Seattle families love our sports. From the Seahawks to the Mariners to our yet-to-be-named NHL team, we can’t get enough. Next time your kids need a sports fix, consider taking them to a college sporting event. Attending is easier and less expensive; plus, with four fantastic schools that boast an exciting array of teams, it’s a win for everyone. Read on to find can’t-miss events for the weeks to come.

University of Washington

Scott Eklund/Red Box Pictures

Whether you call them the Huskies, the Dawgs, or simply U-Dub, the University of Washington is one of the oldest and most prestigious universities on the West Coast. With 23 intercollegiate athletic programs, top-notch facilities for every sport and championship teams across the spectrum, it's easy to be a fan. Fan families can take advantage of the Pups & Parents package. Each purchase grants two admissions (one parent, one child) to designated games for these sports: volleyball, soccer, women's basketball, gymnastics, baseball and softball. Join the P&P and treat your kids to a life of athletic pursuits or at least Husky fandom.

Upcoming Events

Pac-12 Swimming & Diving Championships
Head down to Federal Way to cheer the Huskies to victory at the Pac-12 finals! Cal, Stanford and USC are all ranked in the national top 20 in each sport, but they're no match for the Huskies. Check out the schedule of events for Women's Swimming and Men's & Women's Diving and Men's Swimming. Event details.

Feb. 26-29 & Mar. 4-7
Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatic Center
650 S.W. Campus Dr.
Federal Way, WA 98023

UW Fan Fest & Spring Football Preview
Excitement is running high under new head coach Jimmy Lake, so be among the first to check out the 2020 Husky men's football team! Fan Fest kicks off in the indoor practice facility with football fun for fans and fams, and freebies and festivities for small fry. Then the event moves outdoors for the first Husky practice of spring football. Go Dawgs!

Apr. 25, TBD
Dempsey Indoor Practice Facility
Alaska Airlines Field at Husky Stadium
3800 Montlake Blvd N.E.
Seattle, WA 98195

Windermere Cup & Opening Day Regatta
Every year UW creates one of Seattle's finest spring traditions by celebrating the opening day of boating season with this rowing classic. The free, family-friendly event sees the University of Washington compete against top U.S. and international teams. The event also includes food and drink vendors, kid-friendly activities and free giveaways. Following the races, fans are invited to join the champions for an awards ceremony near the finish line. Be sure to arrive early to stake out your spot on the Montlake Bridge or along the Cut. Event details.

May 2, 10 a.m.
Montlake Cut

Insider tip: Anywhere along the Cut provides a fantastic experience, but consider cheering for the Husky winners at the finish line, located on the northwest side of the Cut behind the UW Medical Center. The Montlake Bridge is another great (albeit packed) spot to watch the big races. It offers bird's eye views of the starting line to the east and the finish line to the west.

Good to know: Many UW spring sporting events are totally free all season, including men's and women's tennis, rowing, track, and beach volleyball!

Huskies Ticket Office
3910 Montlake Boulevard
Graves Building Room 101
Seattle, Wa 98195-4070
206-543-2200
Online: gohuskies.com

Seattle Pacific University

Andy Towell/Troutstreaming

Located along the Fremont Cut, the NCAA Division II SPU Falcons play 13 different varsity sports. Last year the Falcons won four Great Northwest Athletic Conference team championships in women’s indoor track & field and outdoor track too. Plus, the Falcons men's basketball team just pulled off an eight game winning streak on the road to March Madness. Long story short, it's a great time to learn to love these teams.

Upcoming Events

National Girls & Women in Sports Day Celebration
How about a two-fer? Watch the SPU women's basketball team take on the Western Washington Vikings and celebrate females in sports at the same time! Expect fun giveaways like Falcon scrunchies, a free yoga class, a climbing gym pass, and more. Psst...Promo code: NGW20 will get you $4 tickets. Event details.

Feb. 6, 5:15 p.m.
Brougham Pavilion
3414 3rd Ave. W.
Seattle, WA 98119

Girl Scouts Night 
The kids will flip for Falcon Gymnastics at this event. Extra perks to Girl Scouts (who receive a free patch) but the whole family will marvel at the feats of strength and agility. So bring the fam out to support the team!

Feb. 21, 7 p.m.
Brougham Pavilion
3414 3rd Ave. W.
Seattle, WA 98119

Falcon Regatta
Looking for something exciting to do with tiny early risers? Pack up the fam and head to the Lake Washington ship canal to catch the Annual Falcon Regatta. The Falcons will have free donuts and coffee on hand shortly after sunrise. Best of all, tickets are free! Event details.

