Seattle Center
The International Fountain at Seattle Center shoots different patterns of water, usually accompanied by music. The 10-foot-high dome features 283 water shooters, including four super shooters that erupt 66 gallons of water 120 feet in the air. Generally, the fountain runs 11 a.m.-8 p.m. daily.
At the Neototem's Children's Garden (located between the Pacific Science Center and Seattle Children's Theatre) the Whale's Tail Fountain mimics a whale's splash with its cascading water. The 4-foot-high bronze sculpture is part of a small garden.
Seattle
The fish-themed fountain and pool at Pier 66 (Bell Street Pier) is popular with kids; it's in front of the Odyssey Maritime Discovery Museum.
Kids are welcome to play in the water-spouting fountain at Fisher Plaza, 140 Fourth Ave. N., Seattle.
Seattle also has three neighborhood parks with interactive water features. Pratt Park (1800 S. Main St.), has a colorful water-spray area with an international theme. Kids can turn animal-shaped water cannons to douse each other.
Lower Judkins Park (2150 S. Norman St.) is an older spray pool with a red cement tower that shoots out water.
Weather permitting, the water at Pratt and Judkins will be turned on from 11 a.m.-8 p.m. through Aug. 17 (when the city's supervised playground program ends).
Children can play in the memorial fountain at Miller Playfield (330 19th Ave. E., adjacent to the community center) from 11 a.m.-8 p.m. through the summer.
Lynnwood
Lynnwood has two older spray pools. Dalaway Park (19015 64th Ave. W.) boasts a lighthouse that sprays water, while North Lynnwood Neighborhood Park (18510 44th Ave. W.) features a dragon that blows mist out of its nose. Water also sprays up from areas around the cement surfaces. Both have seen better days, but kids still have fun. The fountains run on a five-minute timer (kids push a button to start them) all day.
Redmond
On the Eastside, Redmond Town Center (16495 N.E. 74th St., Redmond) offers a small fountain at the Center Street Plaza. Kids can play in the water, which shoots out at ground-level. It runs during business hours.
Outdoor-activity pools
Seattle pools
Colman, a heated saltwater pool at West Seattle's Lincoln Park, and Mounger Pool each feature a 50-foot corkscrew tube slide. Colman, 8011 Fauntleroy Way S.W., Seattle, 206-684-7494; Mounger, 2535 32nd Ave. W., Seattle, 206-684-4708. Open daily through Sept. 5. $3.50 adults, $2.50 age 17 and under, plus $1 slide fee.
Birch Bay Water Slides
Four-acre park with four slides, 60-foot speed slide, river float, kiddie slides, kid-activity pool and hot tub. 4874 Birch Bay Lynden Road, Birch Bay. 10:30 a.m.-6 p.m. daily through Sept. 5. $14 age 6 and up, $9 ages 3 to 5. 360-371-7500 or birchbaywaterslides.net.
Indoor
Mountlake Terrace Leisure Pool
Kept at 88 degrees, this pool features a lazy river and a shallow-water play area with toys. Recreation Pavilion, 5303 228th St. S.W., Mountlake Terrace. Recreation swims are 1-2:15 p.m. and 7:15-8:30 p.m. Monday-Friday and 12:15-1:30 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. $3.50 residents and $4 nonresidents, $2.50/$3 children age 15 and under or $14 for a family. www.ci.mountlake-terrace.wa.us/departments/parks/swimming.html or 425-776-9173.
Bainbridge Island Aquatics Center
The Don Nakata Memorial Pool has a shallow entry and play area, lazy river, tot pool, 24-person spa, and a 180-foot-long water slide. Children age 6 and younger (or under 46 inches tall) must go down the slide with an adult. The pool is located just north of High School Road on Madison Avenue. Public sessions are 2:30-5 p.m. Monday through Friday; 6:30-8 p.m. Wednesday and Friday and 1-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Family swims are 11 a.m.-noon Friday and noon-1 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. $4.25 adults, $3.25 ages 3 to 17, free age 2 and under. 206-842-2302.
Wading pools
Seattle
More than 20 Seattle neighborhood parks offer wading pools but the "big three" are at Green Lake Park (the huge pool on the park's north side is the city's largest), Lincoln Park (8600 Fauntleroy Way) and Volunteer Park (1400 E. Galer). The pools are open 11 a.m.-8 p.m. through Sept. 5, weather permitting. For daily updates, call the automated wading pool hotline at 206-684-7796.
— Stephanie Dunnewind, Seattle Times staff reporter
