ML Interest Tag: factory-tour

15 Halloween Events That Won’t Get Your Costumes Wet

by Kristina Moy

We all know that Seattle weather can be iffy in October. And since we don’t want the cold weather and rain to put a damper on your festivities this year, we’ve compiled a list of 16 indoor Halloween events and trick-or-treating options happening on the days leading up to Halloween and on the 31st. So put away your umbrellas and rain coats, grab your candy buckets and read on for the easiest way to have a happy, safe (and dry!) Halloween.

 photo: Kristina Moy

1. Howl-O-Ween. Every night in October, little ghosts and goblins can hit the Trick-or-Treat Trail at Great Wolf Lodge. Starting at 6 p.m., costumed kiddos can pick up their goodie bags at the Howl-O-Ween House and collect ghostly treats throughout the hotel. In addition to trick-or-treating, kids can enjoy face painting, a spooktacular story time at the Great Clock Tower and a Monster Bash Dance Party (on Fridays and Saturdays). Psst! Book your stay midweek and avoid the crowds.

Great Wolf Lodge
20500 Old Highway 99 S.W.
Grand Mound, Wa 98531
360-273-7718

When: Oct. 1-31, 2017 from 6 p.m.-8 p.m.; Fri. & Sat. dance party from 9 p.m.-10 p.m.
Cost: Free with stays from Oct. 1-31, 2017. Use promo code HOWL for special discounts.

2. Seattle Chocolates Haunted Factory Tour
If you’re looking for a super-sweet and kinda spooky Halloween activity, look no further than Seattle Chocolates. During this special Halloween-themed tour, you must decipher mysterious, chocolate-inspired riddles by discovering hidden symbols along the tour route. With the help of special hand-held UV lights, solve the mystery and find the treasure as you wander through the haunted factory after hours.

Seattle Chocolates Flagship Store
1180 Andover Park W.
Seattle, Wa 98188

When: Oct. 19-21 & 26-28, 2017 from 5 p.m.-9 p.m.
Cost: $10/Adults; $5/Kids (8-12). Purchase tickets online to guarantee your tour time. 

3. Halloween on the Hill. At this annual Halloween extravaganza (formerly known as SpookFest), get your engines, err, pumpkins ready for The Annual Great SBCC Pumpkin Race (think Pinewood Derby with a Halloween twist!). Plus, enjoy a mini carnival with games, arts and crafts and treats, a Dessert Theater and a Haunted Movie. Psst! Older kids can experience a Zip Scare featuring a suspension bridge and three zip lines in the dark.

South Bellevue Community Center
14509 S.E. Newport Way
Bellevue, Wa 98006
425-452-4240

When: Oct. 28, 2017 from 10 a.m.-9 p.m.
Cost: Activity fees vary

4. Pee Wee Monster Bash. For little ones looking for a not-too-spooky time, the North Kirkland Community Center is throwing their annual carnival style bash where mini monsters can wear their costumes and participate in a cookie walk, monster movement course, swamp fishing, arts and crafts and more. Pre-register early to guarantee your spot; this event always sells out!

North Kirkland Community Center
12421 103rd Ave. N.E.
Kirkland, Wa 98034
425-587-3350

When: Oct. 27, 2017 from 10 a.m.-noon
Cost: $12-$14

5. Halloween Fun at the Seattle Aquarium. Underwater pumpkin carving demonstrations? Check. Spooky Halloween activities and games? Check. Treats and games throughout the aquarium? Check. Do we really need to convince you more? This under the sea celebration of Halloween goes on all weekend too, so your kids can get even more mileage out of their costumes.

Seattle Aquarium
Pier 59 -1483 Alaskan Way
Seattle, Wa 98101
206-386-4300

When: Oct. 28-29, 2017 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Cost: Free with admission or membership

6. BAM-O-WEEN Take your costumed cuties to Bellevue Arts Museum for a super-fun afternoon filled with art projects, thrilling activities and artist demonstrations celebrating all things Halloween. Psst! Costumes are encouraged.

Bellevue Arts Museum
510 Bellevue Way N.E.
Bellevue, Wa 98004
425-519-0770

When: Oct. 28, 2017 from noon-4 p.m.
Cost: Free

7. Boo Bash at Hands On Children’s Museum
Calling all little ghosts and goblins! Put on your Halloween costume and enjoy a fun day of un-goulish, Halloween-inspired activities at the Hands On Children’s Museum. At this year’s awesome event, discover your favorite furry beasts and learn why these monsters have been misunderstood, look for Bigfoot, dissect a sea creature, experiment with robots, make an artful alien, build monster scarecrows in the garden, print a glow in the dark silkscreen and much more!

