Farm Animals + Rides = Family Fun Near Seattle
What's More Amusing than a Canoe Ride?
People in the Seattle area are not easily amused. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not that we here in the Northwest are not funny people. Quite the opposite really. I mean, take a look at some of our most famous citizens: Bill Gates - A laugh a minute. Kurt Kobain - What’s funnier than checking yourself out when you are at your prime? Ichiro - Most hilarious Japanese import since Mr. Miyagi.
Actually, we would be a lot more amusing up here in the Seattle area if it weren’t for the dearth of amusement parks we have to deal with. Perhaps it is the months on end of drizzle, outright rain, and grey skies that doesn’t lend itself well to outdoor family fun. Conversely, when the weather does get nice, there are endless natural wonders to behold. Whatever the reason be, when we do come across just such an amusing place, however small scale it may be, it is certainly worth mentioning.
This past weekend, my wife, son, and I visited Remlinger Farms and Family Fun Park in Carnation, Washington. Located about 35 minutes east of Seattle, Remlinger Farms is a unique family experience complete with acres of berry fields ripe for picking, a market loaded with fresh farm produce, a family friendly restaurant, various farm and fire vehicles to crawl in and around, a petting zoo where the little ones can get up close and personal with any number of goats, sheep, bunnies, chickens, or ducks, daily performance shows AND - you guessed it - rides.
Ever Rode in a Spinning Pumpkin?
Now these rides are not going to thrill many kids in the teen and older set. However, for the little ones such as my 2-year-old son, this park was a thrill a minute. There were pony rides, a slow paced canoe ride around a ‘raging’ river, a hay maze, old-time cars moving around a track where the little ones could get the sensation of driving, a long pedalcar track, bouncy rooms, a mini roller coaster and other carnival type rides including a thrilling pumpkin spin, and best of all for my son - a steam train leaving every 10 minutes. The train would circle the farm and view various farm and western themed displays before traveling through a darkened tunnel as it pulled back into the station.
Feeding the Animals at Remlinger Farms
The only issue I had with this park was its hours of operation. 10:30am - 4:30pm is not an ideal time for a toddler who naps at noon to see enough of this fun filled farm theme park. We ended up stretching his nap schedule but still left without doing all there was available. So, if you are vacationing in or around the Seattle area this ‘dry’ season, or if you live nearby and are just looking for a fun afternoon for the little ones, consider a visit to Remlinger Farms. Admission is $13.00 for ages 1 and up.
All Photos by Mrs. LIAYF
Snoqualmie Falls: Power and Beauty Minutes from Seattle
Snoqualmie Falls Washington
If you are from the Seattle area, or will be visiting soon and are looking for a short day trip which provides a taste of Washington’s stunning scenic beauty, along with the option to do some hiking, picknicking, or even have a first class spa and lodging experience, consider a trip to the foothills of the Cascade Mountains to see Washington’s picturesque Snoqualmie Falls.
Snoqualmie Falls, a short 30 minute trip east of Seattle off of Interstate 90, is one of Washington State’s most popular tourist destinations, attracting over one and a half million tourists each year to the picturesque 270 foot high waterfall. On a recent trip to Snoqualmie Falls my wife, son and I spent the afternoon on the grounds alternating our time between a large open grassy space (where we picnicked), walking some family friendly hiking trails, and a covered observation point jutting out over the the canyon which overlooked the raging water careening over the edge of the falls.
The Bottom of Snoqualmie Falls
The observation point has a concrete slab and sturdy railing which put us at ease while we allowed our young toddler to take in the sheer power of the falling water without his parents suffering a near heart attack every few minutes. Many energetic visitors to the falls take advantage of the relatively steep trail to the bottom, where they can visit a powerhouse and watch large turbines generating power then follow a boardwalk which brings them closer to the base of the falls, before having to turn around and make the trip back up to the top. We opted out of this option with our toddler in tow, but plan on taking him to the bottom as soon as he is big enough to walk most of it himself.
