It’s been a bizarre summer so far... the Seattle Mariners (at the time of writing this) are above .500, Seattle is experiencing one of the dryest seasons in over 50 years, the PNW is with smoke from the awful wildfires up north, and we’ve had a pretty consistent heat wave that doesn’t look like it's going anywhere.
Oh joy.
So if you’re like me, then you know any temperature above 80 degrees is too much and it’s time to seek reprieve from the heat. But luckily we have options for those of us in Skagit County! There are three different outdoor splash/spray park that are free and kid/family friendly!
1. Storvik Park’s Spray Pad, Anacortes Washington.
Brand new this year the spray pad at Storvik park is an excellent addition to the already beautiful area. After hitting the water I would suggest taking five minutes to go hit up so ice cream too! The spray pad is open seasonally 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.
2. Maiben Park’s Water Park, Burlington Washington.
With a basketball court, tennis court, and water park spray pad, Maiben Park has it all! You can also rent a covered shelter to use for hosting an event! Fill up for the fun by stopping by LaFeen’s for ice cream or doughnuts!
3. Kiwanis Park’s Spray Park, Mount Vernon Washington.
My personal favorite of the three parks, Kiwanis Park in Mount Vernon is large, accessible, and has plenty of other goodies in the area as well! The park itself has basketball courts as well as a softball field and a boardwalk that weaves through the woods bordering the park. Plusssss less than three minutes away is a Baskin Robbins. Mmmm…
There are some important things to remember though while visiting any of these parks…
- Supervision! Never leave kids unattended.
- Sun safety. Skin cancer has been on the rise this last decade in the PNW -- take action to prevent it.
- Walk! It’s not just the lifeguard in me saying this, you want to prevent any slips or falls onto the wet concrete.
- Water shoes. This is kind of tagging off the last point by adding an extra layer of security.
- Be smart. Don’t partake in any excessive horseplay or roughhousing in these locations. Not only do you risk your own fun and safety, but others as well.
