Seattle's Child

Your guide to a kid-friendly city

Hit the streets to get a fresh view of Seattle

Billed as the only kid-centric walking tour of the city, Seattle Kid’s Tour covers less than a mile but is packed with stops tailored to charm kids and show them a side of Seattle they may have never seen.

 

Did you know there’s a hidden rooftop garden at Pike Place Market that helps feed the homeless? Or that Seattle’s subterranean bus tunnels are decked out in cool art, including a display of blinking lights that morph into trolleys and planes if you shake your head while looking at them? Has your family discovered the manhole covers scattered through the city that show a relief map of downtown or a Tlingit whale? 

No? Then it might be time to start pounding Seattle’s pavement.

“Not every city is walkable,” says Penny Truitt, co-owner of the tour company Seattle By Foot. “We’re fortunate enough to have a place that is accessible.” Walking provides a special view of our metropolitan area that you can’t get any other way, she says. It slows you down and lets you take in the sights and people at a leisurely pace.

For years, Penny and her business partner Heather Chermak have been helping others get a more up-close and personal look at Seattle. They met more than a decade ago as underground Seattle guides, each had a baby, then they jointly bought Seattle by Foot, a company that lead tours for adults.

Then one day Penny caught a snippet of conversation at a Magnolia neighborhood preschool.

“I overheard a mother saying, ‘Oh, I never take my kids downtown,’” she said.

Penny and Heather couldn’t believe it. The mothers loved Seattle and enjoyed sharing it with their own kids. Their path was clear: they needed to create a sightseeing option that families could enjoy.

Billed as the only kid-centric walking tour of the city, Seattle Kid’s Tour covers less than a mile but is packed with stops that can include trying new foods at the market, sketching at Seattle Art Museum and experimenting with symphony instruments donated by musicians, and is peppered with colorful anecdotes and history about the city. Some of their customers are visitors from out of town; many others are new locals seeking insight into the city.

Before launching the tour three years ago, Heather and Penny tested it extensively on their own kids, Kyle Chermak, 7, and Anaya Truitt, 8, to fine-tune routes, destinations and activities. The best ages, they say, are kids 2 to 10 years old, and they’ll adjust the pacing of the two-hour tour to match the energy and interests of the young sightseers.

Whether families arrange a tour or venture out on their own, Penny and Heather just hope they get out there.

“Hit that downtown core, and don’t be afraid to walk with your kid,” Penny said. “Just explore.”

 

Seattle Kid’s Tour runs in the summer and is $15 for kids (free for those under 2), $13 for adults.

About the Author

Lisa Stiffler