My husband and I have been considering taking our family vacation to Seattle this summer. However, we have three daughters - one that is 19 and twins that are 12 and a 14 year old son. He is not in to shopping at all and they are not thrilled by visiting restaurants. I don't want to go to Seattle if all I will hear is how boring it is. From someone's experience - would they enjoy Seattle?

So how the heck are we supposed to know what they DO happen to enjoy?

Don't eat, don't shop, what do ya do?

Must be something inside.

Janice,
Are sudden innuendos to follow?

Seattle's main attractions are good theaters and a decent symphony/opera company. Sure the setting is beautiful, but you can see that mountains and trees better from someplace besides Seattle - say one of the nearby National Parks. I live in Seattle and I have a hard time imagining that four teenagers would think this is such a great place for a vacation. If you want to visit a city I think a bigger city is going to have more things to impress/entertain.

Teenagers can be difficult anywhere, but it will help if we know something about their likes as well as their dislikes.

For the record, though, Seattle has plenty to offer your family - scenery, adventure opportunities, flying salmon, museums, big league sports, boating, nature outings, the Boeing factory, multi-cultural experiences, lots of music and the arts including concerts on the piers and the EMP blob... geez, I hadn't even thought of the symphony for teenagers - duh.

If it's at all possible, plan your visit around the Labor Day weekend, and let your kids OD on music and arts at the Bumbershoot festival at Seattle center, www.bumbershoot.org. Something for everyone, as they say, provided your kids like bands you've never heard of, which they probably do.

If they're okay in the car, Seattle is also an ideal base from which to do regional touring - national parks, Indian reservations, ocean beaches, Vancouver and Victoria, etc. - lots of variety.

Will they enjoy it? Dunno.

Frankly, the shopping isn't that great here anyway, now that Nordstrom's has decided to sell nothing but Ralph Lauren and Starbucks has decided to sell anything to anybody anywhere. Plus the sales tax will soon be higher than the purchase price.

We went to Seattle 2 years ago with kids ages 12 and 14. Stayed for 3 days - did a boat tour, Mariners game, spent 1/2 day at EMP (this music/rock oriented "museum" with interactive headsets - the kids should like that). Watched them throw fish at Pike Market and then drove to Mt. St. Helens (everyone liked that) on way to San Francisco.

The Bumbershoot festival is great fun for anyone who likes music. It does get very crowded but it's incredibly well organized and has such a wide diversity of music and other entertainment that everyone can enjoy it. There are many, many familes and kids in attendance. Alcohol consumptio is restricted to cordoned off beer and wine gardens and I saw no unruly behavior during the entire four day fest (I was there from start to finish every day). Advance passes are only $40 for four days (per person) and last year that included a free T-shirt! Check out details at www.bumbershoot.org The EMP Museum would be fun for the kids but 1/2 day would probably be enough for most folks. I spent longer because I'm a music fanatic. EMP seems to get lukewarm reviews from many folks but I really enjoyed it because of my interests.

My godson is 13 and he loves coming to Seattle for a visit. He like NikeTown, Gameworks and Mariner's games.

Also the Aquarium, Alki Beach and Seattle Center/EMP.

have fun!

No one mentioned whale watching? You can take a ferry to the San Juan islands and check out the wildlife.

What kid and adult wouldn't enjoy that?

Susan said "No one mentioned whale watching? You can take a ferry to the San Juan islands and check out the wildlife.
What kid and adult wouldn't enjoy that?"

Those of us who get motion sickness!!!