Travel Tips

If you are planning to visit Seattle Washington any time in the near future I hope you are either bringing along your children, or the child in you at the very least. Why you ask? Well, the answer to that is simple, because there are so many fun things for children to do in Seattle.

In addition to the many parks spread throughout the city, and by that, I mean that Seattle has several extraordinary parks. Among those great parks are: Alki Playfield, Cal Anderson Park (which boasts a wading pool and a gigantic chess set), Cascade Playground (which features free music Fridays from noon until 2:00), Discovery Park, and Woodland Park. But parks and playgrounds are just a start. Seattle really has so much more to offer than just this.

There is the Children’s Repertory Theatre, which offers plays and musicals that are sure to delight children of all ages. In addition to the theatre, Seattle has an excellent Children’s Museum. For hands on learning, there is the Pacific Science Center and to aid in a healthy respect and appreciation of musical arts, there is the Experience Music Project.

If you have a child or are a child that wants to grow up and touch the stars, the Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame might be in order. And there’s always Gameworks’ for the child in all of us that has never outgrown playing video games. For little boys that may never grow up there is the Northwest Railway Museum and the Boeing Tour that shows how these huge planes is made. There is also the Museum of Flight, which consistently ranks as one of the top museums in this category worldwide.

If your child is a lover of animals, there is so much to do and see in and around Seattle that it is difficult to know where to begin. I’ll start with Wolf Haven, which offers daily tours that last about an hour and provide visitors an opportunity to observe these magnificent animals in a natural surrounding. Next, there is Northwest Trek, which allows guests to take a tram ride through their park for the purpose of observing several animals in a natural environment. One of my favorites is Cougar Mountain Park, which is really a one of a kind experience for any animal lover. This park takes animals that are endangered and shelters them while providing education and enlightenment about the plight of these animals and the effect they have on the ecosystem.

In addition to these animal havens, there is Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium, the Seattle Aquarium, and Woodland Park Zoo. Each of these is more common as far as zoos and/or aquariums go but offer the opportunity to view animals just the same. Also, there is my personal favorite Seattle activity, whale watching. You can either charter a boat or take your child out to Lime Kiln Point State Park to look for these magnificent creatures. Either way, this activity will probably be the highlight of your trip for your child, especially if you happen to see one of these beauties.

If that isn’t enough, Seattle is the host city for several professional sports teams. If you or your inner child loves sports, then this is the city to visit. Almost every major sport is represented. There are the Sonics, the Storm, The Mariners, The Seahawks, and the Thunderbirds. The Thunderbirds are a Western Hockey League team but a professional team just the same and you really don’t want to get me started on the NHL for now, that would take days of writing.

At any rate, it would be really wonderful to me, if I could see Seattle just once through the eyes of a child. The closest thing I can hope for is to see it through the eyes of my children and hope that they develop the same respect and appreciation for this great city that I have.

Visiting Seattle Washington is like walking into a refreshing spring rain. Well, it is about half of the year at any rate. The climate here is great for being outdoors as long as you don’t mind getting a little wet. My recommendation is not to even bother with an umbrella, wear comfortable waterproof shoes, and hide your hair beneath a funky hat of some sort that will handle getting a little wet.

Whatever you do, don’t let the rain spoil your good time. Rain is a fact of life in Seattle and most of the locals are quite accustomed to it. If it really does bother you, you may wish to plan an alternate indoor activity for every outdoor activity you are considering. The good news is that there are plenty of both to choose from so you really shouldn’t ever run out of things to do while on vacation here.

If all else fails, there is plenty of great shopping in and around Seattle that will get you off the streets and into the stores. While I love shopping, unless we are talking small local stores, I can do that for the most part at home. I love visiting the local shops and galleries and buying pieces of pottery or art by local artists, other than that, I have shopping malls and chain stores at home and have rarely found something new and rare at one of these stores that I couldn’t have found at home or online. But some of us are addicted to shopping in any form and really; there is no shame in that. I have a serious weakness for shoes so I can completely relate on some level.

Other than shopping the local shops and stores, there are a few other indoor activities I recommend checking out. First of all there is the Experience Music Project, The Seattle Children’s Museum (surprisingly fun for all ages), the Pacific Science Center, the Spirit of Washington Dinner train, Redhook Brewery tours, SeaBear Smokehouse tours, and a ride up the Space Needle which is a must for any trip to Seattle (I suggest getting dinner elsewhere and simply taking the ride up if cost might be a factor).

In addition to these you can take the Boeing tour and see how these huge planes are made or trek to the Museum of Flight, which consistently ranks among the top museums of this type in the country. You can take in a movie at the IMAX Theater or enjoy the Seattle Aquarium, which will allow you to take a different point of view on the things that live in Puget Sound.

If food is something that interests you, there is plenty of great food to be had throughout the Seattle area, but nowhere offers the selection that can be found at Center House in Seattle Center. While you are there, be sure to check out the Northwest Craft Center Gallery for a nice selection of Native American and other artistry. Other great places for food and dining are the Pike Place Market where you can watch your meal prepared right before your very eyes. You can also elect to take a class or two in gourmet cooking through PCC Cooks if this is a skill you’d like to bring home with you.

As I’ve said, there are plenty of things to do indoors in Seattle if you need alternatives to those rainy day blahs. Of course, you could always make the best of the situation and try singing in the rain during one of the many outdoor activities that abound in this truly unique American city. Only you can decide best how to handle your trip and the weather that may intrude. But a vacation is supposed to be fun so it is best to have a backup plan that you find agreeable rather than spending precious vacation moments grumbling about the weather.