Media Contact: Amy Spain, 425-348-5802 x. 101, [email protected]

Great Attractions & Activities for Kids In Snohomish County, WA

From a reptile zoo to exciting sports and children’s theater, families will find many forms of fun to keep the kids happily occupied while visiting Snohomish County. Rain or shine!

Animal Encounters

The Reptile Zoo. Most unusual – and a definite kid-magnet for its “gross” factor. It has enough crawly, slithery, scary critters to send kids into absolute ecstasy. The Reptile Man, Scott Petersen, has created an amazing zoo of 200 creatures including more than 50 snakes: rattlesnakes, pythons, cobras and mambas. Other caged critters include chameleons, lizards, scorpions and spiders; big tortoises amble around the yard. Kids can touch the scales of certain zoo inhabitants, feel them slither on an arm or observe as they take a meal. Children must be at least three years old. Plan your next birthday party here. Admission is $5 (child), $6 (over 18). Open year-round, Mon-Sun 10am-6pm. Call ahead to learn feeding times or make group reservations. Address: 22715 State Route 2, one mile east of Monroe. (360) 805-5300. http://www.thereptilezoo.org/

The Outback Kangaroo Farm near Arlington makes this unusual combination work by offering educational tours of its Down Under critters when it’s not selling Christmas trees. Your kids can see kangaroos, wallabies and wallaroos, llamas and alpacas, pygmy goats, ringtail lemurs, parrots, and peacocks. From March through October, four scheduled tours are offered Wednesday through Sunday at 10:00 a.m., 12:00, 2:00 and 4:00 p.m. Adults $8 and children $7. 10030 State Route 530 NE, Arlington, (360) 403-7474, www.outbackkangaroofarm.com.

Just Frogs, Toads Too. Find out what's hopping in Edmonds. Check out how important frogs are and see rescued frogs, toads, turtles and more. Plus, every kind of gift for the frog lover. Also offer craft workshops, frog themed parties and amphibian pet care. 300 Admiral Way, Suite 104, Edmonds. (425) 778-8726. www.justfrogs.com.

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Pony Paradise Rides provides children of all ages the ability to interact with ponies in various ways. We have Pony parties at our location (Woodinville), or Ponies on the road where the ponies come to you to celebrate your special event. Our ponies love to dress up as princesses, unicorns, cowboys and more. We offer lessons and much more. Summer camp at their Woodinville location. 1 (800) 753-PONY. www.ponyparidiserides.com.

Seasonal petting zoos – open May through September (call for exact dates): • Forest Park Animal Farm, 802 E. Mukilteo Blvd., Everett, (425) 257-8300.

Museums, Theater & Arts

Imagine Children’s Museum. Kids love the Imagine Children’s Museum in Everett where they can sit in a real airplane cockpit and explore a two-story tree house. Other adventures include a two-story tree house; a mountain with a climbing wall and train tunnel; a ferry boat with a water table; a farm with a milking cow; a town center with a restaurant, vet clinic, bank, barber shop and theater; art and construction studios. The littlest kids can even toddle or crawl around a soft-sided castle. Here kids are encouraged to touch, do and explore everything – this is a place where a child’s approach to the world reigns! Open daily except Mondays and major holidays; hours vary. Admission $7.75 per person, children under one are free. Half- off 3pm-5pm on Thursday. 1502 Wall Street, Everett. (425) 258-1006, www.imaginecm.org.

The Western Heritage Center is a great interactive museum of Mining, Logging, Agriculture and Wildlife in Northwestern Washington. Kids can gawk at noisy machinery, including an 1880s-era drill press powered by giant belts tied to a waterwheel outside the building. This exhibit is and will be designed to spark the interest of the visitor as well as educate him or her on just how exciting and creative people had to be to survive without TV and cell phones. Take a tour and bring your kids for a great day or night of real reality! Located at the Evergreen Fairgrounds, Building 611 (Far east end corner), Monroe. Open Wed-Sat 10am- 5pm & Sun 12pm-5pm. (425) 232-3493.

The Village Theatre at the Everett Performing Arts Center is the premiere theater venue in Snohomish County with adult and kid-friendly productions throughout the year. Performances at the intimate, 512-seat theatre range from Broadway musicals to special children’s shows, always of the highest caliber. Resident company Pied Piper Presents produces shows for the entire family: ballet, musical concerts, children's theater and puppetry. 2710 Wetmore Avenue, Everett, (425) 257-8600, www.villagetheatre.org.

Tim Noah Thumbnail Theater provides a wide range of programs, classes, and performances in a nurturing environment that give children and adults opportunity to Page - 3

experience the excitement, vitality, unpredictability and exuberance of live theater, music and arts education. 1211 4th Street, Snohomish. (360) 568-9412. www.thumbnailtheater.com.

