Ideas for Seattle and Portland?

[Poema304]

In July we are going on a family trip and I was wondering if anyone had any interesting ideas for lessons that we could do incorporating our trip. :think Or if you are aware of any great museums or fun places that would be of interest to a 6 year old boy. I planned on researching all this on the web, but thought I would ask you guys first to see if you can spare me a lot of research time ;) Thanks mamas!

Virginia

[BearyBlessed]

The first thing that comes to mind in Portland is OMSI (the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry). It's a really neat place, though I haven't been there in years.

If you are into nature stuff and hiking, the Columbia Gorge offers some amazing places to see and explore.


I'm sure others will have many more things that would be great to see.

[AttachedMamma]

Our family moved to the area 4 mos, so I'm not an expert, but that certainly doesn't stop me from offering my 2 cents. :grin And, I'm afraid I haven't been to all of these places.

As far as museums go, The museum of Flight http://www.museumofflight.org/Portal.asp?Flash=True might be cool for him. There's also the following:
Museum of History and Industry http://www.seattlehistory.org/
For Washington history http://www.washingtonhistory.org/
The Pacific Science Center offers a lot www.pacsci.org

If you want to do outdoor stuff, there is:
Snoqualmie Falls, which is a little east of Seattle http://www.snoqualmiefalls.com/
There's Mount Rainier, Olympic NAt'l PArk (on the coast) and Mt St. Helens
http://www.nps.gov/mora/
http://www.nps.gov/olym/?source=northolympic.com
http://www.fs.fed.us/gpnf/mshnvm/
Then there are the islands in the area as well. There is a lot to do and see here! :crazy
Here is a site to the free magazine of the Seattle area http://www.parentmap.com/
And another one http://www.seattleschild.com/

Since there is a lot of time ahead of you, I would request visitor information from Washington Tourism so you have literature in hands. http://www.experiencewashington.com/

HTH! :-)
cindi

[ShangriLewis]

Don't forget a ferry ride in Seattle! Do a search for the Seattle Center. That is where the Science Center is and there are other things to do in that area.

If you like books there is the worlds biggest book store in Portland. I think it's Powell's.

[Roses]

You could go Whale watching around the San Juans, from Seattle. Definitely do Mt. Saint Helens. Be a super tourist and go in the Space Needle, and let me know what it's like,lol. I've lived in WA my whole life and never been up it! Pikes Place market in Seattle is fun to explore. I second everyone else's suggestions too. :) Have fun!

[MamaCare]

Don't forget a ferry ride in Seattle! Do a search for the Seattle Center. That is where the Science Center is and there are other things to do in that area.

If you like books there is the worlds biggest book store in Portland. I think it's Powell's.

I can spend hours and hours in Powell's~~
Also in PDX is the Oregon Zoo, which has an amazing butterfly garden exhibit right now, my boys loved it... next to that is both the World Forestry Center and the Children's Museum (they have a Sesame Street exhibit currently, and lots of water play) and there's also the Japanese Rose Garden in the area, and Washington Park, which has a really fun playground.
For hiking, if you head up the Gorge you can go to Multnomah Falls... or there's a number of other smaller waterfalls.