13+ Enjoyable Issues To Do in Seattle With Children

I lived in Seattle for a quick time in my 20s once I did an internship throughout graduate college. Nonetheless, regardless of my fondness for the town, I didn’t get the possibility to return till this previous month. My children have been wanting to see the websites of this metropolis, and there are such a lot of issues to do in Seattle with children.

Primarily based on our expertise, we felt that the summer time was actually the perfect time to go to the Emerald Metropolis and the Pacific Northwest on the whole. The climate is usually heat however not too sizzling, and the rain isn’t often an issue. Nonetheless, should you do expertise a wet day, there are many issues to do.

I felt that the climate we skilled in July was completely excellent for our go to. It was typically within the low 70s with nearly no humidity. Whereas it’s a fantastic place to go to any time of yr, summer time positively helps you to take pleasure in extra outside actions.

CityPASS offered me with two complimentary passes for our journey. If this stuff to do in Seattle with children are in your record, you could take into account buying them in your journey. Though issues are at all times topic to alter, proper now the passes embrace the next:

• The House Needle
• The Seattle Aquarium
• A selection of three of the next – a one-hour Argosy Cruises Harbor Tour, The Museum of Pop Tradition (MoPOP), Woodland Park Zoo, and the Chihuly Backyard and Glass

There’s additionally a brand new C3 go that features three points of interest from the next:

• Seattle Aquarium
• Argosy Cruises
• Woodland Park Zoo
• The Museum of Flight
• Sky View Observatory

If you’re planning on doing at the very least most of those included actions, the Seattle CityPASS could be a nice deal. As soon as you buy it, you’ll obtain an e mail with a barcode on it that may be added to your iPhone’s pockets (or printed out).

For some locations with timed entry, just like the harbor tour or the House Needle, you’ll have to change these tickets for a timed ticket. It’s very straightforward to do that, and we had no points in any respect. It is a good way to save cash on admission for the entire household.

Click on right here to buy a Seattle CityPASS and click on right here to view our net story.

Disclosure: We’ve skilled a few of these actions for gratis due to Seattle CityPASS. This publish accommodates affiliate hyperlinks. A purchase order/click on by way of considered one of these hyperlinks (together with on the map) could end in a fee paid to us at no further value to you.  All opinions are our personal. We booked a JetBlue Trip for our journey and paid for it on our personal.

13+ Issues to Do in Seattle With Children

House Needle

This icon of Seattle, constructed for the 1962 World’s Honest, is certainly a must-visit throughout your Seattle household trip. The House Needle went by way of a full renovation in 2018, and it gives superb views of the town. It’s among the finest issues to do in Seattle with children.

To go to the House Needle, you’ll have to get a timed ticket. This may offer you a 15-minute window the place you’ll have to enter. As soon as you’re in, nevertheless, you’ll be able to keep so long as you’d like till shut.

There are a number of completely different ticket choices, together with a day/night time ticket the place you’ll be able to return within the night, combo tickets with different points of interest, and a regular ticket.

Your ticket will present you entry to the very prime of the House Needle. This open-air space supplies 360-degree views. There’s additionally the Loupe degree, which has a rotating glass flooring. I’d suggest that you simply attempt to go to on a transparent day for the perfect views.

On the prime of the House Needle, you’ll discover a cafe, and on the backside, there’s a present store and VR expertise (that’s included in your ticket). It’s finest to reach early if doable as a result of the strains can get lengthy. We arrived very first thing within the morning on the opening and had no strains in any respect.

Pike Place Market

This public market is likely one of the hottest locations to go to in Seattle. Open every day, it’s positioned proper within the heart of city by the waterfront.

As you stroll by way of the varied stalls and outlets, you’ll discover produce, fish, meat, cheeses, and honey, in addition to nonperishables like art work, crafts, and souvenirs. In case your room has a kitchen, you could need to decide up some objects for dinner.

Pike Place can be residence to the well-known gum wall. Whether or not you take into account it gross or cool, you could need to stroll by. The gum wall is so much greater than I anticipate it to be – it’s extra of an alley than a single wall.

You’ll discover the gum wall tucked away within the Publish Alley, down the steps to the left of the Public Market. There are a number of completely different components to the Publish Alley, however you’ll need them one down the steps.

There are a number of parking garages proper at Pike Place or within the neighborhood. Nonetheless, I might suggest strolling out of your resort if you’re staying close by. It’s positively a lot simpler.

Pacific Science Heart

In case your children love science and interactive displays, you’ll positively need to go to the Pacific Science Heart proper in Seattle Heart. Adjoining to the House Needle, the Pacific Science Heart is made up of a number of buildings providing a lot for youths to take pleasure in. There are many hands-on displays, and it’s additionally a fantastic place to go to if there occurs to be a wet day throughout your journey.

If you buy your ticket, you’ll should possibility so as to add a number of exhibits. These embrace the IMAX theater in addition to the planetarium. Select the time of the present whenever you get the tickets. You’ll pay for IMAX tickets, however the planetarium exhibits are free. You simply have to just remember to get a reservation time.

Included in your Pacific Science Heart ticket is a VR expertise. Head proper there whenever you arrive, since you’ll want to order a selected time. We glided by on our approach out, so we weren’t capable of get time for the expertise earlier than we left.

Highlights embrace the tropical butterfly backyard, the tinker tank, the wellbody academy, and the dwelling displays. There’s additionally a enjoyable outside space with water options. We spent about an hour and a half there, however you might have considered trying extra time should you plan to attend one of many exhibits and/or do the VR expertise.