Kids ‘N’ Clay Pottery Studio-Lynnwood. During wet-clay open hours, kids can get their hands dirty and experiment with wheel throwing, hand building and painting. Studio Hours: Closed Mon. Open Tue-Wed 10-3, Thur 10-6, Fri 10-8, Sat 11-5, Sun 11-4. 19125 33rd Avenue West, Suite D, Lynnwood. (425) 673-CLAY (2529). www.kidsnclay.com/

Movie Theaters in Snohomish County

• Olympic Theatre, Arlington, (360) 435-3939 • Edmonds Theater, Edmonds, (425) 778-4554 • Regal Cinemas Everett Mall Stadium 16, Everett, (800) 326-3264 • Regal Alderwood Stadium 7, Lynnwood, (800) 326-3264 413 • AMC Loews Alderwood Mall 16, Lynnwood, (888) AMC-4FUN • Regal Marysville 14, Marysville, (800) 326-3264 414 • Galaxy Monroe (special effect chairs for extra $, DLP digital projection), Monroe, (360) 863-0909 • Cinebarre Mountlake Terrace (21 years & older, serves drinks & food before and during movies), Mountlake Terrace, (425) 672-7501 • Stanwood Cinemas at the Pavilion, Stanwood, (360) 629-0514 In the summers, many communities also offer outdoor movies. See listings at www.snohomish.org.

Planes, Trains and Go Karts

The Boeing Tour of its commercial jet assembly plant in Everett is a fascinating experience for older kids and adults alike. In October 2005, it became part of the Future of Flight Aviation Center & Boeing Tour, a new facility designed to provide visitors with an understanding and appreciation of technology as applied to the science of flight. This unique interpretive facility will let kids design their own jets – and take home souvenir printouts!

Future of Flight Aviation Center & Boeing Tour is open daily with hourly tours from 9am— 3pm. Children must be at least 4 feet tall. Cost for adults is $20, youth 15 & under is $14. Address: 8415 Paine Field Blvd., Mukilteo. Information: (800) 464-1476, (888) 467-4777 or (425) 438-8100, www.futureofflight.org.

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Traxx Indoor Raceway is an indoor go-kart racecourse with electric cars and gas-powered karts for ages 3 through adult. Memberships and party packages are offered with add-ons of the Climbing Wall, Turbo Toilets, Bouncy House and food. 4329 Chennault Beach Rd, Mukilteo, (425)493-Traxx. www.traxxracing.com.

Train Rides! The Iron Horse Railway offers train rides in Snohomish. The location is just south of Hwy 2 at 56th St. SE. Five-minute train rides are available on Saturdays when it is not raining. Rides cost $3 per ticket, $10 for four tickets, and $20 for 10 tickets. Children under the age of one ride for free. Hwy 9 and 30th Street in Snohomish. ironhorserailway.net

Sporting Fun & Exercise

If your kids are sports fans, check out the schedule of the Comcast Arena at Everett. This 10,000-seat, multi-purpose venue hosts championship hockey, ice shows and star-power concerts. It’s home to the Everett Silvertips, www.everettsilvertips.com, a top-rated Western Hockey League team and Washington Stealth, National Lacrosse League, www.stealthlax.com. In addition to exciting hockey games September through March, the center hosts basketball, volleyball, wrestling and gymnastics events. 2000 Hewitt Avenue, Everett. Information: (425) 322-2600, www.comcastarenaeverett.com. For tickets: (866) 332-8499.

Doodlebug Sportz, indoor and outdoor laser and paintball tag for ages 10 years and up. Indoor location: 3303 McDougall Ave., Everett. Private parties, drop-ins, equipment rental packages, pro shop. Outdoor location is: 9600 115th Ave. SE, Snohomish. Next to Pilchuck Park. (425) 257-9800 for both locations. Call or see website for times and prices. www.doodlebugsportz.com/

The action never stops at Elevated Sportz Indoor Trampoline & Fun Center, which features four trampoline courts and giant four stories soft play structure. Each trampoline offers different options for Tiggerific tots, including dodgeball, basketball, and a foam pit for maximum jumping excitement. A giant play structure designed for young children serves up racing slides, a ball pit, an obstacle course, tubes, tunnels, and bridges to satisfy any mini explorer. Open 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday, and 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturday. Pricing varies. 18311 Bothell-Everett Hwy, #140, Bothell. www.elevatedsportz.com

Rage Cage Batting Complex - Outdoor & indoor batting cages; retail shop; in-door training facility; party/meeting room; pitching instruction; hitting instructions; video analysis; silk screening/embroidery; hitting clinics/camps for ages 9-18 years. Mon-Fri: 2-7pm, Sat-Sun: Noon-7pm. 1520 112th St SW, Everett. (425)348-5266. www.ragecageeverett.com

