Say Hi to a Reindeer

One of the best things you can do in Leavenworth is going to the cute reindeer farm that is just 5 minute’s drive from downtown. Here, you will learn about the reindeer that live on the farm, hold their antlers, and even get a tiny cup of food to feed them. You also get a free cup of hot chocolate or cider that you can enjoy while getting up close with the reindeer. Close to the farm is a shop that offers cute and attractive Christmas items, so you can stop there to do some shopping. 

The reindeer farm gets busy during the winter season, so it’s best to book your tickets before you head here.

Explore the Village of Lights

Every Christmas, the people of Leavenworth decorate the village with about 500,000 Christmas lights hence the term ‘Village of Lights’. One of the best things to do while you are here is to stroll through the area to take in the magical festive decor, take pictures, see live carols, and make a gingerbread house. You can also enjoy Gluhwein at the Gluhwein tents, try chestnut roastings, and enjoy the series of live entertainments.

The Nutcracker Museum

One of the best times to visit the Nutcracker Museum is at Christmas, especially since it’s dedicated to a Christmas icon, Nutcracker. At the Nutcracker Museum, visitors can explore the more than 7000 nutcrackers, some dating back to 500 years ago.

Shop at Christkindlmarkt

Leavenworth Christmas Market features a variety of goods like clothes, arts, food, and other Christmas-themed goods, making it a perfect place to do some Christmas shopping. Christkindlmarkt also features a lantern parade, Christmas-themed entertainment, and a display of goods by different artisans. This shopping festival offers the opportunity to try out Bavarian foods and is held at Front Street Park and Leavenworth Festhalle. 

Go Snow Tubing

Another fun activity to enjoy during your visit to Leavenworth is snow-tubing on the Leavenworth Ski hill. This exhilarating ride lets you reach the 100-foot hill, where you can enjoy a hot cup of cocoa around the fire. You can also enjoy other activities at the Leavenworth Ski Hill, like sledging, snowmobiling, sleigh riding, and skiing.

Eat at a Bavarian Restaurant

Leavenworth is home to many restaurants serving delicious German food where you can enjoy traditional favorites. One of the things you can do while on a Christmas trip to this village is to dine at as many Bavarian restaurants as possible. 

Ride the Alpine Coaster

Leavenworth has a massive alpine slide that runs year round. 

Try Brews at the Local Breweries

Being in Leavenworth in winter means there will be plenty of local brews to try out. There are tons of breweries and pubs where you can grab a beer, but one of the people’s favorites is the Icicle Brewing Company.

If beer isn’t your thing, you should try out a glass of Gluhwein which you will find at many Christmas markets. This German beverage is best enjoyed during winter, and it’s made up of wine spiced with cinnamon sticks, oranges, and star anise. There are also a lot of tasting rooms where you can try out fantastic local wines. 

Soak at Scenic Hot Springs

Scenic Hot Springs in Leavenworth is one of the most magical hot springs in Washington. Here, you will find three hot tubs suspended in a remote valley, and although they are on private property, you can reserve a spot to soak in them. 

Shop for Ornaments at Kris Kring

Kris Kring is the perfect shop for festive decor, ornaments, and souvenirs. The store features a collection of beautiful holiday ornaments that will make stunning home decor. 

Best Restaurants to Eat at Leavenworth

From Bavarian meals to 8 course dining experience, there are many restaurant options for you in Leavenworth:

Andreas Keller: This restaurant offers a great Bavarian menu over live music and gorgeous decor. Andreas Keller is one of the best German restaurants you can find in the town, and you get served by waiters in Bavarian attire. 

Gingerbread Factory & Danish Bakery: For gingerbread cookies and Danish pastries, you should head to this gingerbread factory on Front Street. 

Leavenworth Sausage Garten: For delicious sausages and large German beers, this restaurant is for you! They also serve delicious pretzels, potato salads, and Bratwurst.

Munchen House: Munchen House serves one of the best pretzels in town, and you can pair it with their great selection of wines.

Mana: Mana is a great fine dining option with a delicious menu made from high-quality, locally sourced ingredients. 

Tips for Enjoying Your Christmas in Leavenworth, Washington

Here are some of the tips for visiting Leavenworth at Christmas:

Book in Advance

Leavenworth gets a lot of crowds during Christmas because that is when most people come to this town. Aside from the fact that you need to prepare to deal with the crowds, you also need to reserve accommodation in advance to find a room. Some popular recommendations for visitors in Leavenworth include the Bavarian Lodge, Linderhof Inn, and Enzian Inn.

Bring Winter Clothing

Another tip to help you enjoy your Leavenworth, Washington Christmas is packing appropriately for winter. It gets really cold in this town, so pack enough winter clothing, like your jackets, snow shoes, and beanies, to help you stay warm while enjoying all the adventures this place has to offer. 

Arrive Early

If you don’t like crowds, then you should consider arriving in the town before or after Christmas. Although Christmas is just a day, celebrations start way before and continue after Christmas too. 

Know Where The Bathrooms Are

This may be a funny one, but the thing about Leavenworth is that most shops don’t have a public restroom. Meanwhile, between the cups of cocoa and glasses of beer, you will need a plan for when nature calls. There are public restrooms around the town, so it’s a good idea to get familiar with their location for when you need them. 

Where to Stay in Leavenworth

Bottom Line

Leavenworth is a great Christmas vacation, and you are sure to have the merriest celebration by following the above tips and guide. 

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The post Leavenworth, Washington Christmas Travel Guide appeared first on Mommy Travels.

I moved to Spokane as a 14-year-old girl in 1987. It took a while for the people and places of the Inland Empire to feel like home but now I have years of wonderful memories. Some things have stayed the same while there has been rebirth, deconstruction and new construction in other parts of the city and there is so much to see, experience, and enjoy. Here’s my list of the top 12 things to do while visiting Spokane.

Historic Davenport Hotel

The Historic Davenport, Autograph Collection Credit: ©wernersegarra

You don’t have to book a stay at the Historic Davenport Hotel in Spokane to immerse yourself in its rich history. From the moment you enter the lobby, stepping foot onto the marble tile, you are instantly transported back in time. The walls are lined with photos telling stories of the past, and display cases on the mezzanine level contain items of interest from guests and events of a bygone era. 

Be sure to walk into at least one of these breathtaking ballrooms at the Davenport Hotel:

• Marie Antoinette Ballroom
• Isabella Ballroom
• Grand Pennington Ballroom

Dine at the Palm Court Grill for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Better yet have dinner in the upscale Peacock Room Lounge. The Davenport Salon & Spa offers a variety of services, treatments, and amenities but you will need to make reservations!

Spokane’s Downtown Skywalks

An example of Spokane’s Downtown Skywalks

In February of 1963, Spokane’s first skywalk was built over First Avenue between Howard and Stevens. The rest of the 16-bridge system rapidly developed over the following decades. The idea was that as the downtown began to lose its vitality, an enclosed skywalk system would not only mimic the suburban mall shopping experience, but also separate cars and pedestrians.

They’re not as visionary as they once were and second-story shoppers will find more offices than shopping experiences as they traverse through the skywalk system but they are an important part of the history of the city and will make for fun photos.

