ML Interest Tag: farm-park

Plan the Perfect Fall Staycation at the Hyatt Regency Bellevue

by Kristina Moy

With the kids back in school, a week-long family vacay will have to wait. But why not plan the next best thing—a fun-filled fall staycation just minutes away from the city? Located smack dab in the middle of Bellevue, the Hyatt Regency Bellevue offers upscale rooms with sweeping views of the city, kid-friendly amenities and a huge shopping and dining district right outside its doors. The best part? The hotel is in close proximity to an abundance of indoor and outdoor family attractions. Keep reading to find out more.

The Rooms

Located just a hop, skip and a jump over the bridge, the Hyatt Regency Bellevue is centrally located in downtown Bellevue directly across from The Bellevue Collection on the corner of Bellevue Way and 8th St. Whether you’re looking for a cozy room with a view of Bellevue’s skyline, a room with fabulous views of Lake Washington or a huge suite with separate living and dining areas, the Hyatt Regency Bellevue offers a variety of accommodations for all sizes of families. Upgrade to a Regency Club room and enjoy hotel extras like plush robes, turndown service and exclusive access to the Regency Club lounge on the 23rd floor. This rooftop hot spot is where you and your kids can hang on the outdoor deck and take in the amazing views, nosh on delicious evening hors d’oeuvres and desserts and even enjoy continental breakfast each morning of your stay.

The Amenities

In addition to 732 rooms (including 39 deluxe suites), the hotel boasts amazing customer service, free underground parking, a kids’ concierge (to help make the littlest of guests feel welcome) and two 55-inch interactive touchscreen coffee tables in the lobby with games to entertain both kids and adults alike. The four-star hotel also offers an updated indoor pool complete with pool noodles, balls and kickboards and an expansive gym that overlooks Bellevue Way in case you want to work up a sweat during your staycation.

Premier Shopping & Entertainment Just Steps Away

Located just an elevator and skybridge walk away from the Hyatt Regency Bellevue is where you will find The Bellevue Collection made up of Bellevue Square, Lincoln Square and Bellevue Place. From kids’ apparel and home furnishings to handmade gifts and jewelry, this convenient and super kid-friendly shopping plaza is where you will find more than 250 retailers, including dozens of new ones just recently added. After you shop ‘til you drop, take advantage of the entertainment options the Bellevue Collection has to offer. See a movie at the Cinemark Lincoln Square Cinema, throw a few strikes and play more than 70 different arcade games at Lucky Strike or take the kiddies to Kid’s Cove inside Bellevue Square to run around the maritime-themed play area.

Kid-friendly Eats

Within Bellevue’s Hyatt Regency you will find several kid-friendly dining options to satisfy even the pickiest of eaters. Eques, a modern décor breakfast restaurant, is open from 6:30 a.m.-10 a.m. on weekdays (open until noon on Saturdays and 1:30 p.m on Sundays) and serves a delicious buffet with all your fave breakfast foods (think: made-to-order omelets, homemade pastries, bagels and locks and fresh fruits) along with specialty dishes like Ice Cream Cone Waffles complete with a chocolate and vanilla drizzle and cherry on top and Cherry Pie Waffles piled high with cherries and a pie crumble.

For lunch and dinner options, the variety is stunning. Inside the hotel you have an old-school classic, 13 Coins. With huge dark booths, 13 Coins is open 24 hours and has a great kid’s menu. (Psst…you can also order room service from 13 Coins). If you’re feeling fancy, Daniel’s Broiler is located on the 21st floor and is known for its scrumptious steaks and Northwest-inspired dishes. Din Tai Fung (just a quick walk over the skybridge) is where you can introduce your kid crew to some of the best dim sum in town. Psst…arrive early in the day and avoid the huge dinnertime crowds; this is a popular spot!

