Today's guest blogger is Michelle Duffy, a peripatetic Irishwoman-turned-Seattlite and mom of two who writes about traveling in her Wandermom blog. Here are five of her favorite free things to do with kids in her adopted hometown:

Pike Place Market: Whether you’re a tourist or a local, “The Market” is a hive of activity and a great place to wander with kids. You can pose by Rachel the Pig, the market mascot, or watch the fishmongers throw fish, enjoy the street entertainers, or stop for coffee at the original Starbucks store. A riot for all your senses. For a special treat for kids, check out The Great Wind-Up, a store dedicated to wind-up toys for children and grown-ups.

Olympic Sculpture Park: This outdoor extension to the Seattle Art Museum opened in January 2007, a daring and imaginative use of post-industrial space. The art installations are placed along a half-mile, z-shaped path with stunning views over the Puget Sound. You can expect your children to be a little unsure of what to expect when you start your exploration but a combination of contemplative and fun exhibits will quickly engage and entertain. This is one activity which you are sure to be still discussing long after your visit.

Seattle Central Library: In Seattle, we have rainy days in the fall and winter and sometimes in the spring too. The new Central Library is one of my favorite places to spend such days. The library building was designed by Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas and former Seattlite Joshua Ramus. From the wide open feeling of the “Living Room” on the third floor to the innovative design of the book spiral on floors six through nine, to the 15,000-square-foot Faye G. Allen Children’s Center, it’s an enjoyable place to while away hours and hours of reading and discovering fun.

Ballard Locks: It’s riveting to watch a boat go through the locks, watching the water levels drop and rise on either side of the massive spillway gates. If you visit during the summer months, it’s one of the busiest places in the city as boatowners line up on either side of the locks to navigate to and from inland lakes to Puget Sound. The 21-step salmon ladder, built into the south dam allows fish to migrate across the ship canal back to spawning grounds. Children are fascinated watching the fish navigate these steps. Don’t miss the Carl S. English Jr. Botanical Gardens, which comprise seven acres in the area around the locks—pack a picnic or walk around and enjoy the ambience of this classic English landscape-style garden.

More about kid-friendly Seattle:
WeJustGotBack.com's Insider Guide to Seattle