Visiting Seattle ?s

FutureMrsDenman

Hello everyone,

My DH and I are planning a 7 - 10 day trip to Seattle, Bellevue, Vashon and possibly Vancouver and Victoria in April or June.  We're going to visit DD's 94 year old Great Grandmother (who has never seen her), so I know we'll be spending some time with her, but ... we want to get out and explore the area with DD (~17 mos. at time of trip) as well and we're looking for some info.

1.  When does RSV season end there?

2.  Are there specific toddler-friendly places you think we should visit?  Is the Mercer Slough site with the treehouse and elevated walkway toddler friendy?

3.  If you've been to both, which would you recommend we visit ... the Seattle Zoo or the Vancouver Zoo?  The Seattle Aquarium or the Vancouver Aquarium?

4.  We both love waterfalls and DH loves Twin Peaks, so we're planning to visit the Falls that were featured in the show.  Are there other great waterfalls in the area you'd recommend we check out?

TIA for any information/advice you can give me!

tfarabians

.  When does RSV season end there?typically its sept through april

2.  Are there specific toddler-friendly places you think we should visit?  Is the Mercer Slough site with the treehouse and elevated walkway toddler friendy? Just an FYI the mercer slough is a very stinky place on a warm day!  It wouldn't be even on my top 20 places to see in seattle!  Remlinger farms would be fantastic at that age https://www.remlingerfarms.com/

The seattle center would be fun, in factoria (east bellevue) there is a great childrens museum that the kids love! 

3.  If you've been to both, which would you recommend we visit ... the Seattle Zoo or the Vancouver Zoo?  The Seattle Aquarium or the Vancouver Aquarium? Haven't been to both I know the vancouver aquarium is supposed to be fantastic but both our zoo and aquarium here are wonderful!  Chances are it will be raining when you come as those are still our rainy season so you may want to just stick with the aquariums!

4.  We both love waterfalls and DH loves Twin Peaks, so we're planning to visit the Falls that were featured in the show.  Are there other great waterfalls in the area you'd recommend we check out? Snoquamie Falls is beautiful and its not far from Remlinger farms so you could definately do both in one day!  Again those are outdoor things and it rains ALOT here in april and june! 

TIA for any information/advice you can give me!  Bellevue square has great shopping and they have a fantastic play area for little ones on the 3rd floor of the mall its all brand new and perfect for toddlers!  Just try to avoid it between 3-5pm because all the bigger kids come after school and it gets pretty crazy. 

FutureMrsDenman

Thanks for your help!  I figured April would definitely be in the rainy sason, but I couldln't remember if June was or not.  While that doesn't bother me at all (I worked in a rainforest for 6 years), I don't know how that is going to work traveling with a toddler and all the toddler "gear".  UGH.  I really appreciate all of your suggestions and will definitely be checking out the places you mentioned!

Seattle_JiLLn

With 7-10 days, I think you're looking at biting off way too much if you want to do Seattle, Bellevue, Vashon, Vancouver and Victoria.    Especially with a 2 year old...

I think our Aquarium pretty much sucks.  But it does have a "hands on" portion that toddlers like.  But realy, it's not much.   I haven't been the Vancouver one so I don't know if it's better.

The Seattle Zoo - WOodland Park Zoo - is really nice.   Again, I haven't been to the Vancouver one.

If you want to go up to Canada, I would probably go to Victoria over  Vancouver.  Vancouver is nice, but I really don't think it's so different from Seattle - it's a nice city, it's on the water, near the mountains, etc.  It's still a city.  Victoria is much more unique.  You can take the ferry up there, it's gorgeous, there are big gardens to walk through and explore, etc...

Other toddler friendly places - the Pacific Science Center has a toddler area, or there's another Children's Museum (Kids Quest) in Factoria, right by Bellevue.  This is toddler HEAVEN.  Seriously fun for them to run run run.  There's a big area with all sorts of toys and little houses and stuff to explore, there's a big area with water activities (bring extra clothes!), and there are some areas for bigger kids with music and things to bang on.

ANother thing that's fun depending on when you're here are teh Ballard Locks.  There's a ship canal that connects the freshwater to the sea water, and there are 20 foot high locks that the boats go through - it's fun to see all of the boats go in and go up or down.  Then there's a fish ladder where salmon go through to get to/from the ocean.   You'd need to check and see if there are salmon running when you're here or not, but it's really cool when fish are jumpng like crazy - and there's an underwater viewing window where you can watch the fish trying to swim upstream.   Plus it's a pretty place to take a picnic and there are places to walk.  Then you could go to Golden Gardens where there's a beach if you wanted to take a dip in teh water - which is usually cold. 

Kathzoo

If you are going to Vancouver, the aquarium is great.  There is a lot more outside there than at the Seattle one.  And the zoo in Vancouver is definitely not worth it.  But Woodland Park (in Seattle) is great.  Enjoy your trip!