Quick Quiz: What community is at the northernmost tip of Lake Washington, has great access to the water and the woods, is family-friendly and artsy?
More clues: It is home to everything from 50 lanes of bowling to a former seminary (where you can spend the night) to a seaplane company that shares its name.
Answer: Kenmore, where there’s a lot more going on than you might have realized.
With a population just over 24,000, Kenmore is small enough to feel close-knit but big enough to have plenty to do. It has a robust small business community and is less than a half-hour drive to Seattle or Bellevue. It also has easy access to public transit, lots of ways to enjoy Lake Washington and direct flights to the San Juan Islands. Read on to learn more about family-friendly things to do in Kenmore.
What’s the best way to explore the family-friendly city of Kenmore?
Easy: “Walk around,” or ride a bike, suggests Nicole Suarez, Community and Business Engagement Coordinator for the City of Kenmore.
She noted that Kenmore, which incorporated as a city in 1998, has more than 20 miles of paths and trails, almost 45 miles of dedicated sidewalks, 8 miles of shoreline and a vibrant arts-and-events culture.
“Take in the parks, go to Town Square and hang out, grab an ice cream, coffee or bubble tea. Stop for lunch.” While wandering, you’re likely to encounter some of Kenmore’s plentiful public art and perhaps a community event. The Kenmore Farmers Market takes place from 3 to 7 p.m. Wednesdays in June, July and August.
“Kenmore has really great community events,” Suarez said, mentioning the annual summer art show, in addition to rotating exhibits at City Hall, summer movies in the Town Square, an annual Kenmore Oktoberfest (Sept. 13-21) and more.
In addition to the downtown core, the Burke-Gilman Trail goes through Kenmore and right past Brew Row, a growing strip of brewpubs and a distillery. In theory, one could set out from Ballard, ride through the University District and through Kenmore, then even catch the Sammamish River Trail to Woodinville and Redmond. The flaw in that plan: Not enough time in Kenmore.
Because when in Kenmore, you’ll also want to spend some time on (or near) the water. The town embraces its proximity to Lake Washington, the Sammamish River, and Swamp Creek. At lakefront Log Boom Park, home to the city’s annual July 4 festivities, a vendor rents paddleboards, kayaks, canoes, and water bikes. Other parks also offer boat launches, picnic sites, hiking, and more.
Speaking of hiking, another Kenmore gem is Saint Edward State Park. Also located on the lake, it has a big playground and miles of trails. It also features a former seminary that has been converted to the luxurious Lodge at Saint Edward Park. A short drive from the heart of town, it also hosts events, including summer concerts.
“It is a lovely amenity that really makes Kenmore, Kenmore,” Suarez said of Saint Edward.
Saint Edward State Park on Lake Washington in Kenmore hosts concerts and family-friendly events in the summer.
What else makes Kenmore a family-friendly destination?
- The Hangar Building is a community event space that is the town’s “downtown living room.” It hosts a coffee shop and plenty of tables and space for meetups, gatherings, or working during the week.
- The walkable, bikeable community.
- The overall family-friendly vibe with clean, safe, walkable neighborhoods. Kenmore is in the Northshore School District.
Its acknowledgment and embrace of Indigenous culture. A story pole in Kenmore Town Square tells of the Duwamish people who originally settled the area, as does ƛ̕ax̌ʷadis (Tl’ awh-ah-dees) Park, given its name in 2021 to honor a Lushootseed village that once sat in or near present-day downtown Kenmore. - Being the “seaplane capital of the world.” It’s a hub for Kenmore Air, whose planes take off and land daily. (Some sightseeing flights are available in addition to scheduled trips to locations in the San Juan Islands and British Columbia.)
- Kenmore Lanes which, with 50 lanes, is said to be the largest bowling center North of Reno, Nevada, and west of the Mississippi River.