Salish Lodge perched above the falls.
Lastly, If after visiting the falls you decide that the picturesque scenery warrants a longer stay, consider booking a night at the Salish Lodge and Spa uniquely situated right above the falls themselves. I have not stayed there but I have only heard rave reviews from those I know who have.
All this scenic beauty is just minutes from Downtown Seattle. If you are here, what are you waiting for?
Photo credits: From Flickr Creative Commons top photo KM photography, second from Randy Wick; Salish loadge from salishlodge.com
Washington I-5 Due For Lots of Work This Year
Anyone driving through Snohomish County on I-5 at night over the next couple of years would do well to make sure the old iPod is in good working condition.
Ten of America’s Favorite Baseball Stadiums
Nothing says America better than baseball! Get a hot dog and beer and you’re ready to go.
Wrigley Field Home of the Chicago Cubs- Wrigley Field, Chicago Cubs
According to Obama in an interview with ESPN’s Stuart Scott, Wrigley Field is all about beer and beautiful people who aren’t serious about baseball. Prove Obama wrong and go to Wrigley Field to seriously watch a Cubs game.
Fenway Park Photo by charliekwalker@flickr - Fenway Park, Boston Red Sox
“America’s most beloved ballpark,” Fenway Park is truly a classic. It’s much the same as it was the day it opened on April 20, 1912. Go see what the Green Monster is all about, and why it’s so difficult to make a home run.
The New Yankee Stadium - Yankee Stadium, New York Yankees
The new Yankee Stadium, just north of the original in the Bronx, will open on April 3 and 4, for an exhibition game against the Chicago Cubs. No longer will Yankee Stadium be referred to as “The House that Ruth Built.”
Waiting for a home run in McCovey Cove at AT&T Park - AT&T Park, San Francisco Giants
It may be owned by AT&T but fans still call it Pac Bell Park. Watch Portuguese water dogs fetch home runs as they splash into McCovey Cove. And who is that pitching for the Giants? Why, it’s 45-year-old Randy Johnson, still throwing fastballs up to 95 mph.
Chase Field Home of the Arizona Diamondbacks - Chase Field, Arizona Diamondbacks
Where but in Arizona can you have a pool party at a major league baseball park? Reserve the Ridenow Powersports Pool suite which includes a private bar and plasma TV. pool rental comes with 35 game tickets, five parking passes, a beach towel and baseball cap for each guest.
The pristine Safeco Field in Seattle - Safeco Field, Seattle Mariners
The Kid is back! Seattleites are enthusiastically welcoming the return of Ken Griffey, Jr. And you don’t have to worry about wind, rain, or snow when you go to Safeco Field in Seattle. The one-of-a-kind retractable roof covers the ballpark without enclosing it.
PETCO Park with spring flowers - PETCO Park, San Diego Padres
Location, location, location–that’s the beauty of PETCO Park. Panoramic views of San Diego Bay can distract you from the game. And when the last out is made, the Gaslamp Quarter is right there with its huge selection of restaurants and pulsating nightlife.
Oriole fans in Baltimore - Oriole Park at Camden Yards, Baltimore Orioles
See the Orioles for free on your birthday. The Orioles are giving away tickets to fans during their birthday months–with the exception of the Yankees and Red Sox games. The season starts on April 6 at home against the Yankees. No freebies that day!
PNC Park and the Pittsburgh Skyline - PNC Park, Pittsburgh Pirates
Sitting alonside the Allegheny River, PNC Park has sweeping vistas of the downtown skyline and the riverfront. The Pirates have been Pittsburgh’s team for 115 years. That’s reason enough for celebration.
Activities around Coors Field - Coors Field, Colorado Rockies
Did you know that at the mile-high Coors Field the ball travels nine percent farther than at sea level? The row of purple seats twenty rows up on the upper deck and six rows from the top is exactly one-mile above sea level. Watch the Colorado Rockies play with a view of their namesake mountains in the background.