For quick and easy grab-and-go options, Fonte’s Coffee Roaster and Needs Deli are both within the hotel compound. Beyond the hotel’s walls, there’s a plethora of kid-friendly faves, including Red Robin and Maggiano’s Little Italy along with other family hot spots like Palomino , Cactus Southwest Kitchen & Bar, Tavern Hall and the Nordstrom Marketplace Café (inside the mall). Wild Ginger (located three blocks south of the Hyatt on Bellevue Way) and McCormick & Schmick’s are also great options. Or go big, by heading to The Sugar Factory (located at The Shops at The Bravern) or VIVO 53 to indulge in extreme milkshakes and sundaes slathered with candy, brownies, cookies, whipped cream, chocolate and more. If all else fails and you simply can’t decide where to dine, head to the new Lincoln South Food Hall where you’ll find seven fast-casual eateries (all under one roof) offering everything from poké and street tacos, to ramen and burgers.

Outdoor Activities

Parks & Playgrounds  
With more than 100 urban playgrounds, the city of Bellevue is often referred to as The City of Parks which means you’ll have no problem finding a place to swing, slide and climb during your staycation. To help you get started, we’ve compiled a list of our favorite Eastside parks and playgrounds here. One of the city’s more well-known parks (just down the street from the Hyatt Regency Bellevue) should definitely be on your family’s to-do list. The Bellevue Downtown Park features two different play areas (one for munchkins ages 2-5 and another for older kids ages 5-12) along with a climbing wall and climbing vine, swings, a rockin’ music area and much more.

Kelsey Creek Farm Park
If you’ve got a crew of animal lovers, you’ll definitely want to put Kelsey Creek Farm Park on your Bellevue staycation agenda. In operation since the 1930s, Kelsey Creek Farm Park is free to visit and open year-round from 9:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m. Stroll past the farm’s iconic barns to meet the ponies, sheep, goats, chickens, pigs, rabbits and waterfowl who call Kelsey Creek home. The Farm Park also offers a fantastic playground that is always a hit with the minis as well as picnic tables and a picnic shelter that are free to use and open every day from dawn ’til dusk. Make your visit extra special by scheduling a farm tour with Farmer Jayne (gather your neighbors, PEPS group or friends to make the adventure even more fun) or join a farm class designed for ages 2-10.

Lake to Lake Greenway Trail
Bellevue’s Lake to Lake Greenway Trail goes right along Kelsey Creek Farm Park, so if your family is feeling a bit adventurous or is in need of some energy burnin’ fun, hop on your bike and hit the trail. The Lake to Lake Greenway Trail connects Lake Sammamish to Lake Washington and routes by the Bellevue Botanical Garden and the Mercer Slough Nature Park, two additional fun stops for outdoor adventure.

Indoor Activities

KidsQuest Children’s Museum
If you’re looking for indoor fun, the KidsQuest Children’s Museum should definitely be at the top of your must-do staycation list. This awesome hands-on, interactive children’s museum is where kids ages birth to 10 can explore and experience over a dozen exhibits. The best part? KidsQuest encourages creativity, problem solving and learning through play with an emphasis on science, technology, engineering, art and math (STEAM). Visit exciting exhibits like the Art Studio, Recycle Rebuild, Bellevue Mercantile, Atrium Climber and everyone’s favorite: Water! Visit their online calendar for monthly programs and special events.

Bellevue Arts Museum
Want to expose your kids to art and culture during your staycation? Take your crew to the Bellevue Arts Museum (BAM). BAM is one of the few museums nationwide that focuses on art, craft and design, working with artists and audiences to build and enhance community. Regardless of the current exhibit on display, BAM hosts Imagination Stations strategically located throughout the facility. These all-ages activity stations are open daily and free with admission. Psst…if you’re planning a Saturday visit, don’t miss Get Crafty Saturdays where your budding artist can channel his or her creative energy into a fun project.

photo: Jennifer B. Davis

Funtastic Playtorium
Good ol’ fashioned play does the body, mind and spirit good – a lot of good! At Funtastic Playtorium, kids ages one to 10 are encouraged to run amok and push the boundaries of their imagination by running, jumping, climbing, swinging, laughing and smiling. If you kids need active play time during your staycation, Funtastic Playtorium is a fun, safe environment for wild ones to exercise and interact with peers.

