What is the Safest Seattle Neighborhood for Kids?

It is nearly impossible to measure a neighborhood's true safety.  The below chart attempts to do so by providing the number of violent and drug crimes per neighborhood since January 2010 as well as the number of sex offenders in each area.

Outdoor Pay to Play Options for Babies & Toddlers in Seattle

Woodland Park Zoo - Located near Green Lake, this lovely zoo offers excellent and well-kept exhibits covering the globe along with a family farm, indoor play area for children, and a petting zoo that is open during the spring and summer. They offer strollers to rent along with red wagons. The annual membership is very reasonable and well worth the price for the indoor play area alone!  http://www.zoo.org/

Outback Christmas Tree and Kangaroo Farm - Come to Arlington to take a tour of this unique farm and its residents including kangaroos, wallabies, wallaroos, llamas, lemurs, alpaca, pygmy goats, peacocks, an ostrich, a miniature donkey, a parrot and an emu. Tours last 40 minutes and are $7 for children (2-12) and $8 for adults.  There are 4 tours daily March - October, Wednesday through Sunday, and by appointment only November - February.  http://www.christmastreesandroos.com/

Japanese Gardens - located in the Arboretum, the Japanese Gardens provide a lovely area to explore that is big enough to be interesting to adults but not so big as to be too big for little ones.  A surprising numbers of toddlers visit the gardens, fascinated by the giant Koi and easy walking trails (you can buy bags of fish food on the grounds for $1).  Admission is $5 for adults, $3 for 6-17, and free for 5 and under.  http://www.cityofseattle.net/parks/parkspaces/japanesegarden.htm

Willows Edge Farm - this Bothell farm offers unique and rewarding experiences.  You can take a family tour exploring this real working farm complete with horses, chickens, pigs and rabbits.  On tours you may learn everything form how to brush a horse, to collecting farm eggs, feeding chickens and caring for rabbits.  The entry fee is $5 for anyone 1 years old or older.  Don't miss this one of a kind experience just outside of Seattle!  http://www.willowsedgefarm.com/farm-tour.html

Cougar Mountain Zoo - this conservation focused zoo in Issaquah offers an award winning mountain lion exhibit.  It also offers the largest Siberian reindeer herd in the country as well excellent Tiger and Macaw exhibits.  An exciting option here are some of the "close encounter" tours you can take that let you get up and personal with Tigers, Reindeer, Cougars, Lemurs, Cranes, or Mule Deer.  http://www.cougarmountainzoo.org/

Remlinger Farms - open May through October, Remlinger Farms offers 25 rides as well as a petting zoo, train ride, theater, restaurant and food booths.  Kids can interact with ponies, goats, horses, pigs, cows, alpacas, sheep, bunnies and donkeys!   http://www.remlingerfarms.com/index.htm
Northwestrek and Animal Park - this is a great place to get to know the native animals of the Northwest.  With a focus on Northwest wildlife, this zoo also offers a tram tour through 435 acres of their free roaming area.  It is a 55 mile drive from Seattle so plan naps accordingly.  http://www.nwtrek.org/

Wolf Haven - with a mission of protecting and providing a sanctuary for wild wolves, Wolf Haven is located 77 miles outside of Seattle.  They offer 45 minute guided tours and offer a unique opportunity to see wild wolves up close.  One warning - if your child is deemed "disruptive" or upsetting to the animals, you will be asked to leave...  http://www.wolfhaven.org/index.php

Best Seattle Beaches for Babies & Toddlers

Discovery Beach - one of the best kept secrets among parents is that you can get a pass to drive down to the beach if you have a young child with you. There are only a couple of places to park so if you don't get here early you may have to wait for someone to return with the parking place. Just stop in at the main center to get your beach pass. The beach is a great place to explore tide pools and explore a rustic Washington beach. http://www.cityofseattle.net/Parks/environment/discovparkindex.htm

Madrona Beach - The perfect beach for the under 3 crowd! This small sandy beach on the lake offers tons of fun option for kids. There have faucets set up that create streams down the beach to the water. Little ones play in the stream creating dams, mud and more! This is also a great place to build a sandcastle and have a picnic while enjoying the georgous views. Definitely a must-see! http://www.cityofseattle.net/Parks/beach_detail.asp?id=370

Madison Park Beach - with several playgrounds nearby, this lovely beach offers wonderful views but can get very crowded on warm days. Located in lovely Madison Park, it is a great choice for a picnic or just a few hours of beach fun before heading out to one of the many yummy nearby restaurants. http://www.cityofseattle.net/Parks/beach_detail.asp?id=369

Alki Beach - you will think you are in California with its miles of beaches, rustic beachside restaurants and stores and playgrounds. There is a pathway running beside the beach that works well for stroller walks and there are plenty of hollowed out logs to sit on the beach while watching volleyball players. It's hard to compare the breathtaking view of the Sounds with ferries passing over, downtown Seattle in the background and the Olympic Mountain Range hanging in overhead. http://www.seattle.gov/parks/park_detail.asp?ID=445

