Your guide to activities and fun things to do with your preschoolers, toddlers and kids in seattle, WA

Five Ways to Get the Travel Bug.

by Bethany Dunn

June 02, 2009

The end of school often means the beginning of the travel season. The current state of our economy may mean that many of us will be enjoying another year of "staycations". You and your preschooler can still get the travel bug, while hitting up these local travel inspirations - whether it be by air, land or sea!

The first segment of the Seattle Link Light Rail project is scheduled to open in July. Pack your backpacks, pay your fair, and get on the rail at the Downtown Seattle Transit Tunnel. You can head south to venture to another travel-themed destination...

...The Sea-Tac Airport! You can watch planes take off and land and talk about all the places you want to go and have been.

No talk of airplanes would be complete without a visit to the Museum of Flight. You can check out planes up close, sit in cockpits and enjoy the Kid's Flight Zone. (PSSST. Wells Fargo Bank hosts Free First Thurdays every month from 5pm to 9pm.)

Water travel more appealing? Did you know that the Washington State Ferries System has the distinction of being home to the largest fleet of passenger and vehicles ferries in the United States and the third largest in the world? You can plan just an afternoon trip toBainbridge Island or a whole day to Canada.

You can always enjoy a Seattle park tradition - have lunch at Freeway Park! Listen to the cars and trucks below and splash in the fountain's water. Perfect for a summer day!  Read more...

Cheap Seattle date nights

by Angie McDonald

April 26, 2009

No April Fools Here!

by Bethany Dunn

April 02, 2009

It's sort of tradition to have cruddy weather during Spring Break in Seattle; and this week has been no exception. My son and I traveled to Idaho to visit family and were greeted by five fresh inches of snow once we arrived. On Wednesday, we ventured back over the snowy Cascade Mountains and were greeted by snow falling in the greater Seattle area.

Ah, April Fool's Day. But, no, REALLY, it happened.

Welcome to Spring in Seattle.

The weather may not be cooperating, but there is still plenty to do now that Spring has sprung (at least on the calendar).

Have a love of alpacas? Head over to the Puyallup Fair Grounds for ALPACAPALOOZA! This free event will feature live alpacas in competitions, demonstrations and more. All day Saturday and Sunday.

It's April - which means it's time for the annual Skagit Valley Tulip Festival. Other than all the gorgeous tulips to view, there are a lot of family friendly events and activities to enjoy. 

Have a Tuesday music break at the Mercer Island Public Library for Songfest! Your preschooler can dance and sing away their morning energy with performer Patrick Doherty.

And, don't forget, Whirligig at Seattle Center runs through April 12!  Read more...

Spring Break!

by Bethany Dunn

March 26, 2009

Next week is Spring Break for the Seattle School District and many of the other local school districts (including the one my kindergartner attends). My son and I will be hitting the road to visit family in Idaho (and, yes, I have Angie's recent post on traveling with kids bookmarked so I can use all her tips!).

Since this is our family's first experience of Spring Break as parents of school-aged children combined with the fact that my daughter's preschool doesn't take a week off, our expectations (especially for the kids) are especially low. But yours don't have to be! If you are not headed out of town to warmer weather (I'm jealous), there are still plenty of activities around town to keep your crew entertained.

Visit the Pacific Science Center to enjoy their annual Spring Fling from April 1-5. Included in the price of admission are visits from special animal guests, nature activities and even pony rides!

Want to keep learning? Then head to the Bellevue Arts Museum for FREE on Friday as part of their First Free Friday promotion.

Spring Break in Seattle means its Whirligig time! Just what is Whirligig? Well, it's a "wacky world of child size action"! The Center House is transformed with bouncy houses, slides and much more. There are also roaming clowns, face painting, and free entertainment. It runs for two weeks from March 27 through April 12. Want to miss the crowds? Plan on attending on a Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday.

Have a great Spring Break and stay safe!  Read more...