Clinkerdagger Restaurant at the Spokane Flour Mill

Reservations are not required but its recommended to make them on weekends or holidays as this is a popular spot. Located in the historic Flour Mill. The Spokane Flour Mill worked regularly until 1972 before it closed its doors but was soon converted into a shopping center in preparation for EXPO ’74. 

Clinkerdagger Restaurant has a large portion of its seating on the side of the mill facing the water. If you’re lucky enough to get one of those tables, enjoy the views of the fast-moving Spokane River and Riverfront Park.

Riverfront Park

Take a walk around the beautiful Riverfront Park. Enjoy playgrounds, paved walkways, bridges that span the Spokane River, the historic clock tower and many revitalized structures from EXPO ’74.

You’ll find plenty to do at Riverfront Park including:

• Visiting the Pavilion
• Skate Ribbon
• Skyride
• Looff Carrousel
• Spider Jump
• Pedal Karts 

You’ll definitely want to photograph the clock tower and tickle the ivories on one of the “Play Me” pianos.

Oh and in the winter you can ice skate on the Skate Ribbon. How amazing is that!

John A Finch Arboretum

Located in southwest Spokane on 65 acres of wooded hills, the Arboretum is a botanical collection of trees and woody plants. Enjoy the varied landscapes which range from native pine forest to shady glen filled with rhododendrons. There are seasonal activities planned at the Arboretum year-round and tours are available. You can also download a Walking Guide for a self-guided tour. Visit in the fall if you can, you’ll never forget the beauty and contrast of the changes leaves.

Nishinomiya Tsutakawa Japanese Garden

Japanese Garden in Manito Park of Spokane during the autumn season.

The Nishinomiya Tsutakawa Japanese Garden was completed in 1974 and symbolizes the friendship of Spokane and its sister city, Nishinomiya, Japan. Entrance into the garden is free. Enjoy the manicured walking paths along with the tranquility of the landscape and pond.

The Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist

St. John’s Cathedral is one of the few examples in the United States of classic Gothic architecture. The Cathedral, begun in 1925, is the fulfillment of the dream of the Right Reverend Edward Makin Cross, third Bishop of Spokane.

See what makes St. John’s an architectural destination. You can visit St. John’s Cathedral, 9 am-4 pm, Monday through Saturday, or take a guided tour. There’s no charge for small groups. If you can’t make it in person you can experience one of Spokane’s most beautiful and iconic buildings in this video from KSPS Public TV.

Arbor Crest Wine Cellars at The Cliff House Estate

Arbor Crest Wine Cellars at The Cliff House Estate

A crown jewel of the Inland Northwest, Arbor Crest Winery is located on a cliff-top setting that will take your breath away. This is truly a unique place to visit. 

At Arbor Crest Wine Cellars you can expect to enjoy:

• Wines by the flight, glass or bottle
• Live music two evenings a week
• Legendary concerts in the summer months
• Beer from Square Wheel Brewing Co.
• Tasty food selections from the Wine Bar menu
• Lovely grounds, charming architecture and magical views!

Mt Spokane State Park

You could hike for days and not see the same view twice at Mount Spokane State Park. One of Washington’s largest state parks, Mount Spokane has 100 miles of trails in the Selkirk Mountains.

Views for the Mt. Spokane Vista House

If you’re not up for a hike but want a stunning view, the charming, historic Vista House atop Mount Spokane offers THE BEST VIEWS. The best part is you can drive to the top, park and enjoy!

Kendall Yards

Kendall Yards is a modern neighborhood in a former rail yard, with panoramic river views and hip spots for brunch, cocktails, and pizza. An art walk on and around the paved Centennial Trail takes in striking murals and sculptures, while Olmsted Brothers Green has a play area and picnic shelter. In summer, the Kendall Yards Night Market features live music, food trucks, and stalls selling produce and gourmet snacks.

Oh, and if you don’t want to WALK on the paved Centennial Trail, you can rent a LIME scooter and enjoy the ride.

The Bing Crosby House at Gonzaga University

The Bing Crosby House at Gonzaga University photo by rajah bose / Gonzaga university

Gonzaga University houses a large collection of material relating to 20th Century singer and actor Harry Lillis (Bing) Crosby, a native of Spokane and alumnus of Gonzaga. Now part of Gonzaga, Crosby’s childhood home was built in 1911 and still stands at its original location. The main floor houses over 200 Crosby items including gold records, trophies, awards, and his Oscar for Going My Way (1944). What is not on display is stored in the University Archives and Special Collections’ vault in the Foley Center Library.

The museum is free to the public and free visitor parking is available behind the Crosby House Museum.

Martin Woldson Theater at The Fox

Martin Woldson Theater at The Fox

The Martin Woldson Theater at the Fox in Spokane, Washington was historically a 1931 Art Deco movie theater. It was designed by architect Robert C. Reamer, notable for his design of the Old Faithful Inn in Yellowstone Park. It was part of the Fox Film Corporation Empire founded by studio mogul William Fox.

The Fox re-opened its doors in 2007 after undergoing restoration. This art deco treasure is owned and operated by the Spokane Symphony and serves as the Symphony’s permanent home and is an incredible venue for all of the performing arts. The theater is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Mica Moon Ziplines

At MicaMoon Zip Tour you can enjoy 9 zip lines, 2 hikes, and 8 tree top platforms during your zip line adventure. They also have ATVs. Located at 23403 E Mission Ave #111, Liberty Lake, WA 99019

Spokane has many surrounding cities and towns that definitely make it a destination point throughout your travels. Wonderful day trips include the wonderful cities of Coeur d’Alene and Sandpoint, ID. You’ll also find the region’s largest theme park, Silverwood in Athol, Idaho. I know you’ll grow to love the charm and distinction of Spokane just as much as I do!

Great Wolf Lodge in Grand Mound, Washington

The post Top 13 Things To Do In Spokane appeared first on Mommy Travels.

Garlic bread with Rogue Cheese Fondue

Before our visit, I looked this place up and found the funniest comments. One comment was that there was no way Michael Jordan even eats steak because he is an athlete and athletes don’t eat steak. Now I don’t know much about athletes’ diets because I never was one, but I do know that the only time in my life I have seen Michael Jordan in person was at a steakhouse in Portland. Go figure!

We kicked off our meal with the garlic bread, a strong recommendation by our server. Upon the first bite, I saw why this savory bread paired with a blue cheese fondue is their signature appetizer.  It was absolutely delicious. Had we not been saving room for the rest of the meal I would have ordered some more of this. Between the kids and I, it was devoured in just a few minutes. That may be a record for us, but it was just so darn good.

The Steak Benedict at Michael Jordan’s Steakhouse

Obviously steak is a theme here which means you can get steak many different ways including a steak benedict. It was phenomenal.

The Steak Sandwich at Michael Jordan’s Steakhouse

I went with the steak sandwich. For some reason, I just can’t pass up a steak sandwich. This was exceeded expectation and is one of the top three steak sandwiches I’ve had in the world. When I was pregnant with Noah all I wanted was a steak sandwich, so I’ve had over a hundred!

