Some Seattle beach swimming areas have closed for the season, but Matthews Beach is open through Labor Day, September 3.
Matthews Beach Park and swim area is located at NE 93rd Street off of Sand Point Way. The beach is an ideal location for gatherings, with parking available, grassy fields, picnic tables and grills, children’s play area and accessibility by bicycle — the park is on the Burke-Gilman Trail. The beach has a swimming raft and diving board, and lifeguards on duty from noon to 7 PM on weekdays and from 11 to 7 on weekends.
For something completely different, try one of Seattle’s new Sprayparks. One of the most recently completed is Northacres Park at 12718 1st Ave NE in the Northgate area. The wading pool has been replaced by an interesting, interactive array of spray towers which encourages children to move around and dance in the interplay of spray which comes from all directions. The water feature is open daily through Labor Day, September 3, from 11 AM to 8 PM but is dependent upon weather. If the day’s temperature is forecast to be 70 degrees or above, then the spraypark will open. The info hotline, 206-684-7796, is updated every morning by 9:30 AM so that you can find out if the spraypark will open.
Northacres Park has extensive grassy areas with picnic tables, new play equipment, a dog off-leash area and a 1/2 mile walking trail. Directions from Wedgwood: go north on either 35th Ave NE or Lake City Way and turn left (west) on NE 125th Street. Cross over the freeway; road becomes NE 130th Street. The first stoplight on the other side of the freeway is 1st Ave NE; turn left (south). The park is on your left.