Experiencing Spring in Seattle.

by Bethany Dunn

March 17, 2009

The snow this weekend was pretty darn incredible. My family and I live in the "Puget Sound convergence zone" so our weather is sort of its own micro-climate - often experiencing what I consider strange weather events. And this Sunday was no different - somehow, snowflakes combined as they were falling from the sky to create these sort of massive "super" snowflakes. There were some snowflakes that were - NO JOKE - the size of small salad plates.

But we soldier on into spring. By my calender, the first day of spring is only 4 days away (March 21). Here's some great ways to enjoy spring in Seattle! (But don't forget your umbrella!)

Spring in Seattle is a great time to get geared up for summer by learning to swim - our very own Angie helps us decide if our preschooler would benefit from private swim lessons.

While Washington, DC has their famous Cherry Blossom Festival, we have our own for you to enjoy: the Seattle Cherry Blossom & Japanese Cultural Festival which is held in April. Other than the festival, great spots to enjoy the cherry blossoms include in the Quad on the University of Washington Campus or along the walkway on Lake Washington Boulevard. Breathtaking.

Get ready for baseball reason (and the return of Junior!!) by scheduling a Safeco Field Tour.

Plan a trip up to Skagit Valley to the annual Tulip Festival. The acres and acres AND ACRES of the tulips are a sight to see; but there are lots of family activities to enjoy, too.

Pack a picnic and enjoy your local park. It may have been MONTHS since you've made this trip - but the days should dry out soon, so make your first trip back special by packing your lunch and inviting some friends to join you.  Read more...

Not Too Far: Bellingham.

by Bethany Dunn

February 23, 2009

Some days, even though Seattle has so much to offer your family, you're just itching to get out of town and experience SOMETHING ELSE, SOMEWHERE ELSE. But where to go?

Before 2005, I only knew of Bellingham as home to the one of Washington's state colleges, Western Washington University, AND a great Starbucks stop on the way to Vancouver BC. (PS. My favorite is right off the freeway at theHaggens store, just as you are arriving into town.) In the summer of 2005, just weeks after the birth of my second child (now a preschooler), my parents moved back to the Pacific Northwest after eight years living in the deep south. After a few months in Everett, they settled in lovelyBellingham. Since that time, my family and I have discovered all that Bellingham has to offer parents of young children (HINT: SO MUCH). And, while Bellingham can seem very far from Seattle, it's just 90 minutes away.

Here's some of my favorite things about Bellingham for families.

Fairhaven is a wonderful old section of Bellingham located on the south side of the city. It's home to the Fairhaven Toy Garden, which is the most adorable educational and earthy toy store you'll ever find. A great spot to pick out a special toy, or just spend a half hour or so out of the rain enjoying all their toy displays.Fairhaven is also a great place to find lunch or dinner, with many locally owned establishments to choose from. 

Another great spot for kids is the Whatcom Children's Museum, which is currently in transition. It closed at the end of 2008, but its children's elements can currently be found at the ARCO Exhibits Building (at 206 Prospect Street). In 2009, the Museum will evolve into an all-ages interactive gallery. Can wait to see what the heck that means!!

We haven't been here yet, but the Birch Bay Waterslides will definitely be on our agenda for summer 2009. Birch Bay itself is also a great place to beach combing. Speaking of water, Bellingham is also home to many spray parks, our favorite located at Cornwall Park (also home to play equipment and family-friendly nature walks).

So, next time you need to get out of town, drive north. You'll be delighted; I promise.  Read more...

History Lesson: Tacoma's Union Station.

by Bethany Dunn

February 17, 2009

Programming note: yes, today is Tuesday, meaning it's traditionally list day at Savvy Source. Today's topic is clocks and time telling, and I wrote and post EXACTLY on this topic back in October 2008. Go take a look. Lucky for you, that means a BONUS post.

