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In the heart of Seattle Center, this museum contains imaginative galleries and hands-on studio spaces that endlessly stimulate children’s imaginations. The walk-through Global Village reveals lifestyles of Japan and Ghana, and a wonderful stage invites young performers to dress up and act out scripts provided by the museum.

During any festival and all through summer, the fountain draws hundreds of frolicking children. Weather permitting, kids strip down and dodge dozens of majestic arcs of water projecting out and up from the spikey spherical base, all in time to music.

Seattle’s many venues and activities designed for children include excellent bookstores with envious inventories. Stock your library with books from All for Kids and Secret Garden.

The city’s most popular local toy stores have a loyal following because their toys spur children’s imaginations without sparing the fun. Browse the jam-packed aisles at Top Ten Toys and Magic Mouse.

Every May, Seattle Center entertains the community with talent from around the world. More than 100 productions include music, drama, puppetry, and circus arts.

Founded by the dedicated Carter Family Marionettes in 1986, this puppet center offers a museum, archive and library, and over 250 annual performances. The troupe tours and also sponsors educational outreach programs worldwide.

Another remnant of the World’s Fair, this tiny amusement park has loud carnival rides and games. Kids love the bumper cars and the small but exciting roller coaster. The entertainment pavilion offers laser tag, mini-golf, and a video arcade.

Many children wish to fly, or fly off the handle. Either way, one way to encourage the former and stifle the latter is to take them to this museum. It also provides insightful outreach programs for school groups, families, and teachers.

If you can’t decide between a tour by land or sea, these amphibious vehicles from World War II make for an offbeat excursion around the waters of Seattle. Areas include downtown, the Pike Place Market, Pioneer Square, Fremont, and Lake Union’s houseboats.

Blake Island, across the bay from the waterfront, contains a rainforest park and a fabricated Northwest Coastal Native American Village. A four-hour adventure includes the cruise, a traditional buffet, and ample time to stroll beaches and forested trails.