A Pit Stop a Day (Day 9): Zipline and Bungee Trampoline!

July 5, 2010 By

Nate gets some serious air!

We were all excited to wake up at the Big Sky Resort’s Summit Hotel and get going with an activity-packed day…without getting in our car for a change! We grabbed a quick bite to eat in the Mountain Mall, then arrived at BaseCamp (located right next door on the plaza) for our first two activities of the day.

If you’re a guest at Big Sky Resort (or a day guest), you’re going to want to spend some time getting acquainted with BaseCamp…your information and reservation center for all kinds of outdoor fun.

First up for us? A 9 am reservation for the Big Sky Zipline and Bungee Trampoline.

Calvin (left) and Nate (right) with our Big Sky host Dax Schieffer, all geared up and ready to go!

Having never tried a zipline before, we really had no idea what to expect, but our three guides quickly put the group (of approximately 12 guests) at ease with their friendliness and professionalism. While still at BaseCamp, they assisted us in putting on our harnesses and helmets (on which they attached name tags so everyone got to know each other that much faster), then we set off on a short (but fairly strenuous) hike up into the forest to the first line.

Hiking through the trees to our first zipline.

After a safety talk and demonstration by one of the guides, we lined up for our first ‘zip’ over the lodge pole pines. Calvin was determined to go first (and didn’t chicken out!). After his 12-point safety check (which the guides performed for every guest at every line), he took off 60 feet over the ground!

I was too rattled to get a good video, but by Nate’s turn, I did my best to capture his ‘take off’ on our Pit Stops for Kids Cam, along with the 12-point safety check for any anxious parents!

When my turn came, I will admit to a few nerves, but it was the most fun I’ve had in a long time! The sensation of flying over the trees was spectacular! Of course, the boys quickly wanted to get fancy; the guides were more than happy to teach them how to fly with no hands and even upside-down!

The session includes three separate zip lines (the second two in close walking distance to the first). In all, you sail over 1250 feet over streams and forest!

Calvin takes about his experience on the cam:

Plan on the entire event taking 1.5 hours. Kids have to be at least 45 lbs to participate. If you, like me, have a little one who is not big enough (but definitely brave enough), he or she can try the bungee trampoline (one ride for $10) located directly at BaseCamp while the others zipline. (But word of warning, when they get back, they’ll want to try this out, too!)

Toby gets in gear for his bungee trampoline session.

And promptly manages a flip!

Note: Reservations in advance are almost always needed. Call 406-995-5769.

Extra Tip: If you have a parent or other adult who would like to watch but not participate, the guides are happy to have you along. You can’t hike all the way to the lines, but they guide you to a great location lower down the mountain to catch all the action.

Costs: $59 per person

Other on-site activities offered at BaseCamp:

High Ropes Course (review to come!)
Bungee Trampoline
Climbing Wall
Paintball (11 years and older)
Scenic Lift Ride
Mountain Bike and Equipment Rentals (separate building)

If you think you’ll want to do more than one, BaseCamp offers ‘Adventure Paks’ (bundled deals) on the above activities. Choose any two activities for $109/person or any three for $149/person. Another great deal for families staying outside the resort is the ‘Family Fun Pool and Lift‘ Package, which combines a scenic lift ride with use of the Huntley Lodge outdoor pools, starting at only $5 for ages 10 and under to only $20 for adults.

Date last visited: July 2010.

Distance off the interstate: Big Sky Resort is ten minutes off Hwy 191. It’s easy to access from anywhere in the Big Sky/Yellowstone area.

Website: Big Sky Resort

Directions: From Hwy 191 (near Bozeman), drive 39 miles to Hwy 64. Turn right (west) and drive nine miles to the Mountain Village.

As I disclose with all compensated reviews, our family experienced the Big Sky Zipline at no cost. This compensation came with no expectation of a positive review.

Up Next: We tackle the High Ropes Course!

Family Vacation
Big Sky

A Pit Stop a Day (Day 7): Boulder Hot Springs

July 3, 2010 By

Boulder Hot Springs\’ historic hotel

31 Hot Springs Road
Boulder, MT

On Day 7, we said goodbye to Glacier and the Many Glacier Hotel and drove south to Big Sky, Montana, with a midway stopover in Boulder.

Boulder Hot Springs Inn and Spa is located almost mid-way between Butte and Helena just off Interstate 15 in Boulder. Sitting on almost 300 acres, it’s in a very pretty location, and the geothermal waters are wonderful. We found the hotel to be a bit imposing and not a little bit ‘quirky’ (think granola mixed with rural charm); the building has a colorful history (which includes a resident ghost!) and not all of it has been completely restored. Overnight accommodations are available (with what I hear is a great breakfast), but we stopped over for just a few hours to enjoy their main draw: their geothermal hot springs.