Whatever you decide to do during your staycation, the city of Bellevue has got you covered. Psst…book a hotel and/or dinner reservation at the Hyatt Regency Bellevue during the holiday season and enjoy Bellevue’s Snowflake Lane, a nightly holiday parade and show that takes place along Bellevue Way. Complete with “snow showers,” music and lights and even Santa Claus, it’s another fantastic reason to return to the Hyatt Regency Bellevue for a holiday staycation.

Hyatt Regency Bellevue
900 Bellevue Way N.E.
Bellevue, WA 98004
425-462-1234
Online: bellevue.regency.hyatt.com and on Facebook 

—Kristina Moy (all photos courtesy of the writer unless otherwise noted)

This trip was paid for by the Hyatt Regency Bellevue, but all opinions expressed here belong to the writer.

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10 Places to Take Your Toddler When the Big Kids Go Back to School

by Rachael Brandon

Whether sending your older kids back-to-school brings you tears of joy or a bit of sadness, the minis in your crew might not know what to do once their built-in playmates have headed back to class. Before plunking them down to watch another episode of Sesame Street while you ponder how to keep them busy, scroll through our top ten list of toddler outings that are sure to entertain the wee ones left behind this school year.

photo: Chris Schmich via Flickr

1. Flock to a Farm. Corral your tots to the farm and help them make friends with animals. Kelsey Creek Farm in Bellevue has ponies, sheep, goats, chickens and pigs to occupy your kidlets with, plus there’s plenty of run-around room and a playground that’s perfect for burning off some of their extra energy. In Redmond, Farrel-McWhirter Farm Park is a great place for little ones to explore. There are farm critters, grassy fields, kid-friendly trails, picnic benches and two small play areas for them to run around on. If your wee ones would like carnival rides to go with their animal fun, try Toddler Weekdays at Remlinger Farms this September and enjoy carousel rides, the Tiny Tot Train, hay jumping and more. (Psst… the rides are all covered, so you don’t have to miss out on the fun when the rain returns.)

photo: Kellie Fell

2. Discover a Sweet Escape. Being the kiddo still at home can seem like a bum deal, but as Nana and Papa always say “it’s nothing a sweet treat can’t fix.” After sending your school kids off to the bus stop, why not sugarcoat your minis day with a trip to one of our favorite donut shops? If confections before nap time are a no-go, then grab something delish at one of these cupcake spots, candy shops or ice cream, gelato or froyo parlors.

photo: Barb Watson via Flickr

3. Flick their Switch. Bond with your bitty ones by taking them on a special kid-date to the movies. Score tickets to a matinée at an AMC theater and you’ll pay under $8 a person on admission before noon – a sweet deal if you’re hangin’ little movie-goers with short attention spans. Century Federal Way, Century Point Ruston, Century Olympia and Bellevue’s Lincoln Square Cinemas offer discount tickets on Tuesdays, as well as early bird prices before 1 p.m. If you’re looking to catch a flick with a baby in tow, check out the special Thursday morning Mommy and Me movies at Lincoln Square Cinemas at 10 a.m., or score a seat in one of the soundproof cry rooms the Varsity Theatre in the U-District. 

photo: Rachael Brandon

4. Wing It. We bet your little ducklings will go quakers visiting web-footed friends while their older siblings are gone for the day. Take your tots to explore Washington Park Arboretum’s 200 acres of trails amidst breathtaking gardens and fall foliage leading to lily padded ponds and plenty of their little bird buddies. Bellevue’s Mercer Slough is Lake Washington’s largest wetland and a perfect place to find feathered friends along the 7-plus miles of trails and boardwalks. For your tykes who need time to play, bring fowl and fun together by hunting for ducks around Green Lake’s stroller-friendly path followed with a trip to the playground afterwards, or try fido-friendly Medina Park with its two duck ponds, trails and kiddie play area.

