Kids’ Summer 2024 Activities in Gig Harbor
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Whether or not the kids will be attending camp this year, chances are you might need a few additional activities to keep them busy throughout the summer. Gig Harbor and the surrounding area have lots of great options, from indoor to outdoor and everything in-between! So check out the following list for how your kids can make the most of the next couple of months.
Arts & Crafts
AR Workshop - Gig Harbor
Perfect for keeping busy this summer! They have a variety of Youth Summer Art Camps to choose from: morning and afternoon sessions, watercolor, tie dye, and more! Or check out their workshop classes and DIY-To-Go kits.
Java and Clay Cafe - Gig Harbor
Have fun painting a piece of pottery! All ages are welcome at this family-owned pottery painting studio and cafe. Paint your creation at the studio, or you can go in to order a take-home kit that includes your piece of pottery and painting supplies—just bring it back for the firing process once your project is complete.
Peacock Paisley Art Studio - Gig Harbor
They have a variety of summer art camps to choose from!
Classes & Programs
Harbor WildWatch - Gig Harbor
All ages should enjoy the exhibits at the Skansie Interpretive Center, from a 100-gallon touch tank to microscopes and even a real-time underwater video of Gig Harbor bay!
Join the weekly Saturday Waterfront Walking Tours this summer to learn about the natural history at the waterfront. Led by volunteers, these tours last about 2 hours, are geared towards all ages, and are free!
Gig Harbor Boatshop - Gig Harbor
The BoatShop celebrates the working waterfront of the harbor which was home to three boatbuilding companies and also where the Thunderbird sailboat was born. They host various programs throughout the year in order to educate the public on boat restoration, building, and other waterfront activities.
Join the BoatShop for another year of summer camps! Learn a variety of hands-on skills, including woodworking and boatbuilding for teens, while younger kids will get to experience the tools of the trade and stories from real fishermen.
Interested in learning how to tie nautical knots? Take a look at this series of videos created by the BoatShop.
Pierce County Library - Various Locations
Lazy summer days can be a great time to read more books. If your kiddos need a little motivation, the library’s summer reading program is here! Through August 31st, kids commit to reading a little every day and track what they read for a chance to win a variety of prizes. To get started, pick up a reading log from your local library branch, or you can print one off at home.
Or join the 10 to Try challenge, where you read one book from 10 different categories. Track what you read between now and December and enter to win a prize!
With five subjects available for preschool up to 5th grade, you can rent a Science to Go backpack with books and a field notebook for recording your discoveries. Browse the available backpacks online.
Galaxy Summer Fest - Gig Harbor
Each week through September 19, 2024, kids of all ages can enjoy movie tickets for just $2 and a Value Combo for $3.50! Check the movie schedule for more information.
The Great Outdoors
With sunnier days it’s the perfect time to take advantage of being in the great outdoors. If you like to explore, take a look at my blog post for a list of kid-friendly hikes (they’re great for Fido, too!). And did you know the Pierce County Library also offers Check Out Washington backpacks? They come complete with a Discover Pass to state parks, field guides, maps, and even binoculars!
Have you heard about the Summer Solstice Gnome Hunt? If you visit 360 Trails, Gateway Park, Home Park, Maple Hollow, Taylor Bay, or Volunteer Park this summer, keep your eyes out for any hidden gnomes. Learn more about it here!
I’ve also got you covered with a list of Swimming Pools & Splash Pads In Gig Harbor & Beyond for places you can go to cool off this summer!
Or have fun just enjoying a lazy day on the water. You can rent paddleboards, single and double kayaks, boats, and more from the following local vendors:
The Great Indoors
Gig Harbor and the surrounding area have so many museums! Take a break from the heat and cool off inside while having fun learning something new. The Pierce County Library offers free passes for select museums, so head over to their website to see which ones are on the list.
The Harbor History Museum - Gig Harbor
The museum’s permanent exhibit features 7,000 square feet of artifacts, hands-on activities, and more as it walks you through the history and heritage of the Gig Harbor Peninsula. They also have a seine fishing boat built in 1925, the Shenandoah, that is in the process of being restored.
Their current special exhibit, I SPY: The Secret Museum 2.0, will be on display through October and offers a fun and interactive time for the whole family.
Foss Waterway Seaport - Tacoma
Take a trip through time beginning with the canoes of the Puyallup tribe to the rowboats of Norwegian immigrants and beyond. Offering the South Sound’s largest collection of maritime history, the museum also houses a boat shop. The third Thursday of each month is free from 4pm to 8pm.
Fort Nisqually Living History Museum - Tacoma
Learn about the Pacific Northwest through this portrayal of life on Puget Sound in 1855. Experience the current special exhibit In Her Shoes: The Women of Fort Nisqually, find unique historical gifts and local artisan items at the museum store, see the Heritage Gardens featured throughout the fort, and much more.
LeMay - America’s Car Museum - Tacoma
This is the ultimate car museum! It highlights a variety of exhibits, including Shinka: An Immersive Japanese Automobile Exhibit, Classics and Custom Coachworks, the British Invasion, and more. The museum also offers a speed zone, theater, and family zone with hands-on activities.
For any 6th to 9th graders interested in STEM subjects, check out the museum’s Summer STEM Intensive Camp, taking place Monday, July 15 through Friday, July 19, 2024. Activities will include building pinewood derby cars, fun with engines, learning about robotics in cars, and more.
Other Places To Vist
Crescent Valley Lavender Farm - Gig Harbor
This you-cut lavender farm has seven varieties of lavender and over 2,000 plants! Read more on their website for information on days, hours, and prices.
Olalla U-Pick Blueberry Farm - Olalla
This farm is hoping to open around July 10, 2024, but follow along on their Facebook page for updates. Check their website for more information on rates, hours, and booking a visit.
Charlotte’s Blueberry Park - Tacoma
This 20-acre park offers five varieties of blueberries that you can pick for free! The season typically runs from July through September and is on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Debbie Dolittle’s Petting Zoo - Tacoma
Get an up-close experience at this indoor petting zoo with a variety of baby and farm animals as well as miniature breeds and exotics, too! See otters, capybaras, kangaroos, and more.
Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium - Tacoma
See all kinds of animals from a variety of habitats around the world. You can also ride the carousel, take part in their daily presentations, see a show, and book an up-close experience with the animals.
Old McDebbie’s Farm & Jim’s U-Fish - Spanaway
With over 20 acres, this farm offers a variety of activities including pond fishing, pony rides, an animal barn, and a musical forest.
Paige Schulte, top real estate agent in Gig Harbor and your neighborhood expert, has all you need to know about our wonderful community. Visit Paige’s Gig to learn more.
Interested in selling your current home or starting the search for your dream home? Call us today at (253) 313-4093 or book a call at your convenience.