Good experience-based gifts for 6yo/2yo children in Seattle/Edmonds

December 12, 2014 1:20 PM

We are friends with a family that has a 6-year-old boy and a 2-year-old girl. I was thinking it might be nice to give them an experience-based gift this year instead of stuff. What are some good things that we can do with them and also take their mom and dad along?

The boy has pretty gender-conventional tastes like trucks and building and insects. I don't know the girl as well but I know she is physically adventurous (likes climbing and things like that). I think we could spend up to $100 hosting the family of four. We could also schedule it for after the weather gets warmer if it is an outdoor thing. All of the adults involve have vehicles so it could be something you have to drive to, but probably not more than an hour's drive from Edmonds, so the kids don't get cranky.

We have already done the aquarium together.

posted by matildaben to Grab Bag (7 answers total)

* The Pacific Science Center has a lot of fun activities and exhibits. There's a younger kid water play place and a tide pool touching area, lots of sciency exhibits and physics demonstrations, and insects on display and a fantastic butterfly greenhouse. If you stretch your dollar a bit you could get the family a membership that would let them go for an entire year (and attend some education IMAX movies) for $109ish.
* The Seattle Bouldering Project has some really cool kid climbing areas and it's indoors. I have seen two year olds there before climbing better than me but that could just be special them.
posted by foxfirefey at 1:53 PM on December 12, 2014

Best answer: This may be a little more than an hour's drive by a bit, but Northwest Trek? It's a zoo-type place based on animals native to the area.
posted by Gneisskate at 2:23 PM on December 12, 2014

The Imaginary Children's Museum well that's what we call it is nicer and less insane-making than the Seattle Children's Museum, and you could easily get there from Edmonds. There isn't anything for the parents to do, though -- are you hoping to find something all of you will enjoy doing?
posted by The corpse in the library at 2:55 PM on December 12, 2014

Response by poster: Yes, something we would all enjoy doing. They used to be our neighbors but we see them much less since their 2nd child was born and they moved to the suburbs. We want to keep interacting with them so the kids can still have us in their lives.
posted by matildaben at 3:52 PM on December 12, 2014

My boyfriend buys a year-long zoo pass every year for his brother's family (brother, wife, 5-year-old girl, 2-year-old boy). The kids LOVE it, and they go like a million times a year. You could get an annual membership for all of them to the Woodland Park Zoo for $109. Or just do a one-day thing if you think they wouldn't get a ton of use out of an annual pass.
posted by jabes at 4:26 PM on December 12, 2014

Woodland park zoo is great and has a big playground by one of the parking lots. We have an annual pass and love it, just a few visits pay for itself and when you have a pass you don't feel like you have to do the whole thing in one day and it's much more relaxing than a one time visit.

The Seattle aquarium is also great for kids, me and my 2.5 year old go there frequently and it doesn't get old. Coupled with lunch at ivars and a ride on the Ferris wheel it makes for a fantastic day.
posted by HMSSM at 8:43 PM on December 12, 2014

Coming in to suggest thinking carefully before getting zoo passes. The Seattle Zoo is at the center of a controversy about the treatment of their two remaining elephants. They have finally, after heavy public pressure, agreed to find another home for the two; however, they intend to send them to another zoo rather than to a sanctuary. Many, many people strongly disagree with this decision and are boycotting the zoo. At the very least, you need to check with your friends to find out if they have strong opinions before buying anything.
posted by kestralwing at 9:39 PM on December 12, 2014 [1 favorite]