photo: yancy9 via Flickr

5. Book Excitement. Comfort your kiddos loneliness with the kind of adventure and fun that can only be found in a good book. Head over to one of the Seattle Public Library or King County Library locations and cozy up together in the children’s book section, or check out any of their storytimes geared for babies, toddlers and preschoolers. Like your reading time with a little adventure? Get on board with The Center for Wooden Boats and hear stories read aloud on a real tugboat, or try Seward Park Audubon Center’s weekly Tales and Trails event where tots hear stories then head out on a hike afterwards. For your creative kiddo, you can try the Small Frye Story Time at the Frye Art Museum. They’ll hear books read by storytellers from the Seattle’s Children’s Theatre followed with an artist-led craft project.

photo: Rachael Brandonn

6. Tour a Museum. Take your tyke on his or her very own field trip to one (or all) of Seattle’s kid-friendly museums. Pint-sized paleontologists can discover cool dinosaur collections and artifacts dug up from our state’s ancient past at the Burke Museum. Admission is always free for kids ages 0-4, and for everyone the first Thursday of the month. Take time with your mini music lover at EMP’s Sound Lab and have a jam session together on The Big Drum, keyboards or with electric guitars. Swim with your little fishes over to the Seattle Aquarium and meet local sea life and stop by the marine mammal exhibit to experience live feedings twice daily. Fly away with your wingmen to the Museum of Flight and discover cockpits, spacecraft and the new KidsPort play area inside Aviation Pavilion. Little ones always love to explore and discover at museums made just for them. Seattle’s Children’s Museum and KidsQuest Museum on the Eastside both offer plenty of activities that encourage little ones to get hands on, plus daily story times, music, science and art classes you can join in for no additional fees.

photo: Rachael Brandon

7. Park It. Little ones love to run around and play as much as their older siblings do, so getting out to a park is bound to keep their back-to-school blues away. If your local tot lot has been played out this summer, why not explore a new playground outside your ‘hood? Try Crossroads Park in Bellevue or Mercer Island’s Luther Burbank Beach Park – both have toddler play structure, slides and big toys geared for little ones. Head north and try castle-themed Saint Edwards State Park in Kenmore. (Psst… just be sure to remember your Discover Pass to avoid paying the $10 parking fee), or drive south to Lake Meridian Park in Kent for a lakeside playground with swings, climbing structures and a pirate ship. Want to stick closer to home? You can’t go wrong with Jefferson Park on Beacon Hill where you can enjoy panoramic views, dodecahedron climbing structures and a toddler play area or check out the new playground just for tykes at Bellevue’s new and improved Downtown Park. Need other ideas? Click here. 

photo: Tutta Bella

8. Fill Their Plate. When in doubt, stepping out for a bite to eat is an easy way to fuel your kiddos contentment. Ballard’s Firehouse Coffee is a cozy spot to grab a sandwich, snack or a cup of Joe plus you can take your goodies back to the enclosed playroom filled with toys for your crew. Serendipity Café in Magnolia offers a kid’s menu with corn dogs, grilled cheese sandwiches and chicken tenders, plus a sweet little play nook with toys, books and puzzles. Vios Café in Capitol Hill has Greek fare and kid faves including mac ‘n’ cheese and spaghetti, plus a kid area to play in. Tutta Bella is another family-friendly spot that offers authentic Neapolitan pizza and an awesome kids’ menu in five unique locations around town. Here, kids will love sitting down for on their favorite meals and getting served Wikki Stix or even their own dough to play with while they wait for their food.

photo: Jennifer B. Davis

9. Take a Hike. There’s no better way to cure the back-to-school blues than a refreshing fall hike, and lucky for us there’s miles of wooded trails and beach walks practically just outside our front doors. Stroller-friendly Seward Park offers a 2.5 mile looping trail that follows along Lake Washington with a playground and picnic stops if your tyke needs a break. Carkeek Park has miles of paths with meadows, wetlands, forest and beaches to explore. (Psst…be sure to stop along Piper’s Creek and cheer on the salmon making their way up-stream). Snoqualmie Falls has a short but steep trail that’ll have you and your tiny sidekick breathless as you trek through old growth forest from the top of the falls to the river’s edge. Kids also love Discovery Park, where they can stroll the scenic Loop Trail, hike down to a lighthouse, or take a walk on the beach