Mar. 14, 8:30 a.m.
Lake Washington Ship Canal
Seattle, WA 98118

Falcons Ticket Office
Brougham Pavilion
3414 3rd Ave. W.
Seattle, WA 98119
206-281-2085
Online: spufalcons.com

Seattle University

Sarah Finney/Seattle U Athletics

With a proud history that includes NBA Hall-of-Famer Elgin Baylor, Seattle University is back in NCAA Division I athletics after 29 years. The Redhawks have recently pulled off some stunning upsets over nationally-known teams, so it's a great time to become a fan. In fact, Seattle U wants to afford all grade school children the opportunity to experience the college environment through the fun of sports. Kids sixth grade and younger can join Rudy's Kids Club for free. Membership includes free tickets to select events, exclusive invites to Rudy's Club events, even autograph opps. Sign us up!

Upcoming Events

Fan Appreciation Day
The Redhawks are in the thick of things in the WAC race this year, so show your support against the Chicago State Cougars. They'll have groovy giveaways like fanny packs, deals on Chicago dogs, and discount coupons from team sponsor Pagliacci Pizza. Yum! Event details.

Mar. 5, 7 p.m.
Redhawk Center
550 14th Ave.
Seattle, WA 98112

Final Regular Season Men's Basketball Game
Cheer the Redhawks on to victory against the UMKC Kangaroos in their final game before the WAC Championship tournament in Las Vegas. This important game takes place in the 7,000 seat ShoWare Center in Kent, so arrive early and be loud!

Mar. 7, 1 p.m.
ShoWare Center
625 W James St.
Kent, WA 98032

Women's Softball First Home Game
Celebrate the return of spring by cheering for the Redhawks at their first home game.

Mar. 12, TBD
Bannerwood Park
1790 Richards Rd.
Bellevue, WA 98005

Redhawks Ticket Office
O’Brien Center
901 12th Street
Seattle, WA 98122
206-398-GOSU
Online: goseattleu.com

Bellevue College

Rick May

Home of the Bulldogs, Bellevue College competes in 11 different men's and women's sports. This Eastside, hometown fave competes as part of the Northwest Athletic Conference (NWCA). With baseball and softball season just around the corner, now's a good time to become a fan. Check out these upcoming games for electrifying fun with the fam.

Upcoming Events

Softball
Coach Lisa Francis has built this team into a force to be reckoned with, and their 42-7 overall 2019 record proves it. Catch the women as they take on the Edmonds Tritons and Everett Trojans in two, exiting games this spring.

Apr. 25 & May 2, noon & 2 p.m.
Bellevue College Softball Field
3000 Landerholm Cir. S.E.
Bellevue, WA 98007

Baseball
Recognized as one of the top junior baseball teams in the country, the Bulldogs are fun to watch. Come out to support the team this spring!

Apr. 4 & 26, 1 & 4 p.m.
Courter Baseball Field
3000 Landerholm Cir. S.E.
Bellevue, WA 98007

Bellevue College
3000 Landerholm Cir. S.E.
Bellevue, WA 98007
425-564-2396
Online: bellevuecollege.edu

—Natalie Compagno

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Parenting––it keeps us on our toes. Whether it’s avoiding piles of LEGO bricks or racing back and forth for a 10-part bedtime routine, every day is a new and hilarious adventure! Keep reading to see our roundup of Twitter moms and dads owning the parenting game this week.

 

1. Guilty.

2. No, no. you cannot.

3. AGREED.

4. Making the best of it:

5. Sooooo, it’s going quite well.

6. Totally using this later today.

7. Truer words have never been spoken.

8. But they’re cute mason jars.

9. And that’s kinda the same thing.

10. So… something to look forward to, then?

––Karly Wood

 

RELATED STORIES

Funniest Parenting Tweets of the Week: Apr. 26, 2019

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Funniest Parenting Tweets of the Week: Apr. 12, 2019

 

Let’s go fly a kite – in Portland! There isn’t anything that compares to the thrill of launching a kite on a windy, fall day and holding onto the string as tight as you can to keep it from flying away. An experience every parent wants to share with their kids. Portland has several spots perfect for letting your stringed craft soar—here are a few where you’re likely to find a good breeze.

