Activities for Kids at Snoqualmie Ridge

Quiet Activities Inside for Younger Kids

• The Snoqualmie Library (kcls.org) offers story times for both toddlers and preschoolers. Toddler story time targets tots ages 6 to 24 months, although your older child is also welcome. Along with stories, there are also entertaining rhymes and songs. Preschooler story time is for kids ages 3 to 6, although siblings are welcome as well. It's a chance to share stories and songs with your preschooler. The library keeps an up-to-date schedule on their website.

Take to the Trails

• If your kids have energy to burn, take them exploring along Snoqualmie's 30 miles of trails (ci.snoqualmie.wa.us/CityDepartments/ParksRecreation/SnoqualmieTrails.aspx). In addition to walking and biking, you can even take older kids and teens horseback riding on some of the trails. Most of the trails connect to at least one park. For example, the Whitaker Park Trail, one of the shorter trails at only half a mile, starts at Whitaker Park, moves south between Crestview and Bandera neighborhoods and ends at Eagle Lake Drive.

Playing Outside

• Almost all of Snoqualmie's 35 parks have playground equipment (ci.snoqualmie.wa.us/Departments/ParksRecreationDepartment/SnoqualmieParks.aspx). Snoqualmie Community Park (ci.snoqualmie.wa.us/Default.aspx?tabid=193) is the city's largest outdoor recreational facility, with 33 acres. It has play equipment, restrooms, two soccer fields, three tennis courts and a basketball court, so there's lots to do to keep kids of all ages active. Azalea Park (ci.snoqualmie.wa.us/Default.aspx?tabid=172) connects to the Snoqualmie Valley Trail. Its play equipment includes a tower, swings, slides and picnic tables. There's also a restroom and a large picnic shelter so everyone can take a break from the sun.

Train Excitement

• The Northwest Railway Museum (trainmuseum.org) offers seasonal events for kids. In the summer, the museum staff usually hosts a Day Out with Thomas over multiple weekends. It's an event where your child can take a ride on Thomas the Tank Engine. The museum also runs a Santa train in December. The train runs from North Bend to Snoqualmie, where kids visit with Santa and receive a small present. Tickets normally go on sale in the summer, so plan ahead for this event. After visiting the museum, take a break at Railroad Park (ci.snoqualmie.wa.us/Default.aspx?tabid=170). There's a gazebo to picnic in and gardens to stroll through, or you can drive a mile west to State Route 202 and visit the Snoqualmie Falls.

Keeping Older Kids Busy

• There's plenty to keep your older child active while in Snoqualmie. If there's snow on the ground, head off to Snoqualmie Pass for skiing and snowboarding. During the summer months, there are mountain and road biking trails. The area has lake and river fishing, along with Class II and Class III kayaking. There are two shopping districts, the Historic Snoqualmie and Ridge Marketplace, where your family can find everything from a candy factory to Native American crafts and art to vintage clothes and toy stores.