Time to celebrate summer! Grab your suits and head to one of the many water play areas in Seattle Parks. Pratt Park (pictured) has a spray area with whimsical animal-shaped sprayers, lots of sun, and play equipment nearby. (Open May 29-Sept. 6, 11:00 am to 8:00 pm) Miller Playfield has a fun fountain with high spouts for brave kids and ground level sprayers for the more cautious. (Open April 15-Oct. 15, 11:00 am to 8:00 pm)

If you like to dig in the sand while splashing, head down to Madrona Beach, where kids can turn on a spigot to fill a tile-lined river bed running through the beach into Lake Washington. Build dams, reservoirs, or a moat for your sand castle and then take a dip in the lake. Meridian Playground in Wallingford has a sand play area with a waterspout, as well as fun play structures and art pieces. Bring a change of clothes – you will get dirty! (Both areas open 4:00 am to 11:30 pm)

Seattle’s wading pools are great fun for young kids and have locations in most neighborhoods. Due to budget cuts, they will not all be open this summer – make sure you check the parks website for the latest news. You can count on the Big Three wading pools – at Volunteer Park, Green Lake and Lincoln Park to be open from June 25-Sept. 5, 11:00 am to 8:00 pm daily. These are great places to cool down in the afternoon and to picnic in the evening.

Looking for a bigger pool? Coleman Pool in Lincoln Park is a unique salt-water pool with great views and a giant tube slide, and is worth the short hike in from the parking lot. The pool re-opens on Memorial Day (May 30). For more information on Seattle indoor and outdoor pools, see Seattle pools for kids.

There is no shortage of family friendly beaches in Seattle. For incredible sand play, beautiful views, and chilly swimming check out Alki Beach in West Seattle, Golden Gardens Park above Ballard, or hike down to the beach at Discovery Park. For days when you need to work up a sweat before swimming, Madison Beach, Magnuson Park, and Mount Baker Beach have large playgrounds a short walk from the beach. There are swimming beaches with lifeguards and sandy play areas for kids at  Madrona Beach, Mount Baker Beach, Matthews Beach, and Seward Park Beach.

Looking for splash spots in the Eastside area? We’ve got you covered–read on!

—Karen McHegg