photo: WiggleWorks Kids

10. Go Play Indoors. When the weather switches back to fall, take play indoors. PlayDate SEA in the south Lake Union area has three stories of indoor climbing, slides, tubes and obstacles, plus a little play area just for the three and under set. Lil’ Diggers Playtime at Sandbox Sports is a great way to keep sand in their toes as we slip away from summer with their giant indoor sandbox play space filled with shovels, pails, balls, trucks and slides. (Hint: be sure go for the second session and avoid the crowds). OmCulture tot gym has playtime for the under 5 crew with swings, balance beams, gymnastics rings and trampolines. On the Eastside and South Sound, WiggleWorks Kids is filled with soft moveable climbing structures, slides and ball room geared for Littles under four-feet tall or go for an adventure and give these three Eastside play spaces a try or check out the new We Rock the Spectrum Kid’s Gym.  

Do you have a favorite place to take your tots when the big kids are in school? Tell us in the comments below!

— Rachael Brandon

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14 Close Encounters of the Animal Kind

by rtstephaniekanowitz

What’s cuter than your kids? Your kids interacting with animals, that’s what! Lucky for your photo-taking addiction, the Washington, D.C. area offers plenty of opportunities to get your fill of adorable. Whether you want to see your kids feed a baby goat a bottle, go nose to nose with a dolphin or get tickled by a butterfly flapping its wings on their arm, we have the places for you. Here are 14 animal encounters to check out.

Photo: Smithsonian National Zoo

Tried and True

Smithsonian’s National Zoo
Sure, you can look at animals from afar at D.C.’s famous zoo, but on the Kids’ Farm, you can look and touch. There are cows, alpacas, hogs, donkeys, goats, chickens and fish. Of course, how willing they are to get up close and personal at any given time is up to, well, the animals.

Cost: Free
Where: 3001 Connecticut Ave., NW 
When: 8 a.m.-7 p.m. (5 p.m. Oct. 1 to March 14)
Online: nationalzoo.si.edu

Rock Creek Park Nature Center and Planetarium
While you’re picking up hiking info, brochures and maps, and learning about the park’s flora and fauna, check out the live turtles, fish, snakes and beehive. There’s also a bird observation deck and water garden. Bonus: Stop by the Rock Creek Horse Center for a look at the animals or to take riding lessons, which are open to children and adults based on weight requirements.

Cost: Free
Where: 5200 Glover Rd., NW
When: 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday
Online: nps.gov

Butterfly Pavilion at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
Walk through an indoor garden teeming with colorful butterflies, flowers and plants. The types of butterflies on display include banded orange, bat wing and Luna moth, Mexican purplewing and monarch. Check out the museum’s other – and free – exhibits while you’re here, especially Q?rius jr, a discovery room that puts little hands in touch with fossils, skulls, shells and minerals.

Cost: $6/adults; $5/children 2 to 12; group rates available
Where: 5200 Glover Rd., NW
When: 10:15 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Online: naturalhistory.si.edu

Photo: Nini T. via Yelp

County Offerings

Wings of Fancy Live Butterfly and Caterpillar Exhibit
Located at Brookside Gardens, the exhibit is home to hundreds of butterflies from North America, Costa Rica, Africa and Asia. “Visitors can learn about their amazing metamorphosis, the important role butterflies play in having healthy ecosystems, and how to ensure these beautiful insects thrive in our own gardens,” according to the website. Note: Strollers aren’t allowed in the exhibit, although it is wheelchair-accessible.

Cost: $8/ages 13 and up; $5/ages 3 to 12, free/2 and under
Where: 1500 Glenallan Ave., Wheaton
When: 10 a.m.-4 p.m., daily from May through mid-September
Online: old.montgomeryparks.org

Frying Pan Farm Park
More Fairfax County nature centers follow, but this one deserves its own listing because it offers up-close looks at horses, cows, pigs, chickens, rabbits and other animals as part of the Kidwell Farm. Try your hand at milking a cow or attend a Putting the Animals to Bed event to learn how farm animals get ready to snooze. Bonus: There’s a wagon ride and carousel available for nominal fees.