Cheeseburger at Michael Jordan’s Steakhouse

I have one child that orders a hamburger no matter what. Even at a steakhouse which is not right in my opinion. Regardless, it was excellent. 

Filet Mignon at Michael Jordan’s Steakhouse

Unlike the child I won’t name, Eden always orders a steak. I can tell the waiter finds this a little amusing when my tiny little daughter orders a steak, but she has great taste. The filet she ordered was superb. 

23 Layered Chocolate Cake Michael Jordan’s Steakhouse

Now the most unexpected part of our meal was the 23 layered chocolate cake. Michael Jordan’s number on the Chicago Bulls was 23. This cake was to die for. I’m not even a fan of chocolate cake, but when a waiter doesn’t hesitate to recommend a specific item I take note. Our waiter recommended it and now I am recommending it. It’s absolutely wonderful. 

If you ever have the chance to visit Illani casino you must visit Michael Jordan’s steakhouse! There is a location in Chicago and Connecticut too.

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The United States has many stunning outdoor locations to visit, including some great lake locales. All of these have great views, and lots to do around these lakes. You will be sure to enjoy your vacation in one of these warm destination spots.

There are so many lake locations to consider, but here are some of the best lake options in the United States.

Best Lake Vacations in the United States

Arizona

Lake Havasu

Known as a spring break destination, Lake Havasu is so much more. Whether you love the water or the desert, you can have it all in Lake Havasu.

The sun is always shining and there are over 400 miles of shoreline along the lake. There are hotels, resorts, campgrounds, and general campsites right on the lakeshore. You can also rent a houseboat.

Lake Havasu is known for its water sports. You can water ski, wakeboard, swim or go Jet Skiing. Rent a boat or bring your own to enjoy the lake. 

If you want a unique view, try a hot air balloon ride. If you prefer to stay on the ground you can join a walking tour or rent a jeep.

Massachusetts

ptwo from Allahabad, India [CC BY 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)]

Walden Pond

Close to Boston, The Walden Pond State Reservation is worth a visit. Technically a pond, you have 400 acres with a small beach, canoeing and swimming, too. Boats are permitted, but no gasoline engines are allowed. 

You can walk the trails around the pond and even go fishing. The area has a lot of wildlife to observe as well. There are picnic areas and canoe rentals, too.

Maine

Moosehead Lake

Moosehead Lake is Maine’s largest lake and is 30 miles long and has almost 300 miles of shoreline. In the past, this area was only known by natives, but it is becoming a great spot for nature lovers to visit.

You can go kayaking, canoeing, and fly fishing at Moosehead Lake. There is white water rafting and you can even cruise the lake on a historic steamship.

The lake is next to the mountains, so hiking trails abound. Other popular activities are mountain biking, bird watching. There are also guided ‘safaris’ to catch a glimpse of moose in the area.

The Moosehead Lake area has campgrounds, and in the nearby town of Greenville, there are hotels and cabins. There are also shops and restaurants to visit in the area.

Missouri

KTrimble at English Wikipedia [CC BY-SA 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)]

Table Rock Lake

Table Rock Lake is close to the activities in Branson, but far enough away to feel relaxing. With 500 miles of waterfront, you can have lots of fun. There are hotels, lakefront resorts, and campgrounds for lodging choices. You can also rent a houseboat on the lake for a different vacation experience.

You can bring your own watercraft or rent a boat. There are over 20 public boat ramps around the lake. Fun activities on the lake include paddle boarding, kayaking, boating and waterskiing, and fishing, of course! You can swim and even try scuba diving. 

New Mexico

Elephant Butte Lake

When you think of New Mexico you probably don’t think of lakes. Elephant Butte Lake is just north of Truth or Consequences and is the largest body of water in the state. There are great sandy beaches here at the lake, too.

Elephant Butte Lake has fishing, boating, camping, and beautiful scenery. Many types of watercraft are allowed on the lake, including jet skis, kayaks, sailboats and pontoons, houseboats, cruisers, and ski boats. There are 3 marinas at the lake.

Since the lake is part of a State Park, you have access to picnic areas, playgrounds, and restrooms. There are cabins, an RV park, and places for tent camping.

New York

Lake Champlain

Lake Champlain is the sixth-largest U.S. ake and can be accessed through both NY and Vermont, so we’ll give you info on both.

The New York side of Lake Champlain has lots to do and it’s historic. The oldest natural tourist attraction in the U.S. is Ausable Chasm, which is a gorge of the Ausable River. A mini Grand Canyon, there are lots of hiking trails in this beautiful area.

If you want to get out on the lake you can rent kayaks, powerboats, and pedal boats. Lake Champlain is considered one of the best bass fishing lakes in the U.S. 

If you like history, there are many museums in the area. You can also plan a visit to Ft. Ticonderoga. There are plenty of places to stay, from hotels to cabins.

Finger Lakes

Finger Lakes

Technically the Finger Lakes is more than one lake each with their own vibe and things to do! The Finger Lakes are gorgeous and worth a visit.

Ohio

In Ohio, it is all about Lake Erie. Between Cleveland and Toledo, there are 100 miles of shore and nice towns to stay on your vacation.

Put-in-Bay

Put-In-Bay

If you want an amusement park with beaches, try Cedar Point. You can also take a ferry over to Put-In-Bay. Put-In-Bay is quaint, and you won’t see cars. Get around via bike or golf cart. You can even visit a winery here.

Kelley’s Island is quieter and you can see glacier grooves on the island. There are beautiful Victorian homes to admire or stay at one that is now an Inn. You can play on 20 miles of shorefront and take leisurely bike rides.

Explore Marblehead Lighthouse State Park. You can tour the grounds and museums for free. If you like history see Perry’s Monument.

Oregon

Crater Lake

Crater Lake

Crater Lake in south-central Oregon is one you don’t want to miss. This is a National Park and Crater Lake is the deepest lake in the U.S. There is a lodge and campground in the park. Klamath Falls is not too far away if you wanted to stay in town.

Crater Lake is known for having clear, deep blue water. It is simply stunning to look at. In the summer there are many activities to enjoy including boat or trolley tours, hiking, fishing, and swimming. There are also ranger talks and some evening programs for all ages. You can even take a volcano boat tour.

In the summer you will want to go along Rim Drive and see the scenic views all around the lake. There are also paths for walking or biking. The trails are usually open from July to October, depending on the weather.

Suttle Lake

Suttle Lake is tiny but also worth a visit. It’s near Sisters. 

Paddleboarding on Suttle Lake

Texas

Lady Bird Lake

If you like a more urban vacation, don’t think you can’t enjoy a lake as well. Lady Bird Lake in Austin gives you the best of both worlds. Austin is a vibrant city with lots of indoor and outdoor entertainment.

While you can’t have motorized boats on Lady Bird Lake, you can enjoy rowing, canoeing, kayaking and dragon boats. There is a deep pool (Deep Eddy Pool) along the lakeshore that is great for swimming.

