Seattle/Olympia, WA area questions

[vonfirmath]

I'll have a newly turned 3-year old boy in the Seattle/Olympia area for 5 days in late August.

We are staying in Renton. What should I be looking into doing?

Is the Seattle Pacific Center appropriate for the age? Is the monorail up and running again? (I know there was an accident a while back)

[amldaley]

I moved away from Seattle 12 years ago (and 10 years before having a child), but I am planning a trip home with my 2 yo DD for this Fall. Here is a link that I have found helpful:

http://www.deliciousbaby.com/travel/usa/wa/seattle/

Hope you get some responses to your OP, I am curious, too! I will be staying north of Seattle with friends and family, but want to get downtown a bit.

Happy travels!!!

[larig]

I live in Seattle and have a 2 year old. (just a few in no particular order)

1. I'd recommend the Woodland Park Zoo, I'd like to go to Tacoma's zoo too (they have a walrus and DS loves walruses), but haven't.

2. The children's museum in Olympia is great--it's not much to look at, but the activities are GREAT. They have one of the coolest water tables I've ever seen, and a cool area for pretend play. I like Seattle's C.M. too, but I really think I like Oly's better.

3. Ditch your car and take a ferry ride. You can take the King County Water Taxi to West Seattle and hop a free shuttle to Alki Beach for low tide fun. The water is cold, but the tide pools are nice for wading. There's lots of places to eat along the beach. I like to eat pizza at Slices outside, or have burgers at the Pepperdock, or fish and chips at Spud.

ETA: this scratch patch looks cool. http://www.deliciousbaby.com/travel/usa/wa/seattle/listing/earths-minerals-scratch-patch/

[kijip]

The Science Center can be fun for a 3 year old for sure. They have a butterfly house and a kids play area and a circus exhibit right now.

The monorail runs from Seattle Center (where the Sci Center and the Space Needle are) to Downtown. It's not all that useful, but it's a fin little ride. Since you are staying in Renton, check out taking the lightrail train to Seattle. From there you can do a lot, and the water taxi is a lot of fun, as is Alki. I second the recommendation for Slices.

Other fun places with kids: Magnuson Park in Sand Point, Carkeek Park in North Seattle, Pioneer Square (a part of downtown) is nice to see this time of year especially and there's a fun toy store called Magic Mouse toys which is a good stop with a kid.

[vonfirmath]

I live in Seattle and have a 2 year old. (just a few in no particular order)

1. I'd recommend the Woodland Park Zoo, I'd like to go to Tacoma's zoo too (they have a walrus and DS loves walruses), but haven't.

2. The children's museum in Olympia is great--it's not much to look at, but the activities are GREAT. They have one of the coolest water tables I've ever seen, and a cool area for pretend play. I like Seattle's C.M. too, but I really think I like Oly's better.

3. Ditch your car and take a ferry ride. You can take the King County Water Taxi to West Seattle and hop a free shuttle to Alki Beach for low tide fun. The water is cold, but the tide pools are nice for wading. There's lots of places to eat along the beach. I like to eat pizza at Slices outside, or have burgers at the Pepperdock, or fish and chips at Spud.

ETA: this scratch patch looks cool. http://www.deliciousbaby.com/travel/usa/wa/seattle/listing/earths-minerals-scratch-patch/

Yes! I saw the scratch patch after posting this and it is on our "Definite Must Do" list now.

I'm thinking about a ferry -- my husband proposed to me on the Bremerton-Seattle ferry. But I'm not sure if I'd be too stressed trying to keep him away from the edges the whole way. The Water Taxi sounds like a nice compromise perhaps.

[larig]

Here is more info on the water taxi. (on this page there is a link to find the schedule for the shuttle if you want to go to the beach--route 775).
http://www.kingcounty.gov/transportation/kcdot/WaterTaxi/WestSeattleRoute.aspx

They have a new boat this year. Here are some details about the boat, so see if you'd feel comfortable on it.
http://westseattleblog.com/2010/01/meet-the-king-county-water-taxi-vessel-youll-ride-this-year
It's a short 10-15 minute ride.

You can get on not too far from the aquarium. (Our aquarium, in my opinion is just okay. I went there after having been to Chicago's Shedd and Chatanooga's, and it just doesn't compare to those.)

I hope you'll have a great time here. Seattle's a great place for kids.

AND, I totally want to go to the scratch patch!! Report back and tell us what you thought about it!! So exciting!

[sonnynyc]

thanks from me....plannin a trip to seattle for the fall so this will be handy!