Tacoma's Union Station is a easily identifiable landmark on Pacific Avenue in the heart of the down town core. As you've probably figured out by "Union Station" in building's description, it was constructed as a train station. Tacoma, as the "City of Destiny", was designated as the Western terminus of the northern route the Northern Pacific Railroad's transcontinental railroad. Construction commenced in the early 1880s and was complete by 1883.

The station had an immediate effect on the greater Tacoma area, as the population exponentially increased from just under 2,000 in 1873 to over 35,000 by 1890. The site of the Tacoma station was expanded and moved to its current location in 1892. By the turn of the century the community had its sights set on a larger and more grand station to reflect Tacoma's status in the west.

Construction on the current station began in 1909 and was completed just two years later. The design and construction was universally lauded by the public. However, the trains that created the beautiful building would eventually cause its demise. Railway ridership came to a peak in the 1930s and again during the second world war, then the introduction of the automobile was the ultimate crush to rail a the major form of passenger transportation in the United States.

The national passenger rail service merged into Amtrak in 1971, and with further passenger decline, the last passenger train left Tacoma's Union Station in June 1984. The building was abandoned and fell into disrepair. However, just three years later Congress authorized a lease for Union Station to provide space for federal courts. The building underwent a three year renovation and a three story addition.

Today, Tacoma's Union Station is home to federal courtrooms and its renovation was central to the revitalization of Tacoma in the 1990s. You can stop by to sneak a peak at the gorgeous rotunda and Chihuly art pieces - it's located right on the free Tacoma Link line!  Read more...

What to do on MLK, Jr Day in Seattle.

by Bethany Dunn

January 16, 2009

With the off from school and (hopefully) work, you may be looking for something to do on Monday for the Martin Luther King, Jr Holiday. While a day off is a lovely time to spend with our family, let's not forget the reason behind it. The Martin Luther King, Jr Day is only the third federal holiday that commemorates a singular person. We celebrate it each year on the third Monday of January  Read more...

Things you must do with your children in Seattle before they grow up: Volume 8.

by Bethany Dunn

January 09, 2009

Going through our archives; it appears it's been quite awhile since we've added to our "things you must do with your preschooler in Seattle before they grow up". Uh, September to be exact ! We have had such a fun and active (and SNOWY) fall and winter, our daily posts have been consumed with current events. Time to play a little catch up - here's 36-40! 36. Ride the carousel at the  Read more...

Holiday fun for the weekend ahead.

by Bethany Dunn

December 05, 2008

The holidays are in full swing...do you even NEED more activities to fill your weekend? If you do - here's the funnest stuff out there. As part of their Little Maestro Series , the Bellevue Philharmonic Orchestra presents a Holiday Hooray with Lisa & Linda . Be prepared to sing and dance along! (Saturday only.) Mountlake Terrace Elementary School is hosting a Holiday Bazaar . You can get  Read more...

Five classic Seattle holiday activities.

by Bethany Dunn

December 02, 2008

Welcome to December! The holidays have officially begun! There is so very much to see and do this month in Seattle (with many more activities to be highlighted in the upcoming days), so I wanted to give you the top five classic Seattle holiday opportunities to get you in the holiday mood. Still need your Christmas tree (I know we do!)? There's still time to enjoy the classic tree "hunting"  Read more...

Park Review: Olympic Sculpture Park.

by Bethany Dunn

November 25, 2008

The nine-acre Olympic Sculpture Park is located off Pier 70 in downtown Seattle and opened in January 2007. The creation of the park, which is certainly unique within the United State, was the brainchild of Mimi Gardner Gates (the Seattle Art Museum Director) and MarthaWyckoff (trustee of the Trust for Public Lands). While the park opened with hoopla and celebrations, I was reluctant to  Read more...

Seattle mall play areas: the inside story.

by Bethany Dunn

November 12, 2008

The weather has taken an official turn for the worse, with rain expected for the rest of the week. So, we all need a safe, dry place for our preschoolers to run off their energy. Our local malls have a great alternative to playground equipment, and they are all ready for your crew to enjoy. Here's Seattle mall hightlights! Alderwood Mall. My local mall (a little too close if you ask my  Read more...