 

photo credit: mustharshid via flickr

Council Crest Park (SW Council Crest Drive)

Thought to be the highest point in Portland (1,073 feet above sea level), Council Crest Park boasts beautiful views in all directions.  There is an off-leash dog area, a plaza, and a tree-free hillside just begging for some kite-flying action.  As a bonus, it is a perfect picnic spot!  Bring lunch and a kite, and enjoy panoramic views of Mt. Hood, Mt. St. Helens, Mt. Adams, Mt. Jefferson and Mt. Rainier.

Delta Park (Corner of N Denver Ave & Martin Luther King Jr Blvd.)

At over 86 acres, Delta Park provides everything you could want on a clear day in Portland.  There is a playground, an off-leash dog area, a football field, picnic areas, a soccer field, a softball field, a volley ball court, and more than enough room to run with a kite.  The level ground and usual breeze make it an ideal spot for kids who are just learning to fly.

Orchard Park (NW Amberwood Drive, Hillsboro)

A bit smaller (and lesser known), this 21-acre park boasts a ½ mile paved path with bridges over Rock Creek, a playground and a disc golf course.  Above all else, there is a great open area with grass that proves an ideal spot to put up a kite.  Go early and you are likely to have the place to yourself.

Waterfront Park (Naito Pkwy between SW Harrison St & NW Glisan St)

Located in the heart of Portland, this park is best known for it’s fountain, riverfront views, and biking/running paths.  Equally satisfying are the long grass-lined spaces which make for a perfect kite-launch spot.  Most importantly, the riverfront is never without some amount of wind making flying a kite….a breeze.

Whether you consider yourself a novice flier or an expert, these parks are sure to please.

Don’t see your favorite spot listed here?  Tell us about it in the comments below!

—Emily Hogan

 

 

Sun-drenched plateaus, Oregon’s oldest bookstore, a 13-foot Columbian mammoth — you and the kids will discover all this (and more!) in The Dalles, Oregon. Located about 75 miles east of Portland, this laid-back city makes an easy day trip or multi-day getaway. Read on to learn more about some of our favorite spots for family fun in The Dalles.

Hiking in the Tom McCall Preserve, photo by Carrie Uffindell

Tom McCall Preserve at Rowena

Get a bird’s eye view of the area (and stretch your legs) with a stop at the 231-acre Tom McCall Preserve, located on a plateau overlooking the Gorge. This is where the rainy, forested west side of the Cascades gives way to the grassy, sunny prairies of the east. You can also explore one of the preserve’s two trails: a one-mile trail that crosses the plateau, encircling a permanent pond, and the two-mile McCall Point Trail, which begins at the south side of the turnaround and gains around 1,000 feet in elevation.

Pro tip: Colorful wildflowers usually carpet the plateau from late February through June. No dogs or bicycles are allowed; this is to protect rare plants and sensitive wildlife.

Tom McCall Preserve
Hours: Open daily
Old Columbia River Scenic Highway (Highway 30), between Hood River and The Dalles
Online: nature.org

Exhibit at The Columbia Gorge Discovery Center, photo by Carrie Uffindell

Columbia Gorge Discovery Center and Museum

The exhibits in this impressive 48,200 square foot timber-and-glass facility explore regional plant and wildlife, eleven thousand years of local history and catastrophic floods that carved out the Gorge. An impressive life-sized Columbia mammoth dominates the Ice Age section of the center. Throughout are more displays where children can learn, touch, dress up and create, including the Kids Explorer Room. When you’re done inside check out the restored grounds, which are home to over 90 native plant species as well as walking paths, a pond and scenic overlooks.

Pro tip: Make a day of it by packing a picnic lunch or grabbing a bite to eat at the center’s Basalt Rock Café. (Think soups, sandwiches and burgers.) Live raptor presentations are in the main foyer every day.

Columbia River Gorge Discovery Center and Museum
Hours: Open daily, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Cost: $9/Adult; $7/Senior; $5/Ages 6-16; Free/Ages 5 and under
5000 Discovery Dr.
The Dalles, Or
541-296-8600
Online: gorgediscovery.org

 

Columbian Mammoth, photo by Carrie Uffindell

Sorosis Park

Set high above downtown, this 45-acre city park is filled with the usual amenities: picnic tables, BBQ pits, softball fields, tennis courts and a disc golf course. But what makes this park truly great for families is the sprawling, castle-themed wooden play structure where you can kick back and watch the kids frolic for hours.

Pro tip: If time permits, be sure to check out the park’s wide-angle views of the Gorge.

