Seattle ranks eleventh in Forbes.com's "America's Best Cities for the Outdoors." The coastal city is home to beautiful parks and waterways, and its residents willingly invest more than any of the other 39 cities surveyed to maintain their network of trails and parks. Seattle is also a thriving metropolis complete with notable museums and theaters. This mixture of outdoor recreation and indoor culture blends to create an exciting city for residents and visitors.
Get Boating Experience
The Center for Wooden Boats celebrates the traditional crafts of boat-building and restoration. It encourages guests to explore the docks, boats, and workshops and to lend a hand with current projects. Each Sunday, the Center offers free boat rides to people of all ages---sign up early because these fill quickly---and boat rentals are available daily. Get a workout by rowing on Lake Union or tame the wind and waves in a sailboat. Additionally, the Center offers local residents after-school programs, volunteer opportunities, and both youth and adult classes.
Explore Nature and Health
On one of Seattle's rainy days, your family can explore the Pacific Science Center. The museum hosts exhibits about dinosaurs, insects and the Puget Sound Estuary. Health-conscious parents will enjoy the interactive "Body Works" where they can learn about energy and nutrition alongside their kids. The Science Center is also home to an IMAX theater and the Willard Smith Planetarium. In 2010, the Pacific Science Center was open from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. daily.
Hike the Slough
Mercer Slough Nature Park offers many family activities including hiking, canoeing, and wildlife-spotting. The Visitor Center is open daily from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Pick up a trail map before exploring the elevated boardwalks and the tree house. On Saturdays, guided hikes leave from the Visitor Center at 2 p.m., and, weekly canoe trips run from May until September. In 2010, the cost of the canoe trip was $14 for non-Bellevue residents. The trip takes three hours and is not suitable for children under five years of age. Make reservations for the canoe trip in advance.
Discovering Your Inner Rock Star
The Experience Music Project exhibits displays on guitar history and the Northwest-Rock sound as well as an interactive "Sound Lab" and an "On Stage" rock-star simulation. The Science Fiction Museum offers thought-provoking exhibits about the history, the media, and the artists of the genre. In 2010, admission was $15, and operating hours were from 10 am until 7 pm daily. The Museum hosts free evening hours on the first Thursday of each month, and the third Saturday of each month is Family Day, featuring workshops, live music, and guest artists.
Enjoy a Puppet Show
Thistle Theatre's educationally focused puppet troupe performs in the Japanese Banraku-style for patrons ages three and up. Puppeteers move colorful puppets, props, and scenery and tell stories with wide appeal. In 2010, tickets cost $9 for an adult and $7 for a child/senior. Performances generally last 45 minutes and are held in three Seattle-area venues: the Bellevue Youth Theater, the Magnuson Park Theater and the Sunset Hill Community Club. If you're a Seattle-area resident, you can schedule an at-home birthday performance.
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