There are so many incredible things to do in Seattle with kids: museums, outdoor adventures, markets, parks, and more. As a child growing up in the Emerald City, I loved exploring every nook and cranny of the city, and it's even more fun to take my children to Sea Town and show them both the cool old things I remember and the amazing new buildings and activities. Seattle is a great West Coast destination for family vacations for so many reasons—the public transport is straightforward, so much of the city is walkable, and there are fun things to do in Seattle for people of all ages (from toddlers to Grandparents).

LA is such a vast city with so much to offer, which can be both good and bad. The good is that there are so many cool camps and classes. The bad is that it's hard (impossible?) to commit to driving all the way across town for a daily or weekly camp or class. So when I heard that Meri Cherry (who hosts incredible art camps for kids) was opening a brand new store in Encino where anyone could drop into and make art, I was thrilled. No commitment, no appointment, just walk right in and start creating. I took 5 kids (of varying ages) with me to test it out and every one of them gave it a rave review. It's perfect for those days when you just suddenly need something to do that keeps kids occupied, creative, and air-conditioned.