Things to Do in Puyallup With Kids and Family

When people ask whether there is enough to do here, I ask how old the kids are. A toddler, a nine-year-old on three sports teams, and a sixteen-year-old with a driver's license need very different towns. Puyallup covers all three better than most places its size.

Here is a working list, organized the way parents use it: close to home, by season, and for the days when it will not stop raining.

Parks and playgrounds

The city maintains more than a dozen parks. Its parks page has the full list with addresses and amenities. These are the ones families use most.

Pierce County adds more on South Hill.

• South Hill Community Park has sports fields and a paved loop of about a mile and a half, good for young cyclists.
• Heritage Recreation Center is a large complex of fields used for league play and tournaments.
• Meridian Habitat Park has open space and a community center.

Most newer subdivisions also have a small private park or tot lot maintained by the homeowner association.

Water play

• The spray park at Pioneer Park runs in the warm months and is free. On a hot afternoon it is the busiest place in town.
• Swimming lessons and open swim are offered at the Mel Korum Family YMCA, which has an indoor pool, and through community swim programs at other pools in the area when they are offered.
• Lake Tapps, a short drive east, has public parks with swimming beaches in summer.
• Private swim clubs and neighborhood pools exist in a few communities. Ask if a pool matters to you.

Trails for bikes, strollers, and scooters

• The Riverwalk Trail follows the Puyallup River for about five miles on a flat, paved path. It is the best place in town to teach a child to ride.
• The Foothills Trail starts at a trailhead on the east side of Puyallup and runs about 25 miles through McMillin, Orting, and South Prairie toward Buckley and Enumclaw. It is a former rail line, so it is nearly flat. Families ride a few miles out, stop for a snack in Orting, and ride back.
• The loop at Bradley Lake is short and easy for the youngest riders.
• The paved path at South Hill Community Park is a good choice on the plateau.

The fair

The Washington State Fair is the event every local kid grows up with. It runs for about three weeks from late August or early September, with a shorter Spring Fair in April.

For children that means rides, farm animals, 4-H and youth livestock shows, exhibits, a rodeo, concerts, and a great deal of fair food. Many schools build a field trip or a free ticket into the season.

A few tips from people who go every year.

• Go on a weekday if you can.
• Arrive at opening and leave before dinner with small children.
• Look for discount days and advance tickets.
• Bring a stroller or wagon. The grounds are large.
• Park once and walk, or take the Sounder event trains when they run.

The fairgrounds also host other events through the year, including a fall festival, a holiday lights event in December, and shows that appeal to kids.

The farmers market

From April into October, the Puyallup Farmers' Market sets up at Pioneer Park on Saturdays. It is one of the larger markets in the state. For families it is an easy morning: produce and flowers, baked goods, a lap around the playground, and the library across the lawn.

The library

The Puyallup Public Library sits on the west side of Pioneer Park. It is run by the city and is separate from the county library system. Expect story times, summer reading programs, teen events, and a children's section that gets heavy use on rainy days.

Residents of unincorporated South Hill are served by the Pierce County Library System, which has a large branch on the hill with its own children's programs. Which card you qualify for depends on whether you live inside city limits.

Sports and classes

Organized activities run year-round.

City programs. Puyallup Parks and Recreation offers youth sports leagues, camps, and classes, and operates the Puyallup Recreation Center. City residents pay resident rates.

The YMCA. The Mel Korum Family YMCA has an indoor pool, gyms, a gymnastics center, an indoor track, youth sports leagues, day camps, and child watch for parents who are working out.

Community leagues. Baseball and softball, soccer, football and cheer, basketball, lacrosse, wrestling, and swim clubs all have local organizations. Most are volunteer-run, and coaching is a common way parents get involved.

Studios and gyms. Dance, martial arts, gymnastics, climbing, music lessons, and art classes are available in the valley and on the hill.

Scouting and 4-H. Both are active. 4-H has deep roots here because of the fair.

School activities. Junior highs and high schools field teams and run music, theater, and clubs. Friday night football draws a crowd.

Museums and history

• The Meeker Mansion is a restored Victorian home built by Ezra Meeker, the city's founder. It offers tours and seasonal events.
• The Karshner Museum and Center for Culture and Arts is operated by the school district and has hands-on exhibits used by classes and open to the public at set times.
• Downtown has murals, public art, and a bronze of Meeker in Pioneer Park that every local child has climbed on.

Farms and seasonal fun

The valley's farming history is still visible on its eastern and southern edges.