Surrounding Lady Bird Lake are hiking and biking trails. Zilker Park (Austin’s largest downtown park) is right next to Lady Bird Lake. You can also fish for bass, sunfish, and catfish in the lake.

Austin is a music city, and there’s lots of music and other events around the lake almost year-round.

Utah

Lake Powell

Lake Powell straddles the border of Utah and Arizona, but most of the lake is in Utah. Lake Powell is actually a reservoir on the Colorado River. Over 180 miles long and with almost 2,000 miles of shoreline, it is the second-largest man-made lake in the United States.

The crystal blue waters of Lake Powell stand in stark contrast the red rock canyon walls. There are sandy beaches and you can swim and boat. There is more water than land here, so you will want to get around by boat.

There are houseboats in some areas and lots of water fun. You can wakeboard, water ski, kayak, take a boat tour or go fishing. Some of the fish you can catch include Northern Pike, Walleye, Bass, and catfish. You can even take a dinner cruise.

One thing you don’t want to miss is the Rainbow Bridge National Monument. This is one of the largest known natural bridges in the world and is considered sacred by the many Native American tribes from this area. While you are not allowed to go under the bridge, you can view and take pictures from a distance.

Vermont

Lake Champlain Islands

In Vermont, you can visit Burlington and be near the lake. There is the wonderful Lake Champlain Islands that have 200 miles of shore to explore and enjoy. This is a quieter vacation to enjoy nature, but you are close to shops and can stay at a lovely inn.

Washington 

Lake Chelan

Lake Chelan

In north-central Washington State is the largest natural lake in the whole state. It is a narrow lake, but over 50 miles long. The lake is about 4 hours east of the Seattle area and is surrounded by mountains and vineyards.

Lake Chelan is a mecca for water lovers, as you can try jet-skiing, water skiing, kayaking, parasailing, canoeing, tubing or rowing. Parts of the lake are great for sailboats and windsurfing, too. Since the lake is crystal clear, you can also give snorkeling a try.

If you enjoy fishing and having fresh fish for meals, this area is great. You can fish for Burbot, Rainbow Trout, Chinook and Sockeye Salmon, and Smallmouth Bass.

Restaurants in the Lake Chelan Valley offer something for everyone and often include wine from the local vineyards. For a quick bite during the day there are plenty of takeout options, too.

Wisconsin

Winnebago Lake

The largest lake in Wisconsin is Winnebago Lake. This lake is 138,000 acres and a fisherman’s dream. There is open water fishing for bass and many others like Panfish, Musky, Catfish, Walleye and Sturgeon.

There are lots of opportunities for boating if that is what you like to do. With the lake being 30 miles long and 10 miles wide you have lots of room to launch and run your boat.

One of the reasons Lake Winnebago is popular is that you can drive around the lake and visit many great Wisconsin towns. Oshkosh is to the west, Appleton is on the Northside, and Fond du Lac is south.

Checkout High Cliff State Park on the Northeast shore and enjoy hiking, camping, a marina, an observation tower, picnic areas, and beaches.  Lakeside Park in Fond du Lac has picnic areas, a deer park, a playground, a marina, baseball diamonds, and boat launch ramps. You can rent canoes, bumper boats, and aqua bikes.

Have you taken a lake vacation with your family? We would love to hear about your best lake trip in the comments below!

The post Best Lake Vacations in the United States appeared first on Mommy Travels.

They have done a good job over the years creating an all-inclusive experience where everything you need is under one roof: activities, food, lodging, and of course the water park.

14 Things to do at Great Wolf Lodge Grand Mound

1. Indoor Water Park

Let’s face it, you came to enjoy the water park and all the other activities they offer are a bonus! Your kids are going to want to spend the majority of their time in the water park and who can blame them. There’s a lot to do just in the water park.

• 7 water slides, including the very thrilling tube rides: Howlin’ Tornado and River Canyon Run.
• Wave pool
• Fort Mckenzie water playground
• Hot Tub
• Cabanas: for those that don’t mind spending more money they now have cabanas with a TV, mini fridge stocked with non-alcoholic beverages, and wait staff. You can accommodate up to 11 people in the cabana. These cost $129 – $189 depending on the day and the season.

Here’s a video tour through the water park

2. Ropes Course with Zip Lining

Main course: This location has a 4 story zip line course that is self guided tour and has a ton of fun zip lines. This is one of the largest courses in the brand. It costs $14.99 for a single climb or $19.99 for unlimited climbs. You have to be a minimum of 48″ high to participate.

Little tykes course: For those under 48″ tall they even have a little tykes ropes course for kids too little or short to participate in the larger ropes course.

You need to wear closed-toe shoes with rubber soles. Athletic shoes are ideal. No flip-flops are permitted.

3. Glow Golf

4. Northern Lights Arcade

The Northern Lights Arcade makes sure they have 10 of the best newest games. Right now one of their newest games is the Rayman Rabbits virtual reality game. My kids love this game. (This was the same virtual reality game they loved on the Norwegian Bliss cruise.)

5. Creation Station

At the Creation Station your kids can make a custom stuffed animal. They can take their pick of outfits, colorful costumes and accessories. Prices start at $34.99. Once your kids have their stuffed animal you can take them on an adventure called the Clubhouse Crew.

6. MagiQuest

Magiquest with the magic wand: has different levels for different ages.Each quest takes 15-30 minutes to complete. Players can play as many quests as they like during their stay. The game costs $14.99.

For kids too little to participate there are still all kinds of fun things they can open and do with out doing the entire quest.

It starts with your kids picking out their own special magic wand that they can  top it with extra powers. Wand prices range from $15.99 to $22.99, depending on the style. Kids get to keep the wand and can bring it back every time they stay at Great Wolf Lodge.

Once they have their wand they can set off on a quest through out the entire building. They participate in Vellara, a realm of enchantment, as you befriend the Treetop Pixies, battle Charlock, the evil dragon and fight to defeat the Goblin King.

7. Oliver’s Mining Company

Grand Mound is currently the only location that offers Oliver’s Mining Company. This is Great Wolf Lodge’s newest attraction and it kicks of with a walk through the mine which is a mirror maze. Once you come out of the mirror maze you are given a bag of dirt. You sift the dirt in the water to discover moon stones. They give you a chart to help kids identify the moon stones you get.

8. Meet Characters

There are four characters that make appearances around the lodge at various times. Wiley, Violet, Sammy, and another one that I cannot remember the name of.

9. Yoga

Every morning they offer yoga for kids and parents in the lobby. They provide the mats.

10. Dance Party

Often times the dance party is a pajama party but while we were there is was a costume party because it was Halloween season.

11. Spa

Elements Spa: They have a spa for adults offering mani, pedi, facials, and massage. They also have mommy and me treatments.

Scoops: Scoops is a kid’s spa just for kids where they can get a mani or pedi.

12. Arts & Crafts

They have done away with the cub club and now offer a variety of activities in the lobby like crafts, balloon twisting, and drawing classes. All of these are included. I love this change because I was always too cheap to pay extra for my kids to make a craft in the cub club. They also offer face painting.

