Holiday Lights Discount Tickets (Seattle Area)

If seeing a holiday lights display is on your “must-do” list this holiday season, read on to see how you can get holiday lights discount tickets for Seattle-area displays! These dates and prices are good for 2021 and include popular …

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Pacific Northwest Getaways for Under $100/Night

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Pacific Northwest Cheap Getaways Under $100/Night

Sometimes you just need to get out of town, but you don’t want to have to pay big bucks to do it. One great way to save on your trip is by purchasing through daily deal websites like Groupon Getaways and LivingSocial Escapes.

Whether you’re looking for a getaway with your spouse, your family, your friends, or even just yourself, I’ve scoured various daily deal websites to find a bunch of Pacific Northwest getaways for less than $100/night. I tried to look for getaways beyond your typical hotel stay and focus on something a little more unique.

Through 7/17/19: Save an extra $5, $10, $15 or $30 on Groupon Getaways with coupon code MORE!

Last updated: July 17th, 2019

Rolling Huts and Methow Tents – Winthrop, WA (via Groupon)

  • $45+/night for a canvas tent with two camping cots – 2 night minimum

Get away to nature and stay in a tent in the Cascade Mountains. The forested property is bordered by a river. These Methow Tents are spacious canvas tents set on wooden platforms. Each one comes with windows, carpets, and two cots, as well as an outdoor picnic table, water faucet, and electrical outlet.

Community features include bathrooms and showers, a volleyball court, and a restaurant.

Paca Pride Guest Ranch – Granite Falls, WA

  • $99 for a 2-night stay for two in a guest yurt
  • $129 for a 2-night stay for four in a roundhouse yurt

Washington’s Mountain Loop Highway stretches along the western side of the Cascade Range for more than 50 rugged miles, connecting the towns of Granite Falls and Darrington. It’s a drive that Travel + Leisure says “is unsurpassed in Pacific Northwestern beauty.” Paca Pride Guest Ranch sits right off of this scenic route, with Mount Pilchuck visible between the pines.

The yurts create a less rustic camping experience with furnished structures that have electricity. Shower and bath facilities are available at the main house as well as a seasonal outdoor kitchen. Guests can even meet the ranch’s alpacas!

Hotel Max – Seattle, WA (via Groupon)

  • $84+/night for a mini full room
  • $91+/night for a modern queen room
  • $97+/night for a modern king room

This hip hotel welcomes guests with a collection of local art, pet-friendly amenities, and pints of craft beer (complimentary!) during happy hour. It’s located about a mile north of downtown Seattle and about a half mile north of Pike Place Market.

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Hunt a Killer: Murder Mystery Subscription (plus, save 15% on your first box)!

Several months ago, I noticed an ad that kept popping up on my podcasts for a murder mystery game called Hunt a Killer. Perhaps you’ve already heard about it, too. I’d never done anything like it before, and was definitely intrigued! I decided to go for it and start a monthly subscription last December (Merry Christmas to me!). Five months in, I’m loving it and thought I’d share a little bit more with you how it works (and also, how you can save on your first box).

After subscribing, you’ll receive your first box in the mail. (Delivery times may vary, but you’ll receive email updates about the order and shipping status, including a tracking number.) When you get your first box, you’ll receive a list of all the included items. It’s very important to make sure you have EVERYTHING before you get started, so you don’t end up missing a vital clue!

Take the time to scour everything you received. Are there codes hidden in any letters that you’ll need to decipher? Are there important omissions in documents? Any connections you can make between items? Carefully consider the pictures and objects you receive.

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Ultimate Guide to Free & Frugal Spring Break in the South Sound

Spring Break in the South Sound {HUGE list of free/cheap things to do}

With Spring Break rapidly approaching, I wanted to take time out to put together an exhaustive guide of some of the fun, free and/or inexpensive things you can do with your kids in the South Sound! Our family is personally sticking around this year for Spring Break (no Hawaii excursions here!), so compiling this list is one part personal agenda/one part help for you (I hope!).

