What are fun things to do in Downtown Seattle?

Question

I will traveling there between Xmas and New years with my 9 year old grandson (it's his Xmas present), and looking for some fun things with him and some good places to dine. Is there anything to do with trains or toy trains? We will be coming there from Chicago by Amtrak. What is a good mode of transportation? we will only be there 2 days and will only be downtown. Thanks.

Answer 1

Check out the waterfront, right by downtown (arguably in downtown). There is a really good aquarium, The Ye Old Curiosity Shop (perfect for a 9 year old), Pike's Place. Also, you can take a ferry ride even if you just take the round trip and never get off, it is fun.

Also, check out the Seattle Center, just north of Downtown. That is where the space needle is, the Experience Music Project (expensive, but cool) and the Pacific Science Center. Within downtown there is a Seattle Underground Tour, but that might not be going on in the winter, and they have amphibious bus tours (where the bus can also go in the water like a boat, and does).

Within down town, cabs or walking should work out. But be ready for the rain. I don't know of any train based things, other then the station is in downtown, and the tracks go under Safeco Field. It is the only MLB field that has train tracks go through part of it. Although the tracks go through the back part where you can't see it while in the stadium.

Answer 2

Go to hear the Seattle Symphony at Benaroya Hall at Third Avenue and Union Street.
Kitty Corner is an Ice Cream Place.

Answer 3

Ye Olde Spaghetti Factory is good food, I don't know about train-based fun though.
The duck ride is a bunch of fun, your grandson will love it and you'll both learn a lot about the city. From personal experience driving a rented van up a steep hill and accidentally burning out your tires in front of cops is a bunch of laughs.

Answer 4

Space Needle
Underground Tour
Pike Place Market
all the shops on the waterfront

for public transportation, there's buses all over the places, just make sure you have coins on hand!

be sure to have raincoats, this is the rainy time of year for seattle!

Answer 5

Go on a tour of Seattle's "Underground" - walk underneath the current downtown and see all the old storefronts, sidewalks, etc. Wikipedia has a good description of it:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seattle_Underground

And you can find more about the tour here:
http://www.undergroundtour.com/

Answer 6

The Space Needle is a must and you should go to Pike Place Market