Top Ten Things To Do with Grandkids

in and around Jubilee

“If I knew how wonderful it would be to have grandchildren, I’d have had them first.”

- Lois Wyse

Jubilee is a grandkid-friendly neighborhood that offers the perfect starting off point for a day spent with your grandchildren. Here are some fun suggestions for your next outing with your favorite generation.

Jubilee Lodge

Your little darlings can enjoy the fabulous amenities offered at the Jubilee Lodge. The Lodge has children’s hours for its indoor pool from 3 to 5 p.m. or, if you’re up to a little competition, head to the game room for a friendly game of checkers.

Hands on Children’s Museum

106 11th Ave. SW, Olympia
(360) 956-0818

Voted best place to take kids for nearly a decade, this museum stimulates curiosity and inspires creativity. Exhibits include Backyard Wilderness with the Tree Snag Puppet Theater and the Young at Art Studio where kids can create their own masterpieces with new and recycled art materials. Open Monday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday 12 noon to 5 p.m.

www.hocm.org

Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge

100 Brown Farm Road, Olympia
(360) 753-9467

Where the river meets the sound, the Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge is the perfect place to teach your grandkids to cast a line or bring your binoculars and head out on one of the trails for some wildlife watching. Open sunrise to sunset daily.

www.fws.gov/nisqually

Olympic Flight Museum

7637-A Old Highway 99 SE, Olympia
(360) 705-3925

This aviation heritage museum lets kids get up close and personal with select display planes. It features a rotating exhibit of airworthy vintage military jet fighters, trainers and helicopters. Open Wednesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

www.olympicflightmuseum.com

Wolf Haven International

3111 Offut Lake Road, Tenino
(360) 264-4695

A howling good time for the animal lover in your brood, Wolf Haven offers guided walking tours of the wolf sanctuary and a self-guided tour of the native Oak and Mima prairie. The organization also features a calendar of family-friendly events like the Howl In, an evening of live entertainment, children’s activities, story telling and arts and crafts. Fall/Winter hours: Open Saturday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Sunday 12 noon to 3 p.m.

www.wolfhaven.org

Capital Playhouse

612 Fourth Ave. E., Olympia
(360) 943-2744

Introduce your grandchildren to the lure of the greasepaint at the Capital Playhouse. Home to the region’s largest youth theater program, Kids at Play, the playhouse has been entertaining audiences for 20 years with their adaptations of classic and avant garde plays and musicals.

www.capitalplayhouse.com

Rainier Vista Community Park

5475 45th Ave. SE, Lacey

Your generation started the trend, show your grandkids how it’s done on this skateboard park in Lacey. And if skateboarding isn’t your cup of tea, the park also has 46 acres of fun including picnicking, playgrounds, sports fields, sand volleyball, tennis courts, and measured walking trails. Open 7 a.m. to dusk daily.

Tumwater Lanes

204 T Street SW, Tumwater
(360) 943-1672

Striking out with the grandkids is not always a bad thing. Head to Tumwater Lanes and enjoy a fun day of bowling. For those kids under the age of 10, Tumwater even offers bumper bowling. Winter hours are Tuesday 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., Wednesday noon to 4 p.m., Thursday and Friday noon to 5 p.m., Saturday 2:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., Sunday noon to 4 p.m.

www.tumwaterlanes.com

Regal 16 Cinemas / Charlie's Safari

4431 Martin Way E., Lacey

With 16 screens, there’s sure to be something to see at the Regal Cinemas in the Martin Village Shopping Center. Admission for children under 11 and adults over 60 are $6.50.

www.regalcinemas.com

Great Wolf Lodge

20500 Old Highway 99 SW, Grand Mound
(360) 273-7718

http://www.greatwolf.com