13. Shopping

Great Wolf Lodge Grand Mound has several retail outlets on site. There is a kid’s store where you can create your own character, a gift shop, a wand shop, a candy store, and a bathing suit shop. I recommend buying the candy that looks like food. The kids will think it is fantastic.

14. Eat

Great Wolf Lodge Grand Mound Restaurants

If you are like me, food is probably the last thing on your mind. It’s a hotel with a water park, which in my mind qualifies the food as the last thought. However, Great Wolf Lodge certainly does not feel this way about their food. They’ve put a great deal of thought and planning into the food at all of their restaurants. At the five restaurants, they make all food in-house. Plus, they do not serve peanut or tree nut products. On every Great Wolf Lodge website there is a direct email address available where you can email the chef directly about accommodating dietary needs.

Lodge Wood Fired Grill 

Our favorite place to eat here is the Lodge Wood Fired Grill. I thought the food was fantastic, plus they have a killer cocktail list. They have excellent Moscow Mules and amazing Bees knees.

The Loose Moose Cottage

The Loose Moose Cottage is an all day buffet. You can eat here for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. To be honest, I felt like the buffet was just okay, but my kids loved it. And the way they make individual salads is super adorable. The breakfast buffet is $14.99 for adults and $9.99 for kids and the dinner buffet costs $19.99 for adults and $12.99 for kids. The Saturday night buffet features a seafood buffet with king crab legs. It costs $29.99 for adults and $14.99 for kids.

Coming soon in November is a new kids menu created by their Jr chef counsel. This includes Junior master chef winners and Cat Cora’s boys. The new menu will offer things like waffle grilled cheese and mac and cheese pancakes.

Activity Passes

Another thing they’ve added since our last visit are activity passes. We ended up doing the Paw Pass.

A great way to make sure you save money and have a ton of family fun is to get a pass. We did the Paw Pass that included almost every activity they had to offer. This saved us $160! The only negative thing I have to say about that particular pass is that my kids blew through the arcade credit in less than five minutes.

Here’s a look at all the fun we had while we were there!

Special Events at Great Wolf Lodge

Howloween

From the last weekend in September and all through October Great Wolf Lodge offers a variety of activities for the Halloween season including an interactive trick or treat trail, monster mash dance party, and crafts and activities throughout the day.

While we were there this was just kicking off. There were Halloween decorations through out the entire facility including a massive spider in the lobby made of balloons. It took them two weeks to make the ballon spider!

Private Events

Also, since were there for a blogger weekend we got to attend a couple of private events. I must say I never really thought about Great Wolf Lodge as a place to host a private event, but it was so well done that I absolutely see why you would have one there. Here we are at a private party one night that was catered beautifully. They offer all kinds of events including military events, family reunions, plated dinners, and conferences in their 30,000 sqft banquet center.

Great Wolf Lodge Rooms

Great Wolf Grand Mound has 398 rooms with 12 suite types. Most suites are one of three types: Family suites accommodating 4-6 guests, Themed suites with bunk beds, and Premium suites for larger families that accommodate lots of guests.

We stayed in a large family suite with a balcony. Here is a video of our two-bedroom suite.

Booking Tips:

Try to book at least 3 months out during the busy season.

Discounts are better 60-days out.

You can sign up for the email list to have specials sent to you.

You should also check Groupon for any deals. I often book through Groupon. 

All in all, celebrating at Great Wolf Lodge Grand Mound is so much fun for the whole family. From their indoor water park to their amazing miniature golf and snack bar entertainment, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Whether it be kids, tweens, or teens alike, a day spent at Great Wolf Lodge will undoubtedly put smiles on each and every one of your family members’ faces. Now that you know about all the exciting activities offered at Great Wolf Lodge Grand Mound, it’s time for you to plan your trip! After a long day of splashing around in the wave pool and exploring the adventure park together, you’ll want to come back and visit again soon. So let us know – what is your favorite thing to do while vacationing at Great Wolf Lodge?

Disclosure: My family and I were hosted by Great Wolf Lodge.

The post 14 Things to do at Great Wolf Lodge Grand Mound appeared first on Mommy Travels.

Almost every single one of our favorite activities as a family is something outdoors. I refuse to let allergies slow us down. Like many people, all of us experience seasonal allergies, especially my daughter Eden and I. We both take Claritin for relief from seasonal allergies, so when we want an outdoor adventure we are ready!

How to Float a River with Kids

One of our favorite outdoor activities to do as a family is float the river. It’s relaxing and fun. We typically float for half a day so somewhere between 3 – 5 hours. If you’ve never floated a river, it can be a little intimidating even though there’s no skill needed. There are a few designated areas that I call out below where you can float.

There are some things you need to know before you float. For example, what to wear and how to chill your drinks.  Use your judgment and make sure conditions are safe before heading out.

What to wear while floating the river:

• Clothes and shoes that can get wet like your swimsuit
• Shoes that stay on your feet, like river sandals, aqua socks, or even tennis shoes you don’t mind getting wet. Do not wear flip flops.
• Sunglasses
• If you wear glasses, straps to keep them secure are a good idea.
• Hat
• Wearable Drybag

We have a pouch just like this to keep our stuff dry and it works well. I keep a cell phone in there and my keys. 

Other Items to Bring

• Raft or tubes: In Texas, tubes are ideal, because it’s so hot and the water is warm. In Oregon and Idaho, rafts are better because the water is so cold.
• Life jackets: Laws vary by state, but everyone should always have a life jacket. Never take a child into a river without a life jacket.
• Paddles: You may not need them, but on the off chance you do, you will be happy to have them with you.
• Sunscreen
• Snacks: Pack snacks with minimal packaging.
• Non-alcoholic beverages
• Water: It’s important that everyone stays well hydrated while out in the sun.
• Mesh laundry bag: I use a mesh laundry bag and fill it with drinks and tie it to our raft. Typically the water is so cold it will keep the drinks super cold.
• Waterproof camera: Nowadays there are lots of waterproof cameras on the market.

What else to bring, but leave in the car until the end:

• A change of dry clothes
• Towel
• Pump: To air up your raft and tubes before you begin your float.

What Not to Bring

• Glass bottles or containers
• Styrofoam coolers or cups

Where to Float a River with Kids

Florida:

Fort White offers the most popular place to float in Florida at Ichetcucknee Springs State Park and is open May – September.

• Visitors bringing tubes into the park:  Enter park at the north park entrance located at 8294 SW Elim Church Road.
• Drivers will leave tubes and passengers at the tube drop off location in the upper parking lot area.
• Drivers will proceed to the South main entrance parking area located at 12087 SW U.S. Highway 27.
• Drivers will purchase a shuttle bracelet for transportation to North main entrance tube drop off from the general store. (The driver can also purchase tram bracelets for everyone in their party)
• Visitors renting tubes from within the park will need to enter the park at South main entrance instead, located at 12087 SW U.S. Highway 27.

Between Jacksonville and Tallahassee is Madison Blue Spring State Park, where you can float on weekends from May to September.

In Apopka, you can float Rock Springs Run in Kelly Park. Bring your own, or rent tubes for $5 – $7 from private outfitters located just outside the park. The float trip is short, it only takes about 25 minutes.  When you are done, it is a 5-minute walk on a paved sidewalk back to the start. The deepest part is about 5 feet and is much shallower in many places.