Cost: Free
Where: 2709 West Ox Rd. (Herndon, Va)
When: 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Online: fairfaxcounty.gov

Meadowside Nature Center
Exhibits here include the Raptor Walkway, which houses injured, unreleasable birds of prey such as an American bald eagle, red-tailed hawk, barred owl and turkey vulture. Or look for fish and migratory birds at Lake Frank.

Cost: Some programs have fees
Where: 5100 Meadowside Ln. (Rockville, Md)
When: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday
Online: montgomeryparks.org

Jerome Buddie Ford Nature Center
More than 30 animals live at the center – and more in the 50-acre onsite park – giving kiddos and grown-ups the chance to see turtles, snakes, lizards and toads. There’s also the MicroEYE Interactive Exhibit, which gives visitors a change to magnify items by two to 40 times and see the results on an HD TV screen.

Cost: Free
Where: 5750 Sanger Ave. (Alexandria, Va)
When: 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Wednesday through Saturday; 1 p.m.-5 p.m., Sunday in April through October; closed Monday and Tuesday
Online: alexandriava.gov

Fairfax County nature centers
The county’s six nature centers offer myriad nature programs, including many that give even the littlest kiddos a chance to reach out and touch wildlife under the watchful eye of a trained expert. Hidden Oaks Nature Center, for example, offers programs such as Animal Pajama Party ($6 for county residents, $8 for outsiders), while Hidden Pond has live animal displays in the building.

Cost: Some programs have fees
Where: See website for locations
When: See website for times
Online: fairfaxcounty.gov

Potomac Overlook Regional Park
Events here include feeding Northern Water Snakes; animal encounters at Wednesday Wonders, during which children ages 2 through 5 can hear a story, see a live animal and make a craft; and feeding kingsnakes and box turtles.

Cost: Programs have fees
Where: 2845 N. Marcey Rd. (Arlington, Va)
When: 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday; 1 p.m.-5 p.m., Sundays; closed Mondays
Online: novaparks.com

Photo: National Aquarium

Something Fishy

Dolphin Encounter at the National Aquarium
Michael Phelps may have raced a (simulated) shark, but if you’re 8 or older, you can pal around with a real dolphin. Spend two hours learning how aquarium workers care for the mammals and interact with them yourself. The experience includes a souvenir T-shirt – and major bragging rights.

Cost: $225; $195 for aquarium members
Where:  501 E. Pratt St. (Baltimore, Md)
When: See website for dates and times
Online: aqua.org

Glen Echo Park Aquarium
The best part of this small aquarium inside Glen Echo Park is the touch tank, where experts are constantly introducing its inhabitants to anyone who will listen. Watch a horseshoe crab enjoy a snack, find out why Chesapeake blue crabs are blue, coax a giant sea snail out of its shell, and be mesmerized by fish and turtles gliding around their tanks.

Cost: $6; free/24 months and younger
Where: 7300 MacArthur Blvd. (Glen Echo, Md)
When: 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Wednesday through Friday and Sunday; 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Saturday
Online: gepaquarium.org

Photo: Roer’s Zoofari

The Big Time

Roer’s Zoofari
The petting zoo is a highlight here. For an extra fee, visitors can get milk bottles and animal feed to give goats, pigs, sheep, llamas, rabbits and parakeets. There’s also the Giraffe or Camel Meet & Feed, during which the creature will eat out of your hand while you learn more about the animal. Take a wagon ride to see the free-roaming zebra, buffalo and emus. They’re not usually shy about coming up to say hello – or snag a snack.

Cost: $15 for adults, $10 for kids ages 2 to 12; season passes available
Where: 1228 Hunter Mill Rd. (Vienna, Va)
When: 9 a.m.-6 p.m.
Online: roerszoofari.com

Leesburg Animal Park
Animal petting and feeding, and pony and camel rides mean loads of opportunities for amazing animal encounters. There are also live animal shows three times a day, wagon rides and exotic-animal exhibits, including lemurs, sloths, white-handed gibbons and African serval cats.