Jump Rattle & Roll is a new 8,000 sq. foot interactive bouncing’ fun play arena for children 1- 16 years. Children under 1 and parents are free. Bring your socks! Private party room, bounce arenas and a “living room” for mom and dad. Call for details and prices. 17631 147th St. SE, Suite 6, Monroe. (425) 381-5490. http://jumprattleroll.com Page - 5

Climb the Pinnacle at REI Alderwood, our freestanding indoor climbing wall. Please call ahead for climbing hours and availability. REI Alderwood has been providing outdoor enthusiasts in the Lynnwood, Washington area with top-brand gear and clothing for camping, climbing. Classes available each month. Alderwood Mall. 3000 184th St SW Ste 952. Lynnwood. (425) 640-6200. Hours M-F 10am-9pm, Sat 10am-9pm, Sun 11am-7pm.

Outdoor Wonders

During the summer months, take the kids on a free, 10-minute ferry ride to Jetty Island, which acts as a giant breakwater for the City of Everett. Originally created in the 1890s by dredging and sunken barges, this island has grown and transformed into a recreational gem. Today, Jetty Is-land is two miles long, more than 50 acres in size and home to 45 species of birds, many plants and marine creatures. Kids love to play in the sand dunes and splash in the surrounding, warm, shallow waters. Take a picnic and make a day of it! Special programs are also conducted by the Everett Parks Department, which include puppet shows, naturalist walks, kite days, history and wildlife walks and evening campfire gatherings. Ferry departures are every half-hour day from 10:00 a.m. to 5.50 p.m. (from 11:00 a.m. on Sunday) from July through Labor Day weekend. Location: 10th street boat launch and Marine Park in Everett. Information on special programs- www.everettwa.org/parks.

Canopy Tours Northwest Zip-line tours over the trees! Features forest trails, a swinging log bridge and six double-cable zip lines, the longest of which is 650 feet through a meadow planted with young trees Everybody signs a waiver, and you have to be at least 8 years old with parental per-mission to participate. The tour, offered year-round, lasts from two to three hours and costs $85 a person. For now, the company offers three tours a day for eight people each trip. 332 N. East Camano Drive (across from the golf course), Camano Island. (360) 387-5807. www.canopytoursnw.com.

For The Whole Family

Family Fun Center & Bullwinkle’s Restaurant provides non-stop amusement with bumper cars, bumper boats, go-karts, futuristic laser tag, 18-hole miniature golf, batting cages and state-of-the-art arcade games. The park boasts seven acres of fun, with 25,000 square feet of it indoors. Open daily, this is a perfect, high-energy hang-out for youth and families. Even younger children can burn off steam negotiating the padded obstacles, tunnels and ball pits of the Fun Fortress (minimum age is five). Call for hours. 7212-220th Street SW, Edmonds. (425) 774-4263.

Alderwood Mall Play Area. The kids’ area was upgraded and now sports shiny new play equipment. It’s free and open during mall hours. Monday-Saturday: 10:00am-9:00pm, Sunday: 11:00am-7:00pm, 3000 184th Street SW, Lynnwood. (425) 771-1121. www.alderwoodmall.com. Page - 6

Evergreen State Fairgrounds in Monroe holds activities all year round. The last weekend in August through Labor Day is the State Fair with rodeos, concerts, rides, exhibits, and fair food. Also during the year are animal exhibits and shows, swap meets, holiday events and more. (360) 805-6700. www.evergreenfair.org. At the Fairgrounds the Evergreen Speedway holds auto racing every Saturday. (360) 805- 6100. www.evergreenspeedway.com. 14405 179th Ave SE, Monroe.

Skating and Pools

Swimming – Kids love to splash and swim in to one of Snohomish County’s four indoor, public pools: • Swim Center at Forest Park. Offers open, lap and family swimming in an indoor, 25- yard lap pool with an attached diving tank. Dive deep or swing into the tank from a rope. An indoor hot tub and sauna also are available. And a shallow, outdoor tot pool allows little tykes and their families to splash around during warm summer months. 802 E. Mukilteo Blvd., Everett, (425) 257-8300. everettwa.gov/Facilities/Facility/Details/Swim-Center-96 • Lynnwood Recreation Center Swimming Pool. New locker rooms including 7 private family changing rooms; recreation pool including water slides, lazy river, water playground and family hot tub; sauna, adult hot tub and warm-water therapy pool; cardio/weight room and fitness stu-dio.18900 44th Ave. W., Lynnwood, (425) 771-4030. www.ci.lynnwood.wa.us. • Mountlake Terrace pool. During open swim, kids can float down the gently moving lazy river, while tots hang out and play with the toys in the shallow leisure pool. Mountlake Terrace Recreation Pavilion. 5303 228th Street SW, Mountlake Terrace. (425) 776-9173. www.ci.mountlake-terrace.wa.us. • Snohomish Aquatic Center. Guests of all ages are welcome to use the pool during select times every day during open swim. A 151-feet long and 20-feet high enclosed waterslide provides a fun, corkscrew ride starting inside the center, spiraling out of the building and back in, ending in the rec pool. Must be at least 48-inches tall and pass a swim test to slide. The center also features a FlowRider, a surf- simulation machine that provides an exciting ride with plenty of challenges and a whole lot of fun! Students must be 42-inches tall to ride the boogie boards and 52-inches tall and less than 250 pounds to ride the stand-up boards. 516 Maple Ave., Snohomish. (360) 568-8030. www.snohomishaquatic.com

