The Seattle Traveler

December is a great month to take kids to the Tacoma Art Museum, AND it won’t put a dent in your holiday budget!
During the month of December, visitors 6 – 18 years of age get FREE admission to the Tacoma Art Museum.  Kids under 5 are always FREE. 
Brett Willis, president of the museum’s Board of Trustees said:  “Our Museum is a safe place where children and their families can come together to explore, think creatively, and build stronger connections, all through art.”
The museum’s permanent collection includes a rotating display of pieces of Northwest Art, Glass, Studio Art …read more

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Enjoy a little winter fun this weekend as Seattle Center’s Winterfest 2008 opens on Friday with a performance of seasonal music by the Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestra.  Opening ceremonies follow this kick off performance, and thus begins five weeks of music, dance, and other festivities celebrating the holiday and winter season.
This annual event is designed to brighten the holiday and winter season by providing multi-cultural and multi-age entertainment and activities in a family-friendly FREE environment. 
Here are some ideas of what you can see during Winterfest: ice sculpture, Northwest Boychoir, Winter Solstice Fire Festival, Senior Holiday Ball, Circus Contraption …read more

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It’s pumpkin time at Jubilee Farm, and that mean tons of family activities (in addition to pumpkins) at this 30-acre Community Supported Agriculture Farm in Carnation.
Every weekend in October will feature hay wagon rides, hot spiced apple cider, and a variety of family friendly activities.  Pick out the perfect Halloween pumpkin.  Or let the kids have fun in the hay maze in the barn loft.  There are cooking demonstrations, a farmer’s market where you’ll find reasonably priced organic produce, and some farm animals eager for a little attention.
Location:  229 West Snoqualmie River Road, Carnation (map it)
Date & Time:  Saturday …read more

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Next week (the third week in October) is National Wolf Awareness Week, and there’s no better place to celebrate than at Wolf Haven International in Tenino.  Wolf Awareness week celebrates the importance and beauty of the wolf, and to recognized its comeback from near endangered status.
During Wolf Awareness Week, October 19-25th, Wolf Haven is offering lots of special events, including FREE guided tours of the sanctuary.
Wolf Haven also serves as a pre-release breeding facility for Mexican gray wolves, and is well known for its educational programs.
Location:  3111 Offut Lake Road SE, Tenino (map it)
Hours:  Vary depending on time …read more

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Details:  The Seattle Aquarium, located on the Seattle waterfront, is a great place to visit any time of the year.  There’s lot to keep the attention of kids of all ages – and adults, too!
 
Photo credit:  personal collection
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Every city has  statues honoring its founders, heroes, and other special citizens of the city.  In Seattle, one of those special citizens, and a hero to many, is Chris Wedes, known to most of us as J.P. Patches.
For those of us growing up in Seattle, especially during the 60’s, J.P. Patches was “The Man.”  I remember watching him every afternoon!  He lived in the city dump, and had crazy friends like best pal Gertrude and Ketchikan the Animal Man, Sheriff Shot Badly, and Boris S. Wort (the world’s second-meanest man).  J.P.  had an I-C-U-2 TV set, and wanted me …read more

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A 2008 study by the Americans for the Arts found that Seattle has the most artist-related business (per capita) in the entire U.S.  To those of us who live here, this comes as no surprise, but if you haven’t been to Seattle recently, you’ve got an amazing assortment to choose from.
And let’s not forget that there’s much in the way of arts to offer the children of the community as well.
Seattle Children’s Theatre has a great line up of performances for its 2008-09 season:

Bluenose – October 17th – December 14h.  A pirate story with an underlying message of tolerance …read more

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Kite flying gets cranked up a notch at the Washington State International Kite Festival, a week long competition and celebration held annual in Long Beach, Washington.
The festival attracts famous kite flyers from around the world, along with local casual flyers, and lots of spectators who spend the week looking up at the colorful kites.  You’ll see lots of creative shapes and colors filling the sky.
Events are scheduled to target every level of enthusiast, and lots of kids and family activities are included.  It’s a great way to spend a weekend at the beach.
Location:  Long Beach, Washington
Dates & Times:  August …read more

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Sometimes kids just gotta be kids.  And if they’ve been pretty good sports about all the cultural and educational sights, chances are all of you can use a bit of break to blow off some steam.
Let them do it at the Seattle Waterfront Arcade on Pier 57.
With 16 video games, 17 ticket games, and five of those silly cranes that dig for prizes, there’s plenty to keep the kids occupied for awhile without stressing parents out about violent video games.  There are some video games that seek and destroy aliens, but these are more family friendly (no sex, less …read more

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