Family-Friendly Activities in Downtown Issaquah
By Krysten Carrera
Many people choose to live in Downtown Issaquah to start and raise families. Our solid schools, relatively safe streets, and exposure to arts and culture provide a nurturing environment for children to grow and thrive.
Downtown Issaquah boasts a range of activities to keep kids busy. Let’s take a look at some of the family-friendly options in our community.
- Little Gym offers classes, camps, and more that help children from four months to twelve years old burn up extra energy.
- Like all libraries, the charming Issaquah Library is free and open to the community. The kids’ and young adult section is in easy view of the rest of the facility, so you can easily keep an eye on your child while you browse another area. Also check out the story stroll and other events.
- Village Theatre exposes youths to the fine arts through participation in plays and musicals. They can also sign up for “KIDSTAGE” classes and camps.
- Who knew? Our downtown actually has a Brazilian jiu-jitsu studio. Gracie Barra Issaquah has classes for children of all ages.
- Kaleidoscope School of Music boasts private lessons for a range of instruments and voice, as well as rock band opportunities. (Editor’s note: we’ll do an in-depth review of Issaquah music schools this summer.)
- Out of the Box Eco-Store has used puzzle exchanges.
- Among many activities available for young people, Issaquah Salmon Hatchery is now registering multiple age groups for summer camp in July.
- The Garage is a safe space for teens to hang out with friends, grab a snack, play music, get help with homework, and much more. All activities – including counseling and case management services – are free of charge.
- Shout out to the Downtown Issaquah Association: from volunteer opportunities like Keep Issaquah Beautiful Day on Saturday, April 22 to programs like Fenders on Front Street on Father’s Day (Sunday, June 18), pretty much everything we do is family-friendly.
- Last but not least, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention Flying Pie Pizzeria, Stan’s Bar-B-Q, and 96 Front Street [CK1] (formerly Yum-E-Yogurt; still serving frozen yogurt!). I often see families and sports teams at these beloved eateries, and everyone seems to be having a blast. At Flying Pie, you can even play arcade games.
We’re lucky to be able to give our young people so many ways to enrich their minds, develop social skills, and enjoy themselves. If you have children in your life, I hope you look into some of these exciting opportunities right here in our backyard.