Sorosis Park
Hours: Open daily
300 E. Scenic Dr.
The Dalles, Or
541-296-9533
Online: nwprd.org/parks

 

On the Riverfront Trail, photo by Carrie Uffindell

Riverfront Trail

Walk, bike and/or stroll along this wide, ten-mile long paved path hugs the scenic southern bank of the Columbia River between the discovery center and The Dalles Dam. Along the way you’ll encounter a learning garden, Lewis and Clark’s Fort Rock campsite, downtown The Dalles, Riverfront Park and more. Pets and strollers are welcome.

Pro tip: Start from the northwest terminus at the discovery center. While the trail has little to no elevation, younger children may tucker out before reaching Riverfront Park six miles away. Fortunately, the trail is accessible approximately every mile between the center and the park. A portion of the trail near The Dalles Dam isn’t complete, between miles eight and ten.

The Riverfront Trail
541-296-9533
Online: nwprd.org/rivertrail

 

Browing at Klindt’s Booksellers, photo by Carrie Uffindell

Klindt’s Booksellers and Stationers

To visit Oregon’s oldest bookstore, which opened its doors in 1870, head to the heart of The Dalles’ historic downtown. Here you can browse amidst the original wooden bookshelves and cabinets. Kids of all ages will love Klindt’s excellent selection of children’s, middle reader and young adult fiction. Unsure where to start? The friendly and knowledgeable are happy to offer recommendations.

Pro tip: Klindt’s hosts regular young adult and middle reader author events and fiction festivals. See their website for more info.

Klindt Booksellers and Stationers
Hours: Mon. – Sat., 8 a.m.– 6 p.m.; Sun., 11 a.m.– 4 p.m.
315 E. 2nd St.
The Dalles, Or
541-296-3355
Online: klindtsbooks.com

What are your favorite family spots in The Dalles? Tell us in the comments below!

— Carrie Uffindell

No doubt about it —we love our trees in Portland. But sometimes, kids just want to hit the nearest park to fly a kite, take that new remote-controlled helicopter out for a spin or lazily lie back on a picnic blanket and watch the clouds float by. The next time you’re looking for some glorious wide-open space, head to one of the below parks that offer anywhere from eight to 230 acres of green space.

Photo credit: Stephanie A. via Yelp

Arbor Lodge Park
It isn’t just the baseball fields, the soccer field, the horseshoe pit and the tennis courts that make Arbor Lodge Park so much fun. This 8.69-acre space is also home to Harper’s Playground, an innovative, inclusive and thoughtfully-designed playground that accommodates children of all ages and abilities. Between the climbing walls, the universally-accessible swings, the sand table and the xylophone that brings out the musician in every child, your family will need no excuse to play the day away.

N Bryant Street & Delaware Ave.
Online: portlandoregon.gov/parks

Photo credit: Yiling W. via Yelp

Cooper Mountain Nature Park
The 230-acre Cooper Mountain Nature Park isn’t your typical city park. What this hillside expanse lacks in dog runs and kite-flying space, it more than makes up in walking trails, wildlife habitats, nature camps and nature education programs. Visitors of all ages will find something to learn about and enjoy—along with sweeping views of the Tualatin River Valley.

18892 SW Kemmer Rd.
Beaverton
Online: thprd.org/nature

Photo credit: Mandi C. via Yelp

Fernhill Park
According to local legend, the land that is now Fernhill Park was once used as a dumping ground for stolen cars. But lucky for us, the rolling grassy hills of this 26-acre expanse have since been preserved as one of Portland’s loveliest green spaces. Today, Fernhill Park includes a playground; baseball, soccer and softball fields; a horseshoe pit; a running track; tennis and volleyball courts; and an expansive off-leash area for dogs. And there’s also plenty of open space for the sun to shine through.

NE 37th Ave. & Ainsworth St.
Online: portlandoregon.gov/parks

Photo credit: Roger M. via Yelp

The Fields Neighborhood Park
Completed in 2013, The Fields Neighborhood Park is the newest park on our list. But in only a few short years, Portlanders have come to love its proximity to the Pearl District, its wide-open grassy field and its well-maintained playground, sand box and dog areas. Best of all? The Fields’ waterfront location gives it a stunning perspective of the Fremont Bridge.

NW 11th Ave. & Overton St.
Online: portlandoregon.gov/parks

Irving Park
Not only is Irvington home to some of Portland’s most beautiful homes—it is also the site of one of the city’s most majestic parks. In the 16 acres of Irving Park, you’ll find basketball courts; baseball, soccer and softball fields; tennis and volleyball courts; an off-leash area for the dogs; a playground; and picnic tables aplenty. But what makes Irving Park especially appealing is its inclusion of both open and shaded space, for those hot summer days when the kids might need a break.

