I will be traveling to the Seattle/Tacoma area with my 4 and 6 year old to be near my husband while he is in the hospital having a brain tumor removed. We will be there for 3 or 4 weeks, and my husband will be in the hospital most of that time. We plan on spending most of the time at the hospital, but I need to get the kids out some too so they do not drive us all insane. What are some good half day type activities in the area? Which zoo is better (I know there are at least 2)? What areas should I avoid or are unsafe?
Thanks so much. I simply need ways to keep my sons from focusing on their fear while Daddy is in the hospital. When I find out what hotel they will have us in I will see what is near.
When we lived in WA we spent a lot of time at the Point Defiant Zoo in Tacoma. Its a zoo with its own little aquarium
Sorry you have to come under these circumstances... I hope everything works well!
Here are a few tips:
Inside play:
- Seattle Children's Museum (at Seattle Center)
- Seattle Aquarium (Waterfront)
- Kidsquest Children's Museum (Bellevue, right across the lake)
- Seattle Parks and Rec. Community Center open play gym (inexpensive, all over the city, at certain days/times)
Outside play:
- Woodland Park Zoo (in Seattle, Greenlake Area)
- Point Defiance Zoo (in Tacoma)
- Beaches (there are different kinds: sandy or rocky, lake and sea, my faves: Alki (lots of traffic/crowded, but sandy - 2 block from the beach is Whale Tail Playground, which is nice, too), Golden Gardens (Ballard) and I also like Carkeel Park (rocky with tide pools and plenty of cool critters)
- I like Greenlake. Take a walk, hang out at the playgound or wading pool.
- There are a bunch of wading pools all over the city, free
- Plenty of cool, easily accessible parks with playgrounds
During the day Seattle is rather safe and you can pretty much venture anywhere.
Good luck!
I didn't have time to go when I visited Seattle, but I've heard that the Seattle Aquarium is amazing. I think it might be a bit of a drive from the SeaTac area though. (It's at Puget Sound.) http://www.seattleaquarium.org/netcommunity/page.aspx?pid...
I hope that your husband's surgery is a success and that he recovers quickly. Stay strong. Best wishes!
Wish you were coming to visit us under better circumstances!!! If you're in the Seattle area I've got loads of resources for you... but Tacoma is an hour + ish south. Which hospital will your husband be in?
It does depend on where you're staying. Point defiance zoo and aquarium is about a 45 minute drive from downtown Seattle. Ina had some great suggestions, we love Carkeek park too! Lincoln park is fun as well, in west Seattle. The Henry Moses aquatic center in Renton is a mini-water park. Greenlake is fun, pacific science center, EMP, university village, flagship REI store, and check out www.parentmap.com for other local events on their calendar! Sorry about the reason you're coming and hope your husband recovers fast. My grandmother has an inoperable brain tumor, so I'm glad he can be treated for his.