414 Jefferson St. N.E.
Olympia, Wa 98501
360-956-0818

When: Oct. 28, 2017 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Cost: Members Free (regular admission rates for non-members)

photo: Hands On Children’s Museum 

8. Springfree Trampoline Halloween Party. On the 29th, head over to the Springfree Trampoline store in Issaquah for lots of high-flying Halloween fun. Kids can nosh on light snacks and enjoy jumping on the World’s Smartest Trampolines and see snakes, iguanas and other creatures during a show with the Reptile Man. Leapin’ lizards!

Issaquah Springfree Store
1875 N.W. Poplar Way
Issaquah, Wa 98027
425-654-1306

Date: Oct. 29, 2017 from 1 p.m.-3 p.m.
Cost: Free

9. The Museum of Fright. Ghosts, witches, and bats take to the skies at the Museum of Flight’s annual Halloween celebration. Make your very own ghostly creature that floats through the air and have lots of spooky fun in the Museum’s galleries. Plus, get festive with ghost stories, monster bowling, spooky flight simulator rides and test your mettle on the gross-o-meter in the mad science lab.

Museum of Flight
9404 E. Marginal Way S.
Seattle, Wa 98108
206-764-5720

When:  Oct. 29, 2017 from 10 a.m.–3 p.m.
Cost: $5 to $10 (under 17 in costume Free)

photo: Kristina Moy

10. Halloween Spooktacular. Don your wildest, craziest or cutest costume and head to KidsQuest Children’s Museum for some hauntingly hands-on fun! Conduct science experiments in the spooky kooky laboratory, create eerie art and explore boo-rific dry ice bubbles! Pre-registration required.

KidsQuest Children’s Museum
1116 108th Ave. N.E.
Bellevue, Wa 98004

When: Oct. 30, 2017 from 5 p.m.-8 p.m.
Cost: $11-$15 per person

11. Halloween Boo Bash. Little ghouls, goblins and boo’tiful princesses are going to have a frightfully good time at this annual Halloween bash at Northgate Mall. Come in costume and enjoy trick-or-treating, special treats and activities and celebrate Halloween with Disney’s Vampirina.

Northgate Mall
401 N.E. Northgate Way
Seattle, Wa 98125
206-362-4778

When: Oct. 31, 2017 from 4 p.m.-7 p.m.
Cost: Free

12. Halloween Trick ‘r Treat Party. Put on your costume and head over to the Marketplace @ Factoria for this annual trick-or-treating event (now in it’s 8th year!). In addition to loads of goodies, there will be spooktacular music, games and prizes with Warm 106.9, plus trick-or-treating from select merchants.

Marketplace @ Factoria
4055 Factoria Square Mall S.E.
Bellevue, Wa 98006
425-641-8282

When:  Oct. 31, 2017 from 4:30 p.m.–6:30 p.m.
Cost: Free

photo: Kristina Moy

13. Redmond Town Center Tricks & Treats. Grab your little ghosts and goblins and fly over to RTC for this spooktacular Halloween event. In addition to trick-or-treating at select merchants marked with balloons on their door, there will be face painting, a photo both, Springfree Trampolines and Halloween merchant specials.

Redmond Town Center
7525 166th Ave. N.E.
Redmond, Wa 98052
425-869-2640

When: Oct. 31, 2017 from 4 p.m.-7 p.m.
Cost: Free (costume photos $5)

14. Costume Carnival at the Museum. For a truly weatherproof night of trick-or-treating, head to the Seattle Children’s Museum where costumed kiddos (10 & under) can wander the halls in search of treat and special activities. From 4 p.m.-7 p.m., explore the Museum’s “Creepy Crawler Career Day” booths and enjoy hands-on STEM and cultural activities Then, from 7 p.m.-8 p.m., boogie down at SCM’s Monster Mash Disco featuring special guests!

Seattle Children’s Museum
305 Harrison St.
Seattle, Wa 98109
206-441-1768

When: Oct. 31, 2017 from 4 p.m.–8 p.m.
Cost: $5/person (members Free)

15. Kidx Witch Way to Candy Event. Calling all goblins, ghosts and creatures of the night! Creep, float or crawl over to this spooktacular Halloween event to enjoy spooky crafts and trick-or-treat for candy and Halloween goodies from participating merchants. Check in at Guest Services to enjoy all the Halloween activities and pick up your “Witch Way To Candy” map. Check-in and crafts begin at 3 p.m.; trick-or-treating at participating retailers will take place from 4 p.m.-6 p.m. (while supplies last).

