Washington State
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Hikes for Kids Near Downtown Seattle
When visiting Seattle, don’t miss the chance to scramble up a fewhiking  trails with the kids. The city limits yield plenty of hiking treasures, and if you’re in town for a few days and you’ve rented a car, spectacular scenery is within a 45-minute drive of the Seattle. This week, hiking expert Joan Burton tells visitors and locals where to hike in and around Seattle with kids.  Burton is the author of Urban Walks, 23 Walks through Seattle’s Parks and Neighborhoods, published by Thistle Press and Best Hikes With Kids: Western Washington & the Cascades, published by Mountaineers Books. Burton offers great information on kid-friendly hikes in our area. For even more tree-lined…
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Free Museums in Seattle and Tacoma with Kids
Updated for Summer 2013 Here’s a rundown of Seattle’s free museums. I’ve included my opinion on the ages that will get the most out of the experience. Every Friday Free Seattle Museum: Soundbridge at Benaroya Hall. 200 University St.,  Seattle; 206-336-6600. Pay-what-you-can every Friday from 10-4. Suggested donation $5-15/family. Best for children under age 6. First Thursday Free Seattle Museums: Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture. Free. 10 a.m.-8 p.m., University of Washington, NE 45th Street and 17th Avenue NE; 206-543-5590. Best for kids age 3 and up. Henry Art Gallery. “Pay as you wish†(or free) 11 a.m.-9 p.m. First Thursday, University of Washington, NE 45th Street and 17th Avenue NE.…
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Families Travel! Sharlet Goes to Orcas Island
In February 2010, Sharlet and her son Liam (9) went to Orcas Island with friend Marci and her three children: Issak (8), Sydney (5) and Will (6 months) Orcas Island is part of Washington State’s gorgeous San Juan Islands, a ferry ride and drive from either Seattle or Victoria, BC. The San Juan Islands usually show up on a Top 10 Islands list every year in a travel publication or site, and are a don’t-miss experience if you’re visiting Seattle. Â The three islands (Lopez, Orcas and San Juan) each offer various kid-friendly options, but Orcas is a nice pick if you want a balance between stuff to do and a…
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Seattle Spotlight: Pacific Science Center
“The dinosaurs! The dinosaurs!†That’s what my 4-year-old son demands, when I ask where he wants to go at the Pacific Science Center. And it’s true – dinos are the big draw at this six-acre science playground, only a Monorail-ride away from downtown Seattle. In the “Dinosaurs: A Journey Through Time” exhibit, robotic meat-eaters claw at a carcass, while a T. Rex towers over visitors. Screeches and cries fill the room, which can (at first) alarm very young kids. So encourage them to listen carefully – you’ll hear the soft whirring and clicks of these mechanical dinos. In one corner, you can even drive a dino skeleton: rotating the eyes,…
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Bellingham’s Fairhaven Toy Garden
This weekend I had the chance to stop by the Fairhaven Toy Garden in Bellingham, Washington. This 1,900-square foot shop encourages families to play with puppets, pick costumes and test out a toy car’s wheels. Anyone over age 10 can try their hand at needle-felting pocket-sized rabbits and sheep at the store’s Saturday workshops. Shelves of yarn and art supplies keep creative kids happy. A window-side table encourages families to sit and color with wax crayons and Lyra pencils. The Toy Garden’s Waldorf-inspired owners supply wooden building toys, colorful roving, moldable beeswax and other natural playthings. It’s a sweet little shop, and it’s within sightline of the Fairhaven Village Inn,…
