Splashing Allowed

Beat the heat with a stand-up paddleboard rental, lesson, or, for the especially ambitious, a yoga session with popSUP (2877 Fairview Ave E). Head to Ballard Kayak (7901 Seaview Ave NW) for a rental or tour of the bustling Shilshole Bay, where you can watch the sunset and spot seals and seabirds while learning the history of Seattle’s waterways.

The Center for Wooden Boats’ (1010 Valley St) Free Sunday Public Sails have been a Seattle tradition for more than 25 years. Join the excursion and voyage through Lake Union on a steamboat or schooner. Alternately, rent one of the state-of-the-art racing yachts from Let’s Go Sailing (1201 Alaskan Way) to glide through Puget Sound, leaving everything behind but the wind in your hair.

Cool down quickly in Puget Sound, where kids can tip-toe through teeming tide pools. Seattle’s largest park—Discovery Park (3801 Discovery Park Blvd)—is a veritable wilderness of beaches, bluffs, and mountain views. Golden Gardens (8498 Seaview Pl NW) presents a laid-back beach vibe, while Alki Beach’s Constellation Park (3521 Beach Dr SW) offers stunning views and a long stretch of shoreline to explore.

Flock with the locals to Lake Washington for the area’s best swimming. Set your sights on the floating dock and diving boards at Matthews Beach (5100 NE 93rd St) or soak up the gorgeous Mount Rainier view while backstroking at Madrona Park (853 Lake Washington Blvd).

Seattle’s more than 30 spray parks and wading pools come alive on warm days. Little ones love the splash pads at Jefferson Park (3801 Beacon Ave S), where tube slides are especially fun when wet, and at Northacres Park (12718 First Ave NE), where they can explore forested walking trails. Seattle Center’s (*H305 Harrison St) International Fountain is the mother of them all, featuring 137 music-synchronized mist nozzles and four super shooters.

*Visit Seattle Partner