Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
serve families as long as you don't sit at the bar). Some places introduce a no-kids
policy after 10pm.
Pike Place Market has the widest selection of cheap, immediately available food and
is a fun place to hang out and eat. You'll struggle to find anyone (kid or adult) who
doesn't fall instantly in love with the mac 'n' cheese cartons sold at Beecher's Hand-
made Cheese (
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)
or the flaky pastries rolled before your eyes at Piroshky
Piroshky (
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)
. Elsewhere, Pie (
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)
in Fremont cooks up some excellent
crusty fare, and Belltown's La Vita é Bella (
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) is a traditional family-friendly
Italian trattoria. Every youthful visitor to Seattle should be allowed at least one 'treat'
from Top Pot Hand-Forged Doughnuts (
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)
- preferably for breakfast. Ivar's
Acres of Clams (
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)
makes a good post-aquarium fish-and-chips lunch. Watch
out for the hungry seagulls!
Seattle Center
The Seattle Center has the most concentrated stash of kid-friendly activities including
the professional Seattle Children's Theater (
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)
and the Children's Museum
(
Click here
;
better for the under 10s). In the summer, balloon-twisters, singers and dan-
cers entertain the crowds alfresco.
Aside from the interesting and educational permanent displays, the Pacific Science
Center (
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)
has some excellent touring exhibits. Recent showings have in-
cluded Harry Potter movie memorabilia and King Tutankhamen's jewels. In the EMP
Museum (
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)
you could fill an afternoon in the Sound Lab, where adults and
kids can requisition drum kits, guitars and keyboards, and even form their own band for
the special 'On Stage' feature. The elevator ride in the Space Needle (
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)
is an
adventure and there are plenty of things to press at the top.
Outdoor Activities
Discovery Park
There are sometimes organized nature walks in the park; check schedules at the Envir-
onmental Learning Center. Otherwise this giant green space has a kids play area, won-
derful beachcombing opportunities and several miles of safe trails. (
Click here
)