The Outlet Collection
1101 Outlet Collection Way
Auburn, Wa 98001

When: Oct. 31, 2017 from 4 p.m.-6 p.m. (crafts begin at 3 p.m.)
Cost: Free with a non-perishable food donation for the Auburn Food Bank

How do you plan to stay warm and dry this Halloween? Do you have a favorite indoor Halloween activity that isn’t on our list? Tell us about it in the comments below!

— Kristina Moy

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Taste and Learn!: Creo Chocolate Factory Offers Sweets and Tours

by Annette Benedetti

Much like Willy Wonka, there’s a chocolate factory in North Portland that offers tours your family won’t soon forget. Creo Chocolate makes irresistible candy and gives eager customers a behind-the-scenes peek at how all of their chocolatey magic happens. So for a real-life Charlie and the Chocolate Factory experience, book it over to Creo Chocolates to learn how chocolate is made. There’s even a surprise at the end of the tour…let’s just say: it’s sweet.

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The Shop
From brewed cacao and hot chocolate to small batches and bars, Creo offers something for every chocolate lover in the family. A bean-to-bar shop that boasts roasting, cracking, grinding, tempering, molding and packaging their own product, Creo gets its beans from a hand-picked family owned farm in the tropics that works directly with them to create unique flavors that bring back customers again and again.

Some of the littlest members of your family may be too young to make it through a behind-the-scenes peek at how sweets are made, but the tours aren’t the only reason to visit the shop. The warm, inviting environment and friendly staff welcome chocolate fanatics of all ages and your kids will love noshing on their chocolate chip cookies, brownies or any other numbers of goodies while you wash your own down with a pumpkin spice mocha! Creo offers a number of seasonal treats and drinks that provide a perfect way to get toasty and perk up after a crisp fall or winter day.

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The Tours
Creo offers a Chocolate Factory Tour, a Make-a-Bar Tour and Chocolate 101 class. Both the Factory and Make-a-Bar tour are perfect for families with children ages 8 and up and provide kids and parents alike with an educational and tasty learning experience. The Chocolate 101 class is for adults only.

Chocolate Factory Tour
You will learn everything you could possibly imagine there is to know about chocolate and more on this in-depth factory tour. It lasts approximately 30 minutes and takes you on an adventure to the cocoa farm in Hacienda Limon, Los Rios, Ecuador where the cacao that is used to in the creation of Creo’s specialty chocolates is grown. Your little cook will find out all about the cacao pod, how it appears after it has ripened and what happens during the fermentation process. Then you will follow the cacao bean through the drying, shipping, storage, sorting and roasting process.

Participants can expect the half hour to be packed with hands-on experiences that allow them to see, touch and smell the bean as it is broken, put through the winnower, ground down to molten chocolate and then aerated in the conche until the perfect flavor is achieved.

You will have plenty of time to ask all of the questions that pop up along the way, and your kids will love venturing behind the counters and into the back rooms where the machinery will captivate their imaginations. All in attendance will be required to wear coverings over their feet and hair nets.

Cost: Free
Length of Time: 30 minutes
Ages: 8 & up
Online: creochocolate.com/classes/

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Photo by Annette Benedetti

Make-a-Bar Tour
The name Creo means “to create,” and create you will as you join the staff for on this tour. It includes all of the information and hands-on experiences from the Chocolate Factory Tour and you  get a chance to come up with your unique version of the chocolate bar and then create it with your own two hands. You even get to design the label and package your bar like a pro!

Cost: $15
Length of Time: 30 minutes
Ages: 8 & up
Online: creochocolate.com/classes/

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Chocolate 101
Looking for a fun and educational date night out? Or how about something fun to do on girls, boys or couples night out? Creo offers this fun and informational two-hour course that is as interactive as it is informative. You not only learn about how cacao is grown and processed, you get to get your hand dirty by prepping, cracking and winnowing cacao beans. These classes book fast so plan ahead!

Cost: $50
Length of Time: 30 minutes
Ages: adult only
Online: creochocolate.com/classes/

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The Gift of Chocolate
With the holidays right around the corner, we couldn’t help but notice Creo’s great options for gift giving. If you are hitting up the shop for an afternoon mocha or attending one of their tours, consider checking out some of their cool gift options as well. From tasty treats like roasted cacoa beans, sipping chocolate, chocolate bars, and roasted cacao nib to chocolate mint lip balm, chocolate candles, Creo mugs and more. There is something for everyone on Santa’s list this year.