Calvin soaking in the geothermal waters.

Before arriving, I had worried that Boulder Hot Springs might not be best suited for energetic kids, but as soon as we walked into the friendly, casual lobby I knew I had nothing to worry about. Several families (and other adults and couples) were enjoying the mineral pools, and the kids’ play bothered no one. The resort offers both indoor ‘soaking pools’ (one for men and two for women…they’re separate because clothing is optional…yep, you read that right!) and a co-ed (swimsuits required) outdoor pool (which was quite warm but not hot). Our kids enjoyed the novelty of the soaking pools (everyone was clothed on the day we visited) but spent the majority of their time in the outdoor pool, where there were several pool toys available for use and which looked out over the nearby meadows.

Extra Tip! Bring towels if you have them. They are available to rent on-site if you forget, however.

Date last visited: June 2010.

Distance off the interstate: 10 minutes off I-15.

Swimming Hours:

SUMMER (April 1 – October 31)
10am to 9pm

WINTER (November 1 – March 31)
12pm to 8pm

Admission Prices:

$7 per adult
$4 per child
$4 over 60

Room rates range from $69-$90 for single or double rooms. Bed and Breakfast rooms range from $99-$139.

Food Services: Full breakfast with room available. Otherwise, Boulder is a small town with a few offerings, but Helena is only 30 minutes away as well.

Bathrooms: On-site (as well as changing rooms and showers).

Website: Boulder Hot Springs

Directions: From I-15, take Hwy 69 through Boulder to Hot Springs Road.

Up next: We spend two days enjoying the Big Sky Resort in Big Sky, Montana!

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A Pit Stop a Day (Day 6): Logan Pass, Glacier National Park

July 2, 2010 By

The climb up the snow is challenging (and the trail is single file)!

Day 6 was our last full day at the Many Glacier Hotel in Glacier National Park. For today’s featured pit stop, we decided to hike from Logan’s Pass to Hidden Lake.

We drove the approximate 21 miles back to the St. Mary Visitor Center Park Entrance, then another few to the Logan Pass Visitor Center at the peak of the famed Going to the Sun Road (en route, we stopped to let a black bear cross the road!).

The Hidden Lake Nature Trail begins directly behind the visitor’s center. It consists of a fairly steady incline for 1.5 miles to the Hidden Lake overlook. It’s a strenuous hike (some people were carrying skis and snowboards up the trail so they could ski or board down, if that gives you an idea), but the return route is a breeze! We opted to eat a picnic lunch at the overlook; there are no tables, but the viewing platform serves as a nice spot to sit down and take in the view (which is spectacular). We ended up sharing our spot (but not our lunch) with three mountain goats who loped over to see what we were doing!

The resident mountain goats at Logan Pass were not shy!

Note: As you can see, the entire trail was covered in snow at the time of our visit. This made for an extremely challenging 3 mile hike! Rangers told us that by mid-July, most of the surface snow has melted, allowing visitors to hike on raised boardwalks instead. If you plan to go when snow is likely, be sure to wear hiking boots with a good grip and sunglasses (the glare is fierce, and the trail is exposed to sun).

Extra Tip: If the Hidden Lake Nature Trail seems too challenging to your group, and easier (but very beautiful) option is the Sun Point Nature Trail to Barring Falls. An easy .9 mile hike (one way), the trail follows the lake shore to stunning Barring Falls. Flat terrain. You can find the trail head approximately 10 miles back toward St. Mary on the Going to the Sun Road at the Sun Point parking lot.

Calvin reports his opinion on the hike on our new ‘Pit Stops for Kids Cam’:

Date last visited: June 2010.

Distance off the interstate: Approximately 20 miles from Hwy 89.

Admission Prices: Only the $25 per car National Park fee.

Food Services: None at the visitor’s center. If you don’t pack food in, the nearest food is back in St. Mary, where you’ll find the Park Cafe (our ranger told us they have the best pie she’s ever had).

Bathrooms: Available at the Logan Pass Visitor’s Center.

Website: Hidden Lake Nature Trail

Directions: From St. Mary (Hwy 89), enter the park at the St. Mary Visitor Center. Follow the Going to the Sun road past St. Mary Lake and up toward the pass. The Logan Pass Visitor’s Center is on the left.

