Carkeek Park

This is our very first review of a park in King county and it does not disappoint! When one Savvy Mommy lives in Snohomish county and her BFF (another Savvy mommy) lives in King county, you meet somewhere in between! Windy, but warm temperatures along with rain-less afternoons made it a perfect time to fly our kites.

So on Monday April 23, 2012 we met at Carkeek Park to soak in a little bit of vitamin D and fly a kite. This park is breathtaking and the pictures on their website do not do it justice! Featuring acres and acres of all things 'northwest', this spot captures a bit of everything that defines our area. From the tress and grass, to the ocean waters and beaches, from the the playground to the picnic tables, this place has it all! Parking was decent considering we were there on a Monday afternoon, but I'm sure it fills up very fast on weekends.

Windy enough for kite flyin'

grassy area near the playground with a beautiful view

This fish "slide" is SO Seattle and the kids loved it

Can't wait to come back and explore the trails!

To say that she can 'fly' is an understatement

Pedestrian bridge from the park over the railroad tracks to the beach. Not stroller or wheelchair friendly (not sure if there is an alternative route or not).

YES, that is really sand in Washington

Which becomes pebbles and rocks as you get closer to the water

Mukilteo Beach

It was a nice sunny day on Friday April 13, 2012 so we decided to head to the beach. It was a bit windy so even though we had the windows down in the car, it was cold enough for a sweatshirt since it's so close to the water. I was going to put the link to this park but I'm having a hard time finding it. I think this is it but the information listed is so vague, so I'm not totally sure. I guess this is a good example of why we are on this mission! If you follow the signs to the Mukilteo Ferry, turn left at the end of the road, then left again to enter the parking lot. There is a very good amount of parking. We love coming to this beach to search for crabs. I know you can find them easily in the summer so we were hoping to spot a few but I guess April is too soon because we didn't see any. The beach is very rocky, after a recent remodel it's easier to walk on but it's definitely not barefoot material. They have a large grassy area, BBQs and fire pits, covered picnic tables, large playground-- including swings, and restrooms. The large grassy area is perfect for flying a kite. I saw dogs there so I am assuming they are allowed but probably only on a leash.

Waterfront playground

Look at those white legs. Summertime needs to hurry up!

Getting the rocks out of his shoes

Our favorite best-kept secret

Two words; JETTY. ISLAND. I use the term 'secret' because I only discovered this gem last summer after living here 9 years but after asking friends that have lived here their entire lives and had never even heard of it! A small (free) ferry takes you to an island right off the Everett Marina where the Snohomish river meets the sound (Puget or Possession?). The island is long and narrow and has the softest sand of any of the beaches I have visited in WA state. The island is actually pretty big so even on a 'busy' day it doesn't feel crowded. They also feature different events throughout the summer including campfire stories, nature walks. Our biggest complaint? It's only open from 4th of July through Labor day. Doesn't seem like enough time but it's to be expected with our wacky weather I guess.
Know before you go:

-On a busy day the ferry tickets go FAST. They are free but are first come first served. We found this out the hard way by packing up a whole days worth of food and swim gear on a beautiful Sunday, only to be turned away :(
- There is an outhouse style bathroom on the island. There is no plumbing and no electricity.
-Bring lots and LOTS of water. On a hot day, we suggest at least 3 bottles of water per person in your group if you are planning to spend the day on the island.

I will post pics from last year along with more info for the 2012 season later!

Silver Lake Park, Everett

The name of this park is actually Thornton A. Sullivan Park at Silver Lake, but we call it "Silver Lake Park". During the summer of 2011 they hosted "Cinema Under the Stars" where they played movies at dusk for free. Check their website for any updates/info for the upcoming summer.

We visited the park earlier this week on a partly-sunny afternoon during the end of March, 2012. We chose this location on this particular day for it's extra large playground.

It was "warm" by Washington standards but a brisk breeze made it bitterly cold due to the close proximity to the lake.

The kids, with their bright red noses, ran around and played to stay warm while the mommies bundled up!