10.12.2023

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Today’s Forecast

🎉 It’s play time

Go Out and Play: Kid-Friendly Activities in Seattle

A child touches a glass tank at the Woodland Park Zoo as a Humboldt Penguin swims up.

The Woodland Park Zoo’s penguins are always a hit. | Photo via the Woodland Park Zoo

We’re not kiddin’ around. From major attractions like the Woodland Park Zoo to hidden gems like Kent’s Kherson Park, there’s something in the area for children of all ages. You’ll have no trouble entertaining the youngsters with this list of kid-friendly activities around Seattle.

🐷 Animal encounters

Kelsey Creek Farm Park, 410 130th Pl. SE, Bellevue
Kids can check out rabbits, pigs, sheep, and more furry friends in action at this year-round farm. Kids will remember the pony rides that accompany barn chores.

Woodland Park Zoo | 5500 Phinney Ave. N., Seattle | Family memberships available 🎟
Seattle’s major wildlife destination prides itself on sustainable practices and conservation, as well as engaging annual events. Kids will remember the Humboldt Penguins.

Kherson Park in Kent with a replica Mars rover, astronaut, and play version of a lunar landing module. — Kent’s Kherson Park is a perfect play area for aspiring cosmonauts.
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Photo via the City of Kent

🎓 Educational activities

Kherson Park, 307 W. Gowe St., Kent
Visits to this space-themed playground are an absolute blast with replicas of a lunar rover, a life-sized astronaut sculpture, and a mission control station. Kids will remember getting to use augmented reality at the park through the app Space for Kidz.

Wing Luke Museum, 719 S. King St., Seattle | Family memberships available 🎟
The Chinatown-International District museum offers a free, virtual story theater that complements many of the in-person exhibits. Kids will remember the wonderful art around the museum and a permanent Bruce Lee showcase.

A field filled with pumpkins in front of a red barn and a sign that says Bob's Corn a& Pumpkin Farm — Be sure to pick out a great pumpkin at Bob’s in Snohomish.
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Photo via Bob’s Corn & Pumpkin Farm

🎃 Fall with the family

Bob’s Corn and Pumpkin Farm, 10917 Elliott Rd. Snohomish
Hunt for a pumpkin and wind your way through the elaborate corn maze (which is open at night during October weekends). Kids will remember the freshly popped kettle corn available at the country store.

Kraken Community Iceplex, 10601 Fifth Ave. NE, Seattle
Little Kraken can cheer on Seattle’s NHL team as they practice or take the ice themselves on nights + weekends, while adults enjoy a beverage at the grill. Kids will remember themed events like pumpkin curling and Boy Band Bonanza.

22 more ideas this way

Asked

Kid-friendly bars and breweries are:

A. A life-saver for me and my family
B. A fun place to gather with a group of friends
C. Places I actively avoid

Let us know

Events

Thursday, Oct. 12

A Night at the Overlook | Thursday, Oct. 12 | 6 p.m. | WNDR Museum Seattle, 904 Alaskan Way, Seattle | $75 | Come and play with us, Danny... in an interactive murder mystery from Foulplay Games inspired by “The Shining.”
Seattle Queer Film Festival | Thursday, Oct. 12-Sunday, Oct. 22 | 7 p.m. | Northwest Film Forum, 1515 12th Ave., Seattle | $13-$50 | Check out a selection of 119 movies with LGBTQ+ themes, from narrative features to docs + shorts.

Friday, Oct. 13

Friday the 13th Jazz & Chess Club | Friday, Oct. 13 | 6-9 p.m. | Washington Hall, 153 14th Ave., Seattle | $25 | Move creepy-looking chess pieces around the board as a live jazz ensemble plays haunting melodies.
Best Kept Secrets | Friday, Oct. 13-Sunday, Oct. 15 | Times vary | Seattle Center Armory - TPS Theater, 305 Harrison St., Seattle | $20 | Enjoy plays by local creators like Rita Andreeva, Diana Martin, and Jorj Savage — and brag that you saw them first.

Saturday, Oct. 14

Annular Solar Eclipse Viewing Party | Saturday, Oct. 14 | 9-11 a.m. | Seattle Children’s Museum, 305 Harrison St., Seattle | Free | Grab those protective glasses and join the Seattle Astronomical Society in marveling at the rare phenomenon.
Oddities & Curiosities Expo | Saturday, Oct. 14-Sunday, Oct. 15 | 10 a.m.-6 p.m. | Seattle Convention Center, 705 Pike St., Seattle | $6-$249 | Shop for bizarro items to spruce up your Halloween display and check out amazing sideshow performers.
Guns N’ Roses | Saturday, Oct. 14 | 6:30 p.m. | Climate Pledge Arena, 334 First Ave. N., Seattle | $59-$350 | “Welcome to the jungle” — as promised, this iconic hair metal band’s got fun + games.

Sunday, Oct. 15

Maple Festival 2023 | Sunday, Oct. 15 | 5 p.m. | Seattle Japanese Garden, 1075 Lake Washington Blvd. E., Seattle | $6-$10 | Take part in Momijigari, the Japanese tradition of appreciating nature’s art, through a self-guided tour of the gorgeous garden.