Up Next: We drive south to Big Sky, Montana, stopping at Boulder Hot Springs to sample their soothing geothermal waters!

A Pit Stop a Day (Day 5): Swiftcurrent Lake Cruise

July 1, 2010 By

The Morning Eagle: a wonderful way to see the park interior.

Day 5 found us lucky enough to wake up once again at the Many Glacier Hotel in Glacier National Park. We spent the morning hiking nearby trails, then boarded Chief Two Guns for a Swiftcurrent Lake Cruise offered by the Glacier Park Boat Company.

What a great way to combine sightseeing, a guided tour, hiking, and boating! We departed from the dock of the Many Glacier Hotel on Swiftcurrent Lake and cruised to the opposite side (approximately 15 minutes). Passengers then walked .2 mile over a hill to nearby Josephine Lake, where we boarded the Morning Eagle, another cruise boat. From there, we crossed Josephine Lake and passengers were offered the choice of returning to Many Glacier or hiking 2.3 miles (round trip) to Lake Grinnell.

Boarding the boat after a .2 mile walk from Swiftwater Lake to Josephine Lake.

We opted for the latter (as did most passengers¦we had a group of about 30). The guided hike was simply stunning. Before we had walked ten yards, our naturalist (guide) was pointing out a moose and her calf in the reeds by the lake. Later on, we encountered moose and elk prints, many waterfalls on the mountainsides, a swinging and swaying wooden bridge, and Lake Grinnell itself. Our guide was knowledgeable, and while I usually prefer hiking without a large group, it was nice to gain the information. Besides, we were in bear country, so I didn’t mind the extra people (safety in numbers, right?).

The hike to Grinnell Lake includes a wooden cable bridge over icy glacial waters!

The kids had fun on the boats (and Toby once again got to take a turn at the helm). Despite the substantial cost, we give this tour a thumbs up: we’d do it again!

Toby at the helm of Chief Two Guns.

Note: You can access Lake Grinnell and the surrounding area without taking a boat cruise. From the Swiftcurrent Lake loop trail (which begins at the Many Glacier Hotel), it’s only approximately 1.3 miles (one way). In fact, Calvin, Nate, and my dad opted to walk back from the Lake boat dock instead of waiting for the return boat: it took them 45 minutes.

Date last visited: June 2010.

Distance off the interstate: 21 miles from St. Mary, 12 miles from Hwy 89.

Admission Prices: $22 per adult, $11 per child (under 12)

Hours: Cruises across Swiftcurrent Lake and adjacent Lake run multiple times daily. Cruises with guided hike to Lake Grinnell depart at 9 am and 2 pm daily.

Food Services: None. Bring your own snacks and water, as you’re out for 3.5 hours.

Bathrooms: Pit toilets are located at two locations along the trail. They were as clean as pit toilets reasonably can be!

Website: Glacier National Park lake cruises

Directions: See directions to the Many Glacier Hotel.

Up Next: It’s winter in the end of June as we hike on a glacier!

A Pit Stop a Day (Day 3): Mobius Kids Museum

June 27, 2010 By

Indoor fun at Mobius Kids!

808 W. Main
(Riverfront Square Lower Level)
Spokane, WA

Day 3 found us spending the day among friends in Spokane, WA for the city’s annual Hoopfest basketball tournament. The kids and I temporarily escaped the crowds and heat at Mobius Kids, an expansive children’s museum right in the heart of downtown.

Mobius Kids is great for all ages with exhibits including a play city, a construction zone, a Globe theater, and a science lab. Having lived in Spokane several years ago, I can vouch for its growth: not long ago, this museum was a shadow of what it has become. Their “Enchanted Forest” section is perfect for the younger set, and my school-aged kids could have spent all day in the art studio.

If you live in the Northwest, be sure to check to see if any of your local children’s museum memberships qualify you for discounted admission. Ours did!

Extra Tip! If the weather is nice, go from the museum through the back entrance of River Park Square to Riverfront Park, a wonderful city greenbelt with duck ponds, a sky rail, outdoor ice skating (winter) and fun-zone carnival rides (summer).

Date last visited: June 2010.

Distance off the interstate: Five minutes off I-90.

Hours:

Mon-Sat: 10am-5pm
Sun: 11am-5pm

Admission Prices:

General Admission: $5.75
12 months & younger: Free

Food Services: Many options are at your disposal in the River Park Square complex, including Panda Express, Cruisers burgers, Ben & Jerry’s, and Pizza Rita.