Green Lake - with its wealth of other offerings, including playgrounds, boat rentals, playgrounds, and an indoor play area, Green Lake also offers a beach and wading pool for kids. If you can find parking, you won't regret spending your afternoon in this piece of paradise in Seattle. http://www.seattle.gov/parks/park_detail.asp?ID=307

Golden Gardens - another rustic Washington beach on the Sound, Golden Gardens is unique in that it also offers a venue for bonfires. Sometimes the crowd here can be a little rougher than the other parks I've listed able, so keep in mind the time of day before you head here or make sure you come in a group. http://www.seattle.gov/parks/park_detail.asp?ID=243

Magnuson Park Beach - located in Sand Point, this beach offers a nice enclosed swimming are for children in the summer. There is a very large fenced in dog park and separate dog beach which works well. You can also find one of the largest playgrounds in Seattle here! http://www.seattle.gov/Parks/beach_detail.asp?id=398

Seward Park Beach - offering a small sweet beach and playground, Seward Park has much to enjoy. Just beware of the goose poop and poison oak that is common here. I am not a huge fan of it for small children just because there are a lot of off leash dogs and while some are wonderful with children, it doesn't always make for the best mix. http://www.ci.seattle.wa.us/Parks/beach_detail.asp?id=428

Free Outdoor Play Options for Babies and Toddlers in Seattle

Seattle offers up some great playgrounds and beaches for outdoor fun (which I've listed out in separate posts). Here are some other free outdoor fun ideas:


University Village Play Area - This play area is covered so it'll work on a warm and wet day as well. Located in between a toy store and several children's clothing stores, this play area offer baby and toddler friendly playground equipment along with a soft floor and three scoot and ride cars. The area is also totally fenced so you don't have to worry about your newbie walker racing away from you! University Village is a large outdoor shopping mall. The play area is located on the backside of the Borders bookstore. http://www.uvillage.com/

Kelsey Creek Farm - located in Bellevue, this farm offers lots of animals for little ones to ogle at including cows, pigs, goats, horses, chicken and ducks. There are also lots of trails and a children's park. http://www.cityofbellevue.org/kelsey_creek_park.htm

Green Lake - What's not to love about Green Lake? It offers a two and a half miles of a picturesque walk around it as well as playgrounds, a children's wading pool/mini beach, boat rentals, indoor play area and more! Especially popular with the stroller and very pregnant "want to give birth right now because I'm two weeks overdue" crowd, this place is a paradise for both children and adults. http://www.seattle.gov/parks/park_detail.asp?ID=307

Swanson's Nursery - most people come here for the plants but we often drop in the visit the giant koi in the indoor greenhouse as well as the chicks (not chickens) in the henhouse. It is a great chance for kids to get up and close to both. http://www.swansonsnursery.com/

Pike Place Market - Ok, yes it is tourist central but your little ones will love seeing all the colors and activity at this lively downtown market. I'd highly recommend a stroller to push through the tight crowds on your ways to see the flying fish and admire all the fresh fruits and vegetables as well as interesting goods for sale. http://www.pikeplacemarket.org/

Bryant Blueberry Farm - Come and have a picnic and this U-Pick and they-pick Blueberry farm in Arlington.  Children can meet and feed ducks and goats as well as enjoy the farm's playground.  http://www.bryantblueberries.com/Index.htm

Baby/Toddler Friendly Restaurants

It can be hard to find a restaurant that is not only baby friendly but where the staff also thinks about things like putting hot plates out of the reach of little hands or offers children's play areas. Here is a list of restaurants, some expected and some surprising, that are super baby/toddler friendly:

Perche' No Pasta & Vino - Child friendly central! This restaurant is charming on the outside and in. Three levels with an open kitchen, live piano and an open air deck. The staff is among the friendliest I've ever met. From the moment you arrive you are treated like family. Every child that comes gets a balloon - they actually keep a helium pump on location! The noise decibel is high enough to not feel self conscious with a riotous two year old but not so loud as to have trouble holding a conversation. The food itself is very good. They even cure their own meats and offer a homemade prosciutto. The also have a lovely patio on the side.

Judy Fu's Snappy Dragon - Great New York Style Chinese food in Seattle. You can get dishes here you just can't find elsewhere like home made dumplings in spicy peanut sauce, flaky green onion noodles, chicken in black bean sauce and hand shaven noodles. This place is also kid paradise. There are tons of children (almost every table has at least one) and the staff are very conscientious, placing hot dishes well out of the reach of toddlers. Finally, the restaurant has the feel of being in someones home with separate warm and cozy rooms, one with a fireplace.