Online: creaochocolate.com/products/

Location: 121 NE Broadway, Portland, Or
Hours: Tues.-Thurs. 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.; Fri.-Sat. 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Online: creochocoate.com

What is your family’s favorite chocolate treat? Share it with us in the comments below.

—copy and photos by Annette Benedetti

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Today Is Roald Dahl Day

by Tinybeans Team

Daily
Today Is Roald Dahl Day
It’s splendiferous.
1

True fans will not be able to live without the Oxford Roald Dahl Dictionary and we caught up with its creators to find out just how gloriumptious it is.
2

From giant peaches to little mice, these Dahl-inspired projects will have you gobblefunking for days.
3
Grab Uncle Joe’s hand and head to a Wonka-worthy factory tour you’ll not soon forget.

{ Today’s ideas brought to you by Charlie Bucket }

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Remedies For Spring Break Fever

by rtjenniferwolfe

5 days. 4 walls. A couple of kids. No plans. What are you gonna do? (Insert foreboding music here….) Spring Break is bearing down fast upon us, and if Winter Break was any indication, it’ll stop showing mercy around noon on Day One. So if you don’t have a fancy trip planned to the exotic reaches and beaches of the universe (we don’t either), don’t worry, we have a few cheap tricks up our sleeve that will keep kiddos of all ages happy, and give wallets of all sizes a break.

Be King or Queen of the Getty
Travel back in time and across the sea for a 19th century escapade through Queen Victoria’s beloved Scotland. No time machine? No problem. We’re talking about the Getty museum’s family festival, Royal Passion: Queen Victoria and Photography. Revel in the splendid stylings of Highland bagpipes, join in lively music hall melodies and dancing, and even take a 19th century side-trip to Japan with a shortened performance of Gilbert and Sullivan’s operetta, The Mikado. Your mini-monarchs can make their reign at the Getty complete by designing their own crowns and tiaras – fancy or funny style – while they are there. Check the website for more details about this and other family festivals at the Getty. Hint: if you can’t make the festival, the exhibit runs daily and a trip to the Getty is always fun!

Where: Getty Center,1200 Getty Center Dr., West LA
When: Saturday, April 12 from 10:00 a.m.–5:30 p.m.
Admission: Free, no reservations required.
Online: getty.edu

 

Come On Get Crafty
Every Saturday participating Michael’s locations open the doors for their own Kids Club where budding artists can create whimsical crafts using paint, wood, canvas, looms, and other materials.  Each week features a different theme and craft type, and sessions start every half-hour from 10 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Where: Michael’s (various locations)
When: Saturdays 10 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Admission: $2 per child
Online: michaels.com

Discover an Underwater World
You don’t have to travel very far to explore kelp forests, mud flats, and tidepools. Cabrillo Marine Aquarium in San Pedro offers interactive exhibits and outdoor programs for marine life scientists of all ages.

While you’re there explore the the aquarium’s coastal park and its tidepools, salt marsh and beach. (Note: Low tide is the best time to explore tidepools. Check here for a tide chart.)

Where: Cabrillo Marine Aquarium, 3720 Stephen M. White Dr., San Pedro
When: Tue through Fri from Noon to 5 p.m.; weekends 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Admission: Suggested donation of $5 for adults and $1 for children and seniors.
Online: cabrillomarineaquarium.org

Hike to a Waterfall
We know the mere mention of hiking starts sends most kiddos running for the hills (or away from them, to be more precise). But promise a waterfall and watch them turn right back around. (Go ahead, try. We’ll wait). Ready? Our most winning wet hikes with kids are: Monrovia Canyon Park, with several flat and shady trail options plus a nature center to launch your trek; Sturtevant Falls in the San Gabriel Mountains, a 3.25 mile, dog-friendly hike to a 50 foot cascade; and the stroller-friendly Solstice Canyon in the Santa Monica Mountains which takes you to some real bone-fide LA ruins (yes, LA has ruins) on the way to the falls. All this amidst sweeping views of the ocean. Who needs Hawaii? Check the websites for trail maps, parking info and occasional trail closures. (Note: Despite the drought, all of these waterfalls are flowing, although water levels may be lower than usual for this time of year.)

