It’s (technically) Springtime in Seattle!

Spring is here! Well, at least if you look at your calendar, rather than out your window…

I’ve lived in the Northwest long enough to know that Spring in Seattle doesn’t mean much more than continued rain and possibly turning down our thermostat a couple of degrees. But, the arrival of this transitional season does perk up our spirits a bit – there are buds on the trees now, the evenings are giving us more daylight to enjoy, and visions of Summer BBQs are starting to become clearer. This, my DealPop friends, is called Spring Fever.

Spring Fever hits our household hard – our kids are beginning to itch to explore the parks, hit the wading pools, stay up later and bust out the bikes. Unfortunately, the weather hasn’t quite caught up with us yet, so until it does, we try to keep them busy and distracted.

Here are some of our favorite Springtime activities around the city that help to cure our Spring Fever!

ICE CREAM!
Actually, we’re hooked on the Fro-Yo lately (frozen yogurt, for those who don’t know). Our new obsession is with Menchie’s on Queen Anne Avenue North. They have over ten flavors and dozens of toppings to choose from. Plus, it is self-serve so you can just get a little taste (or a small serving size for the kiddos) or pile it all on! I love sneaking in a helping of fresh fruit on my kids’ fro-yo – they don’t even notice a scoop of kiwi or raspberries among the gummy bears and chocolate chips!

DAY OUT AT UNIVERSITY VILLAGE.
University Village is a parent haven and is perfect for a day where the weather isn’t quite park worthy. Here’s what we do – first, stop in at Starbucks to pick up coffee for the adults, then stroll over to the undercover play area (the Littles love the bouncy butterfly!) and we usually finish up with a trip to The Ram for lunch where they are super kid friendly, but still offer a great beer selection for mom and dad. Other hot spots – The Apple Store to play games on the pretty computers, train table on the top floor of Barnes and Noble, Pottery Barn Kids to give the doll strollers a test-drive and Trophy Cupcakes for a little sweet treat. With all this fun, the kids hardly even notice when we sneak in an errand or two while we’re there!

MINI-ROADTRIP.
I grew up in a family that loved a good road trip – my dad would pack us in our 1984 VW Vanagon and we’d explore the back roads of Washington for an entire weekend – not going anywhere in particular, just driving until we found somewhere interesting to stop. I love that we do the same with our kids. And I’m not talking about putting them in the car with the portable DVD player – I mean pack them up, get some little toys and snacks to keep them entertained, turn on some great tunes and hit the road for some quality family time. From Seattle, we love venturing north to Whidbey Island. Jump on the ferry at Mukilteo (just 20 minutes away from downtown) and take the quick ride across the water. Our favorite little town to explore is Langley – don’t miss the Star Store and lunch at The Braeburn (their tuna melt is amazing!). If the weather is nice, stop at Useless Bay on your way home to do some beach exploring!

INDOOR PLAYAREAS.
Thankfully, Seattle is prepared for all this Spring rain with some awesome indoor play areas for kids – and the best part about them is that they also cater to the parents with delicious menus, drinks and comfortable seating areas to relax and visit with each other while your kids get some energy out! If you’re looking for somewhere to let them play while you sip a latte and flip through a magazine, try Twirl Café on Queen Anne. Don’t want to sacrifice a good meal while they play? Serendipity Café in Magnolia is the perfect spot – they have a delicious menu for kids and adults, including a full bar (kids eat free on Saturday evenings!). If you live on the Eastside, the Topspot Café in Woodinville is ideal for meeting friends for an out of the house play date and coffee or for letting the little ones play while you plug in your laptop and get some work done.

Hope these ideas help you survive Spring Fever in Seattle! Be sure to keep your eye on DealPop for other fun places to explore with your family this Spring.

You can read more from Katie at Being Five
or you can follow her on Twitter at @being_katie