Seattle is a very family-friendly place. You will not be without things to do here. Hot spots are the Space Needle, Pike Place Market, the aquarium or take a ride to Bainbridge Island on the ferry. There are also many places to shop including Pioneer Square for fine appearal, home goods, etc. Here you will find many fine art galleries also to browse through.
Restaurants
There are many restaurants to choose from in Seattle while visiting with your family from fine dining to casual places. Salty’s on Alki beach is a great place for some clam chowder or coconut prawns with beautiful views of Seattle from the dining room or outside patio area. Salty’s is most famous for its lavish (and crowded) brunch on Saturdays (9-1:30) and Sundays (9-2). The brunch showcases Seattle seafood, including shrimp, crab, and shucked-to-order oysters as well as buffet classics such as eggs benedict and made-to-order omelettes. As of January 2006, the price is $28.95 for adults, $20.95 for seniors, kids 5-9 for $11.95 and free for hungry tummies under four years of age. If you are staying at the Edgewater Hotel, Salty’s has a complimentary limo that will pick you up and take you to and from the restaurant which is a nice touch.
Attractions
A great place to take your kids is the Pacific Science Center. There are so many things to see and do, including many hands-on exhibits. See the special exhibits and films in the IMAX theater. There is always something fun going on.
A wonderful place for kids and the whole family Scratch Patch - Earth's Minerals This South African play place phenomenon now 1st of its kind in the USA !!!!!! The Scratch Patch is a fun family experience.
Sit among thousands of tumbled gemstones, buy a bag , treasure hunt for your favorite rocks and take home a bag of your own selection. It's a place where parents, grandparents, kids, teens and groups of friends can visit and each age group gets something different out of this magical experience. Great for family outings, birthday parties and field trips.
The EMP ( Experience Music Project)--An interactive music museum. A must see for anyone that loves rock ’n roll!
Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame - This innovative museum is right next to the EMP, and is a must for fans of classic science fiction.
Westlake Center and Pacific Place --Wonderful shopping areas in the heart of downtown.
Nordstrom--Visit the flagship store, across from Westlake Center.
REI--For outdoor enthusiasts, visit the flagship REI (Recreational Equipment Inc) store and enjoy the climbing wall.
Ballard Locks (Hiram Chittenden Locks)--Visit the fish ladder, the botanical gardens, and the shipping locks.
Museum of Flight--Visit the new Personal Courage Wing, enjoy a flight simulator, or tour the Air Force One. At Boeing Field, south of downtown.
Seattle Underground Tour--Tour the passageways beneath the city.
Ride The Duck Tour--Tour the city by land and water on an amphibious boat.
Pike Place Market -Visit the original Starbucks, watch the flying fish, have some fish packed on ice for your trip home, and check out the wares from local vendors.
Seattle Center Monorail--Ride the Monorail between Westlake Center and Seattle Center. Sometimes it is closed for repairs, but if it is running it is a fun ride. As of November 2005, the Monorail is closed for repairs, but it is due to reopen by summer 2006.
Safeco Field--Watch the Seattle Mariners play baseball in the beautiful stadium. The roof is retractable, so if it's raining you will stay dry. Take a tour of the stadium as well.
Qwest Field--Take in a Seattle Seahawks football game.
Woodland Park Zoo--Great fun for all ages! In the Phinney Ridge area north of downtown.
Boeing Factory and Future of Flight Museum - Newly opened museum located in Everett, north of Seattle.
Tips/Advice
The family on a budget should try the Go Seattle Card, a multi-attraction pass that gets you into 30 Seattle attractions for one low price. The Go Seattle Card comes loaded with free admission to the family attractions like Space Needle, Underground Tour, Experience Music Project, Wild Waves and Enchanted Village, Museum of Flight, Qwest Field Tour, Safeco Field Tour, Science Fiction Museum. Kids pricing is available, too (ages 3-12). Great for getting into some of the above attractions for less money and stress. Deals on food and shopping and trips to Mt. Rainer, too.
Off-Site Links:
ttp://www.saltys.com/
http://www.emplive.org/
http://www.sfhomeworld.org/
http://www.inballard.com/Webroot/lock...
http://www.museumofflight.org/Home.asp
http://www.undergroundtour.com/
http://www.ridetheducksofseattle.com/
http://www.pikeplacemarket.org/frames...
http://www.seattlemonorail.com/
http://seattle.mariners.mlb.com/NASAp...
http://www.qwestfield.com/tours.aspx?...
http://www.zoo.org/
http://www.futureofflight.org/
http://www.goseattlecard.com
http://www.goseattlecard.com/attracti...
http://www.goseattlecard.com/attracti...
http://www.goseattlecard.com/attracti...
http://www.scratchpatchusa.com/
