Arlington Fly- In

Kid's Day at the Arlington Fly- In was so much fun! Held annually one weekend a month in July this event is fun for the whole family. 2013 was our first year attending and we plan on going again in 2014. Kids get in free (check website for date and times) and there are plenty of things for them to do and see. The sun even decided to come out and luckily one of the vendors sold sunglasses and sunblock. We watched a really cool air show and enjoyed the other activities.

Bouncy houses

Planes planes and more planes!

Airplane simulator

Nascar simulator

And much, much more!

Know before you go:
- food is available for purchase (fair/carnival type food)- it was cash only when we went, can't remember if an ATM was available or not.
- parking is free
- the event takes place at an airport so expect a good amount of walking but also stroller friendly. They did have a tractor/train for ease of getting around.
- restrooms are porta potties

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.

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.

Spencer Island

Spencer Island is a beautiful island tucked deep in north Everett near the Everett sewer treatment facility.
Getting there: Located near the Everett Animal Shelter just continue along that road, you will enter the water treatment plant, which makes you feel like you went the wrong way, but KEEP GOING, you will come to a sign that says 'No Parking Beyond This Point' but again, KEEP going. The road will turn to gravel and down a bit further there is a parking lot on the right side along with a small brown sign identifying the island. If you park here it is still about a quarter mile walk to the island. When I first read about Spencer Island on The Herald website and various parks and rec sites, they mentioned car break-ins, which can happen anywhere, but on both visits I saw small piles of window glass shattered in the lot. They weren't kidding so don't leave any valuables in the car! You can continue driving down the gravel road towards the bridge and there is an area to turn around but there isn't enough room to park. I think it serves as an access road for the plant which is on both sides of the road. We saw lots of birds on both visits and according to the website, the island is home to deer, coyotes, river otter, and much more! The entire island is an easy and level hike but keep in mind dogs and bikes are not permitted on the south end. There is a port-a-potty near the entrance towards the left after you cross the bridge. We have not seen the entire island so I am not sure if there are more. We also saw a few picnic tables along the way. Depending on the weather and which way the wind is blowing, it may be smelly (like the slough you occasionally smell while driving on I5 between Everett and Marysville.) It was pretty stinky on our first visit but the smell faded away as we got closer to the island and there was no smell on our second visit.

 

The island is divided into 2 areas. We went on 2 separate occasions and were able to see a little bit of each end.

This first group of pictures are from the 'south end'

This next set of pics are from the North end of the island which is where dogs are allowed.  

On the bridge over the Snohomish river.

Castle Park

Kid's Oasis Playground or "Castle Park" is hidden in Snohomish county in the city of Lake Stevens. The playground is at an elementary school but is open to the public when school is not in session. Parking is good but I did not see a public restroom nearby. There is a Frisbee golf course next door to the school so maybe there is a bathroom there? The playground is huge and is a hit for all ages!