Hello,

We are thinking of visiting Seattle for the first time with kids this coming November (2nd week of Nov.) We are new travelers. Are there any suggestions in terms of things to do and where to go for both adults and kids? Should we get a city pass? Do we have to rent a car or is everything is local and walking distance? Also, which hotel would you recommend? What about the weather? How is it in November? We heard that Seattle rains a lot, but is it true for November? Please advise. Thanks so much!

I forgot to add that our kids are toddlers. 4 and 3 years old.

November is usually our wettest month.

Parking is expensive, but we have a good transportation system and you can get to most places on food or by bus.

I recommend any hotel in the retail and entertainment core--in the vicinity of 5th Avenue and Pine Street. If there is no big convention in town, you should be able to get a good deal on a hotel. Homewood Suites on Pike Street would be a good choice if you want breakfast included.

Here is a link to a site that lists things to do with children in Seattle: http://mylittlenomads.com/seattle-with-kids

HTtY

Yup, it will be wet! So plan to do indoor things. If it clears up, rush outside for one of our "sun breaks."

For your toddlers, the Seattle Children's Museum will no doubt be a hit. It is listed in the link given above. The Museum of Flight is usually a hit with the little ones.

Unless there is a new Homewood Suites, the only one I know of is not downtown, but on Western Ave - not a great walking area. You might consider staying on lower Queen Anne (near the Seattle Center). I put up a cousin of mine at the Mediterranean Inn, and she liked it. I believe they include breakfast in the room rate. Otherwise, opt for downtown.

Why did you choose Seattle? Are there things you want to do/see or are you just wanting to visit the city. I ask because many things people come to Seattle for (the mountains, the islands, etc) do require a car. You wouldn't want it for your whole time, I expect. I consider our public transportation to be pretty poor in comparison to major cities world-wide, but obviously, HTtY sees it differently.

As said before, Nov. is Seattle's rainiest month ... it can also periodically be very blustery and windy (so umbrellas don't always work ... bring rain gear. Temperature is usually mildly cool ... average hi in Nov 51, Ave low in Nov 41 http://www.usclimatedata.com/climate...tates/uswa0395 Sometimes, though rarely, you can get a sunny 60 degree day - or a snowy 30 degree day in mid to late November.

HTTY referenced an excellent site I wasn't aware of ... I've bookmarked it. However, many of those places referenced (north or south of the city center) are cumbersome to get to by bus, best by car or taxi. The city's downtown has good bus transit (less so away from downtown except on a few routes).

Another treat kids (and adults) like: take the 30 minute ferry ride from downtown, across Puget Sound, to Winslow on Bainbridge Island ... a forested suburb from which many commute by ferry daily.

By mid November there *might* be enough snow in the nearby mountains (1 hour drive by car) that the kids could get a chance to play in snow.

thank you all. Okay, we'll just save seattle for another time since november is not really a good time to go since we have 2 small kids...it would be such a hassle dragging them around in the rain. thanks again for the information.

I love Seattle dearly (live here) but you will have a much better time, and better impression of our fair city if you wait and come another time. Really anytime between May thru Sept it's likely much nicer weather her. Also maybe once the kids are a few years older to they'd more enjoy the zoo, the aquarium, the monorail and street car, the ferris wheel, etc.