In High Springs you can do a short float down the Santa Fe River at Ginnie Springs. Put in at Devil’s Spring and float for an hour. You will exit at Twin Spring and walk back to where you parked. It takes around 15 minutes to walk back on the tubing trail. There are free air stations located in the park.

In Holt in the Florida panhandle is Blackwater River State Park. Blackwater River offers a four-mile stretch of water that will take you 3-5 hours to float.

Spring Creek in Marianna near Tallahassee offers a four-hour tubing experience.  Start at Merrit’s Mill Pond where Spring Creek opens up to the Chipola River.

Georgia:

Near Atlanta, in Roswell, you can float the Chattahoochee River. You will only want to float here if it is over 80 degrees outside because the water is cold.

In Blue Ridge, the Toccoa River offers smooth rides through the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Idaho:

In Boise, you can float the Boise River.  (Some people even surf it, but we just float!) You can park your car at Ann Morrison Park and catch a bus. For a few dollars, the bus will take you up the river and drop you off at Barber Park. Last time we paid $2 per adult and they didn’t charge me for the kids. At the drop off point, there’s air available and you can inflate your raft or tube. You can also rent a raft or tube where they drop you off. I recommend using a raft because this river is extremely cold. It takes about two hours to float back down to the park. There are two small drops so you will have to hang on to your kids a few times.

Oregon:

There are several rivers that you can float in Oregon, but we tend to stick to the same one. We float the Sandy River near Troutdale, Oregon. Start at Dabny State Park and pull out at Lewis and Clark state park. You do have to pay to leave your car in both of the parks. The last time we went it was $5 and they took credit cards.

Texas:

For the most part, there are shuttles available along popular Texas rivers. In Texas, the only legal access points are where bridges cross a navigable river. Keep this in mind if you’re doing it yourself and not using a shuttle service. The tube rental/shuttle companies are fairly cheap and make the whole thing super easy.

In San Antonio, you can float the Comal or Guadalupe River. Near San Antonio in Bandera is also the Medina River that can be floated

In San Marcos, you can float the San Marcos River.

In Austin, you can float the Barton Creek Greenbelt. There are no shuttles or tube rental outfits here.

In the Dallas/Fort Worth area, you can float the Trinity River.

Virginia:

Most people float the South Fork of the Shenandoah River in Shenandoah Valley. Virginia has a no drinking in public law, so leave the booze at home.

Washington:

Yakima River Canyon is a popular place to float near Yakima, Washington. – Start at Umtanum for a three-hour float to Roza. Leave one car at Roza, this is where you will pull out of the river. It will likely cost $5 per car to park.

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Things to do in Seattle

There is an abundance of activities to be done in Seattle, Washington and many of them can be done at a discounted price using a  City Pass. Also, because of the large military population everywhere in Seattle seemed to offer a military discount.

The first Thursday of every month, numerous museums offer FREE admission to all guests! The Museum of Flight, Museum of Glass, Seattle Children’s Museum, Museum of History and Industry, and the Burke Museum. 

Chihuly Garden and Glass is a beautiful tribute to Dale Chihuly. Dale Chihuly is a well known glass artists with exhibits at over 200 museums worldwide. Chihuly Garden and Glass has to be fully explored by visiting the Glasshouse and the Garden. Their hours of operation are Monday through Thursday from 8:30am until 8:30pm and Friday through Sunday from 8:30am until 9:30pm.  Located at 305 Harrison Street.

Museum of Pop Culture is the coolest thing, if you are into pop culture. They recently added an exhibit by Jim Henson. The Jim Henson Exhibition: Imagination Unlimitedexplores Jim Henson’s groundbreaking work for film and television and his transformative impact on popular culture. This comprehensive exhibition reveals how Henson and his team of builders, performers, and writers brought to life the enduringly popular worlds of The Muppet Show, Sesame Street, Fraggle Rock, and more. Their hours of operation vary according to season. Visit the website for exact hours. Plan on lunch at the Culture Kitchen by Wolfgang Puck. Located at 325 5th Ave North 

Seattle Art Museum is so much in one. There are three museum perfectly situated throughout downtown Seattle. You have the Seattle Art Museum located at 1300 1st Avenue,Asian Art Museum of Seattle (closed and under renovations until 2019) which is located at 1400 E Prospect Street and Olympic Sculpture Park located at 2901 Western Avenue. Visit one of them are all of them and take in the history. 

Seattle Glassblowing Studio is a great way to be up close and personal with the fine art experience of glass blowing. This studio presents so much about glass blowing that you will be totally fascinated with the craft. Sign up for a class to Blow Your Own Glass and experience it first hand. Their hours of operation are Sundays from 10am to 6pm and Monday through Saturday from 9am until 6pm. Located at 2227 5th Avenue 

Living Computers: Museum + Labs is the ultimate in computer and technology museums. Founded Paul Allen their hours of operation are Wednesday through Sunday from 10am until 5pm. Located at 2245 1st Avenue South in the SoDo neighborhood.

Seattle Children’s Museum  is where imagination comes to life. That is their motto and it rings true throughout the museum with their engaging exhibits. Plan your visit to get the most out of it. Their hours of operation are Monday through Friday from 10am until 5pm, Saturday and Sunday from 10am until 6:00 pm. Located at 305 Harrison Street.

Woodland Zoo  is not your traditional zoo. As a zoological garden you will find a new appreciation for The Tropical Rain Forest and the Butterfly Garden. Their hours of operation are 9:30am until 6pm daily. Located at 5500 Phinney Ave North 

Pike Place Market is Seattle! This is a local community favorite and literally the heart best of Seattle. Experience the farmers market, crafts market, waterfront dining and the Market Front. There is so much to do here and those are just a few. 

Starbucks Roastery and Tasting Room – Starbucks started in Seattle and you can see the original Starbucks at Pike’s Market, but what many don’t know is that they have this super cool Roastery.

The Space Needle in Seattle

Space Needle – For great views go up in the Space Needle. It is one of the included attractions with the City Pass. They also offered a military discount when we visited.

Troll under the bridge in Seattle

Bridge Troll – One of the best things about Seattle is the random troll they have under a bridge. He is crushing a real Volkswagen. It’s hideous, yet awesome.

Carousel at Miners Landing

Carousel at Miners Landing on Pier 57 – In 1897, the steamship Portland, weighed down with the first load of gold from the Klondike, docked at the pier where Miners Landing now stands. Now, Pier 57 is home to the Miners Landing, a family-friendly shopping, restaurant and entertainment complex.

The kids enjoying the Seattle Great Wheel.

Seattle Great Wheel – The Seattle Great Wheel is a large Ferris wheel on pier 57. It has an overall height of 175 feet. I took the photo at the beginning of this article from the Seattle Great Wheel. The views are fantastic!

Jonah was part of the show on our last visit to Point Defiance Zoo

Point Defiance Zoo – This view is small and lesser known, but it is fantastic. They do an interactive show with animals that is extremely well done.

