Vacations Blog

What's More Amusing than a Canoe Ride?

People in the Seattle area are not easily amused.  Don’t get me wrong, it’s not that we here in the Northwest are not funny people. Quite the opposite really.  I mean, take a look at some of our most famous citizens: Bill Gates – A laugh a minute.  Kurt Kobain – What’s funnier than checking yourself out when you are at your prime?  Ichiro – Most hilarious Japanese import since Mr. Miyagi.

Actually, we would be a lot more amusing up here in the Seattle area if it weren’t for the dearth of amusement parks we have to deal with. Perhaps it is the months on end of drizzle, outright rain, and grey skies that doesn’t lend itself well to outdoor family fun.  Conversely, when the weather does get nice, there are endless natural wonders to behold.  Whatever the reason be, when we do come across just such an amusing place, however small scale it may be, it is certainly worth mentioning.

This past weekend, my wife, son, and I visited Remlinger Farms and Family Fun Park in Carnation, Washington.  Located about 35 minutes east of Seattle, Remlinger Farms is a unique family experience complete with acres of berry fields ripe for picking, a market loaded with fresh farm produce, a family friendly restaurant, various farm and fire vehicles to crawl in and around, a petting zoo where the little ones can get up close and personal with any number of goats, sheep, bunnies, chickens, or ducks, daily performance shows AND – you guessed it – rides.

Ever Rode in a Spinning Pumpkin?

Now these rides are not going to thrill many kids in the teen and older set.  However, for the little ones such as my 2-year-old son, this park was a thrill a minute.  There were pony rides, a slow paced canoe ride around a ‘raging’ river, a hay maze, old-time cars moving around a track where the little ones could get the sensation of driving, a long pedalcar track, bouncy rooms, a mini roller coaster and other carnival type rides including a thrilling pumpkin spin, and best of all for my son – a steam train leaving every 10 minutes. The train would circle the farm and view various farm and western themed displays before traveling through a darkened tunnel as it pulled back into the station.

Feeding the Animals at Remlinger Farms

The only issue I had with this park was its hours of operation.  10:30am – 4:30pm is not an ideal time for a toddler who naps at noon to see enough of this fun filled farm theme park.  We ended up stretching his nap schedule but still left without doing all there was available. So, if you are vacationing in or around the Seattle area this ‘dry’ season, or if you live nearby and are just looking for a fun afternoon for the little ones, consider a visit to Remlinger Farms.  Admission is $13.00 for ages 1 and up.

All Photos by Mrs. LIAYF