did you look at any info on the tabs on the left? Click on my name and look at inside pages for one day itinerary without a car. That gives you a good plan for 1 to 3 days. If you have a car you should plan a trip to the govt. locks to see the salmon jump. Girls may like the zoo, aquarium, lots of family oriented stuff in Seattle area.

I second the Aquarium - I could spend the whole day there. The Children's Museum is pretty great (well, my niece and nephew liked it) - they have a recording studio / radio station set up that even I wanted to play with. Somebody can correct me if I'm wrong, but the rides are getting taken out of Seattle Center - but it would still be a fun day to play around - the fountain is a must stop for kids esp. on a hot day. Pike Street Market - to watch the cute boys throw fish (my favorite "tourist attraction" when I was a pre-teen).

Suggest that you purchase a City Pass--that will get you into:

Seattle Aquarium

Argosy Harbor Tours

Pacific Science Center

Woodland Park Zoo

Museum of Flight OR Experience Music Project/Science

Fiction Museum

Kids love all these places.

The passes can be purchased at any one and are good for (I think) 9 days. If you only go to three of the places the pass will have more than paid for itself.

You are going to be here mid-July, and hopefully, the weather should be glorious. Coming from Chicago, you will like our lack of humidity, no bugs, and long summer nights. When the weather is like that, I go for the outdoor activities. You have already received some good recommendations, but from that perspective, I would highly recommend one or more of these:

1. the Center for Wooden Boats (on Lake Union) - you can also rent a small sailboat with a guide/or not, for a sail on Lake Union. Sunday Ice Cream Cruises are now leaving from a location nearby I believe.

2. Ride the Ducks tour. Pure kitsch, but your girls will enjoy.

3. Kayak tour (Moss Bay Aquatics or Aqua Verde Paddle Club offer good options on Lake Union)

4. Alki Beach (West Seattle). You can take the passenger ferry from downtown, then walk/rent a bike/rent rollerblades along the extensive beachfront walk. Many casual restaurants to enjoy, including fish and chips.

5. Ride the ferry to Bainbridge Island, walk to Mainstreet on Bainbridge.

6. Ballard Locks to see the fish ladder/Discovery Park

7. Fremont Sunday Market and Sunday ice cream cruises

http://www.SeattleFerryService.com

8. Tillicum Village - includes a boat tour of the harbor, trip out to Blake Island, Native dinner, 45 minute show, and some time to explore Blake Island.

And, of course, when you visit Seattle Center, you must allow your kids to frolic in the Center Fountain. Bring swimsuits or a change of clothes.

There are outdoor summer concerts through the city, both lunchtime venues, and evening. One popular series that might be perfect for your family is Zoo Tunes at the Woodland Park Zoo.

And of course there is more, hikes/waterfalls, etc, if you are interested in venturing beyond the city. let us know!

Kitters - I had forgotten about the Museum of Flight. I second that - I used to beg to go there when I was a kid.

I've been told to go to the Paradise Ranger's Station there, for hiking and possibly ice caves? Is that doable in the summer?

Lots of hiking opportunities at Paradise in Mt Rainier National Park. Panorama Point trail is wonderful. But plan a whole day from Seattle to see Mt. Rainier.

Paradise Ice Caves??? to my knowledge, they have not been open to hikers for years and years. My husband and I hiked into them about 40 years old, they were really beautiful. So blue. However, a few years later after an extremely heavy winter snowfall, the caves were closed off because of concerns that they might collapse. I don't think they have ever re-opened. We hiked the Panorame Point trail a couple of years ago and I did not see any sign of the caves.

Little typo there--should read "hiked into them about 40 years ago"

A hike from Paradise is wonderful Northwest activity. I believe the ice caves have long ago been closed.

We're also trying to find some kind of rafting trip. The kids are adventuresome, but 8 and 11, and inexperienced in rafting. It seems like the trips I've found are either lazy river floating, many hours away, or level 4/5 rapids.

Do you know of any that are relatively nearby? Probably a 1/2 day trip would be better.

Also, I've heard the ferry ride to Bremerton is beautiful (my brother was at the Naval Yard for a while) but that there's not much to do there. Is that a worthwhile trip?

Thanks.