Up Improve – This is an adults only comedy club. I’ve only been once, but it was a lot of fun. It’s located near the gym wall.

Jefferson Park – If you want to take your kids to an amazing playground while you are in Seattle our favorite is Jefferson Park.

Where To Stay in Seattle

Inn at the Market is a downtown hotel and presents recently renovated boutique hotel. With only 76 rooms you have great views available to you from the waterfront to downtown to the mountains.  Located at 86 Pine Street 

Palladian Hotel by Kimpton is another boutique hotel in downtown Seattle, close to Pike’s Market.

Monaco Hotel in Seattle is a boutique Kimpton hotel located in the heart of downtown Seattle. This beauty takes your breath away with its luxurious offering.  You must sign up their Kimpton Karma program which is their rewards program.  Located at 101 4th Avenue 

Residence Inn is always a nice choice for a family vacation. Always known for their space and two room accommodations this location is close to several attractions. Free internet, free breakfast, pet friendly and kitchenettes. Located at 800 Fairview Avenue North on the shores of Lake Union it is an excellent choice because of its proximity to downtown Seattle.

McMenamins Anderson School – If you are a fan of McMenamins properties you will be thrilled to know that they have a property just north of Seattle in Bothell.

Hyatt Regency Bellvue – If you do not mind staying in Bellvue, I highly recommend the Hyatt over here. I had a wonderful stay here.

The rooftop pool at Silvercloud Inn

Silvercloud Inn in downtown Seattle – I loved staying here with the kids. There’s a rooftop pool and hot tub that we enjoyed a great deal!

AirBnB is always an excellent choice if you prefer the home feel. Just remember to be selective, ask all the right questions and be careful.

Great Wolf Lodge Grand Mound – If you don’t mind staying south of Seattle there is a Great Wolf Lodge about an hour south. It is a little smaller than other Great Wolf Lodge properties, but still super fun. I took my teens recently and they loved it. You can read my daughter’s review for a teen perspective on Great Wolf Lodge.

Where To Eat in Seattle

There are loads of fantastic places to eat in Seattle. I will be updating this every time we visit, because we seem to never have a bad meal here.

• Six Seven Restaurant & Lounge is known for their ambience and lamb Bolognese.
• Beecher’s Handmade Cheese, is known for great macaroni and cheese.
• Bongos has an outstanding Cuban Joe.
• Shuckers Oyster Bar has an excellent selection of oysters and the Dungeness Crab Cakes are fantastic.
• Anthony’s Pier 66 & Bell Street Diner has an early (before 7pm) dinner selection of four for $24 that is delicious four course meal.
• Voula’s Offshore Cafe near the university is great for breakfast. 
• Black Bottle has the best tapas and an excellent happy hour. It’s in Bellvue.
• Sister’s European Cafe has the best sandwiches in the city. Three Sisters has been in Pike’s Market forever and they’ve never changed their menu because they don’t have too. Their sandwich creations with Mediterranean flair have already stood the test of time and people keep coming back for more.
• Los Agaves has the best tacos in town hands down, but be warned when they ask you if you want hot sauce you do not. Their hot sauce was created for fire breathing dragons. If you are the kind of person that loves to see if they can handle hot food, this will be your ultimate challenge!
• The Pink Door has been on my food bucket list for over a decade. I’ve heard it’s amazing.
• Pike’s Chowder as expected serves seafood chowders, but there is just something about this place. Their chowder is amazing and people line up out the door and around the building to eat here. So, if you are looking for that perfect bowl of clam chowder this is your place.
• Pike Brewing Company is a 25 year old gravity flow brewery and the perfect place to enjoy a local ale. While you are there, check out their museum going through the history of their brewery.

Weekend Trips from Seattle

Seattle is a beautiful family fun vacation to explore. Plan your trip today and please come back to this article and share your experience.

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Chihuly Garden and Glass

Chihuly Garden and Glass is a permanent exhibit in the Seattle Center right next to the Space Needle showcasing the studio glass of Dale Chihuly. If you are wondering how you possibly could have missed this museum (like I was) during previous trips it’s because it wasn’t here. The exhibit opened in 2012 where the Fun Forest used to be. RIP Fun Forest The exhibition includes eight galleries, the Glasshouse, and a garden.

Fun Fact about the photo above. Noah was with us, and no, he is not the one who took our picture. He refused to be in the picture and spent most of his time sitting on a bench. Teenagers are so much fun.

Chihuly Garden

The garden is small but beautiful. He did an amazing job incorporating nature with the glass. It was nice to visit the garden during the fall. As you can see the leaves on the trees are a variety of colors. I would have liked to spend more time out here, but it was 36 degrees and my kids weren’t having it. I can imagine in the spring and summer this would be even better. They have a list of plants found in the garden on their website like the Whipcord Cobra Lily, scarlet daylilies, dogwoods, and Orange Candleflower. I wish I had known that ahead of time.

Seattle City Guide: What to do, Where to Eat, and Where to Stay

Museum of Pop Culture (MoPop) in Seattle 

Glasshouse

The glasshouse is really something to see inside and from the outside. The Glasshouse is the result of Chihuly’s lifelong appreciation for conservatories. We saw it on a cloudy day. I cannot imagine how brilliant this would be on a sunny day. The glass ouse is a 40-foot tall, glass, and steel structure covering 4,500 square feet of light-filled space and houses a 100-foot long sculpture in a color palette of reds, oranges, yellows, and amber. This is one of Chihuly’s largest suspended pieces of work. On their website you can see it all lit up at night.

A burst of sunshine made with glass reeds made in Finland.

They host a variety of events in the glasshouse like painting, yoga, and Bachata dancing.

Glass Galleries

I liked the way the different gallery rooms were laid out and the way they had them lit. In two of the galleries, they had photographers taking pictures for free that you could have emailed to your email.

Is it okay to bring kids?

One thing that surprised me is how accessible the glass art is. My kids are old enough not to touch the glass, but if they were this place would be a nightmare. I do not recommend bringing kids under 7 or 8 here. They also do not allow large strollers in the exhibits. The museum has a free activity book for children. In the book, there is an activity for each of the rooms at the facility.

This next glass display represents Dale Chihuly’s love of water. This is a float boat inspired by rowboats he saw in Finland in the mid 90’s.

You may be thinking this looks familiar, but I’ve never been to Seattle. You probably saw it at the check-in desk inside the Bellagio hanging over your head. If you’ve seen it you know exactly what I am talking about.

Dale Chihuly’s mother’s garden where he grew up was the inspiration for this next photo. I didn’t realize I was looking at a “garden” until I listened to the audio tour.

Location:

Chihuly Garden and Glass

305 Harrison St, Seattle, WA 98109

(206) 753-4940

Hours:

Open Sunday – Thursday from 11 AM – 6 PM and from 11 AM – 7 PM on Friday and Saturday.

They offer a military discount on adult admission, but not on youth tickets. Every admission includes a free audio tour.