• Spring. Daffodils and tulips bloom, and the Daffodil Parade comes through downtown each April.
• Summer. U-pick berries at farms in the valley and toward Sumner and Orting.
• Fall. Pumpkin patches, corn mazes, and hayrides at farms within a short drive.
• Winter. Tree farms for cutting your own, a holiday parade and tree lighting downtown, and the lights event at the fairgrounds.

Farms change hands and hours, so check before you go.

Rainy-day options

From October through March you will need an indoor list.

• The library
• The recreation center and the YMCA
• Indoor trampoline, climbing, and play gyms in the area
• Bowling and roller skating
• Movie theaters
• South Hill Mall for a walk and a pretzel
• Indoor swim sessions
• Craft and pottery studios
• Arcades and family entertainment centers

Add good rain gear and the list grows. Local families go to the park in the drizzle. Children here learn early that waiting for a dry day means waiting until July.

Day trips within about an hour

I cover the mountain, the ski areas, and the lakes in my post on outdoor activities near Puyallup.

By age

Babies and toddlers. Library story times, the spray park, the Bradley Lake loop, parent and child classes, and the YMCA's child watch.

Elementary age. Parks, youth sports, swim lessons, the Riverwalk and Foothills trails, scouting, the fair, summer day camps.

Tweens and young teens. School sports and music, the recreation center, skate spots, the mall, biking to friends' houses in the neighborhoods where that is practical.

Older teens. High school activities, part-time jobs at the fair and along Meridian, Running Start classes at Pierce College, and the Sounder for a supervised trip to a game in Seattle.

A year in Puyallup with kids

What it costs

A good share of this list is free or close to it.

• Free: city and county parks, the spray park, the trails, the library and its programs, the farmers market, parades, and most downtown events.
• Low cost: city recreation classes and leagues, community sports, museum admission, and public swim sessions.
• Membership or tuition: the YMCA, private studios and gyms, club sports, and camps. Many offer scholarships or income-based rates. Ask.
• A splurge: the fair, especially with rides and food for several children. Locals watch for discount days.

Club and travel sports are the budget item that surprises families most. Ask about the full season cost, including uniforms, tournaments, and travel, before you commit.

What this means for where you live

If you have children, proximity to the things they will use every week is worth real money and real time.

• Near Pioneer Park and downtown, you can walk to the playground, spray park, library, market, and recreation center.
• Near Bradley Lake or Wildwood Park, you have a large park at the end of the street.
• Near the east side trailhead, the Foothills Trail is your backyard.
• On South Hill, you are closer to the YMCA, the county's sports fields, and most of the indoor play businesses.
• In a subdivision with its own park, the youngest kids can play without a car ride.

Also note the city line. Residents inside city limits get resident rates for city recreation programs and a city library card. Homes with a Puyallup address outside the city are served by the county's parks and library system. I explain that in my post on a Puyallup mailing address versus city limits.

When I work with families, I ask for the three places they expect to go most often, then look for homes that keep those drives short.

Frequently asked questions

What is there to do in Puyallup with kids?

Parks and playgrounds, the spray park at Pioneer Park, the Riverwalk and Foothills trails, the Washington State Fair, the farmers market, the library, the recreation center, the YMCA, and youth sports in every season.

Is there a spray park in Puyallup?

Yes. The Kiwanis Kids Spray Park is in Pioneer Park downtown and operates in the warm months.

When is the Washington State Fair?

The main fair runs for about three weeks from late August or early September, and a shorter Spring Fair is held in April. Check the fair's website for current dates.

What can kids do in Puyallup when it rains?

The library, the recreation center, the YMCA pool and gyms, indoor play and trampoline gyms, bowling, movies, and the mall. Tacoma's museums are about 20 minutes away.

Are there good bike trails for kids in Puyallup?

Yes. The Riverwalk Trail along the Puyallup River and the Foothills Trail from the east side of town are both flat and paved, and the loop at Bradley Lake Park suits the youngest riders.

Related reading

• Is Puyallup a Good Place to Raise a Family?
• Hiking, Skiing, and Lakes Near Puyallup
• Making Friends and Building Community in Puyallup
• Walkable Puyallup: Where to Live Near Shops and Restaurants

Equal Housing Opportunity. Austin Robertson, License # 21036843, Austin Robertson and Allena Robertson Real Estate Brokers, regulated by the Washington State Department of Licensing (DOL). This article is general information only. It is not legal, tax, insurance, lending, or construction advice, and it is not an appraisal of any property. Robertson & Co. supports fair housing and does not describe or recommend neighborhoods based on who lives there. Costs, rates, and rules change. Confirm the details with the sources linked above before you act.