Seattle Attractions

Several years ago, after a grueling stretch of very hard work, I visited the fish ladder at the Ballard Locks. Watching the fish work their way up the steps was almost mesmerizing, and all the stress and strain of the previous several weeks drifted off, borne away with the simple pleasure of watching the fish swim. We were surrounded by kids just as happily watching the fish ladder -- and if you and your kids find you need some respite from too much full-on site-seeing, the locks and fish ladder are the ticket. Hours are 7 a.m. until 9 p.m. year round.

The 534-acre Discovery Park offers one of the best waterfront walks in any US city. With great views of the Olympic and Cascade Mountains, as well as the Puget Sound, the trails out to the point at Discovery Park are well-maintained and peppered on the way down (and back up, bring your walking shoes and stamina) to the driftwood-laden waterline that takes you out to the point proper. The park is open daily from 6 a.m. until 11 p.m.

Located at the foot of the Space Needle, the Experience Music Project and Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame is housed in a Frank Gehry building is said by locals to have been designed to replicate the look of an inner ear, although the building's official architecture info says nary a word about eardrums. Despite the always-changing exterior, some of your actual experience of the Experience Project may be a little more static than one might expect -- there are a lot of signed guitars, hand-written lyrics, and onstage outfits on display. That is, more artifacts that you look at and move along than "experience" in the way you would a rock concert.

It is notable, however, that the museum expanded its mission somewhat in 2004 to include Science Fiction as well as popular music, and even strays further a field as necessary; for example, this summer features an exhibition titled Jim Henson's Fantastic World (May 23 through August 16) focusing on everything Henson (which means mostly Muppets). So the little kids check out the Muppets, the bigger kids check out Nirvana, the older folks check out Hendrix, everyone is happy. Kids who can handle computers and instruments can also make music in the top-floor Sound Lab, which is probably more what you expected from the Experience Project -- very cool.

Museum and exhibition hours can vary by season; visit for up to date information. Admission is $15 for adults; $12 for seniors, students with ID, and youths ages 5 to 17; and free for children ages 4 and younger. Bonus points for having the monorail run right through the museum.

In the 40 or so years since big-time pro sports came to Seattle, the town has really become something of a sports town, with even folks who migrate to Seattle for work becoming committed Seahawks and Mariners fans. It's all done in a low-key, Pacific Northwest way, but they're serious and dedicated nonetheless. The city lost the Supersonics franchise to Oklahoma City, where the team plays as the Thunder; Seattle will sell you the rights to the Sonics if you're looking to buy a b-ball team, though. Women's basketball also has a decent presence in the Seattle Storm, and then there are the Huskies -- it sometimes seems like half of the people you meet in Seattle went to the UW, and they're Dawgs for life. Don't believe it? Have you ever heard of 100,000 people showing up for a rowing race? It happens every year at the Opening Day Regatta on the Montlake Cut.

Animatronic dinosaurs, a planetarium, two IMAX theaters, a Tropical Butterfly House, a Laser Done, and heaps of interactive exhibits spread over six acres make the Pacific Science Center one of the better places for kids to spend a long rainy afternoon -- or a sunny one at that. Prices are offered somewhat a la carte, with admission to the regular exhibits and IMAX movies available separate or as a combined ticket; full pricing information is available on their Web site.

Make sure you come early to see Pike Place's famous fish tossers at full strength, and be prepared to get involved; the wags behind the fish counter will toss a fish to Mom with little warning, or pull a string attached to a fish on display just as you are about to pick it up so it looks like it tried to jump into your hand, or make you shout your order at full throat just because they do too. Kids love the show – and it's free!

The Seattle Aquarium is modest in scale but ambitiously fun, with lots of creatures at arm's length that are extremely kid-friendly, including touching pools and special docent-led activities such as shaking hands with an octopus. Hours are 9:30 a.m. until 5 p.m. daily, with last entry at 5 p.m. and exhibits close at 6 p.m. Admission is $16 for adult ages 13 and older, $10.50 for kids ages 4 to 12, and free for children ages 3 and under.

With current exhibits such as " A Black-and-White World: The Art and Lessons of Chinese Rubbings" and a big upcoming Andrew Wyeth exhibit, The Seattle Art Museum does not seem a particularly kid-friendly museum at first glance, but the museum does have Family Fun tour, an Art Ladder that climbs up to a cartoon forest, and the Knudsen Family Room where kids can dress up in period clothing, beat on drums, and build sculpture from blocks. They also offer a child-specific audio tour. Adults are $15, students are $9, teens 13 to 17 are $9, and children 12 and under are free.

If skies are cloudy or the lines too long at the Space Needle, walk a few steps to the Seattle Children's Museum, which turns out to be the interactive experience the Experience Project might have been. Exhibits and installations are heavily biased toward the hands-on and playful, with a Construction Zone, Story Telling Circle, Mountain Forest, Cog City, and more offering kids plenty of opportunities to get down (and dirty, truth be told). Admission is $7.50 for adults and children, $6.50 for grandparents, $6.00 groups of 10 or more, and free for children under the age of one.

If you get a clear and sunny day, a trip to the top of the Space Needle isn't a bad outing at all, particularly if "the mountains are out," as the locals say. Don't expect to spend a lot of time on this one, though, as after one lap around the top of the needle, many kids are ready to get back on the down elevator. There can also be lines during peak season and on weekends, so time your outing well. Located in Seattle Center, you can't really miss it, as it is visible for miles around. Admission is $16 for adults, $9 for youths ages 4 to 13, free for kids 3 and under. Hours are Monday through Thursday 9:30 a.m. until 11 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays 9 a.m. until 11:30 p.m., and Sunday 9 a.m. until 11 p.m.

This award-winning, 92-acre zoo emphasizes biodiversity and replicating native habitats, with more than 1,090 individual animals representing nearly 300 species. The grounds are divided into what zookeepers call "bioclimatic zones, the unique habitats around the world, from tropical rain forests to the frigid climes of the Far North." As the zoo is laid out along winding paths, bring comfortable walking shoes, and plan a break during the outing, particularly for youngsters.

The zoo is open from 9:30 a.m. until 4 p.m. daily October 1 to April 30, and 9:30 a.m. until 6 p.m. daily May 1 to September 30. Admission is seasonal as well, with adult admission being $11 from October 1 through April 30 and $16.50 from May 1 through September 30. Children ages 3 to 12 are $8 from October 1 through April 30, $11 from May 1 through September 30; and children 2 and under are free. The zoo also has a Fridayz Happy Hourz discount of $4 off each ticket after 4 p.m. from May 1 through September 30.