Friday Five: Places to Make a Splash!

Holy heat wave, Harborites! Have you all burnt to a crisp in this week’s hot weather?! Thank goodness this weekend’s temperatures will drop enough for us to want to leave the comfort of AC. What do you have planned to take advantage of the sunny and 70’s? Whether your family has a day free or just an hour, get wet relief at one of these five places:

1) Vance Creek County Park 

Babies love the Elma Ponds!

East county is supposed to be a bit warmer than on the beach this weekend which offers a great opportunity to enjoy the water and surrounding area of Vance Creek.  The Elma ponds are open year round for day use, and the perfect time to enjoy them is when the sun is shining.  Grab your family and head out for a day of swimming, boating, fishing or football.  The two ponds are bordered by small beaches which is ideal for a dip during hot weather, just be cautious as no lifeguard is on duty.  Eat lunch at the picnic tables and start a pick up game of football in the grassy fields.  Take your kayaks or canoes out for a spin around the pond, or stop along the way to fish for your supper.  When the weather cools down and you are done swimming your heart out, take a stroll along the walking paths that loop around the ponds and are shaded by the beautiful trees and grass.  However you beat the heat, make sure Vance Creek is on your list for this weekend and don't forget to bring your sunscreen!

2) Finch Playfield Spray Park

Blogger Alexis' daughter, Gabby,
squeals in delight!

Hands down one of the funnest Aberdeen parks in the summertime, Finch Playfield's spray park is a great destination for families with limited time since its conveniently located just off of Sumner Ave in West Aberdeen. Let the little ones explore with spray cannons, a water spouting dragon and stompable fountains - its the only shower they'll ask for! Bring a book, lay out a towel and catch some rays while they play.

3) Lake Aberdeen

Gabby contemplates Lake Aberdeen.

If you haven't been to the new Lake Aberdeen, you're missing out. Remember our post earlier this year about the new look? It's worth checking out. For a few free hours, pack up the family and a picnic and head out to enjoy casual swimming, rock climbing and probably even duck spotting or newt catching. If you've got a canoe, kayak or small boat, bring it out and float around. Don't let the fish nibble your toes!

4) The Beaches 

Diggin' a hole to China

Didn't we just remind you about these? Seriously, pick a beach and visit! These make a great half-day or whole day trips. Actually, we've written about them twice this summer already (and had a Go Go Grays Harbor retreat at one), so we might be a little beach-crazy right now. Check out these two earlier posts for ideas on where to go and what to do: Summer Weekend At Our Beaches and PNW Beaches and What To Do With One.

5) Wynoochee Dam

Its only serene until the
kids start splashing...

Ok, this one just begs for a full weekend commitment. Camping at Wynoochee Dam- I bet you've done it at least once. But we all know that as summer comes to an end, those first-come-first-serve camping scenarios are such a gamble. Who wants to drive up, fully packed for camping just to find out all the sites are already called for? So make a day trip out of it. The water of Lake Wynoochee seems to always be swim-friendly temperatures, and the swimming/day picnic area is so large that there's room for everybody. Plus, the kids will make lots of new friends when they all conspire to tip over the floating dock (Shhh... don't tell them it's anchored - the effort will wear them out good!). If you're family is the water-craft-enthusiast type, then bring your Sea Doo or Jet Ski too - there's a boat launch for this 4.4 mile lake.

Al Fresco is in at Lake Aberdeen

My husband and 3 year old daughter enjoy
our first picnic of the season at Lake Aberdeen

My family and I took advantage of the nice weather we had last weekend and used the opportunity to break out the picnic basket for our first family picnic of the season. When deciding where to enjoy the sunny afternoon my husband suggested Lake Aberdeen and I'll admit I forgot they had revamped the Lake of my youth last year. Of course it's always at the forefront of his mind, because he's a fisherman and the hatchery is always an attraction he enjoys.

The new playscape integrates seamlessly
into the natural park setting.

It ended up being the perfect lunch spot and I have to wonder how many other harborites may not realize that, with its face lift complete, these days Lake Aberdeen is a beautiful recreation area that still features all of the same classic outdoor activities. There's still the "H" shaped dock that outlines the gravel-beached swimming area, the aforementioned hatchery to explore, the boat launch, the stocked fish, the eagles soaring above the stocked water and the countless newts to catch. But there's also a brand new, "natural rock" facade playscape for kids, fresh picnic structures and a lush green grass lawn that will most likely make you resentful of your own lawn.

View of the manicured picnic area from the dock. My daughter
(bottom right corner) peers curiously into the water.

If you've never been before, here is Google Maps to tell you all about how to get there (visually). The exit that will get you there is right across from LeMay in Central park if you're looking for a landmark.

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