We have 29 ideas for you to enjoy Leap Day

Monday is Leap Day, that extra day added to the calendar every four years. But why do we need that extra day? Because our calendar has 365 days, but the Earth actually takes 365 ¼ days to orbit the sun. The difference adds up, and leap days have been part of the Western calendar since Julius Caesar’s time.

That makes scientific sense, but should we have to work on this extra day? A recent study showed 35 percent of Americans believe Leap Day should be a federal holiday. Count us among those nearly 113 million people. Which is why we’re offering 29 suggestions of things you and your family can do Monday, other than work and school.

OUTDOORS

Indoor skydiving

What better time than Leap Day to try skydiving? You might not be able to do the real thing in February, but Tukwila’s iFly Seattle offers an indoor alternative that will give you a taste of what skydiving might feel like. The company’s wind tunnel allows people 3 and older to take flight for about a minute. No experience is required. Take two flights for $59.95. Reservations are recommended. seattle.iflyworld.com.

Yelm-Tenino Trail

A round-trip bike ride on the Yelm-Tenino Trail covers 29 miles. The trail is flat and is highlighted by a section along McIntosh Lake. The Train Depot Museum sits at the Tenino end of the trail. The trail is a wonderland for geocachers with an more than one cache per mile. Geocachers who locate a cache on Leap Day get a special virtual badge for their online accounts. Geocaching.com, co.thurston.wa.us.

Soundview/Grandview Trails

By linking the paved Grandview and Soundview trails, you’ll get stunning views of the South Sound as you make a loop around Chambers Bay Golf Course. While the length of this walk varies a bit depending on what variation you take, we recently measured it at 2.9 miles. This is not a flat walk (you’ll climb more than 300 feet up from the course) but if you want more, there are several opportunities to extend your trip. co.pierce.wa.us.

Eastside Community Pool

Those looking to make a Leap Day splash can take a plunge off the diving board at Tacoma’s Eastside Community Pool. The pool, at 3524 E. L St., has open swim on Mondays 4-5:30 p.m. The entry fee is $2. Check the rules before you drop in. Among them: no “fancy dives” without a coach or proper training. metroparkstacoma.org.

Trampoline Nation

Federal Way’s Trampoline Nation is a leaper’s paradise. The facility is packed with more than 5,000 square feet of trampolines. Dunk, do tricks, play dodge ball or just spend your time going up and down. Entry is $11 per hour on Mondays and the facility, at 35025 Enchanted Parkway South, is open 4-9 p.m. trampolinenation.com.

Play a round of golf

Two area golf courses are offering a Leap Day special, $29 for a round of golf. Take advantage of the deal at Oakbrook Golf Club in Lakewood (oakbrookgolfclub.com) and The Classic in Spanaway (theclassicgc.com). That includes green fees, cart, and range access.

Leap Day Virtual Race

Virtual races are those that can be done alone (or with friends) and whenever and wherever you choose. In honor of Leap Day, Virtual Run Events is staging a virtual 2.29-mile race. The event raises money for the National Organization for Rare Diseases. The $20 entry fee scores you a race bib and a medal shaped like a frog. virtualrunevents.com.

ARTS AND CULTURE

Pacific Science Center

Explore the astronomy behind leap years at the Pacific Science Center’s planetarium — the museum also has a math exhibit that will give you more mental challenges. Open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. (planetarium shows 10:45 a.m., 11:30 a.m., noon and 12:30 p.m.) at 200 Second Ave. N., Seattle. Exhibit plus planetarium costs $22.75 adult, $20.75 senior, $17.75 youth ages 6-15, $14.75 children ages 3-5. 206-443-2001, pacificsciencecenter.org.

Seattle hip-hop at MOHAI

Seattle’s hip-hop scene has produced a swag of DJs, B-boys and girls, graffiti artists and more. Leap into the scene and create your own beats in an interactive mixing station at “The Legacy of Seattle Hip Hop,” now up at the Museum of History and Industry. Open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. at 860 Terry Ave. N., Seattle. $17 adult, $15 senior, $14 student and military, $5 TeenTix, free ages 14 and younger. 206-324-1126, mohai.org.

Olympic Sculpture Park

There aren’t quite 29 sculptures at the Olympic Sculpture Park (the website lists 21) but you can definitely spend 29 minutes wending your way from Alexander Calder’s bright vermillion “Eagle” down to Louise Bourgeois’ rather creepy “Eye Benches.” Open dawn til dusk at 2901 Western Ave., Seattle. Free. 206-654-3100, seattleartmuseum.org.

Seattle underground tour

Yes, we’ve all heard of Seattle underground tours — but have you done one? Recently? Don’t wait for when you have guests: Leap Day is perfect for doing something unusual, and exploring Seattle’s historic underground roads, storefronts and saloons definitely qualifies. Tours start on the hour, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. from 614 First Ave., Seattle. $19 adult, $16 senior and student, $9 ages 7-12. 206-682-4646, undergroundtour.com.

2.9 miles of quirky public art

Here’s a 2.9-mile round-trip route in honor of Feb. 29 that’ll give you the most quirky art for your walk. Start at 519 S. G St. near Wright Park at the undersea chainsaw sculpture. Move on to the bird mural at 618 St. Helens Ave., the opera mural on Opera Alley, down to the Spaceworks windows on Broadway at South 11th St. Head up the hill to more murals on Market Street (including Alice in Wonderland across the intersection). Walk down 12th Street to Pacific Avenue and find the “Projecting Drop” sculpture, back up 13th Street to the glass art at the Hotel Murano, and past the Convention Center to Tollefson Plaza’s “Welcome Figure” and a wealth of sculpture outside the art museum and university. Open 24/7 and free. Find public art maps at tacomaculture.org and spaceworkstacoma.com.