Cost: $12.95/adults; $9.95/children ages 2 to 12
Where: 19270 James Monroe Hwy. (Leesburg, Va)
When: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday
Online: leesburganimalpark.com

Luray Zoo
Take a Discovery Tour at this rescue zoo with one of the owners. You’ll get hands-on interactions and feed the animals – experiences not included with regular admission fees.

Cost: $25/adult for Discovery Tour; $15/child for Discovery Tour; $12/adult (13 and up) admission,  $6/kids ages 3 to 12, free/kids 2 and younger
Where: 1087 US Hwy. 211 West (Luray, Va)
When: See website for tour times
Online: lurayzoo.com

Where does your animal-loving crew go to see their four-legged friends?

–Stephanie Kanowitz

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13 Signs You’re a Fairfax Parent

by Ayren Jackson-Cannady

Fairfax County. It’s not as nighttime cool as its pseudo-urban neighbor Arlington County and lacks the Redskins players population of nearby Loudon County, but it is the most populous county in the state. So there’s that. But none of that matters to kids who just know it as chock full of playgrounds, splashpads and a real, live space shuttle (inside the Smithsonian’s Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center). Here are 13 signs that you’ve got a little Fairfaxian on your hands.

1. You base extracurricular activities for your kids on whether you have to take I-66.

Photo: Steve Fernie via flickr

2. You wake up at 4 am and ready a desktop, laptop, iPad and smartphone to log into your Fairfax County Parktakes account so you can get your kid(s) into gymnastics or swim lessons when registration opens at 5 am.

Photo: Binary Koala via flickr

3. You already know the ratings of your local public elementary, middle and high schools even though your kid is still in utero.

Photo: robbieraeful via flickr

4. You still have crayons in your purse from First Watch.

Photo: Brandi Jordan via flickr

5. Going to the local grocery store without kids is an escape. Because that store is Wegmans.

Photo: Wegman’s Organic Foods via flickr

6. Your kids are home from school because the school board canceled classes after two snowflakes may – or may not – have hit the ground.

Photo: enviro warrior via flickr 

7. You no longer have to plug the address into your GPS to get to Frying Pan Farm Park.

Photo: Jamie B. via Yelp 

8. You end up at the new Fairfax City interactive fountain instead of the one at Fairfax Corner, where your friends are.

Photo: A.R.P. via Yelp

9. Your kids can correctly pronounce Clemyjontri Park.

Photo: Ryan Sandridge via flickr

10. You’ve seen more Disney on Ice than actual concerts at the Patriot Center.

Photo: Miguel Discart via flickr

11. The best part of the Tysons Corner Center extension is the outdoor play area. Bonus (or curse, depending on perspective): It’s situated next to a Shake Shack.

Photo: Tyson’s Corner Center

12. In warmer months, you spend a small fortune on tickets for the mini train and mini golf at Burke Lake Park.

Photo: Kate H. via Yelp

13. You follow Rocknoceros from Dulles Town Center to Jammin’ Java.

Photo: Rocknoceros

What do YOUR think is a sign that you’re a Fairfax parent? Let us know in the comments!

—Stephanie Kanowitz

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Animal Adventures in the Seattle Area

by writerredtri

For critter-crazy kids, Seattle offers abounding opportunities for encounters with animals, native, exotic, and domestic. Spot a bald-eagle at the beach, a kangaroo at the zoo, or feed a furry friend at the farm ­– it’s all possible.  Here’s a round-up of our favorite wildlife destinations, all must-stops for your little animal adventurer:

