I love the country I live in. Canada is a country with great people, breathtaking landscapes and good health care. The list of its attributes could run a mile long but there is one area that I feel where Canada lags behind its friend to the south.
Shopping.
As soon as you cross the border and head south your options for shopping increase exponentially. Not only that but your dollar goes a lot further. For some reason everything to the south of us seems to be a heck of a lot less expensive.
This is the reason that while I lived in Vancouver we would often jump in the car for a one-hour drive to Bellingham. Shoes, clothes, milk, cheese, gas…everything was cheaper. Speaking of cheaper, there was a TARGET. We don’t have Target in Canada.
*Sobs*
Since moving to the Okanagan we do not make the trip as frequently as we used to. Adding another four hours of driving each way makes a “quick day trip” impossible. Traveling that far with three kids as small as mine needs to be done in longer stints, lest we all perish from the screaming.
Two years ago this very weekend we headed down to hit the Seattle Premium Outlet Mall. Because it was one of the rare weekends that we share a holiday with the States there were sales galore, in addition to the already fantastic deals. I was eight months pregnant with Emily so my haul only consisted of two long-sleeved shirts from Target (Yay!) to get me through the final month. My three guys all stocked up on sweet clothes for the fall and winter.
Last October, we headed down to Vancouver to spend Thanksgiving with both my side of the family as well as Honey’s kin. His parents agreed to watch our three monkeys for the day so that we could do some power shopping. Canadian Thanksgiving coincides with Columbus Day in the States. Good deals were had by all.
This year we are planning to head down with the kids on the same weekend and spend a few nights. If we stay longer than forty-eight hours in the US of A we get a greater exemption from duty.
(That word always makes me giggle. I reek of maturity.)
Our plan is to cross the border at Oroville and drive east through Washington instead of heading to the Coast first and then crossing. Matthew has taken that route for business trips but I have never gone that way. It will be a new adventure.
While out on a Hot Date Night Saturday night (Woo!) Matthew and I were discussing our plans. We want to do a little shopping, yes, but also make it fun for the kids. I told him that I would spend some time Googling but he suggested I do a post instead. There he goes again showing his brilliance. Why use Google when I can ask you guys?
We would love some suggestions for where to stay (Cheaply!), or how to go about finding a good deal online. What cool things can we do with the kids besides dragging them from mall to mall? Is there anything neat that is a little-known-fact in the Seattle area or anywhere along our drive?
I will be eternally grateful for your help. The kids will appreciate your input as well.
(I thought I should take some photos of them in their Sunday Best. It did not go according to my (Highly Unreasonable) expectations.)
24 Comments
The first picture is priceless with the yawn! The second one is fabulous and the third one is gross with the finger up the nose in such a completely cute way!
No advice on the trip - but I agree about the shopping in the U.S. woot woot to the deals!
Comment by Robyn on August 31st, 2008 @ 4:17 pmI love that little Emily! Those pictures are priceless!!! Being on the Canadian side and having NEVER made a trip down to the States to shop, I am no help! Sounds like fun though!
Comment by Michele on August 31st, 2008 @ 4:20 pmWhat is this Target of which you speak?
witchypoo’s last blog post..Japanese Garden
Comment by witchypoo on August 31st, 2008 @ 4:49 pmI cannot stop laughing…your kids crack me up!
And it’s warm enough for short sleeves there?
Lucky you.
Kami’s last blog post..Grade 2 - How do I?
Comment by Kami on August 31st, 2008 @ 5:17 pmI hear that the public library in Seattle is really cool (at least according to HolaIsabel.com).
And your kids just crack me up. those faces made my Sunday evening.
Janssen’s last blog post..Longhorns
Comment by Janssen on August 31st, 2008 @ 5:41 pmIf you’d like to e-mail me…we used to live in Kirkland (just outside of Seattle) and I’ve got a few fun places that I loved…
I loved living in Seattle…it’s a beautiful city…we’re now on the East side enjoying the hot summers!!!
Amy’s last blog post..Just barely hanging on…
Comment by Amy on August 31st, 2008 @ 5:58 pmI thought of you as I sat at my inlaw’s and tried in vain to convince them that not all Canadians think that their health care system sucks.
Sigh.
Loralee’s last blog post..Sideblog: The end of an era
Comment by Loralee on August 31st, 2008 @ 8:32 pmUgh. Wrote a comment and it deleted. Or something. Maybe I didn’t hit the “Say it!” button. Who knows. Pretty much it said that the space needle is sweet (or it was when I was 12) and other than that I have NO idea. I, like you, am CANADIAN!
Mrs. Wilson’s last blog post..The Most Beautiful Girls
Comment by Mrs. Wilson on August 31st, 2008 @ 9:38 pmOh yea, and your kids are CUTE! and HILARIOUS! and so much FUN!
