106. Earth’S Minerals Scratch Patch
City: Seattle, WA
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (206) 523-6164
Address: 6410 Latona Ave. NE (North)
Description: Visualize a cozy European-style indoor play center, combined with the earth-digging scratch patches that are common in South Africa, and you have Earth’s Minerals. Here, two small rooms are covered 3 inches deep with more than two tons of tumbled gemstones from all over the world, where kids can go treasure hunting. Using a mineral and rock guide provided by Earth’s Minerals, children play and dig through the rocks to identify different stones. It’s a fun and low-key activity, and the kids can fill up a bag of stones to take with them. Open Fri through Mon.
107. Green Lake Park
City: Seattle, WA
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (206) 684-4075
Address: 7201 E. Green Lake Dr. North (North)
Description: Possibly Seattle’s most beloved park, Green Lake is huge and offers plenty to do. Miles of paths for walking, jogging, in-line skating, and bike riding surround the lake, and there is a very large children’s playground. For swimming, a beach with lifeguards as well as an indoor pool give year-round accessibility, and a large wading pool for small children is at the north end of the park. Tennis courts, sports fields, boat rentals, and fishing docks round out the recreational opportunities. Free (except for equipment rental).
108. International Children’S Park
City: Seattle, WA
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (206) 684-4075
Address: 700 S. Lane St. (Central)
Description: Located in the fun and fascinating International District, this park is also known locally as the “dragon park” due to the landmark dragon sculpture that children can climb on. The center of the park is a yin-yang symbol formed from grass and sand. Elderly residents of the I.D. also frequent this park as a quiet refuge to stroll or sit. A grassroots movement has been working over several years to improve and update the park, and significant funding in 2010 has been dedicated to this. The park makes a nice starting or ending point for a family day in the I.D., which provides a lot of interesting sightseeing, eating, and shopping for all ages. Free.
109. Neototems Children’S Garden
City: Seattle, WA
Category: Tours & Attractions
Description: This sweet garden was designed by Gloria Bornstein and features sculptures of whimsical sea creatures set amid rocks and native plants. The inspiration for the garden was the Native American legend of whales swimming underground. A maze of paths leads throughout the landscaped gardens, to create a place of discovery. The whale’s tail fountain is a favorite among kids. Free.
110. Seattle Center Skatepark
City: Seattle, WA
Category: Tours & Attractions
Address: 305 Harrison St. (Central)
Description: Completed in 2009, the skate park at Seattle Center features a surface area of 10,000 square feet, with a flowing street plaza, ledges, stairs, transitions, and state-of-the-art skating elements for all skill levels and abilities. There are even skateable sculptures and structural glass riding surfaces. Sea Sk8, as it’s known to locals, is open daily during daylight hours. Free.
City: Seattle, WA
Category: Tours & Attractions
Address: 1702 Alki Ave. SW (South)
112. Madison Park Beach
City: Seattle, WA
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (206) 684-4075
Description: One of Seattle’s most popular swimming beaches, Madison Park has a large grassy area for sunbathing and picnicking, with beautiful Lake Washington opening wide and blue before you. There is a designated swimming area in the lake with floating raft, diving board, and lifeguards, as well as a play area on land. Parking, water fountains, and public restrooms are available. Open from late June through Labor Day weekend. Free.
113. Seattle Parks & Recreation Pools
City: Seattle, WA
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: 206-684-4075
Description: The City of Seattle operates a number of swimming pools situated in all neighborhoods and locations, including eight indoor pools and 30 wading pools. The two most highly recommended pools for kids five and up are Colman Pool (8603 Fauntleroy Way SW), an amazing heated saltwater pool located in a great beach setting that features a giant tube slide. The Pop Mounger Pool (2535 32nd Ave. West) has a big pool with a 50-foot corkscrew slide, and a little pool that is warmer and shallower, for small children. Admission fees are nominal, $4 for adults and less than $3 for kids. Lockers and family changing rooms are available, and admittance fees must be paid for everyone entering, whether they are swimming or not.