NE 7th Ave. & Fremont St.
Online: portlandoregon.gov/parks

Photo credit: Kurumi C. via Yelp

Overlook Park
If you take your sunshine with a healthy dose of beautiful views, try spending an afternoon at the nearly 11-acre Overlook Park. Not only does this open green space include a playground, baseball, soccer and softball fields, basketball and volleyball courts, off-leash dog areas and picnic areas—these all come with a commanding view of the Fremont Bridge and downtown Portland.

N Fremont St. & Interstate Ave.
Online: portlandoregon.gov/parks

Wallace Park
Adjacent to Chapman Elementary School in a charming pocket of northwest Portland, Wallace Park is the epitome of the multi-purpose neighborhood park. There are picnic tables tucked beneath the trees, space for the dogs to roam and a widely-accessible playground. But as an added bonus, this sunny park also comes with its own scavenger hunt. If you look carefully in the most unexpected of places, you’ll discover 11 small bronze objects—an art installation created by Bill Will in 1998.

NW 25th Ave. & Raleigh St.
Online: portlandoregon.gov/parks

Westmoreland Park
Westmoreland Park has everything you would expect from a Portland city park—baseball, football, soccer and softball fields; basketball and tennis courts; a playground; and picnic areas. But the star attraction of this 42-acre park in Sellwood-Moreland is its connection to nature. The ponds are often full of ducks and geese that love to be fed, while the nature-based play area allows kids to scramble over tree stumps and boulders, build and dig in the sand and use their imaginations to make the most of natural materials.

SE McLoughlin Blvd. & Bybee Blvd.
Online: portlandoregon.gov/parks

What’s your favorite open-space park? Let us know in the comments below!

— Maura O’Brien

 

A former San Francisco mom, Kaui Hart Hemmings is the acclaimed author of The Descendants and a short story collection House of Thieves. She contributed an essay about her relationship with her daughter to Because I Love Her:  34 Women Writer’s Reflect on the Mother-Daughter Bond. She has a new addition to her family as they recently adopted her son Leo from Ethiopia. The new film The Descendants, based on her novel, is getting rave reviews. Kaui took a few minutes out of her crazy week of interviews for the Los Angeles premiere to speak with Red Tricycle.

Nicki Richesin: Congratulations on the success of The Descendants. Your brilliant novel (made into a film directed by Alexander Payne and starring George Clooney) just opened. What was it like being on the set with the cast and crew?

Kaui Hart Hemmings: This cast and crew was absolutely top notch. Everyone has their unique jobs, yet it’s all in service of the same goal. There was a lot of fun on and off the set. Parties, dancing, softball, and going to Kauai was quite the experience for all of us.

NR: Most of Alexander Payne’s films (Election, About Schmidt, Sideways) are hilarious and yet sweetly vulnerable and compelling. How did you enjoy working with him on The Descendants?

KHH: I got to see a master at work. I enjoyed his joy, his curiosity. He’s exacting, patient and observant. And a big ball of fun.

NR: You lived in San Francisco when your daughter Eleanor was born. When you return to the bay area, do you have favorite places and parks where you like to hang out with your family?

KHH: The Bay Area Discovery Museum, Golden Gate Park, the Presidio; I have such beautiful memories of those old haunts. It’s such a child-friendly city (until your child reaches a certain age).

NR: You returned to Hawaii, where you grew up, to live with your family. It must be such an inspiring place to live and work. What’s inspiring you the most right now?

KHH: Well lately I’ve been seeing the place I’ve inhabited up on a big screen with actors spewing out words that I wrote. That’s kind of inspiring me to try that again, to capture places and people never seen before and yet resonate somehow.

NR: What are some of your favorite things to do when you spend time with Eleanor and Leo?

KHH: Eleanor is 7. My son, Leo, is 15 months.  That’s an age gap, but I find that the beach accommodates age gaps. My perfect Sunday is at Kailua Beach. My daughter and my dog, Bob, boogie board. Fearless Leo charges the water. Friends, food, good sandy fun.

NR: Could you tell us a little bit about what you’re working on now?

KHH: I’m working on a book set in a ski resort town in Colorado. Another family light-handed drama set in an idyllic place.

NR: Thank you so much for taking the time to chat with me and best of luck to you with your next novel.

Nicki Richesin is the editor of four literary anthologies, The May Queen, Because I Love Her, What I Would Tell Her and Crush. She lives in the San Francisco bay area with her husband and daughter. You can find more about her work on her website.