Bathrooms: Located on-site, and on the lower level of River Park Square near the Sawtooth Grill.

Directions: From I-90, take exit 280B to merge onto S Lincoln St. After half a mile, turn right at W Main Ave. The easiest place to park is in the underground parking garage.

Up next: We drive from Washington to Montana and The Many Glacier Hotel in Glacier National Park! Note: Glacier is an ‘unplugged’ destination, so expect a three-day delay in our A Pit Stop a Day series!

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A Pit Stop a Day (Day 1): Portland Spirit River Cruise

June 25, 2010 By

The Portland Spirit leaving downtown Portland.

Tom McCall Waterfront Park
Portland, OR

Our Day 1 route (see map) took us from our home in Southern Oregon four hours north on I-5 to beautiful Portland, where we were fortunate to embark upon the Portland Spirit for a cruise down the Willamette River.

The Portland Spirit is a 150′ yacht with three public decks, two of which are enclosed and climate controlled. We were met at the dock by the skipper (and a photographer), and shown aboard. The kids immediately made their way up the stairs to the top (outdoor) deck to take in the views (and try to climb the rails…we had to implement a safety talk at this point).

Toby and Calvin scope out downtown Portland.

Toby was fascinated by the many steel bridges along the Willamette.

There are several maps of the Spirit’s routes on-board.

The Spirit embarked at 7 pm and cruised south down the Willamette River to Lake Oswego (there are also cruises which will take you down the Columbia Gorge and a jet boat which takes you toward the coast by Astoria). You can eat a gourmet meal aboard the Spirit, or can buy a sightseeing-only ticket; we opted for the latter, and spent the bulk of our time taking in the views on the top deck (although you’re free to explore the entire yacht).

I cannot say enough about the views afforded on this cruise. The scenery was beautiful, and we had fun checking out all the mansions along the banks of the river by Lake Oswego. The many rowing and sailing clubs out on the water kept the kids’ attention, as did the many bridges we cruised under. The entire crew on-board was very friendly and helpful. On the top deck, the First Mate and Skipper were on-hand to let the kids know when the bridges would open up to let us pass and even gave them a turn at the wheel in the bridge.

Uh oh…it’s the Pit Stops crew at the helm!

Hmm…which delicate instrument should I touch first?

A few practical notes for parents: the cruise takes over 2.5 hours. Very young children might get squirmy (although there’s plenty of room to let them walk around and play). If you want to buy additional snacks or drinks aboard, plan accordingly. We spent an extra $20 on drinks for a family of five (a cocktail each for the adults, lemonade for the kids) and $10 for a souvenir photo. There is also a small gift shop on-board.

Extra Tip! Bring sweatshirts (even in summer) if you plan (or your kids plan) to stay outside on the deck. It gets windy, and weather in the Northwest is always unpredictable.

Date last visited: June 2010.

Distance off the interstate: Approximately 10 minutes from I-5. (Be aware of possible rush hour traffic from 5-6 pm!)

Hours: The evening (dinner and/or sightseeing) cruise boards at 6:30 pm and departs at 7 pm, returning to the dock at 9:30 pm.

Admission Prices:

$68 Adults
$63 Seniors and Children
Sightseeing only (no dinner): $28 per person

Food Services: If you’re interested in eating aboard the cruise, you’ll be booking the dinner cruise. If you opt for sightseeing only, the bar is still open to you. You can buy drinks (alcoholic and non-alcoholic) and snacks at any time.

Bathrooms: Located on-board.

Website: Portland Spirit

Directions: The cruise departs from the Salmon Street Springs Fountain in Tom McCall Waterfront Park. From I-5, take exit 299B on the left for I-405 W toward US-26 W/City Center/Beaverton, then take exit 1A on the left toward Naito Pkwy/Japanese-American Plaza. Merge onto SW Harbor Dr. Turn right at SW Naito Pkwy. The park is on the right-hand (river) side of the street, and you want to look for the cross-street of Salmon St. We found a parking garage for only $3 for the night (on a Thursday after 6 pm) in the World Trade Center building directly across from the Salmon Street fountain.

More parking in the area:

Smart Park Garage at SW First/SW Jefferson
Pay lot underneath the Hawthone Bridge, accessible to northbound traffic on Naito Parkway
Pay lot north of the Hawthone Bridge, accessible to southbound traffic on Naito Parkway

As I disclose whenever compensated while reviewing an activity or location, my family and I were hosted on the Portland Spirit at no cost. This compensation came with no expectations or agreements for a positive review.

Up next! We spend the night at Portland’s Hyatt Place!