Serendipity Cafe - this restaurant offers breakfast, lunch and dinner as well as a great play area for kids. You can actually sit at a table with a full lunch/dinner menu while your children play. It is a nicely laid out large space with lots of tables. They also offer a wonderful story time every week!!!

Tutta Bella Neapolitan Pizzeria - KID HEAVEN!!!! Whether they originally intended for it to be or not, this place is child heaven (which is GREAT for us!). Every time I've been there practically every table in the very large dining space has either an infant in a car seat, a baby in a high chair, or young children. The restaurant is large and looks like it can seat a lot of people. Parking is tough. They have a few spaces out front but mostly you are going to have to chance it on the street. They offer an excellent thin crust pizza as well as gelato.

Enza Cucina Siciliana - Authentic homemade Italian food in a kid friendly environment. We loved traveling through Italy with our toddler. Everyone was warm and welcoming and the food was out of this world. If you would like to eat gnocchi that is the same quality as what you'd get in Italy, come here. Everything from the bread on the table to the sauce is made from scratch by hand. The owner is equally authentic! Her charming Sicilian accent coupled with her energy - bustling from cooking the food in the open air kitchen to graciously making her patrons feel at home make this place a joy. The BEST feature of all is the children's play area complete with toy kitchen set, table & chairs, toys and books. You can sit at a table with cloth napkins while your little one plays beside you. What a treat!!!! If only more restaurants would follow Enza's lead and add an area like this!! They also offer a children's menu. Finally, from 11 am - 5 on they offer crepes including classics like nutella & banana.

Benihana - Talk about a kid-friendly atmosphere. Everything here is perfect for children. They offer a children's menu that turns into a chef hat, mock-cocktails for little ones, and a fun show performed by a chef who stands at the center of your communal table preparing the food. This would be a great place for a child's birthday party. The food is a very good value and includes an appetizer, soup, salad, vegetables, main courses, tea & desert all for one price. We got their Rocky special which was around $24 and their shrimp and steak combo which was around $26. They also offer a full sushi menu here. Make sure you have a reservation though as this place gets packed.

Wild Mountain Cafe - One of the most child friendly and charming restaurants in Seattle with a unique southern menu! We have been here for both breakfast and dinner. They are known for their eggs Benedict but have two pages of great options including tahini stuffed French toast and huevos rancheros. For dinner their honey glazed fried chicken is incredible and their catfish is the best in Seattle. This restaurant is extremely child friendly with almost all of the tables including a patron under 3 years old. The restaurant itself is located in a quaint historic house at the top of a long set of stairs. You dine at homey tables throughout the rooms on furniture as unique and classic as the home itself. The staff is warm and the music a unique blend of classic rock (think Journey and KISS). This is helpful when you have a young child as it raises the noise level a little. This is a great cozy restaurant.

Indoor Pay to Play Options for Babies & Toddlers in Seattle

Zoomazium – the zoo is already a great place to visit with kids but the Zoomazium at Seattle’s Woodland Park Zoo has an amazing indoor play area for rainy days. It has a baby/toddler area with toys drums, climbing areas, mirrors and lots of other great toys of little ones. Right next to it is a large rockery climbing area for bigger kids with a slide. It also offers an art and discovery area and a stage where the zoo offers daily creature features (where kids learn about different animals in person) as well as puppet shows. They hold daily dance parties as well handing out shakers and playing music encouraging children to dance and play. (per visit fee or annual membership). http://www.zoo.org/zoomazium

Seattle Children’s Museum – Wonderful, Wonderful, Wonderful!!! This place has been a life saver to us with a toddler. For one low yearly membership fee, you can attend mommy and me classes here 5 days a week, story time in an incredible fairytale like setting 3 days a week, incredible cultural exhibits, traveling exhibits, an entire grocery store where little ones can fill their shopping carts with all sorts of good and even check out (scan items) and use a credit card machine. There is also a wonderful stage area where children's can dress up and perform and small rooms dedicated to different countries of the world. The have an entire play area that is just for toddlers that includes climbing apparatuses and a long water play center - as well as smocks to keep your little ones dry. One of my favorite things is the art room. there are several stations where your children can paint and all the art supplies in the world to do everything from clay art to drawing. The museum is open 7 days a week giving working parents a great place to take their kids on the weekend. I can't recommend this place strongly enough. It takes several visits before you see everything this place has to offer! (per visit fee or annual membership). http://thechildrensmuseum.org/

