Seattle is a great city to live in, and it is also a great city to visit. However, while most people visit Seattle only for the city life, there are also a lot of great outdoor adventures that are within a few miles of the city limits. This year get out of the city, and take your family on a wild outdoor adventure.
Step 1: Learn About Seattle
Seattle is the largest city in the state of Washington. It has a regular population of over 3 million people in its metro territory. The summer climate in Seattle is fantastic for outdoor adventures. It is not too hot, and it is not too cold. In fact temperatures during the summer hover in the 70s. If you are familiar with Seattle then you know that rain is a part of this city’s charm. However, in July you will find plenty of dry days to explore the wild wonders located within a half hour of Seattle. While you are in the city you may also want to visit some local attractions like the Pike Place Market, the Woodland Park Zoo, and the Seattle Aquarium.
Step 2: Plan Where You Will Stay
Because Seattle is a top tourist destination you won’t have to look very hard to find hotel accommodations. Seattle has dozens and dozens of hotels to choose from. This city is the home of national chain hotels like Best Western and Clarion, as well as locally owned B&Bs.;
If the goal of this family vacation is to get away from city life then you will want to plan on staying at a local campground. If you have your own RV then you may want to stay at the Fiver Corners RV, the Seattle/Tacoma KOA, or the Majestic Manor RV Park. If you will be staying in a camper or a tent then you may want to make plans to stay at the Lake Union Marine Park or at the KOA.
Step 3: Plan What to Do and What to See
The best place to start when selecting wild adventures for your family to have is hiking trips. There are several great trail systems located within an hour of Seattle, Washington. One of the closest trail systems to Seattle is the Clearwater Trail. This trail system offers 10.6 miles of trails and an elevation change of 2788 feet. If you are looking for a super long hiking trip then you will want to travel 46 miles to the Northern Loop Trail in Pierce County. This trail system is huge. It offers 32.2 miles of trails and an elevation variation of 4766 feet.
If you want to challenge your family’s rafting skills then you need to plan a whitewater trip. For an easy introduction to rafting you may want to put your inner tubes or rafts in the Duwamish River at King County Park. This .1 mile stretch of water is rated as a class I-II run and it is perfect for young families. If you want something a bit more challenging then you will want to travel 23 miles to the Green River. Her you will find a 5 mile long class III-IV run.
If your family likes to boat, canoe, swim, or jet ski then you will want to make sure that you plan at least one day at a local lake. There are a lot of great lakes located within 10 miles of Seattle. Some of the closest options include: Angle Lake, Arbor Lake, Arrow Lake, Lora Lake, Reba Lake, and the West Seattle Reservoir. Remember the life preservers for your young kids, and don’t leave small kids unattended near the water.
