Even if you’ve taken your grandchildren before, the recent expansion makes it worth another look. The most impressive addition is the 20 by 40 foot Window on Washington Waters showing animals you’d see on Neah Bay. Watch the kids’ eyes pop open when they see a diver wearing a mask on the other side of the window giving a presentation on the marine animals in the tank.
Contact no: (206) 386-4300
Location: 1483 Alaskan Way, Seattle, WA 98101
Learn more here.
The home of baseball’s Seattle Mariners is an attraction even when the team is on the road and during the off-season thanks to behind the scenes tours of the park. The tour may only last an hour, but the trip through the locker rooms, press box, and other private areas will leave your baseball loving grandchildren starstruck even if they don’t see anyone famous.
Contact no: (206) 346-4001
Location: 1250 First Avenue S, Seattle, WA 98134
Learn more here.
It may be a working farmers market, but it’s also one of Seattle’s best known attractions with plenty for a grandchild to love; including street performers, salmon-throwing fishmongers, food stands, toy stores, a cheesemaker, a doughnut-making machine, and a scary monkfish that will frighten grandchildren and delight adults.
Contact no: (206) 682-7453
Location: Pike Street and First Avenue, Seattle, WA 98101
Learn more here.
If you want the budding scientists in your family to sing your praises, this is the place to go. It’s one of the coolest museums in town with a tidal pool touch tank, robotic insects, a butterfly house, and a science playground. Other offerings include laser shows, a planetarium, and two IMAX theaters where you can see the latest Hollywood blockbuster on a six-story, 80-foot wide screen and a variety of other films in 3-D.
Contact no: (206) 443-2001
Location: 200 Second Avenue North, Seattle, WA 98109
Learn more here.
The St. Francis is a lovely hotel, and one of the best things about it is that security doesn’t seem to mind when people who aren’t hotel guests use its glass elevators. There are five elevators that run the height of the building and offer spectacular views of the city and the Bay. It’s well-known to locals that this is the best view in town. children enjoy taking a trip to the top almost as much as they like Fisherman’s Wharf. Sure, this isn’t a traditional tourist attraction, but it’s so much fun. And since it’s free, you can’t argue with the price.
Contact no:(415) 397-7000
Location: 335 Powell Street, San Francisco, CA 94102
Learn more here.
The Wave Organ, an Exploratorium artist-in-residence piece, is a wave-activated acoustic sculpture located on a jetty in the San Francisco Bay at the tip of the Marina. It’s not a video game, nor is it in high definition. It doesn’t shock you terribly or run up your credit card. It just makes a very pleasant sound that your children will find delightfully bizarre. Waves going through the Wave Organ make it play something that’s not quite music, but certainly not just noise. It’s like stepping inside one of the seashells that you hold up to your ear.
Contact no: (415) 561-0360
Location: 1 Yacht Road, San Francisco, CA 94123
Learn more here.
If San Francisco has a heart, it’s in Union Square. This open-air plaza is ideal for sitting to enjoy a drink while you watch tourists, businessmen, shoppers, street performers and all the rest of the residents of the City by the Bay. Be sure to check local listings to see if any events are taking place in the Square, as the plaza is home to art shows, fashion shows, parties, and sometimes demonstrations, political and otherwise. On the plaza, there is a little café where you can get pastries, coffee or a glass of wine. Union Square is home to the TIX booth (350 Powell Street); buy discounted tickets there to shows at the downtown theaters.
Contact no: (415) 433-7827
Location: Post Street and Stockton Street, San Francisco, CA 94102
Learn more here.
San Francisco is home to one of the “most popular historic vessels in the country”; it is a giant WWII submarine that sank six Japanese ships. Now, it’s a living museum where you and your children can marvel at this immense symbol of military brawniness. Submarines are inherently fascinating to kids, and any children learning about World War II in history class should definitely see the USS Pampanito for a well-rounded lesson in the past.
Contact no: (415) 775-1943
Location: Pier 45, San Francisco, CA 94133
Learn more here.
Located on the 19th (and top) floor of the InterContinental Mark Hopkins Hotel, the world-renowned sky-bar affords an almost 360 degree vista of San Francisco, including views of the magnificent Golden Gate Bridge, Fisherman’s Wharf, and Alcatraz. The Top of the Mark is as famous for its 100 different martinis as it is for the view, but before 8pm, it serves soft drinks for the children as well.
Contact no: (415) 616-6916
Location: 1 Nob Hill, San Francisco, CA 94108
Learn more here.
The Ghost Hunt is a walking tour of San Francisco which focuses on ghosts and other paranormal activity. The organizers claim that all of their information is backed up by research, but we’re not so sure. Even skeptical kids will have fun on this two-hour tour. The tourguide, Jeff Fassbinder, says this is a chilling supernatural adventure, so please dress warmly because it gets chilly at night in San Francisco. This hunt is not recommended for children 8 and younger.
Contact no: (415) 922-5590
Location: 1590 Sutter Street, San Francisco, CA 94109
Learn more here.
