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35 Free and Cheap Things to Do With Kids in Seattle
Visiting Seattle on a budget? No problem. Check out these 35 free and cheap family-friendly activities in Seattle: 1. Ride a bike on the Burke-Gilman Trail. 2. Run through the 9,000-gallon International Fountain. 3. Watch fish and boats navigate through the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks. 4. Cower under giant traffic cones and play hide-and-seek among the art at the Olympic Sculpture Park. 5. Ride the West Seattle Water Taxi to West Seattle. 6. Sample fruit and meet the Doughnut Robot at the Pike Place Market. 7. Pick the Fremont Troll’s nose and take a picture with Lenin in the Fremont neighborhood. 8. Check out the cheese-making process at Beecher’s Handmade Cheese.…
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Giveawayyyy! 7 places to see pirrrrates of the Pacific!
Arrr, mateys. If you’ll be travelin’ around our fair region, you’ll be wantin’ to meet some scallywags of the Pacific. We’ve got plenty o’ pirates, as we’ve got the balmy climate, easy access to shippin’ routes and dozens of islands fer storin’ loot. 1.Science World, Vancouver. On May 7, 2010, Vancouver’s Science World museum welcomes the Treasure! exhibit. As we all know, if there’s one thing a pirate loves, it’s a chest full of gold. Learn more about underwater treasure, modern treasure hunts and hidden treasure at this two-story science museum. And if ye don’t care for gold, diamonds and other valuables, Science World offers two floors of awesome exhibits…
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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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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,…
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Save Money with Museum Reciprocal Memberships
Here’s one way to slice the travel-entertainment budget — join your local science center. Pacific Northwest and B.C. families have three stellar museums in Portland, Seattle and Vancouver to choose from, and even out-of-town visitors can get in on the fun. If you’re a member of your local science museum — in the U.S. or Canada — check to see whether the museum is part of the ASTC Passport Program. Passport Program members receive free reciprocal admission to other ASTC museums. So if your family’s members of OMSI, you get into the Pacific Science Center for free. If you’re members of Science World, you get into OMSI for free. See? You’ll…