Discounts to Chihuly Garden and Glass

You can get into the Chihuly Garden and Glass with the Seattle CityPASS. If you are doing several activities definitely look into getting one of these passes. We’ve done it twice now and saved a lot of money. CityPass offers admission to either Chihuly Garden and Glass or the Pacific Science Center. This is a tough choice because both are good. If you are traveling with little kids take them to the science museum.

They offer a military discount on adult admission, but not on youth tickets. Every admission includes a free audio tour.

I don’t really know why they offer a “free” audio tour. I found a free audio tour right on their website under Audio Tour. Granted, it was somewhat boring unless the artist Dale Chihuly himself is speaking. He spoke about where he got his inspiration and mentions his mother’s garden.

Doing a quick search it appears that AAA members can also get discounted admission.

Coat Check

They offer a limited free coat check located at all entrances. All packages, umbrellas and bags larger than 11″ x 15″ must be checked, including backpack-style child carriers. Considering the constant rain and occasional snow, they pretty must have to offer this. We went in November and it was snowing! If I had stayed a little longer I probably could have gotten an amazing shot of the garden in the snow. At the time, though all I could think about was that 3.5 hour drive back to Portland in the rain and snow. So I hustled up the kids and hit the road. That week I was driving the 2017 Toyota Highlander Hybrid.

Parking Lots

Parking is hard to find in this area, here are the three closest lots.
Mercer Garage: Third Ave N & Roy Street
First Ave N Garage: between John and Thomas Street
Fifth Ave N Garage: Fifth Ave N & Republican Street

Pike’s Public Market in Seattle

10 Family-Friendly activities in Seattle, Washington

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If you are looking to take your teenagers to a museum in Seattle and you don’t want them to hate you, try the Museum of Pop Culture aka MoPop right next to the Space Needle in Seattle. Founded by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen in 2000, it is one of the craziest buildings you will ever see. It’s kind of a strange architectural blob of shining metal. If you are anywhere near the Space Needle you can’t miss it. The monorail even runs right through it. It’s an impressive, if not strange piece of architecture designed by Frank O. Gehry to evoke the rock n roll experience. And if you are wondering, yes, this used to be the Experience Music Project.

Our visit was on a Saturday at 10am and it wasn’t busy, the staff was friendly, and the place was clean and well put together. We started off in the hall of fame and immediately my kids were hooked. The first display is Indiana Jones’s leather jacket, followed by the light saber used by Luke Skywalker in the scene where Darth Vader chopped his hand off.

It was not a large room, but there were collections of things to please everyone, from Wonder Woman to Captain Nemo’s jacket from 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.

Next we went to the second floor where we were greeted by the famous guitar sculpture. A floor to ceiling tornado of all kinds of guitars, it is a sight to see and definitely the most photographed items in the whole museum. My kids liked it, not as much as I liked it, but they were impressed. I took a bunch of pictures before I realized my kids weren’t with me. A mystery quickly solved when I saw they had been sucked into the Indie Game Revolution exhibit.

Indie Games

The Indie Game Exhibit on the second floor was full of screens of interactive computer games. We may have been in this exhibit alone for 30 minutes. I don’t do computer games, but we had some fun in there with a virtual wrestling game and a game in which the goal seemed to be to fart and pee in the right locations to win. My inability to use a game controller seriously hampered my ability to win any of these games by the way, so if you are particularly competitive with your kids and you can’t use a game controller prepare to be defeated or practice up before you go.

Science Fiction

More fun artifacts were found in in the Infinite Worlds of Science Fiction, from Mork’s space suit, Hover boards from Back to the Future, some Dr. Who stuff for the Whovians out there and even the pack used to suck up the ghosts in Ghostbusters!

Guitar Gallery

If you are offended by the extreme wastefulness of a tower of seemingly perfect guitars, relax there is a guitar gallery with beautiful displays of guitars and explanation of their evolution. There are some fun guitars in there too, owned by musicians as varied as Kiss and Hank Williams. My older son was quite taken by a saxophone guitar combo.

Gift Shop

We also loved the two gift shops, one dedicated to science fiction swag, the other to rock n roll. Much to my pleasure my oldest son picked out a Beatles T-shirt depicting the Beatles Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club band and BAM two happy teenagers that didn’t complain for two hours!!

Museum of Pop Culture Admission Fees and Hours

It costs two dollars less to buy your tickets online ahead of time, currently there is also the option to see a Jim Henson exhibition for an extra $5. Otherwise, admission is Adults $28, Youth 5–17 yrs $17, Children 4 and younger FREE.

Open Daily 10:00am to 7:00pm

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Kimpton Palladian Hotel in Seattle

A nice place to stay near Pike’s Market in downtown Seattle is the Kimpton Palladian Hotel.

If you are wondering if that is a pillow with a picture of Angelina Jolie on it the answer is yes. One of the odd features of this hotel is its collection of celebrity pillows you can request to sleep with during your stay. I did not actually request this pillow. I found out that this pillow is special because there is only one with Angelina Jolie on it. Others include Michael Jackson, Bill Murray, and Brad Pitt. Next time I stay here I hope they have a Chuck Norris pillow!

Private Rooms

The room I stayed in had just one king bed, but they do offer rooms with two queen beds. They have a few suites available as well.  My room was well laid out and I had a lot of room. The rooms were quiet and I felt like I had a lot of privacy. One great thing about staying here was the room service!

Kimpton Palladian Amenities and Services:

• Kimpton Karma Rewards members get a $10 Raid the Bar credit, free WiFi, earn reward nights, get exclusive offers, and more.
• Yoga mat in every room, free of charge.
• Fully equipped fitness center
• Luxury Atelier Bloem bath amenities
• Valet parking for a $39 charge per car, per night with in-and-out privileges
• Pet-friendly
• Hosted evening social hour in the lobby living room, including weekly local distillery spotlight
• Free bikes: Take one of Kimpton’s custom-designed PUBLIC bikes for a ride around town. Our hotel bikes are there for all of our guests to enjoy.
• Overnight laundry and dry cleaning upon request

PennyRoyal

One of my favorite parts of stay here was the PennyRoyal bar in the lobby. Not all hotels have awesome lobby bars, but they do here. We hung out in the bar quite a bit during my stay. Here is the kale and shrimp salad I had at the PennyRoyal bar inside the Kimpton Palladian Hotel in Seattle. It was an awesome salad. The bar has happy hour from 3 – 6 PM on weekdays with cocktails for $8, wine, and bottled beers for $5 and well spirits for $6. The bartenders are excellent. I was with a rather large group and there was no cocktail they couldn’t make.

Shaker and Spear

Shaker and Spear restaurant inside the Palladian Hotel – Photo by Aubrie Pick

Shaker and Spear is the on-site restaurant and it is where the food served in the PennyRoyal bar comes from. I was lucky enough to have dinner here with the Volkswagen team when we were there driving the Golf Alltrack. Everything we had was wonderful.

Overall the Palladian Hotel was a great place to stay. The location is awesome and all the food was incredible. I only wish they had a hot tub somewhere on-site.

10 Things to do in Seattle

Seattle City Guide: What to do, Where to Eat, and Where to Stay

Chihuly Garden and Glass in Seattle 

Museum of Pop Culture (MoPop) in Seattle 

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