Sister City Film Fest

Take a culture leap at the Tacoma Sister Cities Film Festival, which screens “Conducta,” a film from Tacoma’s sister city Cienfuegos, Cuba, about a softhearted aging teacher who gets into trouble for helping needy students. A cultural program includes slideshow and salsa dancing at 6 p.m.; film at 7 p.m. Rasmussen Rotunda, Wheelock Student Center, University of Puget Sound, 1500 N. Warner St., Tacoma. Free. 253-591-5117, sistercityfilmfest.org.

Leaping lemurs

Tacoma’s Point Defiance Zoo celebrates Leap Day with “Leapin’ Lemurs,” a chance to watch these acrobatic animals have fun with keeper games and enrichments. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. (also Feb. 28). Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium, 5400 N. Pearl St., Tacoma. $15.95 adult, $14.95 senior, $11.95 ages 5-12, $7.95 ages 3-4. 253-591-5337, pdza.org.

The Swiss open mic

CULINARY ADVENTURES

Leap into a spice bonanza

Think you can handle a mouth full of Sichuan peppers? Have you ever? Did you know they have a numbing effect, meaning you can’t really feel your tongue for a solid 20 minutes (ish) after taking a bite of Chong gin hot chicken? Dare to try it at Tacoma Szechuan, 9601 South Tacoma Way, Lakewood; 253-581-0102; tacomaszechuanchinese.com.

Leap into funky fruit

Durian fruit smells like rotting onions that have been mixed with wet dog and funky blue cheese. And tires. It smells really bad, but the distinctive flavor is unforgettable. Warning: Supply of this fruit is intermittent, but you can usually find it in fresh or frozen form at Hong Kong Supermarket, 3828 S. Yakima Ave., Tacoma; 253-212-1774.

Leap into stinky soybeans

There’s a reason some call natto maki, a fermented soybean sushi roll, the“lutefisk of Japan.” Yeah, it’s slimy. And sticky. And it has a funk that will permeate your palate, but it’s worth a try at least once. Kyoto, 8722 South Tacoma Way, Lakewood; 253-581-7229.

Leap of bitter faith

Leap with all eyes on you

Many diners are squeamish about eating cooked seafood with the head still attached, but have you ever tried it? You should. At least once. One of the best places to do so is at Dragon’s Crawfish, a Cajun-Vietnamese hybrid restaurant offering seafood boil, including head-on shrimp and crawfish. 750 S. 38th St., Tacoma; 253-301-0020; dragonscrawfish.cf.

Leap into bigger pants

It’s big, a cheese-covered mound the size of a football, and it takes a lumberjack and three teenagers to finish. Do you dare tackle a scramble at Marcia’s Silver Spoon? 2601 South Tacoma Way, Tacoma; 253-472-0157.

Leap into something a little slimy

In the hands of a French chef, snails are delicious. Trust me. Get yourself to Aviateur French Diner for dinner. Escargot is on the appetizer menu. 1498 Pacific Ave., Tacoma; 253-573-9000; aviateurtacoma.com.

Go exploring

Take train to Seattle

Get the kids and catch the 8:10 a.m. Sounder train in Tacoma, and an hour later you are in Seattle. That gives the family a full day to explore downtown Seattle. Trains heading south start at 3:12 p.m. Adults fares are $4.75 and youth fares are $3.50. Beat the 50 cent price increase the next day. soundtransit.org.

See a cheap movie

If the weather makes an outdoor adventure less than desirable, go see a cheap movie. The AMC Gateway 8 theaters charge $2 for a matinee or $3 in the evening. Or check out the Blue Mouse Theater (bluemousetheatre.com). On Mondays, seats are $4.

Visit the Capitol

Not all learning happens in school. Free guided tours of the State Legislative Building are offered hourly from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday. Who knows, you might see our legislators in action. The tours begin at the Tour Information Desk on the second floor of the Legislative Building, just inside the main entrance doors. des.wa.gov.

Visit the islands

Just a short ferry ride away, Vashon and Maury islands feels a world away. Visit Point Robinson Lighthouse, walk among the shops in Vashons, grab a burger at Zombiez, play in a park. Get ferry info at wsdot.wa.gov/ferries.

Take Rover along

The family can have a play date with the dog. Check out Bandix Dog Park (kitsapdogparks.org) near the state Route 16 and Burley-Olalla Road interchange. The wooded 30-acre park has trails where the family dog can run and open spaces to chase balls.

Make it a State Park day

Check out some state parks you might not have visited yet. You can hit the trio of Flaming Geyser (home to a less-than-large flame), Nolte (home to Deep Lake) and Kanaskat-Palmer (on the upper Green River) state parks. You’ll need a Discover Pass to get it ($10 a day, $30 a year). parks.state.wa.us.

Fun in Federal Way

Start the day exploring West Hylebos Wetland Park, then hit the Federal Way Community Center leisure pool from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. It has a water slide, play structures and a lazy river. You can end the day with a picnic at Dash Point State Park. itallhappenshere.org/swim.html, parks.state.wa.us, visitfw.org.

This story was originally published February 24, 2016 at 9:21 AM with the headline "We have 29 ideas for you to enjoy Leap Day."