Park Spotlight: Carkeek Park.

by Bethany Dunn

November 05, 2008

Located in the Broadview Neighborhood of Seattle, Carkeek Park is 216 park that is home to play and picnic areas, hiking trails, orchards, creeks and more. Want more from your park? Enjoy expansive views of mountains and water. Hit the beach. Ready to run? Run to your heart's content in this park's vast fields. Discover access to a salmon creek. Go on a wetlands walk. Cross  Read more...

Telling time, Seattle style.

by Bethany Dunn

October 22, 2008

In a digital world, where our children see digital times listed on everything from the DVD player to the car stereo, learning to tell time has lost it's cultural importance. During my early years, it was a rite of passage to be able to read the time on the clock in my family's kitchen. Once my son learned his numbers (in preschool), it was only a few short months until he figured out what  Read more...

This weekend guide practically wrote itself.

by Bethany Dunn

October 16, 2008

I was under the delusional belief that as the summer moved into fall and the weather cooled and the rain returned; my Thursday "weekend round-up" posts would become increasingly difficult to write. This has not turned out to be the case. AT ALL. Each week I discover more and more interesting events, festivals and workshops. And the roster of events for the upcoming weekend just further  Read more...

The first REAL autumn weekend in Seattle.

by Bethany Dunn

September 25, 2008

The official start of fall, the autumn equinox, took place a few days ago on September 20. Now that the rain has arrived, there is no denying that the season has changed and we now must say goodbye to summer. But, we don't have to say goodbye to fun family weekend activities (THANK GOODNESS). And the really good news is that the weather should be looking up just in time for the weekend.  Read more...

History Lesson: The Space Needle.

by Bethany Dunn

September 24, 2008

Seattle is known for a few things: rain, Frasier and the Space Needle. The two former icons are probably of little interest to your preschooler (well, apart from the puddles), and the latter is one that most can probably point out on your trips through the city of Seattle. So, just where did it COME from? The short story is this: the story of the Space Needle is the story of the Seattle Center,  Read more...

Seattle loses part of its childhood.

by Bethany Dunn

September 15, 2008

I was lucky to have visited Seattle's only remaining children's bookstore, All for Kids Books and Music, a handful of time over the past few years. The bookstore had a rich history of survival, even after the Barnes and Noble moved in near the shop at University Village. It relocated to a larger more visible location where it kept providing insights into the best children's literature  Read more...

The five best spots to meet new friends, old friends, and everyone in between.

by Bethany Dunn

September 09, 2008

Finding the perfect spot to hang out with your friends and their preschoolers can be tough. There needs to be something to entertain the kiddos AND the adults. Here's the best of the best: Seattle Center. This classic Seattle attraction has many preschooler-friendly venues - perfect for a long or short outing. You can enjoy the Fun Forest amusement area, go to the top of  Read more...

Things you must do with your children in Seattle before they grow up: Volume 6.

by Bethany Dunn

August 28, 2008

Remember the Mt. Saint Helens eruption? Enjoy Washington grown apples? Then this volume of "Things to do with your preschooler before they grow up" is for you. Get ready for numbers 26-30. 26. Witness living history at Mt. Saint Helens . I witnessed the 1980 eruption siting on the roof of my uncle's house in Portland. The visitor's center at Mt. Saint Helens still sends shivers up my  Read more...

The five best ways to cool off in Seattle.

by Bethany Dunn

August 26, 2008

It's been pretty cool (and weird , apparently) here in Seattle the past few days, but the weather should be improving for the long holiday weekend. We may still have some hot and steamy days ahead of us before summer ends. And it's best to be prepared. Here's the five best ways to cool down in Seattle for you and your preschooler. Head to a spray park. Seattle is home to many  Read more...