Woodland Park Zoo – Just north of downtown Seattle, this 92-acre zoo is home to over 300 species of animals. While the penguins are always popular and gorillas worth a gander, don’t miss the zoo’s new Meerkat exhibit. Your kids will find them cute beyond compare. Wend your way through the Northern Trail exhibit to spot brown bears, mountain goats, Roosevelt elk, and wolves. Stop into the Australasia Willawong station to feed feathered friends (Tip: Little birds flap all around and might even land on you…fun for older kids/potentially scary for little ones). Swing through the Tropical Asia Trail of Vines exhibit to see orangutans, siamangs, and elephants. Then on to the African Savannah for sightings of hippos, giraffes, lions and zebras. Finally finish your tour through the zoo’s forests. In the Temperate Forest exhibit, find waterfowl, Asian cranes, and Red Pandas. In the Tropical Rain Forest, spot lemurs, monkeys, and elusive jaguars. That will bring you back to the penguins, where right next door is the food pavilion, the last essential stop for those who have worked up a ferocious appetite.  The Woodland Park Zoo also offers kids ages 8+ Eye-to-Eye Behind-the-Scenes tours for an even closer look at the animals by the zoo caregivers.

Seattle Aquarium – Located on Seattle’s Pier 59 right on Elliott Bay of Puget Sound, the Seattle Aquarium offers a magnificent underwater world of wildlife that’s sure to wow children of all ages. Thousands of fish and critters of scales, feather, and fur are on display. Gaze into the Window of Washington Waters, a 120-thousand gallon showcase that’s home to native Salmon, rockfish, and sea anemone. Meet a Giant Pacific Octopus in the Life of a Drifter exhibit and spot Cowfish and Scorpionfish among other unusual species in the Ocean Oddities exhibit. Continue on and you’ll find shore birds and alcids, harbor seals and Northern fur seals, sea otters and river otters in adjacent exhibits. Don’t miss the underwater dome.  Look up and see salmon, shark, sturgeons, and skates. Time it with a talk and feeding of the fish by Aquarium scuba divers at 1:30 pm daily.

Cougar Mountain Zoo – Nestled in the Northern slope of Cougar Mountain in Issaquah, WA, just 15 miles from Seattle, you’ll find Cougar Mountain Zoo. Just eight acres, offering an easy tour for the littlest of legs, the zoo is still home to a wealth of wildlife, including the largest herd of Siberian Reindeer in the U.S.  At front and center is the Mountain Lion plaza, where cougars and tigers roam nearby. From there, make your way to the zoo’s main exhibit, the Magic Forest. You’ll meet lemurs, macaws, alpacas, deer, cranes, wallabies, and emus. A cheetah exhibit is coming soon. For an additional donation, kids can also participate in the Zoo’s “Close Encounter” program with tigers. Separated by just a 7/8-inch safety glass, participants get an up-close-and-personal look at the rare resident tigers while learning more about their unique behaviors.

Farm Parks – Farm tours offer kids a great opportunity to meet animals of “Old MacDonald” fame. Visit Kelsey Creek Farm Park in the heart of Bellevue to meet ponies, goats, pigs, sheep, and rabbits. Schedule your visit at springtime for a peek at the baby animals in the barnyard. Farrel-McWhirter Farm Park, in Redmond, also includes a popular children’s animal farm, home to pigs, cows, goats, chickens, horses and more. Both parks offer walking trails and playgrounds.

Natural Habitats Near You – Surprise your kids with animal encounters in their natural habitats at a nature park near you. Throughout the summer, Seattle’s environmental learning centers at Camp Long, Discovery Park, Carkeek Park, and Seward Park offer programs geared toward animal encounters.  Kids can look and listen for moths, bats, and owls during guided twilight hikes.  Park naturalists also facilitate low-tide beach explorations and a family-friendly birding series, perfect for introducing kids to a host of a native wildlife species.

Take a hike through Bellevue’s Mercer Slough Nature Park, the largest of Washington’s remaining freshwater wetlands, home to a variety of a native birds and animals. Don’t miss the summer programs, which include a family-friendly series on animal tracking, bird watching, and insect and amphibian discovery.

Visit Kirkland’s Juanita Bay Park for a kid-friendly bird-watching experience. On the first Sunday of every month, park rangers offer tours. Common bird sightings include the American Coot, Great Blue Heron, the Belted Kingfisher, and the Northern Flickr.

Or just step into your backyard, where birds, squirrels, snails, and various insects are sure to be found. Just watch out for the occasional raccoon visitor. They’re cute but can be trouble!

-Erin Sirianni

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