Gone Fishin’
We know you’ll probably stick to Gelsons for your marine morsels. But the kiddos can catch and release* all over LA at any of our tried and true fishing holes. First on the list is the newly renovated  Echo Park Lake  (yes, that  Echo Park), which is stocked regularly and also has a playground and paddle boats. Best part? Square One Café sits right on the dock, which means fishing for them, artisan snack for you.  If you’re looking for something a little more beachy, trawl out to Santa Monica Pier which has its own bait ‘n tackle shop in case you forget the worms.  Troutdale, in the Agoura Hills, has a stocked lake and plenty of helpful folk to help make sure newbies catch their limit.  Got some non-fishing kiddos with you? Head to Lake Balboa in Van Nuys, which has lots of green space, bike trails and a playground in addition to its seasonally stocked lake.
*Note: kids under 16 do not require a fishing license, but if you plan to cast a line, you will need one in any public venue.

Park it Downtown
Who says you have to board a plane to visit a new city? We say put on your walking shoes, grab a camera and be a tourist in your own town.  Leave the car at home and jump on the Metro Red Line to the Civic Center stop, where you can start your day at Grand Park, an urban oasis that begs for a blanket, picnic, and good book. Don’t worry, it also boasts plenty of space for kicking a ball and a huge fountain where, on a warm day the kids can splash to their heart’s content while you sip on an frozen latte from the fountain-side Starbucks. (May we suggest a change of clothes for the kids?)

Grand Park is a short walk from architectural and cultural gems like the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Walt Disney Concert Hall and the Bradbury Building. Stop for lunch or a snack at Grand Central Market. Then slow down, rest up and snap some city shots from the nearby Angels Knoll, a hillside park with great city views.

(Note: This route is walkable, but each of these attractions is conveniently located near a Metro Red Line stop in case little feet start losing steam. Check here for complete info on fares and maps.)

Bless Your Beast
Come on down to Olvera St., home of the bustling, open-air Mexican Marketplace – and don’t forget to bring Fido, Fluffy or even your pet Python for the annual Blessing of the Animals, an all day event featuring yummy food, traditional music and an animal parade in this vibrant little corner of the city.

Where: Olvera St., located across from Union Station on the Metro Red Line
When: Sat., April 19th from 12 p.m. – 5 p.m.
Admission: Free
Online: calleolvera.com


Like, Drop into a Pool, Dude
They want to play Skate 3 from dusk till dawn. You want some fresh air. So do everyone a solid and take them to a real skate park where they can have their own epic ride (and maybe even get some lessons).  Or just watch – even the littlest guys love watching big kids catch air.

Some of our favorites are Verdugo Skate Park in Glendale and Valley Park in Burbank which both have playgrounds and ample picnic areas; and Marsh Skatepark, adjacent to the Glendale Narrows section of the L.A. River and bike path .

(Note: if you plan to skate, most skate parks require you to have proper protective gear and sign a waiver before entering. Some charge a nominal fee at peak hours. Check websites for details.)

Take a Factory Tour
Looking for a way to spice up Spring Break for the older kids? How about a tour of the 650,000 square-foot Sriracha factory . Here they’ll discover the secret to the peppery Rooster’s success – and why Dad insists on putting this mystery sauce on everything from hot dogs to watermelon.

Where: Huy Fong Foods, Inc., 4800 Azusa Canyon Rd, Irwindale
When: Mon. through Fri. between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., by appointment only.
Admission: Free
Phone:  (626) 286-8328
Online: huyfong.com

If you’ve got bigger little rockers under your roof check out the Fender Factory Tour to see how music really gets made (the instruments, that is). The 60 minute tour includes a visit to the “Dream Factory” for a firsthand look at Fender stringed creations. (Note: Kids under 9 are not admitted and all Factory tour guests must wear closed-toe shoes.)
Where: The Fender Visitor Center, 301 Cessna Circle, Corona
When: Mon., Tue., Thur. and Fri. Tours at 10 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.
Admission: Adults, $10; -$10;  Teens, $6; Kids under 13, free.
Phone: (951) 898-4040
Online: fender.com

Want more tours?  We found other favorite food tours in town.

What are your favorite Spring Break activities? Let us know!

– Jennifer Wolfe

Photo Credits: Analise Dubner, Jennifer Wolfe, Richard Meier via Creative Commons, familymwr via Creative Commons, Jennifer Arrow, Sarah Bowles, Golden Road Brewing via Facebook, Rafael Castillo via Creative Commons and the Annenberg Space for Photography

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