Mrs. Wilson’s last blog post..The Most Beautiful Girls
Comment by Mrs. Wilson on August 31st, 2008 @ 9:38 pmI loved staying at the Hampton Inn while in the states, but when we were kids we ALWAYS stayed in hotels that had either pools or waterslides and we loved it. Maybe keep your eyes peeled for a Hampton with a pool? 
Amanda Brown’s last blog post..Lady In Waiting
I used to live right by where the new Seattle Premium outlets are. About 20 minutes east of there- a little off the beaten path- is a KANGAROO FARM. I may be the only one amazed by this, but it’s pretty much my favourite place on the planet.
http://www.christmastreesandroos.com/
Last time I visited there, a wallaroo hopped up and hugged me. How cool is that?!
Comment by teresa on September 1st, 2008 @ 10:48 amI think that last picture totally rocks.
Unfortunately I have never been to that part of the country so I am no help with your travel plans but I do hope you get some great shopping done! : )
Elaine’s last blog post..Labor Day Labor Stories
Comment by Elaine on September 1st, 2008 @ 11:32 amHi, the Super Mall in Auburn has a decent food court and indoor playground - good for Emily, maybe a bit young for the boys but excellent shopping. There are Target’s all over the place - including one in Federal Way which also has a Costco nearby, and the Sea-Tac Mall.
Down in Olympia there is a Children’s Museum that kicks ass.
Target - Federal Way
22201 S Commons
Federal Way, WA 98003
(253) 733-7520
Super Mall
http://supermall.com/
Olympia Children’s Museum
http://www.hocm.org/
Any hotel or motel you stay in will be cheaper the further out of Seattle you get other than Bellevue/Kirkland area.
That might be early enough to drive up to Mt Rainier, great photo opps. Easy hiking and great views.
There’s the Sea-Tac Mall
South Center Mall
Tacoma Mall
Northgate Mall
And of course the afforementioned Super Mall. You could go to the Horse Races in Auburn too, might be fun.
Anyway, I’ll keep thinking about it, sounds like you’ve got about 6 weeks so I’ll email you with some more info if I can.
btw - I don’t know if I could live in a country without Target. Whoa. I’m so sorry.
monstergirlee’s last blog post..Bye-Bye Summer!
Comment by monstergirlee on September 1st, 2008 @ 1:11 pmObviously I can’t help, but I hope you get lots of great answers and have a FUN time!!!
Hannah’s last blog post..Budding photographer?
Comment by Hannah on September 1st, 2008 @ 3:38 pmI wish I could help, but I’ve no advice on Seattle!
P.S. I sincerely hope that Miss Emily was able to find what she was rootin’-around for b/c that kind of effort should get a good reward
The Over-Thinker’s last blog post..Then Loralee swept me off my feet and we shared something sacred…
Hilarious. I love Emily’s personality in those!
Elizabeth’s last blog post..Due Date: remembered
Comment by Elizabeth on September 1st, 2008 @ 9:00 pmSorry I have no sugestions… have fun though!
The pics and you last line make made me laugh.
I have never been to Seattle or the West Coast at all really… but there is a Seattle Mom Blog that might be of help http://www.seattlemomblogs.com/
Also, I always giggle when I hear ‘duty’ too. hehe.
K’s last blog post..Back on track
I don’t have any suggestions, but since Seattle is on my list of “Must See Places,” I had to check out all the great ideas.
Kate’s last blog post..My Husband - The Hero
Comment by Kate on September 2nd, 2008 @ 8:12 amAre you SURE you don’t want to come a bit further south to Oregon where we have NO SALES TAX?!?
Because I can totally help you out with places to stay here (I do work for the Visitors Association after all)
Rhi’s last blog post..Countdown to 30
Comment by Rhi on September 2nd, 2008 @ 12:26 pmI LOVE Target. I am so going to miss it when we move back to Europe next year! So I can totally relate.
Elisa’s last blog post..Motherhood mafia
Comment by Elisa on September 2nd, 2008 @ 12:57 pm[...] have been enjoying this stage of the kids, which is why we are planning a trip to Seattle next month. We are also planning to take the kids with us to Mexico after Christmas. We loved [...]
Comment by Dutch Blitz » Babies Are Overrated on September 9th, 2008 @ 1:07 pm[...] is Canadian Thanksgiving. It is also Emily’s second birthday. Due to the fact that we are taking a trip across the border and that Matthew’s brother and wife are eating turkey with her side of the family, [...]
Comment by Dutch Blitz » And So It Begins on October 5th, 2008 @ 3:16 pm
I live in Bothell(northern suburb of Seattle) and my parents live in Bellingham. If you want to email me a little more info, I could probably send you a bunch of great ideas. I have a 3 year old and a 5 year old AND I write for a Seattle preschool site, so I have lots of good ideas!
bethanywd’s last blog post..Into the palouse.
Comment by bethanywd on August 31st, 2008 @ 4:14 pm