adorablyconfused's Passport
 | Been to 99 Attractions |
 | 86 Reviews |
 | 44 First to Review |
 | 128 Photos |
 | 116 Helpful Votes |
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Send a ComplimentAbout Me & My Family
We live in Seattle, just a few blocks from the Space Needle and love to experience all the city has to offer.
Our Family's Travel Personality
curious, relaxed, simple, easy_going
We Just Got Back From
Vancouver, BC
Our Favorite Vacation Spot
Honolulu
A Place We'd Love To Visit
Greece
Favorite Vacation Memory
My favorite vacation was the one my husband and I took to Hawaii right after I found out I was pregnant with our first child. We were on cloud nine- and in paradise!
Worst Travel Moment With My Kids:
I haven't really had one yet!
Websites I Like:
Ideas for a great holiday outing in downtown Seattle
If you're a parent with small kids, and you're looking for a fun way to experience the holidays in downtown Seattle without completely wearing out your family or your pocketbook, this is a great set of activities to consider! They're all free or low cost, are located close together, so you don't have to walk too far in the rain (this is Seattle, so let's be realistic). Throw in a few stops to shop downtown and a peppermint mocha or two, and you have a great outing for the whole family!
I'd suggest starting out your excursion at the Seattle Center Winterfest and parking in one of the lots nearby- they're plentiful and cheaper than parking downtown. And no dealing with driving in downtown Seattle! After the Seattle Center, take the monorail downtown- it's quick and a lot of fun.
305 Harrison St
Seattle, Washington
reviewed on: November 23 2009
"A fun activity for the whole family"
Winterfest is a holiday activity that my family participates in every year. We love to go to the Seattle Center and drink coffee or hot cocoa while we watch the Winter train travel around its track. The miniature village that the train travels around is full of surprises and great scenes that your family will love to see. And your child can even take a turn driving the train, for a small donation fee. There's also a ice skating rink and a carousel nearby, and there is often some sort of performance going on on the stage inside the Center House. You never know what you'll find at the Seattle Center, but Winterfest is always worth a visit.
370 Thomas Street
Seattle, Washington
reviewed on: October 17 2009
"A classic Seattle experience"
The Seattle Monorail is a classic Seattle experience- it was built for the 1962 World's Fair and has been carrying riders ever since! It doesn't go far- just traveling from the Seattle Center (underneath the Space Needle) to Westlake Center, in the heart of downtown. This is just a distance of a mile, and the train runs at 50 miles per hour, so it's a short ride, but a fun one, and definitely the best way to get to Seattle Center from downtown.This is another Seattle thing that we've been doing since my first child was a baby (he's just over two now), riding every few months to go downtown. My son loves the "choo-choo" as he calls it, and thinks it's great fun going fast as we look out the windows at the northern part of downtown.
The monorail is $4 round-trip for adults, $1.50 for kids 5-12 and $2 for seniors.
The only reason that I give this a 4 star rating instead of 5 stars is that in the 5 years that I've been living in the city, the monorail has had a few issues on occasion that have resulted in riders being rescued by the fire department. BUT- it's been several years since they've had any problems and no one has ever been even slightly hurt, so it's always just been an inconvenience.
If you're coming to Seattle, take a ride on the monorail. It's a great, fun experience that is a must-do- and you need some way to get to the Seattle Center, you can't miss the Space Needle and everything else that the Seattle Center had to offer.
And, how could you pass up the opportunity to ride the monorail that Elvis rode in his 1963 movie "It Happened at the World's Fair"!
401 Pine Street
Seattle, Washington
reviewed on: November 27 2009
"A nice holiday carousel"
During the holiday season, a beautiful carousel is set up in the middle of Westlake Park in downtown Seattle. Westlake Park is right next to Westlake Center (where the Monorail has its station) and is in the heart of the shopping district in downtown Seattle. The carousel is a nice big one, with beautiful animals. We've been riding this since our son was born. There are traditional animals to ride on, and some benches as well, so even if your kids are too small to sit on the animals, you can enjoy riding around and waving at everyone as you whoosh by.
Cost is by donation, a suggested price of $2/person. Proceeds this year go to Treehouse, a non-profit organization that helps kids in foster care.
Fairmont Olympic Hotel
411 University Street Seattle, Washington
reviewed on: November 23 2009
"A must-do activity during the holidays"
Visiting the Teddy Bear Suite at the Fairmont Olympic Hotel is at the top of my family's must-do list every holiday season. Located in the ultra-elegant Fairmont Olympic Hotel in downtown Seattle, the Teddy Bear Suite is just what it sounds like, two rooms decorated to the hilt with beautiful teddy bears and Christmas trees and gorgeous fabrics and lighting. There are books to sit and read with your children and perfect photo opportunities everywhere you look. Admission to the Teddy Bear Suite is free, but donations are accepted and go to benefit Seattle's Children's Hospital.
The Teddy Bear Suite is a little hidden- usually on the third floor in one of the corner hotel suites, but it's easy to ask the very friendly concierge or one of the doormen on your way in, and they will happily point you in the right direction.
Sheraton Hotel
1400 6th Avenue Seattle, Washington
reviewed on: November 23 2009
"Another must-do holiday outing"
Visiting the Gingerbread Village at the Sheraton Hotel in downtown Seattle is another must-do on my family's holiday outing list. The Sheraton is located in the heart of downtown Seattle, and every year the lobby is transformed with the most amazing gingerbread creations that you have ever seen. There is a theme for each year- the theme for 2009 is going to be "Reel Christmas" and will feature 8 displays honoring favorite holiday movies. We've been visiting this display since before we had kids, and never cease to be utterly amazed at what people can make with gingerbread and candy. It's like nothing you've ever seen.
This event is free, but donations are accepted on behalf of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
