• Fort Casey Washington
    Day Trips

    9 Awesome Seattle Day Trips with Kids

    Just because you’re between vacations doesn’t mean you have to stay home. These nine fun excursions get the family out of the house for the day. Whether you have one or two hours or an entire 12 hours to drive, play and explore, you’ll find a great escape below. Seattle to Whidbey Island Day Trip How long does it take to get to Whidbey Island? The Mukilteo ferry dock is about 35 miles north of Seattle, then there’s a half-hour sailing time to Clinton. Ferries run every half-hour on weekends and cost $24.85/RT for a family of four. Driving from Clinton to Fort Casey takes about 40 minutes. Things to…

  • Bellingham

    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,…

  • ferry boat and bikes in bellingham
    Bellingham

    Spotlight: Boats & Bikes in Bellingham

    Fairhaven, Wash., August 2009. I love looking at this photo on grey Northwest days. It reminds me that summer — my favorite time of year — is just around the corner. Summer means bike and boat season, endless daylight hours and sunsets that drip with color (instead of noses that drip with…well, you know). I cannot wait. Find more inspirational photos at Delicious Baby.

  • Family Interactive Gallery a fun thing to do with kids in Bellingham
    Bellingham

    20 Things to Do in Bellingham with Kids

    Recently, we went on a short jaunt to Bellingham, Wash., about 30 minutes south of the U.S.-Canadian border, and two hours north of Seattle. It’s a cute little college town with a thriving arts scene and fabulous food. Turn-of-the-century architecture lines downtown Bellingham’s streets, and the town is home to Washington’s oldest brick building (built in 1858). While many of us know Bellingham as a place to stop en route to Vancouver or Seattle, I think Bellingham deserves its own overnight stay or weekend getaway. Here’s my guide to family travel in Bellingham: 10 a.m. Whatcom Museum of History and Art The Whatcom Museum’s new Family Interactive Gallery took us…

  • mindport in bellingham with kids
    Bellingham

    Mindport Art in Bellingham with Kids

    Art galleries don’t usually welcome children with open arms. Or ask you to touch the art. But Mindport, in Bellingham, Wash., is a different sort of gallery. The wooden works inside are meant to be used by hands big and small. It’s an artistic explosion of science, music and movement. Rube Goldberg would love this gallery-museum-playspace. The light-filled entry gallery offers multiple workstations with awesomely odd contraptions, including a pneumatic ping-pong device that spins balls using forced air; a pun-riddled miniature train route; and a case with a hundred compasses — all controlled by the magnet in your child’s hand. The second gallery has subdued lighting and natural items to…