My friend Mariah and I went to the Wing Luke Asian Museum last week with our kids, and it was fab. What I found most interesting was the museum's use of space and light, two elements toddlers and preschoolers can't get enough of.

If you're thinking about going, you should know that general admission is free Saturday, June 21. From 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., expert kite-creator Greg Kono will lead families in creating koi fish kites. Kono is affiliated with the Drachen Foundation, a non-profit devoted to the worldwide knowledge of kites.

Here are the kid-friendly aspects to look out for at Wing Luke:

West and east stairwells

Yes, stairwells. "I've got those at home," you may say. Not like these! Wooden steps lead to an upper hallway, where immigrant letters flutter from the ceiling. A small wooden bench sits at the end of the hallway, and we saw several kids sitting and contemplating the letters' movements.

The East Lightwell is through a maze-like set of doors, and is bathed in a blue-white light, with chocolate-colored wood walls and amber-tinted windows. However, this second stairwell contains a soundscape that toddlers adore: planes, pigeons and gusty bursts of wind. A light blue-green glass inset on the floor simultanously worried and delighted the kids.

The new museum was once an old hotel, so the hauntingly lonely sounds, textures and overall feel of the Lightwells is mesmerizing.

George Tsutakawa Art Gallery

Right now, the Museum features the mid-century modern fountains of local celebrity George Tsutakawa. Both of our boys wanted to sit and watch the water move through one of Tsutakawa's works, and throw in pennies. Bring a few coins -- apparently it's OK to toss in your lot.

The Honoring Our Journey Gallery

This gallery contains artifacts of the immigrant experience. This room may be difficult for toddlers (so many wonderful, touchable things that are off-limits) but a good option for inquisitive elementary-aged children.

Disturbing examples of mass-marketed racism such as the "Charlie Chan" gag glasses, sit across from state-mandated regulations targeting Asian immigrants. Around the corner, vintage kimono gowns and work lunchboxes remind museum visitors of those who paid the discrimination's price, in order to enter or live the United States.

The KidPLACE room

This room offers some markers and coloring paper. Nothing too special yet, it was a good room to find complete quiet, and a great spot for my friend to nurse her baby. However, this room may not always be so calm -- I later saw the same space used for a school group lecture.

Dining suggestion

Small mom-and-pop restaurants and bakeries line the streets around Wing Luke, but we headed to the Green Leaf Vietnamese restaurant, based on a gift-shop employee's recommendation.

Green Leaf is a great place for kid-friendly dining: Special plastic dishes, cutlery and cups. Wonderful waitstaff that brought our fidgety kids fortune cookies before the food arrived. Savory-style pancakes. Noodles. And all the peanut sauce a child could want.

Peanut sauce -- at least among the kids I know -- is right up there with ketchup and ranch in the All-Star Dippin' Sauce Hall of Fame.

So visit the ID's newest attraction with the kids, and report back on your favorite spots.

Do you have an alternative ID-area dining suggestion? Leave it below in the comments or e-mail Lora at littlekidsbigcity@nwsource.com. See previous stories and fun things to do at http://littlekidsbigcity.com

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