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Ice Skating – Young Ice Follies aspirants can skate at two convenient ice rinks: • Lynnwood Ice Center has activities for the whole family including “cheap skate” on Wednesday nights, 19803-68th Ave. W, Lynnwood, (425) 640-9999, www.lynnwoodicecenter.com • Comcast Community Ice Rink at the Comcast Arena at Everett is a NHL regulation ice sheet with at least one public skating session a day; it also offers lessons and special events. Public sessions are Monday-Friday, 8:45 a.m. - 2:15 p.m. Weekend and evening hours vary. 2000 Hewitt Ave., Everett, (425) 322-2653; www.comcastarenaeverett/icerink

Roller Skating – Three roller skating rinks offer both lessons and open skate time: • Lynnwood Bowl & Skate, 6210 200th St SW, Lynnwood, (425) 778-3133, www.bowlandskate.com. • Skate Inn, 7313 44th Ave. NE, Marysville, (360) 659-3900, www.marysvilleskateinn.com. • Skate Deck, 9700 19th Ave. SE, Everett, (425) 337-0202, www.everettskatedeck.com.

Skate Parks—Snohomish County has 12 outdoor Skate Parks: • Arlington. 18204 54th Dr. NE • Darrington Skate Park. Old School Park • Edmonds. Civic Center Playfield, 6th Ave N & Bell St. • Lynndale (Edmonds). 73rd Ave & Olympic View Dr. • Everett. Walter E. Hall Park, 1226 W. Casino Rd. • Granite Falls. Jim Holm Park, 206 2. Granite Ave. • Lynnwood. Martha Lake Airfield Park. 200 146th St W • Marysville. 1050 Columbia Ave. • Mill Creek. 13903 North Creek Dr. • Monroe. Frylands Blvd. • Mukilteo. YMCA, 10601 47th Pl W. • Snohomish. 116 Union Ave.

For additional information, go to www.commtrans.org/BusService/SkateParks.cfm.

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Special Interests

American Girl Store. This shop at Alderwood Mall features all of the characters—from historical favorites to My American Girl® dolls to our current Girl of the Year—plus Bitty Baby and the Bitty Twins. Outfits, accessories, and furniture along with a bookstore. It includes CreativiTees, a specialty shop for de-signing matching doll and girl T-shirts and the Doll Hair Salon! When you’re ready for a casual bite with that special touch, visit the American Girl Bistro. You and your girl can choose from a la carte selections, including tasty appetizers, delicious entrees, and rich and creamy desserts. Where girls can enjoy their favorite shops, casual dining in the Bistro, and extra-special birthday celebrations for girls ages 3 on up. Alderwood Mall. 3000 184th St., Lynnwood. (877) 247-5223. Store Hours: Mon-Thu 10-8; Fri-Sat 10-9; Sun 11- 6. Bistro Hours: Mon-Thu 11-6:30; Fri-Sat 11-7:30; Sun 11-4:30. www.americangirl.com/stores/location_sea

Camps

Sunset Bay Watersports Beach Camp. Wakeboard, sail, kayak, windsurf, zip line and more. Group and family programs tiered for any level of experience and ability. Located a few minutes from the Alderwood Mall in Lynnwood. (206) 324-6715. www.sunsetbay.com.

For additional Outdoor Adventure Education check our website. Check out the Summer Camps offered by the Parks and Recreation throughout the county.

More Ideas

Additional ideas are available at www.snohomish.org. A sampling includes:

• Discover tide pool treasures with the Edmonds Beach Rangers. • Go birdwatching on Spencer Island. • Float down the Pilchuck River in an inner tube or book a rafting tour. • Hike through a magical rain forest to Wallace Falls and look for tiny tree frogs. • Eat a hot dog and cheer for the Everett AquaSox baseball team. • Go fishing off the Edmonds Pier or at Silver Lake in Everett. • Take a tour of the Mukilteo Lighthouse and museum. • View the Big Four Ice Caves or hike to a real ghost town, Monte Cristo. • Get lost in a corn maze at a local farm, pick a giant pumpkin or pick berries. • Visit a local museum and discover our history. • Take a drive on the Cascade Loop Highway. • Tour an art gallery. • Take in a concert or play. • See the Everett Silvertips Hockey league play. • Volunteer as a family at a local food bank.