Enterprise Park and Kids’ Kingdom

June 19, 2010 By

Kids' Kingdom's Fastasy Fountain area.

4000 Victor Ave
Redding CA

We drive through Redding, CA often, and I’m ever on the hunt for a great park. On our most recent pass down I-5, we found one worthy of being declared a pit stop! Kids’ Kingdom is a section of the larger Enterprise Park that spans several city blocks. Whereas the park at large seems to cater to the sports and leisure crowd (lots of soccer fields and picnic areas), Kids’ Kingdom is tucked away under shade trees and could be easily overlooked.

At this smaller section of the park, you’ll find a fun splash/water feature (Fantasy Fountain) with a concrete rocky mountain, sprinkler archways, and a padded floor surface, an expansive wooden fort play structure, and lots of mature trees to climb. We arrived just after the water feature had been turned off for the night, but the kids still had fun climbing the ‘mountain’ and playing in the fort. Combined with a picnic dinner brought from the nearby Subway restaurant, Kids Kingdom made for a great pit stop!

Note: Enterprise Park is not in what appears to be the best part of town. We felt quite safe during daylight hours, but use your own judgment when visiting.

Wooden fortress at Kids Kingdom.

Distance off the interstate: Five minutes.

Hours: Sunrise until sunset. The water feature is on daily, but only until 6 pm on weekends in summer (in other words, not late enough!)

Bathrooms: Standard park bathrooms are located on the far side of the water feature. Warning: the day we visited, the bathrooms were in terrible condition. (This was in the later evening, after a full day’s use, but was still not acceptable.) Hopefully it was the exception, not the rule.

Calvin at the top of the Fantasy Fountain mountain.

Directions: From I-5, take the Cypress exit. Head east on Cypress for one mile, then 1.5 miles south on Victor. Park is on the right. Take the main entrance, then follow the Kids’ Kingdom sign past the open grassy spaces down a short hill. Parking on the right.

I apologize for the poor quality photos; I took them right at sunset, and the lighting was not conducive to photo taking!


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Things To Do
Redding

The Choo Choo Barn

June 16, 2010 By

A traffic jam along the tracks is just one detail in the displays at Choo Choo Barn. Photo property of Mother of All Trips.

226 Gap Road
Strasburg, PA

Do you have a train-crazy kid in your family? Planning a family vacation or road trip through Pennsylvania Dutch country? You’ll want to stop at the Choo Choo Barn, a 1,700 square foot train-lover’s dream featuring over 150 hand-built animated figures and vehicles and 22 operating trains!

Mara Gorman of Mother of all Trips, says of the Choo Choo Barn: “I knew it was going to be a hit with Tommy when we walked in and immediately saw a baseball game with tiny players running the bases and a ski mountain with a working lift…there’s also lots of fascinating real-life stuff like construction sites with moving bulldozers, a car accident complete with backed-up traffic, and a house on fire being busily tended to by a crew of firefighters. And of course there are also trains chugging around continuously, passenger cars that you can see in, freight trains marked “Pennsylvania Railroad and B&O and even some that are pulled by engines who will be familiar to all Thomas the Tank Engine fans.” (Read her full review for more details and travel tips!)

Extra Tip! Can’t get enough of trains? Visit three other train attractions in PA: the Strasburg Railroad, the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania, and the National Toy Train Museum. Alternatively, check out the cool railroading offers at modelbuildings.org.

Please Note: Route 30 has many outlets and tourist attractions along it, and during the summer months the traffic on the far side of Lancaster (the side closer to Strasburg) can be beastly! There are lots of lights because of all the businesses. Plan accordingly!

Date last visited: May 2010.

Distance off the interstate: Right off Route 30. Approximately 30 minutes from either I-76 or I-83.

Hours: Generally open 7 days a week, but hours are varied by season.

Admission Prices:

Adults (13 and up) $6.00
Kids (4 to 12) $4.00
Kids under age 4 are admitted free

Food Services: The Mother of all Trips recommends the restaurant next door to the Choo Choo Barn for lunch!

Bathrooms: Located on-site.

Website: Choo Choo Barn

Directions: From I-83, take exit 19 for PA-462 W, then merge onto N Hills Rd. Turn right at US-30 E, then right at PA-896 S/Hartman Bridge Rd. Continue to follow PA-896 S two miles, then turn left at E Main St. Take a slight left at PA-741 E/Gap R.

From I-76, take Hwy 283 to Hwy 23 into Strasburg.

