Being a mom of young kids, living in Wallingford is a gift. There are so many places you can go, on foot or by bicycle, to amuse the little ones and yourself, as the winter days start to give everyone cabin fever. Just the other day, we made a solid two hour outing of walking around, doing a “tour de wallyhood” if you will. We were gone so long that the baby bjorn straps cut into my shoulders, creating semi-permanent grooves. Perhaps I can try and pass them off as the new alternative to model-thin clavicles. It’s worth a shot, right?
I read somewhere that we are seduced by top ten lists, or any number for that matter, as long as it’s a list of the best things. The publishers of those Seattle glossy magazines must subscribe to this marketing school of thought since I don’t think I’ve ever seen a cover without some kind of top list – the top 100 doctors, the top 20 breakfast spots, the 33 hippest restaurants, etc. I jest, but I secretly love lists. Sometimes I like to add things I’ve already done to my lists, just so I can have the pleasure of crossing them off.
So for all you list-lovers out there, or for any parents, grannies, nannies, uncles, friends or anyone else who spends quality time with the tot set, let’s start our own Top Wallingford Kid Spots list. Add your favorites and spread the love.
Note: I’ve used a numbering system here only because it captures the essence of what makes a list a list. Feel free to re-number.
Top Wallingford Kid Spots
- Wallingford Park/Playfield
- Molly Moon’s
- Alphabet Soup Children’s Books
- Trophy Cupcake
- Archie McPhee
- Jae Hun Kim Tae Kwon Do Institute
- Irwin’s Coffee and Bakery
- Meridian Park
- Mosaic Community Coffeehouse
- Izilla Toys
Nice list. I’ll also add Gas Works Park, the Burke-Gilman, Essential Baking, the Wallingford branch of the public library, the Farmer’s Market (in season), and Tutta Bella (is that Wallingford or Fremont?). One of the things I also like about this area is the proximity to great stuff in the surrounding neighborhoods: Woodland Park and Zoo, Green Lake, the Fremont Troll, Fremont Bridge, the U-district, Agua Verde/Portage Bay are all within a reasonable walk or bike ride as well.
Oh, I’d put Meridian Park higher up on that list. That combined sandbox/water fountain was a brilliant idea! And it’s even better if you can wedge the fountain in the ‘on’ position – you can get some epic toddler (and older) construction projects going that way – lots of ’cause and effect’ games to be had.
We were always heading up to the Wallingford (Wilmot) library and then to Fuji’s.
Not a Number has a play table full of cool toys, not to mention some really freaky stuff for sale!
JT, we live near Tutta Bella and consider ourselves in Wallingford. (Or “Frallingford,” which hasn’t really caught on like I’d hoped.)
The Seattle Holistic Center has postnatal yoga classes for moms & babies and a drop-in family yoga class.
Seattle Tilth has wonderful gardening classes and camps for preschoolers and up.
I’ve always considered that Wallingford too. I think Tutta Bella even calls that their Wallingford location. How about Wallingmont or Freford? The best one I ever heard was Frelard for the area between Fremont and Ballard.