Pacific Science Center - Great place to visit for Children of all Ages. They offer a HUGE toddler play area (600 square feet or more), floors and floors of educational and fun stations for older children, real animated dinosaurs, a planetarium (with special 15 minute shows for the under 3 crowd) a butterfly house where you are emerged in a wonderland of rare and beautiful butterflies in a tropical setting and an IMAX theater. I didn't go here for a considerable time because I was concerned it was better suited for older children. While it is, in fact, perfect for the 5-14 crowd it also has many wonderful options for the under 5 crowd. If you live in Seattle, consider the membership so you can visit as much as you want. We find that memberships at places like this, the zoo and the children's museum more than pay for themselves in a matter of months (per visit fee or annual membership). http://www.pacsci.org/

Seattle Art Museum – you might not think that an art museum is the best place to take a baby/toddler but the Seattle Art Museum stands out with play rooms on different floors where children can read, build structures, or explore many of the toys they have for sale downstairs in the museum shop (per visit fee or annual membership). http://www.seattleartmuseum.org/learn/youthfamily/default.asp

Seattle Community Centers – from Greenlake to Queen Anne, Seattle Community Centers offer a variety of play rooms for infants and toddlers as well as an open gym/play time a few days a week. ($2 a visit). http://www.ci.seattle.wa.us/parks/centers.asp

Twirl Café – we are very excited that there will be a new play children’s play space opening up in our own Queen Anne this summer! From what we understand it will offer an open gym and classes. In addition, the play area will include a tree-house structure and upper classroom for active lay. http://mytwirl.blogspot.com/2010/07/twirl-press-release-july-8th-2010.html

Soundbridge (Seattle Symphony) - the Seattle Symphony offer Soundbridge where children can partake in musical storytelling, an instrument petting zoo, weekly play dates, learn about music and even conduct! Admission is free the first Monday of the month and after noon on Fridays. http://www.seattlesymphony.org/soundbridge/about/

Seattle Aquarium - this small aquarium is located on the Seattle Waterfront. There is a children's play area, a touching tank and various stations where children can do art projects. In the past it has also offered playgroups. http://www.seattleaquarium.org/netcommunity/page.aspx?pid=183

KidsQuest Children’s Museum – it never fails to amaze me the amount of imagination and magic that goes into children’s museums. Like the Seattle Children’s Museum, this counterpart across the lake offers an amazing setting for imagination and play for little ones. With tons for babies and older to climb and explore, admission on the first Friday of the month is FREE!!!! http://www.kidsquestmuseum.org/

Tot Spot Cafe - This pay-to-play Woodinville play cafe offers a cozy home-like ambience along with staff couches for parents and plenty of toys for babies and little kids. For the cover charge they also provide and extra set of eyes (through staffers) watching over little ones as they play. http://www.totspotcafe.com/

Orange Blossom Society - another pay to play cafe, this time located inside a house in Redmond. They have lots of toys for the kids along with pastries, coffee and Wi-Fi for the adults. They also offer classes for kids in thing like yoga, art, movement, gardening, sign language and more! However, only the art and movement classes are for the under 3 crowd. http://www.orangeblossomsociety.com/class-descriptions.html

Dizzy's Bus Stop - branching out from the Tumblebus, Dizzy is now offer a new drop in play facility in Bellevue.  The cost is $7 for any child crawling and older and it's open Monday through Friday.  http://www.dizzybus.com/

Free Indoor Play Areas in Seattle - Updated October 2010

Kids Cove at Bellevue Square – although it is in Bellevue instead of Seattle, this incredible play area is well worth the trip. Ideal for infants to preschoolers, it has numerous climbing structures (all well-padded) and a fun and playful theme throughout. It is a huge space that is walled in with seating all around the outside for parents, stroller parking and an unbelievable array of climbing structures and play equipment. There is a children’s barbershop next door and a Gymboree facing it. Combined with the fact that it is located in one of the nicest malls in the US, this place is a winner on all counts. http://www.bellevuesquare.com/whats_new.php

REI – located on the second floor, the original REI offers a huge indoor tree house/climbing gym complete with slide as well as some options for babies and toddlers. http://www.rei.com/stores/11

Swanson's Nursery - This highend plant nursery offers lots of fun things to do with kids. Outside there is a chicken coop and playhouse while inside they have a Koi pond with Koi the size of salmon and seasonal activities including a maze made out of haystacks (Fall) and Santa's Reindeer which come to visit from November through December. 

Family Works - offering free drop-in playgroups for infants, toddlers and preschoolers, this Wallingford non-profit offers free CPR and other parenting support classes as well. They even offer specialized playgroups for Spanish and Japanese speaking playgroups as well as one for children adopted from China. http://www.familyworksseattle.org/events/on-going-playgroups-for-parents-and-children

Beacon Hill Library - offers a bilingual kaleidoscope play & learn group for children 2-5 years old on Wednesdays at 10 am.

Broadview Libary - offers a kaleidoscope play and learn group for children 18 months to 5 years old Wednesdays at 10:30 am.

Columbia Libary - 0ffers a spanish kaleidoscope play & learn group for children birth to 5 years old on Thursdays at 11:00 am.