Children's Museum at Seattle Center

c/o Seattle Center House 305 Harrison

206 - 441-1768

The Center has exhibits and hands-on activities for the whole family. Check out "Mountain Forest," which describes and shows the flora and fauna of the Pacific Northwest, and "Discovery Bay," an infant/toddler area designed to exercise motor skills.

Rosalie Whyel Museum of Doll Art

1116 108th Ave. N.E.

425-455-1116.

Monday-Saturday 10 am-5 pm, Sunday 1-5 pm.

Across Lake Washington in Bellevue is the Rosalie Whyel Museum of Doll Art, a spectacular collection of collectible and antique dolls, teddy bears, miniatures and toys. The sophisticated displays interest doll and toy collectors as well as children..

Odyssey, The Maritime Discovery Museum

Pier 66, 2205 Alaskan Way

206-374-4000

Daily 10-5

Admission charged.

The center has four galleries with more than 40 interactive exhibits that explore Seattle’s waterfront heritage. The entryway looks through glass onto the pier and the Sound. The next gallery shows the many ways that Puget Sound is used by freighters, ferries, ships and boats. A virtual kayak journey follows. The Harvesting the Sea gallery explores the world of commercial fishing. An outdoor observation deck on the 5th floor provides panoramic views of Elliott Sound, the waterfront and the Seattle skyline.

Seattle Aquarium - Marine Park

Pier 59, Waterfront Park

206 – 386-4320, Fax: 206 -386-4328

daily, in summer 10 am-7 pm, after Labor Day 10 am-5 pm.

Admission charged.

The salmon ladder at the Seattle Aquarium offers a bottoms-up view Home to sea otters, harbor seals, jellyfish, nautilus, diving seabirds and 366 species of fish, the Seattle Aquarium on Pier 59 offers an up-close look at Northwest sea life. A highlight is "Sound to Mountains: A Watershed Journey," which recreates an interactive watershed and educates viewers as to the importance to salmon of functioning watersheds.

Visitors can watch diving birds be fed at 11 a.m.; divers feed the fish each day at 1:30 p.m.; the otters, harbor seals and fur seals are fed at 11:30 a.m., 2 and 5 p.m.

This aquarium offers a compact collection of marine exhibits, including sea lions, sea otters and an enlightening depiction of Puget Sound's intertidal life and salmon runs. One such salmon run returns to the aquarium itself

Woodland Park Zoological Gardens (Zoo)

5500 Phinney Avenue North

206 - 684-4800, Fax: 206 - 684-4854

Winter hours: 9:30 am-dusk (last admittance 4 pm). Summer hours: daily 9:30 am-6 pm.

In Seattle's city zoo, the elephants inhabit a state-of-the-art habitat (funded by voter bonds at US$1 million per elephant). The newest exhibits are the Asian Trail of Vines and a 6-acre/2.4-hectare Northern Trails exhibit with bald eagles, bears, otters and snowy owls. There's also a penguin area.

Seattle Center

305 Harrison Street

206 - 684-7240, Fax: 206 - 684-7342

Seattle Center general information: 206-684-7200

The 1962 World's Fair, also known as the 'Century 21 Exposition', brought in over 9 million visitors from around the world for a glimpse of Tomorrow, Seattle-style. What remains of the futuristic enclave of exhibition halls, arenas and public spaces is today called the Seattle Center.

The center hosts more than 1,500 events every year, including summer festivals celebrating the cultures of the Philippines (June 10-11), China (June 16-18), Brazil (Aug. 20) and Tibet (Aug. 26-27).

The grounds are home to dance, theater, opera, museums and Key Arena.

The following are part of the Seattle Center:

(1 ) Space Needle

219 4th Avenue North

206-443-2100

The Space Needle is a 600ft (180m) rocket styled observation station and restaurant. After the 41 second zip up its elevators to the top, visitors are treated to breathtaking 360° views. The top of the 605-foot Space Needle is the best place to orient yourself to the city and its surroundings

Observation Towers

Bank of America Tower (formerly Columbia Seafirst Tower), 701 Fifth Ave., offers a dramatic but less panoramic view from the 73rd floor because its observation deck doesn't go completely around the building. Hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays; 206-386-5151.

The best free view in the city may be from the 108-step climb to the top of the old water tower in Volunteer Park on Capitol Hill. Open daily.

(2) Monorail

206-441-6038;

A 1.5 mile (2.5km) experiment in mass transit, is another signature piece of the 1962 fair. Today, it provides fun and frequent transport between downtown and Seattle Center, covering the distance in only two minutes. It runs at least every 15 minutes daily, 7:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, between Seattle Center and Westlake Center. Tickets are $1.25 for adults, 50 cents for children 5-12 and seniors, free for children under 4.

(3) Pacific Science Center

200 Second Avenue North

For general information, call 206-443-2001

Laser Light Show:206-443-2850

Planetarium: 206-443-2920.

IMAX Theater: 206-443-4629

The Pacific Science Center has hands-on exhibits for children, an impressive new Boeing IMAX Theater and a gift shop. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays, and to 6 p.m. weekends and holidays.

Located at the Seattle Center, the Pacific Science Center houses the Willard W. Smith Planetarium, with ever-changing shows on such subjects as dinosaurs, space exploration and Alaska. Monday-Friday 10 am-5 pm, Saturday and Sunday 10 am-6 pm.

In the museum's Science Playground, you can play tic-tac-toe with a robot or virtual basketball.

The IMAX theater has hourly screenings 10 am-8 pm.

Laser light shows at the Boeing Spacearium feature music from artists ranging from Sinatra to Hendrix. Shows run throughout the day (midnight show on Saturdays.

(4) Fun Forest - Seattle Center - Amusement Park

370 Thomas Street

206 - 728-1585 or 206-684-8582

(open noon to midnight daily in summer)

Fun Forest Amusement Park—Located at the Seattle Center, this modest amusement park has rides geared toward children, bumper cars and miniature golf.. On the north end of downtown, at the foot of Queen Anne Hill.

(5) Children's Museum at Seattle Center

c/o Seattle Center House 305 Harrison

206 - 441-1768

The Center has exhibits and hands-on activities for the whole family. Check out "Mountain Forest," which describes and shows the flora and fauna of the Pacific Northwest, and "Discovery Bay," an infant/toddler area designed to exercise motor skills.