10 Reasons to Love The Museum of Flight
Museum of Flight in SeattleIf you are vacationing in the Seattle area and are looking for a cool daytrip for the whole family, consider a trip to The Museum of Flight. Located at the south end of Seattle’s Boeing Airport, The Museum of Flight is home to more than 150 historically significant air and spacecraft as well as several permanent exhibits which are sure to pique the interest of all in attendance. (Admission: Adults $14.00, Kids 5-17 $7.50)
I took my family on a recent outing with friends and we all had a terrific time. My 20-month-old is currently enamored with aircraft and the museum held his interest like few things do at that age. With several historic military, commercial, and experimental aircraft in the Main showroom (many hanging from the ceiling as if in mid flight), plus plenty of hands-on exhibits to see, this ended up being the perfect place to take a toddler on a rainy Seattle afternoon. There are numerous reasons to love visiting the Museum of Flight, but here are my top 10.
Top 10 Reason to love the Museum of Flight in Seattle, Washington
‘Flying’ Aircraft Adorn the Museum2. International Space Station - There is a whole exhibit dedicated to the exploration of space. Included is my 20-Month-old’s personal favorite, a full sized replica of the International Space Stations Destiny Research Laboratory. This replica had stairs on both ends and gave visitors the ability to walk through the capsule, which featured a ‘window’ on the passing earth below. This had my little one coming back over and over again.
3. Views of Runway - As I mentioned earlier, the museum is actually on the south end of Boeing Field in Seattle. The design of the museum uses this to its advantage as there are several banks of window throughout giving patrons a unobstructed view of take-offs and landings of a variety of private and commercial aircraft. My son let out several shrieks of delight while watching.
4. Cockpits and Flight Simulators - These features offer hands on experience of what it is like to sit in a real cockpit and “experience flight without leaving the ground”. The flight simulator has several options which include being in a WWII dogfight. You can also sit in the cockpit of a real SR-71A Blackbird. I have to say this was an impressive experience.
Future ‘Maverick’ still needs his ‘Goose’5. The Kid’s Play Area - There was a dedicated toddler play area for the little ones. It was full of interesting flight related climbing toys, gears, and plenty of buttons, lights, and switches to keep the little ones occupied and happy while you gaze out at the impressive hanging aircraft collection.
6. William M. Allen Theater - A great place to go to kick back in a comfortable seat and let the history and education of flight come to you. Check with museum for shows and times.
7. Carl Sagan’s Sweater - Yes, Carl Sagan’s actual blue sweater was on display in the Space: Exploring the New Frontier exhibit. It is only one of numerous fascinating items relating to space exploration or the study of it, on display in this exhibit. You can simulate bringing the Space Shuttle in for a safe landing at the Kennedy Space Center or land the lunar module on the Moon and join Apollo astronauts in an exploration of the Moon’s surface.
Carl Sagan’s Sweater8. The Red Barn - The Red Barn, which was built in 1909, is the Boeing Company’s original manufacturing plant. It was transported to its current site in 1983 and houses two floors of rare artifacts and a re-created factory workshop. We personally enjoyed this exhibit because of its wide open spaces where our son could get down and wander without fear of breaking anything.
9. Museum Gift Shop - As far as museum gift shops go, this one easily ranks at the top of all those that I have ever visited. It is chock full of memorabilia related to flight. Toy planes, books, posters, clothing, patches, you name it. If it is aviation related, you are likely to find it at this great gift shop. There was even freeze dried ice cream, like the astronauts eat in space.
10. Control Tower - Being situated just off on an actual airport runway lends itself nicely to The Tower at Boeing Field exhibit. Everything you wanted to know about the complex system of communications between pilots and air traffic controllers can be learned in this interesting exhibit.
If you thinking of visiting the museum and are looking for Lodging options in the Seattle area, try starting here. Have fun visiting the Museum of Flight!
