Seattle is a wonderful place to visit. I tell all my friends from around the globe that if they ever get the chance to travel here, they should jump at the chance…but be sure to travel in the Summer. With plenty of sunshine, gorgeous scenery, low humidity, and temperatures that average in the upper 70’s, Summer in Seattle is what you could call a travel ‘no brainer’. Just show up and you will enjoy yourself.

But, alternatively, say you live here, have young children, it’s January, and the grey, moisture-filled clouds stretch endlessly across the horizon day after day. As a first-time father of an energetic 18-month-old, I’m finding it difficult to fill soggy winter vacation days and weekend afternoons with indoor activities that will keep the little one interested, occupied, and more importantly properly exercised and worn out so my child will give me the gift of a sleeping through the night.

So, when my wife and I find a new place that fills that very description, we are quick to spread the word to our newly formed network of friends with little ones of similar age as our boy. We found just such a place this past weekend – a local children’s museum. The concept of the children’s museum is to give kids a place to go to learn about how the world around them works in a hands-on, interactive environment. As the parent of a very hands-on boy, it is amazingly refreshing to take him to a place with loads of alluring buttons, switches, and lights and not have to say “Don’t touch!” every 30 seconds.

Water Table at the Hand's On Children's Museum

Water table at Hand's On Children's museum

This past Saturday, we visited the KidsQuest Children’s Museum in Bellevue, just across Lake Washington from Seattle. This museum is a toddler nirvana with loads of fun, interactive exhibits designed specifically with children in mind. With several rooms (including a water feature room, a music room where kids can jump in and make music of their own, a pneumatic handkerchief run, a toddler specific play area with endless buttons to push and lights to turn on and off, and a full-size 18-wheeler cab), this children’s museum kept our little guy, as well as many other children, occupied, entertained and interested for hours on end.

The KidsQuest Children’s Museum is one of five children’s museums in the Seattle area and only the second one we have visited recently with our little guy, but we plan on checking out the others soon enough. So, if you happen to be visiting Seattle with young children during one of Seattle’s world famous rainy days, and need somewhere to take them which will certainly be an affordable and popular choice, then check out one of these great children’s museums. You’ll be happy you did.

KidsQuest Children’s Museum, Bellevue Washington -  ($7.00 General Admission) January features ‘Celebrations around the world’ in which kids can explore different cultures through hands on exhibits.

The Children’s Museum at Seattle Center, Seattle Washington – ($7.50 admission adults and children) Curious George exhibit runs January 24th – May 10th.

Imagine Children’s Museum, Everett Washington -  ($7.00 General Admission) Monthly ‘Play Daze’ Grown-Up and Child Mini Day Camps available for registration.

Hands On Children’s Museum, Olympia Washington -  ($7.95 admission adults and kids over 2; $4.95 Kids 12 – 23 months) Popular ‘Sand in the City’ exhibit every 4th weekend in August.

Children’s Museum of Tacoma, Tacoma Washington – ($6.00 General Admission) Permanent and traveling exhibits and dance classes.

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