Saturday, Nov. 4

Portland Book Festival: Viet Thanh Nguyen In Conversation with Tommy Orange | Saturday, Nov. 4 | 10 a.m. | Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, 1037 SW Broadway, Portland | $5-$30 | Author Viet Thanh Nguyen joins author Tommy Orange for a special conversation at the Portland Book Festival.*

Events calendar here

Click here to have your event featured.

Drink

Should you really drink 8 glasses of water per day?

LMNT supports all activities — from trail running with the family to making healthier spicy margaritas with the girls. | Photos by LMNT

Since the 1940s, we’ve been told to drink eight glasses of water per day. But drinking beyond thirst dilutes blood electrolyte levels (especially sodium levels), leading to headaches, low energy, cramps, confusion, or worse.

The key? Add electrolytes into the mix.

Enter: LMNT.

Created by scientists, LMNT has enough sodium, potassium, and magnesium to get you truly hydrated. It has zero sugar and artificial colors — while offering fan-fave flavors like Citrus Salt and Raspberry Salt.

Get a free sample pack with any purchase

News Notes

Civic

Mayor Bruce Harrell signed a big slate of legislation yesterday in support of his Downtown Activation Plan. The new bills include waiving citywide permitting fees for food trucks + carts until 2026, enabling more flexibility for hotels in Belltown, and creating incentives to build space for a new downtown school.

Transit

Washington State Ferries plans to find a builder for its new hybrid-electric boats in summer 2024. The new vessels are part of a larger plan to create more environmentally friendly transportation in the state, but we likely won’t see the new vessels until 2027. (Seattle Times)

Community

Ready, set, go... on down to the Seattle Go Center, which recently relocated to 6532 Phinney Ave. N. after decades in the U District. Go is an ancient strategy board game popular in China, Korea, and Japan. On Tuesdays from 3 to 9 p.m., the director offers players freshly baked bread. (PhinneyWood)

Eat

No joke, Serious Pie’s Ballard location is now open for indoor dining after years as a takeout-only joint. The popular pizzeria from restaurateur Tom Douglas has a selection of wood-fired pies and plans to serve cocktails on an outside loading dock. Happy hour is Wednesday-Friday, 3-5 p.m.

Fitness

The ball’s in the city’s court for a new pickleball area in West Seattle. The city recently created a website for the project that would convert former tennis courts at Lincoln Park. Construction is scheduled to begin by the end of fall.

Theater

Where all the Louisa May Alcott fans at? Seattle Rep has rolled out details about its upcoming production of “Little Women” at the Bagley Wright Theater. Performances run Nov. 10-Dec. 17, with tickets on sale now.

Biz

Flexing those muscles, the Puget Sound Business released its Power 100 list of local biz leaders. Among the top names are Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, real estate mogul Martin Selig, and Alisha Valavanis, president of the Seattle Storm. (Puget Sound Business Journal)

Sports

Say hello to UW’s new athletic director Troy Dannen, who came over from Tulane. Dannen takes over for Jen Cohen, who left for USC in August. He’s got a big job ahead of him as the Huskies plan to move to the Big Ten next year. (My Northwest)

Traffic

If you want more room for kids on the block to roam this Halloween, Seattle offers Trick or Streets. The program lets neighborhoods shut down certain streets to traffic from Oct. 28-Nov. 5 for seasonal, pedestrian fun. Apply at the Seattle Services Portal.

Seattleite

And the best neighbor award goes to… you, for directly supporting SEAtoday with the gift of your membership. Not only will you join our super cool membership club (and get perks including birthday shoutouts), but you’ll keep this newsletter free for the entire neighborhood. Way to go, neighbor.

Arts

Peep these amazing skull-ptures

What’s up with the new giant skulls around Seattle?

Three large calveras sculptures (gray, red, and yellow) side-by-side outside Westlake Center in Seattle, WA

See if you can find all ten of these calveras around town. | Photo via Downtown Seattle Association

Folks walking around downtown lately may have noticed head turning new artwork on display.

SEA Giant Skulls is an installation of 10 large sculptures celebrating the lead up to Dia de los Muertos (aka the Day of the Dead). Each skull — or calavera — was hand-crafted by acclaimed artist Hermes Arroyo in his hometown of San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, and then transported to Seattle.

The 4-ft-tall sculptures are also part of the Catrinas Festival, which takes place Nov. 2-5 at Town Hall. Be sure to mark your calendars and enjoy live mariachi performances, folk art, food, and a candlelight procession each night.

Before moving indoors for the fest, the calveras are on display for public viewing through October at these locations:

2+U
McGraw Square
Occidental Square
Pioneer Park
Van Vorst Plaza in South Lake Union
Westlake Park

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The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Gabe

From the editor

Did you win the $1.73 billion lottery drawing last night? If so, there’s a whole list of local stuff you can buy — including 203 million cups of Seattle’s most expensive latte.

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