There are many possible ways such a list could be organized, but I’ve decided to categorize it by what you might be in the mood to do (and what our fickle weather may dictate!). As you might expect, if I was able to find a discount or deal, I’ve included it. (Just know deals may be time-sensitive and subject to change at any time, without warning.)

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Every Kid Outdoors: FREE Annual National Parks Pass for 4th Graders

Every Kid in a Park

I wanted to remind you about the Every Kid Outdoors program, particularly as we head into spring break and summer vacations (eventually!).

Thanks to this program, every 4th grader and their family can receive a FREE annual pass to the National Parks! This offer is good for every child entering the fourth grade (or the fourth grade equivalent in home school).

This offer is also available to fourth-grade educators (e.g., camp director, teacher, religious group leader, homeschool teacher).

Grand Tetons

Here’s how it works:

  • Head to everykidoutdoors.gov.
  • Have your child answer the short questions that follow.
  • You’ll be able to print a pass when you’re done – that’s it!

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AMC Theatres: $5 Fountain Drink + Popcorn for Teens

Teens can enter their birthdate HERE to print a coupon for a $5 Cameo size fountain drink + popcorn bag at AMC Theatres! Note that you must show Student ID when redeeming the coupon. Offer expires 3/24/19. SharePinTweet0 Shares

Snowshoeing at Steven’s Pass and Summit at Snoqualmie

For Christmas last year, we decided on a family gift of snowshoes! Now, none of us had ever been snowshoeing before, but it’s been on my list of “sounds like fun stuff to try” for a long time. I thought I’d share a little bit about our two snowshoeing excursions and what we’ve learned in case you’re considering giving it a go this winter. And if you’re an old pro and have been at this a lot longer, I’d LOVE for you to chime in with your tips and suggestions!

Snowshoeing at Steven’s Pass

For our first outing, we decided on Steven’s Pass. (We’d also considered Mt. Rainier and the Olympics, but weren’t sure what we’d encounter given the current partial government shutdown.) To get to the snowshoeing trails, you’ll need to head to the Nordic Center (this is roughly 5 miles east of the main alpine resort).

If you decide to snowshoe here, you will need a pass. It cost $24 for us adults and $15 for the kids. There is also a $50 season pass, which may be worth considering, particularly if you plan to go back!

From the Nordic Center you’ll find a system of marked and groomed trails for snowshoeing and cross country skiing. Word to the wise: stay off the ski trails! These are noticeably smoother and your snowshoes will break it up and generally considered bad snowshoeing etiquette.

We decided on the Clickity Clack trail (purple) pictured above. You can see an online version of the Stevens Pass trail maps for more.

I’d say the trickiest part of this whole process was just figuring out our gear! It felt like it took us the better part of an hour from when we parked until we were on the trail.

If you’re new and/or if you have kids, make sure to give yourself plenty of time for this part. In hindsight, I think it may have been helpful to pull out our stuff the night before and figured out how it all worked. Which isn’t to say that it was super tricky, it just involved a series of adjustments to get the things on snug enough.

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5 Free Museums You Haven’t Visited in Tacoma

 

Sure you know about the Glass Museum and Tacoma Art Museum, but did you know that Tacoma has other museums? And, depending on when you visit – you just might be able to go for free. If you’re looking for more frugal family fun in 2019, consider adding one (or all!) of these to your “must visit” list.

#1: Tacoma Telephone Pioneer Museum. The Tacoma Telephone Pioneer takes you through the history of switchboards, phone booths, and early communication technology. The museum is free to visit and located at 757 Fawcett Avenue. It’s only open on Thursdays from 8am to 12pm and they don’t have a website. (But I did locate a phone number – 253.627.2996.) According to TripAdvisor reviews, the tour lasts about an hour and is very informative.

#2: Buffalo Soldiers Museum. Opened in 2005, the Buffalo Soldiers Museum is only one of two like it in the country! The Buffalo Soldiers were African American troops who served during the Civil War. Later, they became the first National Park Service rangers. This museum is located at 1940 S. Wilkeson Street and open Wednesdays and Saturdays, from 11am to 3pm, or by appointment. 

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