Continue reading

Would you want to give something as elaborate as this a name as mundane as “bread box”? A French Provincial piece practically demands the French name panetiere.
A panetiere isn’t your modern bread box. It’s a treasure of French culture

This elaborately carved French antique may be old, but it’s still capable of keeping its leavened contents perfectly fresh.

(Judy Newton / Great Plant Picks)
Great Plant Pick: Mouse plant

What: Arisarum proboscideum, also known as mouse plant, is an herbaceous woodland… Continue reading

Bright green Japanese maple leaves are illuminated by spring sunlight. (Getty Images)
Confessions of a ‘plantophile’: I’m a bit of a junky for Japanese maples

In fact, my addiction to these glorious, all-season specimens seems to be contagious. Fortunately, there’s no known cure.

2024 Hyundai IONIQ 6 Limited (Hyundai)
2024 Hyundai IONIQ 6 Limited

The 2024 Hyundai IONIQ 6 Limited is a sporty, all-electric, all-wheel drive sedan that will quickly win your heart.

The 2024 Dodge Hornet R/T hybrid’s face has the twin red lines signifying the brand’s focus on performance. (Dodge)
2024 Hornet R/T is first electrified performance vehicle from Dodge

The all-new compact SUV travels 32 miles on pure electric power, and up to 360 miles in hybrid mode.

Don’t blow a bundle on glass supposedly made by the Henry William Stiegel

Why? Faked signatures, reused molds and imitated styles can make it unclear who actually made any given piece of glass.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.