50+ summer things to do for kids and families

Here’s our list of free and cheap things to do in summer for kids, teens, and families in Seattle and the Puget Sound region. You’ll find outdoor and indoor activities, free tours, DIY toys, cheap food, and fun getaways around Washington State. From beaches and biking to bowling and backyard games, we’ve got enough fun for you and the kiddos to last until Labor Day Weekend.

Summer things to do for kids around Puget Sound

• Free sprayparks, wading pools, beaches for kids at Seattle parks
• Free swim lessons for youths ages 6-16 at Seattle beaches
• Free bowling for kids (and adults): two free games a day–all summer long
• Free Skateboard Parks in Seattle, Bellevue, Kirkland, and Redmond
• Free small airplane rides for adults and kids

DIY Toys for outdoor summer fun

• Top 10 DIY outdoor toys and summer activities for kids
• 8 giant backyard games you can build yourself
• Kids’ crafts: Make a rubber-band powered boat

Family outdoor summer things to do

• Outdoor summer movies in Seattle and around Puget Sound
• Free Center for Wooden Boats in Seattle and Camano Island
• 200+ free guided low tide beach walks in summer
• Canoe, rowboat and kayak rentals at UW Seattle
• Free apps and online maps for walking tours of Seattle
• Discount tickets to Seattle Mariners baseball games
• Discount tickets to Tacoma Rainiers baseball
• Where to watch wildlife in Washington State (and it’s all free)
• Explore the UW Arboretum with a family adventure pack for K-6
• How to save on tickets to Evergreen State Fair in Monroe
• How save on tickets to the Washington State Fair in Puyallup

Family indoor summer things to do

• Free or low cost Seattle Aquarium tickets
• Free and low cost planetarium shows in the Puget Sound region
• Museum of Flight events and tours in Seattle and Everett
• Fort Nisqually Living History Museum
• About the Hibulb Cultural Center in Tulalip
• National Nordic Museum free and discount admission
• Ultimate guide to museums in the Seattle-Tacoma metro area
• Discount entertainment tickets at venues around Puget Sound

Free and cheap tours

• 25 free tours (and a couple cheap ones)
• Public gardens and tours in the Puget Sound region
• 16 Puget Sound lighthouses you can visit for free
• Tours of Lumen Field, T-Mobile Park, Husky Stadium
• 101+ Free attractions around the Puget Sound region

Weekend summer things to do

• Free weekend culture festivals at Seattle Center Festal
• Free outdoor summer music concerts
• Free guided low tide beach walks in summer
• Puget Sound Estuarium in Olympia
• Salmon spawning season in Western Washington
• Center for Wooden Boats, Seattle and Camano Island
• Free and cheap things to do each weekend in Seattle

Free and cheap fun anytime

• Free things to do for the next 30 days

4^th of July fireworks

• Where to see fireworks in the Seattle-Tacoma metro area
• Educate yourself on local fireworks laws

Washington State Family Getaways

• Best summer vacation ideas in Washington State
• Skagit Valley trip planner
• Guide to Washington State Wine Growing Regions
• Where to watch wildlife in Washington State (free!)
• Grand Coulee Dam recreation area (230 miles)
• Kite Festival (August) in Long Beach (170 miles)

Rainy day fun (reading, arts, crafts, movies)

• Free printable coloring pages for kids and adults
• Free games and learning resources at NASA Kid’s Club
• Where and when to see movies in Seattle at a discount

Free and cheap food

• How to throw a picnic for less
• Where to get the latest Seattle restaurant deals
• Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) (federally funded child nutrition program). Find Summer Meal sites near you, visit: https://www.fns.usda.gov/meals4kids. 
• ¡LOS NIÑOS COMEN GRATIS ESTE VERANO! Niños menores de 18 años se pueden comer gratis en las escuelas, parques, centros comunitarios y más. Para encontrar un sitio de Comidas de Verano cerca de usted, visite: https://www.fns.usda.gov/meals4kids

Practical matters

• Youth Ride Transit for Free! – Fares & ORCA Passes – King County Metro
• Free water safety guides & Washington boating laws

Event calendar of free and affordable things to do

Listed below are all types of free and affordable things to do in the next 30 days.

Featured Events are listed first each day, highlighted by a photo. These are unique, popular, or annual events that we or our advertisers don’t want you to overlook.

Find more events and ideas for affordable living at Greater Seattle on the Cheap – Free things to do, cheap fun, discounts and deals in the Seattle-Tacoma metro area