History Lesson: Commencement Bay.

by Bethany Dunn

August 11, 2008

Puget Sound is home to several bays along the waterfront - one of the most impressive is Commencement Bay, located in Tacoma. According to Wikipedia , "a line drawn from Point Defiance in the southwest to Browns Point in the northeast serves to mark the generally accepted division between the bay and the open sound." Today, the bay is one of the busiest commercial ports in the world, with  Read more...

Gearing up for another summer weekend.

by Bethany Dunn

August 01, 2008

No worries, friends, Thursday's rain was just a minor blip on our screen as we look forward to the weekend. (Okay, okay, there's a small chance of rain on Friday, but I'll believe it when I see it.) I even took my own advice and let the kids splash away in the afternoon rain puddles. Got plans for the weekend? Here are some events to help fill your calendar. Judkins Park in Seattle will be  Read more...

We all scream for ice cream!

by Bethany Dunn

July 25, 2008

It's the perfect time of year to venture out as a family on a warm summer evening and enjoy a few scoops of ice cream. Lucky for all us Seattle-ites; there are many places to experience the joy that is the perfect scoop of ice cream (or gelato!). If you're into classic ice cream taste, a good choice is always Cold Stone Creamery , with locations throughout the Puget Sound. There is  Read more...

Hitting it out of the park (Safeco Field, that is) with your preschooler.

by Bethany Dunn

July 16, 2008

Now that you know the grand history of Safeco Field , let's get down to the business at hand: how to make the most of your visit to Safeco Field with your preschooler. My husband and I have been to the field a handful of times with our kids; this includes the time he took 9-month-old Bubba just long enough to get the Ichiro bobblehead , then came back outside to hand him over to me to  Read more...

Things you must do with your children in Seattle before they grow up, Vol. 3.

by Bethany Dunn

July 14, 2008

Our journey to develop a list of the 100 things you must do with your children in Seattle before they grow up continues here with 11-15. In volumes 1 and 2 , we covered everything from the Fremont Troll to the Daffodil Parade. What fun will greet you in this edition? Take a look: 11. See a Mariner's game first hand. They might not be in the run for the pennant this year, but Safeco Field has  Read more...

Three Days In and Around Seattle: Day 3, the Southern Tour.

by Bethany Dunn

July 10, 2008

We're now at the third and final day of our "Three Days In and Around Seattle" series. We explored the best of urban Seattle on Tuesday, and yesterday we ventured west to the beaches and beauty of the Kitsap Peninsula . But for the third day on our tour, I'm going to let my personal opinions influence my recommendation (wait, isn't that what I'm here for?). As you may have read in my Savvy  Read more...

Three Days In and Around Seattle: Day 1, Urban Seattle.

by Bethany Dunn

July 08, 2008

We're all about great escapes this July at The Savvy Source, and this week we'll be covering the closest of our great escapes - three days in and around Seattle. Lucky for us, the Puget Sound has so much to offer families with preschoolers. Odds are you'll be entertaining visitors some time (or multiple times!) this summer. I'll be offering three days of guides to satisfy the most  Read more...

"History Lesson: Gas Works Park."

by Bethany Dunn

July 04, 2008

Since many Seattlites will be converging upon the city's iconic Gas Works Park, I thought it might be a great time to look back and piece together just how this post-modern creation came to be. Because, honestly? I had NO idea until I did my research, but it is as cool as a story as I thought it would be. Beginning in 1900, the Seattle Light Company began to purchase lots on the north  Read more...

Five ways to make the most of your three day 4th of July weekend.

by Bethany Dunn

July 03, 2008

In Seattle, it's practically tradition that it rains on the 4th of July. So, it's sort of unprecedented that it will be somewhat sunny for the holiday for two, count it TWO, years in a row. Since you won't be stuck in the house with the kids all weekend, here's the best of Seattle area activities to get you moving. Enjoy Seattle at the WaMu Family Fourth . You'll find family activities  Read more...