114. Children’S Film Festival Seattle
City: Seattle, WA
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (206) 329-2629
Address: 1515 12th Ave. (Central)
Description: The largest children’s film festival in the Pacific Northwest, CFFS is a 10-day extravaganza of films from more than 25 countries. Held in Jan, programs include feature films, shorts, animation, historical films, live performances, and fantastic hands-on workshops for tomorrow’s filmmakers. The festival is really crafted with all ages of children in mind, with gentle programs for the youngest and chills and adventures for the older kids. Sponsored by the Northwest Film Forum.
115. Family 4Th At Lake Union
City: Seattle, WA
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (206) 281-7788
Description: Crowds gather on the grassy hill of Gasworks Park and in boats on the waters of Lake Union for this family-friendly “Celebration for the People, by the People,” and to ooh and ahh over one of the most spectacular fireworks displays. The event kicks off at noon with family activities, entertainment, and food vendors. The Playfield offers free kids’ activities such as kite making, face painting, climbing walls, a giant inflatable slide, an obstacle course, and a bungee trampoline platform. There is also a KidSafe program providing free numbered wristbands upon registration, to expedite reuniting lost children with their parents. Free.
116. Pax
City: Seattle, WA
Category: Tours & Attractions
Address: 800 Convention Place (Central)
Description: PAX, the Penny Arcade Expo, is a three-day gaming festival of tabletop, video, and computer games. Over the three days in Sept, a variety of exhibitions, tournaments, free-play areas, and panel discussions fills the exhibit halls. Single-day and full festival passes are available, and children age six and under are free with a paying adult. On Fri and Sat night the festival winds down with a concert.
117. Seattle International Children’S Festival
City: Seattle, WA
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (206) 684-7338
Address: 158 Thomas St. #26 (Central)
Description: If you are planning to visit Seattle in mid-May, don’t miss this huge and exciting festival for children. SICF is one of the only major cultural events focused on young audiences in the Pacific Northwest, with more than 35,000 attendees annually. Its innovative programming was called “one of the most far-reaching arts festivals for young people in the country” by the New York Times. The highlight of the five-day festival is the performance calendar, from music and dancing to circus acts, comedy routines, and puppeteering. A variety of activities is also offered including kite- and button-making, origami, drawing, learning to skateboard, interactive games, hula hooping, face painting, and more.
118. Umojafest Children’S Day
City: Seattle, WA
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (877) 505-6306
Description: This African Heritage Festival & Parade spans three days in late July/early Aug, and dedicates one as a Children’s Day. Recognizing and celebrating children and youth in the community, the free Children’s Day features fun and educational activities including arts and crafts, drum, dance, storytelling, face painting, martial arts demonstrations, interactive exhibits, an art showcase, and a talent showcase. Free books and school supplies are also given out.
119. Whirligig!
City: Seattle, WA
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (206) 684-7200
Description: Seattle Center Whirligig! is an annual phenomenon of fun for kids. This wacky world of child-size action transforms Center House into a vibrant House of Bounce for two weeks during spring break, in late Mar to early Apr. Whirligig! offers amusement aplenty for all preteen ages; kids can glide, slide, and ride on super-cool, super-size inflatable rides. Eye-popping colors, roaming clowns, face painters, and free entertainment add to the mix of nonstop fun. A special Toddler Zone is also available, and free art-making workshops are offered. Whirligig! is open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day while it runs; an all-day pass is $7.50 and single ride tickets are $1.50—but if you come on Thurs, kids ride free all day. It is, of course, also much more crowded than other days.
120. Winterfest At Seattle Center
City: Seattle, WA
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (206) 684-7200
Address: 305 Harrison St. (Central)
Description: During the entire month of Dec, Seattle Center is aglow and abuzz with winter holiday festivities. Kids will love the ice-skating rink, winter train and village, ice sculpting, and the many visits by Santa Claus throughout the month. Most activities are free; admission charges apply for ice-skating and theater/dance performances.