As family-friendly cities go, there's nothing not to like about Seattle. For starters, it has a drop-dead gorgeous setting surrounded by water and mountains. You’re never far from nature, yet have easy access to endless cultural enrichments, too. One property with proximity to both is Edgewater Hotel, on the city’s waterfront, with killer views of both Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains. It's also within walking distance of the best cultural institutions in the Emerald City.

If you're planning a fall visit (before the rainy season really sets in), the Edgewater’s Stay n' Save package is extra tempting, since it rewards you on a sliding scale; the longer you stay, the more you save. You get 10% off a two-night stay, 20% off a three-night stay, 30% off a four night stay, or a whopping 40% off a five-night stay. When we priced out a five-night stay in early October, the regular nightly rates ranged from $269 to $319 for a family suite, a 500-square foot room with two beds and a pull-out sofa. This deal brings the average nightly rate down to  $172 a night, for a total of $995 for the five nights. (Kudos to the Edgewater for using the lowest available rate to calculate the percentage discounts. As we've discovered in the past, hotels and resorts sometimes use tricky math when giving away "free nights" and discounts.)

Rooms have gas fireplaces, overstuffed chairs, and knotty-pine furniture. About half of them have water-and-mountain views  (the remainder have downtown views).  Plus, you could easily make this a car-free trip. You can walk to the famous Pike Place Market, the Seattle Aquarium and the new Olympic Sculpture Park, all along the water. Meanwhile, with the hotel set on the edge of downtown, you’re even within reasonable walking distance to historic Pioneer Square, downtown shopping (including the flagships for Nordstrom and REI) and the Monorail, which can take you to the Space Needle and kid-friendly museums such as the Experience Music Project and the Pacific Science Center. Seattle has an extensive and friendly bus system, too, if your littlest companions would rather ride. 

You must book the Stay’n’ Save package by October 12 and complete your stay by October 31.

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