Five ways you know a preschooler is from Seattle.

by Bethany Dunn

June 25, 2008

I'm sure my now you have either heard or seen the advertising campaign by our local Pacific Northwest insurance company, PEMCO , with the theme " We're a lot like you. " In it they claim to have a unique understanding our residents and local culture; and they "prove" this by sharing their guide to the people of the northwest. Some of my favorite examples: The 50 degrees shirts off guy.  Read more...

A week of "staycation" ideas.

by Bethany Dunn

June 16, 2008

With the price of gas what it is these days (and only going higher it seems), you may have heard of the term " staycation ", which (as described by the Urban Dictionary ) is " a vacation that is spent at one's home enjoying all that home and one's home environs have to offer". While the idea has been around the past few years - it's been more traditionally used in terms to describe an at-home  Read more...

Too big, too little.

by Bethany Dunn

June 11, 2008

I have a question for all you Savvy parents out there. Even with as close in age as my children are (24 months apart), we find that there are some activities that are more suited to my 5-year-old than my 3-year-old and vice-versa. As much as we like to do things together "as a family" (as the two of them always say), I would like to be able to take my older child, Bubba, to some  Read more...

To the farmers market we go!

by Bethany Dunn

June 05, 2008

'Tis the season of fresh farmers markets in Puget Sound! While we have several that run year-round; the majority are a summer treat. Why visit and purchase from local farmers markets? Because food offered at these markets is usually fresher than anything your can find in the supermarket and that means it's tastier and more nutritious. Eating local means more for the local economy and less  Read more...

I'll take cupcakes for $100, Alex.

by Bethany Dunn

June 03, 2008

My kids were both born in the month of May; two years and eleven days apart. That not that remarkable, except that I also had exactly the same due date with each one. So far, they have suffered no ill will towards each other because of this AND we have gotten away with holding just one birthday party each year (SCORE!). However, because I am a crazy lady; I always try to kill myself with the  Read more...

Budding art critic: how to make the Seattle Art Museum come alive for your children.

by Bethany Dunn

June 02, 2008

You don't need to wait until your kids are school aged and reading to introduce them to art museums. There are great ways to enjoy the Seattle Art Museum (SAM) with children. The first step is to go to their website and click on "Kids & Families" under the "Programs" tab. There you will find a calender that lists all the children and family activities that are taking place at SAM.  Read more...

Things you must do with your children in Seattle before they grow up.

by Bethany Dunn

May 29, 2008

Since I grew up in Portland, I love that I am learning and exploring the Seattle area for the first time right along with my kids. There is always some attraction or activity to venture out to. In this series of posts, I'll be sharing my ideas on the 100 things to do in Seattle (and the greater Puget Sound region) with your children before they grow up in Seattle. Here are the first five  Read more...

Room to run. And run. And RUN.

by Bethany Dunn

May 28, 2008

My son loves to run. Run, run, RUN. Me? I only run when being chased. When he's bored of simply running around in our backyard, I look for places that he can run and explore. Living in an urban area, like Seattle, where property values are high; large, urban parks can be tough to come by. Here are a few of the parks that have vast, wide open spaces for your preschooler to exhaust  Read more...

The summer of music in Seattle.

by Bethany Dunn

May 26, 2008

It seems to be the summer of music in the Seattle area; with a variety of options for free or low cost concerts for you and your family to enjoy. City of Shoreline Summer Lunchtime Concert Series . They have many choices for you to enjoy; from jazz, polka or steel drum - they've got it. They are scheduled for Wednesday at lunch - a perfect way to get through "hump day". Bring your  Read more...

The 3 best ways to enjoy Seward Park in Seattle.

by Bethany Dunn

May 22, 2008

If you live in the Seattle area, chances are that you have been to Seward Park . Located in south Seattle, the 300 acre park is one of the jewels of the Seattle park system, boasting spectatular views of Lake Washington and the Cascade Mountains. But have you really experienced all you can at the park? Or is there more to explore? Here's a list of the three best ways to enjoy Seward Park,  Read more...