Family Attractions

TILLICUM VILLAGE

If you want to know more about the northwest native people I think the trip to Tillicum Village will answer your quest. This adventure starts with a narrated boat ride from Pier 55 across Elliott Bay to Blake Island. When you go ashore you’ll enter a cedar longhouse and discover the rich heritage of the Coast Salish tribes of Puget Sound. A delicious salmon dinner baked the traditional way is followed by a show of storytelling combined with symbolic Coast Salish dance. www.tillicumvillage.com.

NORTHWEST TREK

When I take a trip to Mt. Rainier I like to schedule a stop at 723 acre Northwest Trek to see native animals in their natural habitats. Go aboard a Northwest Trek tram for a naturalist-guided tour of free-roaming Northwest animals like bison, Roosevelt elk, moose, mountain goats and other favorites. In the core of the park walking tours gives you an opportunity to see grizzly bears, wolves, eagles and cougars in naturalistic exhibits. The park is open year-round, with each season giving you something new to experience. www.nwtrek.org.

SNOQUALMIE FALLS

A pleasant afternoons outing just an hour east of the city is spectacular Snoqualmie Falls. The Falls Park has two viewing platforms that let you walk to the railing edge to watch the falls cascades 268 feet over granite cliffs into a 65 foot pool and flows into the Snoqualmie River. If you are lucky enough to be at the falls when river floods you may see as much as 1500 cubic feet of water per second, roar over the cliff. Snoqualmie Falls has two historic hydroelectric power plants providing electricity to the valley. Bring a picnic lunch and enjoy the Falls Park grounds. www.snoqualmiefalls.com.

MT. ST. HELENS

Do you want to see an active volcano? A three hour ‘side trip’ south of Seattle is Mt. St. Helens the site of the 1980 volcanic eruption that chanced the mountain for ever. During a summer visit you’ll see the recovering Toutle River Valley with herds of elk and small trees, Forest Learning Center geologic exhibits and spectacular Mount St. Helens views from the Johnston Ridge Observatory. www.fs.fed.us/gpnf/mshnvm/

MT. RAINIER

The mountain peak you’ll see in Seattle is Mt. Rainier. You’ll hear the locals ask “is the mountain is out”?

Even though Mt. Rainier is only 80 miles southeast of the city, it is quite often hidden from view by the clouds.

But never fear, it will be revealed to you on your trip to Paradise on the south side of the National Park. From historic Paradise Inn follow trails through the summer meadows for great views of the glaciers that cover this 14,411 foot volcanic peak.

Get a new view of Mt. Rainier at the Crystal Mountain Resort on the Sunrise side of the National Park. Red gondola cars take 10 minute to lift you to the summit of Crystal Mountain for amazing views of Mt. Rainier just 12 miles away. Hiking trails in the summer and skiing in winter make this a wonderful way to enjoy Cascade Mountain views.

This will make your ears pop! The mountain is the highest volcanic peak in the Cascade Range. The most popular destination in the National Park is Paradise on the south side of the mountain. Summer visitors will find a lush meadow carpeted with wildflowers and trails to streams and waterfalls to explore.

You can drive to the mountain on Highway 7 through Tacoma to Paradise or take State Route 410 from Enumclaw to Sunrise and Crystal Mountain. If you’re not a mountain driver there are several escorted bus tours from Seattle.

Other Washington State mountains to visit in the Cascade Range include Mt. St. Helens to the south and Mt. Baker north near the Canadian border. Make a day trip from Seattle to either one of these volcanic mountains.

You can see more about the National Parks in my travel video: Washington State; A Scenic Tour

RIVER TRIPS

Whitewater rafting, float trips and fishing trips are all along the Cascade Loop including the Wenatchee River. The river has one of the top 10 whitewater rafting day trips in the country. Wear your life jacket. www.blueskyoutfitters.com

AIRPLANES

If you enjoyed a visit to the Museum of Flight in Seattle, just wait until you take a tour of the Boeing Assembly Plant in Everett about an hour north. Tours begin at the Future of Flight Aviation Center at Paine Field.

This is a great family event. They’ll enjoy trying out the aerospace exhibits that have activities like the chance to sit in an airplane cockpit and design their own commercial jet.

When it’s time for the tour, you’ll go inside the world’s largest building to watch the latest Boeing Airplanes being built. Advance reservations are required and some restrictions apply. www.futureofflight.org.

The Flying Heritage Collection is also at Paine Field. This premier aviation attraction showcases the spectacular warbirds -- a collection of 15 restored planes dating from the 1930’s. Examples include rare U.S., British, German, Russian and Japanese planes. The collection is housed in a restored working hanger. There are special fly-over days during summer months. www.flyingheritage.com.

ART GLASS

The “City of Destiny” - Tacoma – is home of the world renowned Museum of Glass where you can see artists at work in the ‘hot shop’. The museum features ongoing glassblowing demonstrations and changing glass exhibits. The museum is part of the Tacoma Museum District. Walk across the Bridge of Glass created by world renowned artist Dale Chihuly and into the historic district to visit more art glass at the,

Restored historic district buildings house shops to browse and places to get a bit to eat. www.museumofglass.org

AUTOMOBILES

One of my recent visitors was an antique car enthusiast and I could hardly get him away from the LeMay Auto Museum.

Located some 30 miles south of Seattle, the tour takes approximately 2 hours and includes viewing over 300 vehicles. Tours are conducted by trained docents and reservations are recommended. Wear your most comfortable walking shoes! www.lemaymuseum.org.

MUSEUM OF RADIO & ELECTRICITY

About 2 hours north of Seattle in Bellingham is a unique museum dedicated to the advancement of electricity and history of radio. An interactive collection of communications equipment and antique radios is featured. Displays include a reproduction of the Marconi wireless room onboard The Titanic. Docent tours are provided. www.amre.us/site/index.

NORTHWEST RAILWAY MUSEUM

My brother considers this to be the very best thing to do because it features historic railway equipment and summer train excursions on weekends to the top of Snoqualmie Falls.www.trainmuseum.org.

TULALIP MUSEUM

The Tulalip Tribes have opened the Hibulb Cultural Center designed to “keep their cultural fires burning”. A history of the bands that make up the Tulalip people are told using interactive wall and video displays with wood carved art works. Visit the longhouse to see a film of Tulalip Tribal members tell their family stories in their own words. Hand crafted art by Coastal Salish people is available in the gift shop. The beautiful Hibulb Cultural Center is at the Marysville exit off Interstate 5.