Seattle/Vancouver - Kids Friendly Places?

cloud9

Hello to those reside in/familiar with Seattle/Vancouver areas!

Our family will be visiting Seattle & Vancouver for a short stay (couple days/nights each). I have some general questions and any tips/advices are welcome!

- what is typical weather towards end of August (8/20 +)?
- how much rain?
- what are some kids places/ parks? Anywhere with mazes, hide-n-seek, just for running around?
- any indoor places for kids if lots of rain?
- any special restaurants (nothing fancy, kids friendly too)
- any specific places worth visiting (Boeing plant, space needle, Victoria...)?

This would my DH & I's 2nd trip to seattle/vancouver area, but last time we were newly married with no children. So this time around, Microsoft campus won't make the cut. Any suggestions welcome! Appreciate all your insights...

9 years ago

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12 replies

Latest reply was from Kari

Helena

Veteran

cloud9, I don't have any specific recos but my recollection of Vancouver is that it's such an outdoorsy and walkable place, you are sure to have a great time with the kids ... wishing you a great trip!

9 years ago

Emily

Veteran

Vancouver ideas:
Science World
H.R.MacMillan Space Center
Vancouver Aquarium
Granville Island

9 years ago

Marlene

Veteran

More Vancouver ideas:
Stanley Park
Grouse Mountain
Capilano Suspension Bridge
Gastown

9 years ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Love the Vancouver suggestions. Van is such a kids' town -- just hanging out on the beach can be a huge amount of fun. Walking the sea wall at Stanley Park (with stroller if need be), checking to see if there will be kids' theatre (check Carousel Theatre) or library readings or performances, and doing any or all of the things already mentioned. Lots of kid (and adult) friendly food down at Granville Island (terrific fish and chips place...) and restaurants are good all over. I'd go for Asian -- check out Vancouver Magazine's reviews.

There's a cool maze at the Botanical Gardens in Vancouver. My daughter used to like that. At Granville Island there is one of those indoor playgrounds for kids. (At the Kids' Market). My daughter loved Science world and the Aquarium.

The weather could be anything from 70s or even 80s F with sun, to miserable dank rain. It just depends. But there's lots to do indoors and people don't let rain stop the fun anyway. Just dress for it.

Seattle is similar. Go to Pike Place market -- kids love it! Lots of kid-friendly activities there as well, although I haven't done as many because I never lived there.

9 years ago

claire

Active Member

Great time to visit Vancouver, welcome to our lovely city! The end of August is when we tell all our friends and family to come, it's the most consistently nice time of the year. Not ruling out rain of course, but it's usually pretty nice.

It sounds like your kids are young? Everyone has given you great suggestions, maybe I can give you some restaurant ideas that are age specific if that would help? For example, if you're coming over to go to Grouse Mountain, you can swing by Capilano Suspension Bridge while you're over here. Then hit Park Royal's village for lunch, Whole Foods has great outdoor seating where the kids can splash in the river and run around, and there is excellent shopping for you (!!). Just some examples.... Different thoughts if they are older of course. We have some great restaurants, happy to make some recommendations privately if you like.

9 years ago

Ariadne

Veteran

Lots of great outdoor pools and spray parks here. Google for the Vancouver Parks Board website--they have a section that lists them all. Taking the Rainbow ferries between Granville Island and Yaletown with gelato on either end is always a big hit too.

9 years ago

Emily

Veteran

I can't believe I forgot Grouse Mountain and the Capilano Suspension Bridge!! Obviously it's been way too long since I was in Vancouver...

9 years ago

Niki Lea

Veteran

Some more Vancouver suggestions:

The kids water park in Stanley Park (free)
http://vancouver.ca/parks-recr.....-park.aspx

Second Beach pool (near Stanley Park)
http://vancouver.ca/parks-recr.....-pool.aspx

Second Beach (has a playground)
http://vancouver.ca/parks-recr.....beach.aspx

Third Beach (has lifeguards)
http://vancouver.ca/parks-recr.....beach.aspx

Van Dusen Botanical Gardens (on the west side of the city, just outside of the downtown core)
http://vancouver.ca/parks-recr.....arden.aspx

The Pacific National Exhibition runs from Aug. 16 to Sept. 1 (you could spend an entire day here, but you'll need a car to get there because it's on the city's east side)
http://www.pne.ca/

9 years ago

Marillen

Active Member

Seattle:
I'd recommend Pacific Science Center esp. for kids. It's right by the Space Needle and the Experience Music Project which also has cool exhibitions. Also nearby is Seattle Children's Theater and the International Fountain, which kids love to play around.

The old monorail runs from the Space Needle to the middle of downtown, then it's about 4 blocks walk to Pike Place Market. From there you can get down to the waterfront and ferris wheel.

Weather usually sunny, 70-80 F. Might rain some but not much in the summer, and rarely heavily.

9 years ago

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

Not necessarily designed for kids but still cool nonetheless
http://www.seattleartmuseum.or.....pture-park
Be sure to check out the nurse log.

9 years ago

greycat6

Veteran

How old are your kids? There is a minimum height of 48" for the Boeing tour. Unless your kids are really patient, I wouldn't recommend it because there is a lot of walking and standing.http://www.boeing.com/boeing/c.....index.page

If you are interested in aviation, I HIGHLY recommend the Museum of Flight. Very interactive and great for all ages: http://www.museumofflight.org/

Other ideas for Seattle:

Pike Place Market, including a stop at Beecher's Cheese to watch the cheese making process and the 'gum wall' which is disgustingly awesome: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gum_Wall

Ballard Locks: http://www.seattle.gov/tour/locks.htm

Fremont Troll: http://fremont.com/about/fremonttroll-html/

Also in Fremont is the Theo Chocolate Tour: https://www.theochocolate.com/

A ferry ride from downtown Seattle to Bainbridge Island or Bremerton

Mariner's Baseball game - especially lovely on a sunny evening

Snoqualmie Falls which about 30 miles east of Seattle and has a short, doable hike for small kids: http://www.snoqualmiefalls.com/

Rattlesnake Ridge and the Cedar River Watershed Water Drums: a four mile hike that is doable for kids. The water drums are in the Cedar River Water Shed education center. Check out the video here: http://www.seattle.gov/util/En.....rRiverEduc

Have fun!

9 years ago

Kari

Veteran

Totally agree with recommendations for many of these places in Seattle, esp. Pacific Science Center, Museum of Flight, and Theo Chocolate. There are also great places nearby to hike of that's your thing-Issaquah and Snoqualmie aren't far drives and there are nice day hikes there.

Greenlake (lake park with walking or biking trail around it) or Golden Gardens park (beachfront park) are nice to walk and play at.

9 years ago

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