Animal Farm

Today we attempted to go to the beach at Howarth Park but could not find anywhere to park. Our nice days in the Pacific Northwest are limited so people take advantage to soak up the sun whenever there is a chance so everyone has the same idea when the sun is shinning. I want to visit Howarth Park soon so I can blog about it but there is some sort of construction going on and the road was closed which is currently limiting the amount of parking. We decided to visit the Animal Farm at Forest Park which is down the road from Howarth Park and it was a hit! It is free but donations are greatly appreciated. They also had face painting for $2. I will make a separate post about the rest of the park because today, we only went to the Animal Farm. I was very impressed with the super-cute barn setup and everything was very clean complete with hand washing basins upon exiting. We saw ducks, goats, bunnies, alpacas, and horses. There are also pigs, sheep and ponies but didn't see any. We went about half hour prior to closing. They also have pony rides, which we will do next time! The Animal Farm is open from June 30- August 26 this year.

Fishery/ fish hatchery

I forgot to post about our visit a couple months ago to a local fishery. I can't find a website with the location details and I had never even heard of it until my friend, a Savvy Mommy, told me about it. If I remember correctly, it's about 10 miles up Mt. Loop Highway but don't quote me on that :)
It was cloudy and 'misty' (not rainy) during our visit in late May.

Some things to know before you go:
     - the water is very quick moving with large boulders surrounding and is NOT a place to swim
     - The views are absolutely beautiful so make sure to bring a camera.
     - I did not see a bathroom
     -The hike is short but steep and consists of steps, many steps, too many to count. Not good for strollers or wheelchairs. We had small children with us and didn't explore the riverside very far but plan to return to do so in the future.
     -The parking lot is small and easy to miss (we did) but look for this sign to know you are in the right place.

 
I will do more research later as to what these Fisheries actually are but enjoy our pics for now!

Olympic Theatre

Can you smell the fresh popcorn?

Myself and another Savvy Mommy took the kids to see a movie this past weekend. We hit the JACKPOT when we discovered the Olympic Theatre in Arlington. Not only did we catch a matinee showing of the current Disney hit 'Brave', we also indulged in movie favs including; popcorn, candy, and soda, all in a very cool historic theater AND at a bargain price! We saw a matinee for only $4.50 per person! It was pretty busy when we arrived 15 minutes prior to show time but had no problems finding good seats for the 5 us. The lobby is small so the line appeared much larger than it was. The seats are probably original (not sure) and reclined slightly for a comfortable view. There are no cup holders in the armrests but you can by soda in a reusable pop-top container to help prevent spills. You can also purchase a reusable plastic bucket for popcorn. Not sure what they charge for a refill but they do offer a discount and I'm sure it's a great price. Like any theater, no outside food or drink is allowed but keep in mind, this is how small theaters stay in business so making snack purchases at this theater contribute positively and are priced affordably-- especially compared to larger theaters! Overall, the theater is small and intimate yet clean and well-maintained along with friendly service and an unbeatable overall value.

Check their website for current show times and prices as it changes frequently. Also, if I'm not mistaken, the matinee price is only on Saturdays and Sundays for the 2pm showing which is also a great idea for a rainy day weekend! Sorry I only got a few pics but there are a few more on their website.