7 Winter Attractions For The Family In Washington That Don’t Involve Long Lines At The Mall
If you have little ones if your life, you know the pain of waiting for hours in line to see Santa or, worse, trying to do your holiday shopping at the mall with kids in tow. But don’t worry, it’s entirely possible to make beautiful winter memories that do not involve full-on meltdowns (yours or your children’s).
Behold, a list of winter activities in Washington that are perfectly pleasant,

Spokane's Riverfront Park turns into a beautiful winter wonderland every year, and the Skate Ribbon is open until late February. They often offer free skating lessons on the weekends, and discounted nights are sometimes available. Check my.spokanecity.org for more details.

Why sit on Santa's lap when you can watch him dive into an aquarium, swim with fish, and read a story? The Seattle Aquarium's Diving Santa is a holiday tradition, and you can see him on weekends until Christmas Eve.
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Located in Winthrop, Sun Mountain Lodge makes a great winter getaway. They also happen to offer sleigh rides through the snow daily for the price of $17 per adult and $12 per child ages 12 and under. Call (509) 996-4735 to make a reservation.
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Located at the Washington State Fairgrounds in Puyallup, the North Pole is a beautiful holiday tradition. Your little ones can explore the elf village and interact with Santa without the stuffy mall experience.

When winter tolls around, it's not hard to find snow in Washington, especially if you live near a mountain pass. Spend the day sledding down the hillside with your family.

If you live in the Seattle area or near Vancouver or the Tri Cities, check your local schedules to see when the Christmas Ships will be near you. Throughout December, these decked out ships cruise the Puget Sound and the Columbia River, and they're amazing.

Bellevue's Snowflake Lane is a popular holiday attraction, but it tends to be pretty packed. Taking a more relaxing walk through the Garden d'Lights at the Bellevue Botanical Garden. The display is open daily until December 30th, and admission is free for children 10 and under (and just $5 for everyone else).
The holiday season is so beautiful here in Washington. Have you visited one of our Christmas towns this year?
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