Great Places to Be a Kid in Seattle

When you see the fortune telling machine you'll know you've arrived at the right spot to fill all your magic needs from fake thumbs to scarves.

Sea otters, Sea lions and jelly fish...oh my! They also have a tank to watch divers, a star fish petting area and lots of other cool creatures from the sea.

Need a punching nun, a whoopie cushion or a rubber chicken? No one really does but this palace to kitch and toys brings joy to kids of all ages anyway.

She is a beauty and while views of her from around the city have started to be blocked I'm always happy to catch a glimpse of her.Grab a ticket and enjoy the view!

Hop aboard a free sailing Sundays at 3 p.m., rent a boat and row about Lake Union or dive in to learn how to build a boat at one of their many classes. They also offer preschool story time on an historic tug.

Love. This. Place. This puppet center ran by the Carter family is a joy to visit regardless of your age. They also house a lovely puppet museum.

Come visit the dinosaurs on the first Thursday of the month and admission is free. Great public programs and a monthly trivia night are pluses.

One of only two outdoor pools open to the public in Seattle. This gem has lounge chairs, a dining area, and kiddie pool. Don't miss a wild ride down the twisty slide.

Packed with 100's of pieces of music related memorabilia and hands on exhibits it's a fine place to drop by on Free First Thursday.

Film, theatre, music, dance and visual art venues share space with a food court that is a cut above and the beloved International Fountain.

First-rate professional theatre produced for children by adults who don't believe in dumbing things down for kids. The small set gets VIP seating up front.

Though it's not part of the Free First Thursday program, the beauty of the House of Butterflies makes a membership a good idea. And remember use of the whisper dishes is always free!

Met with scorn by many locals, I finally took my first dip into the lake with the ducks last year (after living here over a decade) and I give them 4 quacks!

This long-time Seattle favorite runs affordable family friendly burger joints. Skip the onion rings and save room for a chocolate shake!

Frankfurter forever! That's what I wanted to chant the first time I tried one of their chicken dogs. Multiple locations, friendly service and affordable prices makes this dog worthy of a tail wag.

Decidedly more an amusment than an efficient mode of transport, it's still worth a ride between Westlake and Seattle Center. Duck when you go through EMP!

Love these tasty, organic, vegan donuts. Try the Nutty Chocolate or the Don King and scoop up some of their adorable merch with a squirrel snacking on a donut.

It's a bird. It's a plane. No it's a movie but in this IMAX theatre you could sometimes swear the objects are real. Keep you eyes peeled for special late night screenings.

Maybe you didn't know you needed a stuffed felt gnome before you walked into Schmancy but by the time you leave this pint sized shop filled with plushies you'll be sure it's just what you've been looking for your whole life.

With chocolate and wine on one side of the shop and ice cream and cupcakes on the other you can't go wrong. Also don't miss their signature hot chocolate.

Sometimes if you want something you have to make it yourself. And that is just what the founder did when she was looking for a non-alcoholic beverage to replace cocktails for pregnant women. The blood orange and cucumber are divine.

When the moon hits the sky like a big pizza pie that's amore--or maybe it's the gelato talking--this stuff is that good.

Not just a cakery this lovely room serves up all sorts of cookies, pocket pies, cocktails and culinary classes.

Roz and Kamala's beautiful bites now have a view to match, at their latest outpost in West Seattle. Outdoor dining, shaved iced, cocktails and arrival by water taxi make this the jewel in their crown.

This little bakery that could has hit it's stride with a half dozen locations in Seattle. The salted caramel does not suck but give their seasonal specials a try too!

Most museums aspire to be interactive. SPM gives you a chance to be all hands-on all the time with machines dating as far back as the Beatle's era. Don't miss the for display only machine dating back to 1932.

Formerly a philly steak shop this place is now serves up fresh gyros, falafels and greek and tabouli salads.

Founded by a group of QA neighbours this independently ran market has a solid selection of farm products and a fare amount of prepared food including a smoothy bike, ice cream, arepas and Cajun & Mexican bites.

Sweet and savory pretzels so good that they don't need the wide variety of dipping sauces they offer up. But it's always nice to have options-- no?

Do not miss this beautifully and efficiently designed, but nonetheless delightful for it, tribute to giant shoes. Take coins!