Seattle family travel rule No. 5: Save money by purchasing a CityPASS

Seattle is loaded with family attractions, from the Experience Music Project where you can check out George Lucas's original sketches of Darth Vader to the Aquarium where a 64-pound octopus gets fed twice daily at noon and 4 p.m. And then there's the sleek and slender Space Needle topped with a saucer that looks like it's meant for space voyages to Mars.

All of these places charge admission and if you want to do it all, you'll need to spend some money. But you can drastically cut back on the expense with a CityPASS. By purchasing admission to several attractions you get nearly 50 percent off the price. You also get to skip ticket lines.

The Seattle CityPASS includes admission to the Space Needle (two visits), Seattle Aquarium, Argosy Cruises, Pacific Science Center, EMP Museum, and either the Woodland Park Zoo or the Museum of Flight. An adult pass costs $74, saving you $60; a kid pass is $49, saving you $40. You have nine days to visit the attractions.