Seattle Chinatown >> Seattle Community News >> Family Friendly Attractions in Seattle
8/31/2007 Seattle- With breathtaking
views of Puget Sound and tons of hands-on activities,
Seattle, Washington is the
perfect vacation destination for families. Many of Seattle's most popular
downtown attractions are located within walking distance of each other, and the
city offers plenty to do both indoors and out. Here, travel experts at Smart
Destinations, creators of the Go Seattle Card, recommend their favorite
family-friendly places to visit. All of the
Seattle attractions offer free admission to
Go Seattle Card customers, so grab a latte and enjoy your trip to the Emerald
City!
1. The Space Needle is perhaps Seattle's most recognizable landmark and its
number one tourist destination. Take the elevator up 520 feet to the O Deck and
enjoy unrivaled 360 degrees views of Seattle and the surrounding area. It's the
perfect spot for a family photo, and kids can play on interactive trivia game
stations. Go Seattle Card users get in free before 5:30 pm, but visitors are
recommended to go before 11:00 am to avoid crowds later in the day.
2. Pacific Science Center offers over 300 interactive exhibits for visitors of
all ages. Learn about 3D movies and more in Adventures in 3Dimensions. Visit the
tropical butterfly house, which features several different species of
free-flying butterflies and tropical flowers. Play TV meteorologist, experiment
with water, and freeze your shadow in Kid Works. Free admission until 5:30 pm
for Go Seattle Card customers.
3. Wild Waves and Enchanted Village is the Northwest's biggest and most exciting
water park. Rides include the Konga River Tube Slides, a wave pool, raging
river, and zooma falls, a twisting, rafting rafting experience. Most rides have
a minimum height of 36" or 42", and Go Seattle Card users get in free before
5:30 pm. Park operates May to October.
4. Experience Music Project is the ideal way to spend a rainy day (or any day,
really). With more than 80,000 artifact documenting American music from Jimi
Hendrix to Janis Joplin to Johnny Cash, the EMP is the ultimate destination for
music fans young and old. Interactive exhibits let visitors jam on
closed-circuit TV, experiment with electric guitar riffs, learn to use sound
mixing software, and more. A special exhibit called Disney: The Music Behind the
Magic runs through September 9. Kids will marvel over the giant motorized guitar
sculpture that incorporates sounds from more than 500 musical instruments from
all over the world.
5. Safeco Field is home to the Seattle Mariner's baseball team. Sports
enthusiasts can tour this 19.59-acre ball park with real grass and a retractable
roof. Highlights on this one hour tour include seeing the press box, luxury
suites, field, dugout, and visitors' clubhouse. Be sure to bring your camera,
because photos are welcome! This tour is available on non-game days, and Go
Seattle Card-holders get in free.
6. Museum of Flight lets adventurous kids learn about planes and aviation in a
fun and informative environment. For a small additional fee, visitors can ride
in a flight simulator or take control of a plane in X-Pilot. Museum admission is
free on the first Thursday evening each month, but Go Seattle Card users get
free admission anytime.
7. Family Fun Center is open 365 days a year and features nine acres of
amusement park rides, games, a restaurant, and more on Seattle's Southside.
Family Fun Center's newest addition is the spine-tingling Screamin' Swing, which
launches riders 70 feet in the air at 65 mph! Looking for something a little
less extreme? Check out the climbing wall, batting cages, or bumper boats.
Admission is free, and Go Seattle Card-holders receive buy one, get one free on
the Screamin' Swing ride.
(Susan Johnston is currently the copywriter for Smart Destinations, a travel company headquartered in Boston, MA. Smart Destinations is the leading provider of multi-attraction passes and other products that make travel easier and more affordable)