North Point Lighthouse

June 10, 2010 By
Wind Point Lighthouse, Wind Point, Wisconsin. ...

Image via Wikipedia

2650 N. Wahl Ave.
Milwaukee, WI

The North Point Lighthouse, standing since 1855, is a fixture in scenic Milwaukee, WI. Better yet for traveling families, it’s located adjacent to a great park for kids! Says Kara (AKA Vacation Gals’ ColoradoGal), “After snapping a photo of both families in front of the lighthouse, we explored a bit: (Double the Adventure’s)Sharlene’s husband actually pointed out this great trail with wooden steps leading down into the woods, and of course we had to explore it. After all, that’s how my family rolls…the kids led the way through all sorts of lush foliage down to the shore of Lake Michigan!”

Extra Tip!: Public tours are offered from 1-4 pm on Saturdays, year-round.

Date last visited: June 2010

Distance off the interstate: Six minutes off I-43.

Admission Prices:

Under 5: Free
Under 12: $3.00
Age 12 and up: $5.00 per person

Money-saving Tip! If you think you might be back, family memberships (starting at $35) might be a better deal for you, depending upon the size of your family!

Bathrooms: Need this information. If you know, please answer in the comments!

Website: North Point Lighthouse

Directions: From Interstate 43 in Milwaukee, drive east on Interstate 794. Take the Lakefront exit and go north on Lincoln Memorial Drive for 2.2 miles. Turn left opposite McKinley Park Beach and drive up the hill on E. Water Tower Road. Turn right on Terrace Avenue and make a quick right onto Wahl Avenue. The lighthouse will be on your right after about half a mile, in the southern end of Lake Park.
(From I-94, go north on I-43, then follow the above directions.)


The Children’s Museum, Seattle

June 9, 2010 By

Water play at The Children\’s Museum!

305 Harrison Street
Seattle, WA

Visiting Seattle or Vancouver on a family vacation this summer? The Children’s Museum, Seattle is a wonderful pit stop which will keep your children entertained for hours! Located on the same campus as the Space Needle, it’s simple to access off I-5 and can be added easily to a kid-friendly Seattle sight-seeing itinerary.

Eleven (11) exhibits stretch throughout the 22,000 square feet of exhibit space at the museum, ranging from familiar settings like the grocery store to new settings like the Ghana Village. And this is no hands-off experience: children are expected to touch, play and explore their way to every inch of the museum.

From the official website: “In the Fall and Spring of each year, the Museum welcomes a traveling exhibit to Seattle. This fall we will welcome Adventures with Clifford the Big Red Dog!! This summer our traveling exhibit space have 5 large than life books for children to explore as part of our Go Figure! Exhibit.”

Pit Stops for Kids reader and review Jillian Lang says of The Children’s Museum, “Our toddler had a blast at this great kids stop. We live in BC and have thought about planing a trip back to Seattle just to to this museum again.” (Thank you, Jillian, for sending in your review!)

Extra Tip!: Be sure to pick up a daily schedule when you enter the building; museum employees play games and plan activities all day long, such as scavenger hunts and storytimes! And for babies through 3-year-olds, check out their Discovery Bay section!

In the Ghana village, buy some fruits at the outdoor market or get a new hairdo or head wrap at the hairdresser\’s shop!

Date last visited: Ongoing visits.

Distance off the interstate: Two minutes, tops!

Hours: Monday-Friday: 10am-5pm, Saturday-Sunday: 10am-6pm (new admission sales end at 5pm) The Museum is closed Labor Day Weekend, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve Day, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day.

Admission Prices:

$7.50 Adults and Children
$6.50 Grandparents
$6.00 Groups of 10 plus
FREE Children under the age of one

Food Services: There’s a great food court located in the same building (Center House). Or, for restuarants near the Settle Center, check this directory!

Bathrooms: Located on-site.

Website: Seattle Children’s Museum

Phone/Information Line: (206) 441-1768

Tip! Save up to 50% on Seattle’s 5 best attractions with CityPASS. Shop Now!

Directions: The museum is located in the Seattle Center, by the Space Needle. From I-5, take the Mercer St/Seattle Center exit (exit 167). Turn right at the first traffic light onto Fariview, then turn left at the next traffic light onto Broad St. Turn right onto 5th Ave. The Seattle Center will be on your left hand side. Parking: you can park at the 5th Ave Garage on the corner of 5th and Harrison or the Mercer Street Garage on Mercer between 3rd Ave N and 4th Ave N. After parking, walk into the center of the campus to the Center House. The museum is on the first floor.

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