It was an hour before dark by the time my son Daniel and I pulled into the new parking garage at Seattle Center. We were meeting friends there to play at the Children's Museum, get a bite at the International Food Court in Center House, and then go on to the Seattle Children's Theater for a long-anticipated pirate stage show. Located right at the bottom of Queen Anne, this is a collection of enjoyment that will take several days initially, and many repeat visits to explore properly. We almost didn't get out of the parking garage, because it is so interesting and fun, with so many posts, pillars, rocks and other surfaces just out the front door that invited climbing and playing  on that it was hard to tear ourselves away. We finally made it, and passed by the rippling  chrome copper purple and magenta Experience Music Project building. We passed among one of my favorite little features, the standing forest of brown shiney staffs. Maybe a sculptural reference to a bamboo forest, certainly for my 7 year old fun to play in.  At last we got to the Center House, found Daniel's friend and his mom (my friend) and headed down the curving staircase to the Children's Museum where they played with the many interactive exhibits including the Making Music, Exploring the Wilderness, Clifford the Big Red Dog, and the Art Making areas. Then we headed upstairs again for sandwiches for all and well deserved coffee for the moms. Last we strolled over (it was dark by now) to the Seattle Children's Theater which is interesting  in and of itself, visually a treat. We sat on long padded backless benches with many other children and parents to watch a haunting pirate tale in which the bad guys were really funny and the good guys won. On our way back out, we had to stop while the boys ran and played in the fountain area, no water but still a facinating space to explore with it's dips and curves (a  wonderful waterplay treat on a summer day, though!). We'll go back another time soon for Pacific Science Center, the Seattle Shakespeare Company at the Center House Theater, the Experience Music Project and Science Fiction Hall of Fame, and the Space Needle!  Edy Kizaki Realtor & Team Leader 206-331-0152 Labels: kid's activities, Queen Anne, Seattle Center, Seattle Children's Museum, Seattle Children's Theater
 What a happy crisp clear day it was, and time to do some family stuff! First we went to the Imagine Children's Museum, in Everett, then to the beach and play area near the Mulkiteo Ferry, It was our first time at the Imagine Children's Museum, and we LOVED it. Each exhibit seemed more fun than the last, and being in the rooftop  play area was like heaven. The Water Play Room was full of spinning wheels and trickling streams, the Neon Room was dark and glowy (very Halloween!!) and the Treehouse, the Theater (act out your own plays!) and the Vetrinary Clinic were intriguing to say the least. I also loved the Farm Patch with a horse and tractor to ride, and the Airplane where you could pretend to piolet it... and the Fireman's room for under 5's. Right across the street was a great Goodwill with lots and lots of Halloween costumes... found a perfect Stitch costume (cute space alien with 4 arms, from Lilo & Stitch) for Daniel for $6...fun! He was going to be a Gladiator for Halloween but that plan is now out the window. I'm glad as the Stitch costume will definitely be warmer.  It was a bright sunny day, high blue skies with puffy clouds, and nothing could have been more fun than the beach park just south of the Mukilteo ferry terminal. There were kayaks, speedboats, the ferries of course, and one glorious ocean liner passing, kids and their parents playing on the new space age playground climbing equipment, dog walkers, log sitters, photographers, and some strollers enjoying the beauty of the scene. We jumped from log to log and made it from one end of the beach to the other without touching the sand.  Last of all we stopped by the Rose Hill Chocolate Company for a truffle and some samples of their famous fudge. I liked the Chocolate Ammeretto, Daniel opted for the Walnut Chocolate Fudge. Probably the most decadent was the black current truffle  with white chocolate! Dan Straub, the owner, was behind the counter and we learned a lot about where the world's best cacao beans come from (Tierra del Fuego) and some chocolate making trivia. There were a lot of other temptations including gummy spiders and numerous Halloween goodies available. Yum! We thought next time we'll leave the kids at home and stop by the Leely's Day Spa & Wine Tasting next door to the Chocolate Factory to sip some local vintages. Imagine Children's Museum, 1502 Wall StreetEverett, WA 98201(425) 258-1006 Rose Hill Chocolate Company, 700 3rd Street, Mukilteo, WA, (425) 353-1183 Leely's Day Spa & Wine: 700 Third St., Mukilteo; 425-268-6004, leely@ahanmail.net. Wind tasting available with spa services anytime; regular tasting 6 to 8 p.m. Thursdays, $5. City of Mukilteo's " About Mukilteo" webpage offers a great introduction to this delightful destination.
Edy Kizaki
Realtor & Team Leader Labels: Everett Sightseeing, kid's activities, Mukilteo Sightseeing
Want to go to another world? Want to take the bus or at least spend only 15 minutes driving  there? OK, try the Pacific Science Center in Seattle Center. From our home in Shoreline it only took us 15 minutes on a bright sunny Sunday afternoon. Our family likes to join because with a family membership card we can feel quite comfortable stopping by three times a week, or for only an hour when we get a chance, without having to stay for hours and exhaust ourselves. There are so many great things to see and do that we could go back every day for a week and it would still be Fun!! This time we tried the Simulator, and it was worth it...at the last minute I got myself a ticket as well as Daniel and his friend. For a five minute ride, we were flying through space on skittery tracks, plunging into the void and somehow  managing to land intact...a breathtaking journey. There are all kinds of simulations to choose from, or you can piggyback on one someone already chose. Next time I want to try the one about water! Daniel always likes to go to the dinosaur room...when we had the fossil exhibit here, just over, he spent hours dusting sand off the dinosaur eggs in the anthropology simulation. The insect pavilion is great too, and going into the butterfly room is usually the highlight  of my visit. They are so fragile and so delightful! But we never miss visiting the touchable tide pool and the naked mole rat colony. Of course, the Imax theater is great when you have time, a huge screen and 3-d glasses! When we saw the dinosaur Imax movie, it was as much as I could do not to run away screaming.  Don't forget a picnic or at least snacks so you can sit out in the courtyard, or walk about a minute to Seattle Center House and enjoy the good coffee and food court. Or go up to the coffee shop in the Science Center and take a rest there, before investing $1 in paper to make swinging pendulum drawings down below. Edy Kizaki, Realtor Labels: kid's activities, Pacific Science Center, Seattle Center, Space Needle
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on that it was hard to tear ourselves away. We finally made it, and passed by the rippling 
chrome copper purple and magenta Experience Music Project building. We passed among one of my favorite little features, the standing forest of brown shiney staffs. Maybe a sculptural reference to a bamboo forest, certainly for my 7 year old fun to play in.
At last we got to the Center House, found Daniel's friend and his mom (my friend) and headed down the curving staircase to the Children's Museum where they played with the many interactive exhibits including the Making Music, Exploring the Wilderness, Clifford the Big Red Dog, and the Art Making areas. Then we headed upstairs again for sandwiches for all and well deserved coffee for the moms.
in and of itself, visually a treat. We sat on long padded backless benches with many other children and parents to watch a haunting pirate tale in which the bad guys were really funny and the good guys won. On our way back out, we had to stop while the boys ran and played in the fountain area, no water but still a facinating space to explore with it's dips and curves (a 
wonderful waterplay treat on a summer day, though!).