If you’re hungry throughout your go to, there’s a restaurant on-site, or you’ll be able to stroll over to the armory at Seattle Heart after your go to. Throughout the armory, you’ll discover a meals court docket with numerous meals choices.

Throughout the Seattle Heart advanced is likely one of the Seattle monorail stops. It travels to Westlake Heart in Downtown Seattle from Seattle Heart.

Hiram M Chittenden Locks

For a singular Puget Sound expertise, drive to the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks (Ballard Locks), positioned in close by Ballard. Entry is free, though you’ll have to pay for parking.

The Ballard Locks have been created by the US Military Corp of Engineers in 1971 and are positioned the place the salt water of Puget Sound meets the freshwater of Lake Washington and Lake Union. The locks handle the water ranges.

There’s a customer heart the place you’ll be able to study extra concerning the locks. There’s additionally a botanical backyard you could stroll by way of. In the summertime months, you could need to go to the salmon ladder to see the salmon swimming. It’s finest to go to the fish ladder throughout excessive tide – we have been there throughout low tide and didn’t see them.

Seattle Aquarium

Situated on the Seattle waterfront on Alaskan Means, the Seattle Aquarium is a enjoyable place to go to with children. Little children will certainly adore it, though my teenagers actually loved the go to as properly.

The aquarium gives interactive displays, feedings, and extra. As you stroll in, you’ll be capable of see an aquarium full of fish of the Puget Sound. There are different displays throughout the constructing, together with a number of contact tanks, an underwater dome, and a tropical fish aquarium.

Head outdoors, and you’ll see birds, harbor seals, river otters, fur seals, and sea otters. My teenagers particularly cherished seeing these interactive animals.

The aquarium does have some every day actions together with a diver present, story time, and a chance to fulfill a number of the marine life animals.

We spent about an hour and a half within the aquarium. It was busy however not too crowded. If you’re planning to see one of many exhibits or packages, you could spend slightly extra time. It’s a fantastic place to go to with younger youngsters.

Argosy Cruises

I like spending time on the water in the summertime, so I used to be thrilled to see Argosy Cruises on the CityPASS record of points of interest. Whereas I’d completed lots of the issues to do in Seattle previously earlier than I had children, I had by no means been on a ship tour within the metropolis.

With the CityPASS, you’ll get the 60-minute tour, which was excellent for our household. You can too improve to one of many longer excursions that transcend the waterfront. You’ll have to make a reservation for one of many instances on the waterfront kiosk.

As you board the boat, you’ll take a household image you could then buy. Then, you’ll be able to select the place to sit down. For the perfect views, I’d suggest the highest degree.

There’s a restroom and snack bar on the boat, and waiter service is obtainable should you don’t need to stand up. Through the hour journey, you’ll get some narration concerning the waterfront and the historical past of Seattle. We actually loved the journey and positively suggest it.

Argosy Cruises board proper by the kid-friendly Seattle Aquarium, so you’ll be able to positively mix a visit if you end up on the waterfront. We began our morning with the cruise, had lunch, after which went to the aquarium.

Museum of Fashionable Tradition

One of many latest issues to do in Seattle with children is on the Museum of Pop Tradition, positioned at Seattle Heart by the House Needle. MoPOP, because it’s now identified, was initially the Expertise Music Challenge (EMP). It was based by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen and options displays full of memorabilia of common tradition.

The musical roots of the museum are nonetheless obvious as you go to the varied displays. These embrace Prince, Pearl Jam, and Nirvana displays, in addition to a Sound Lab that older children will actually take pleasure in.

There’s additionally a horror movie exhibit with memorabilia from a number of the hottest horror films, in addition to a science fiction exhibit with memorabilia from these films.

I feel MoPOP might be most loved by older children and adults. My teenagers cherished it, however it might be slightly boring for little children. When you are there, you’ll be able to dine on the Tradition Kitchen by Wolfgang Puck, which gives a wide range of completely different objects for adults and youngsters.

Funko HQ

Throughout our go to, we determined to drive about 40 minutes outdoors of Seattle to Everett, Washington. This northern Seattle suburb is residence to Funko HQ, the headquarters for Funko.

In case your children acquire Funko Pops, you’ll positively need to make the quick tour. Funko HQ gives a retailer full of numerous Funko Pops, together with some exclusives and the chance to make your individual Pop (both a monster or Freddie Funko – the Funko mascot).

The shop isn’t open on Mondays, and also you’ll need to examine the web site for hours throughout your go to. See this publish for every little thing you have to learn about visiting Funko HQ.

Museum of Flight and Boeing Way forward for Flight Aviation Heart

Seattle is residence to Boeing, and within the space, you’ll discover two completely different experiences that aviation lovers will take pleasure in.

The Museum of Flight is positioned in Seattle, however outdoors of the downtown space. This nonprofit air and house museum gives a pilot expertise, flight simulator, movie show, and extra.

There’s additionally the Boeing Way forward for Flight Aviation Heart, positioned outdoors of Seattle in Mukilteo. The aviation heart additionally features a tour of the industrial jet meeting plant.

We tried to go to the Way forward for Flight Aviation Heart throughout our go to, however the tickets have been all bought out for the day. I’d positively suggest reserving them upfront as a result of it’s a well-liked place, regardless of the situation outdoors the town. For those who go to Funko HQ, you’ll be able to mix it with a visit to the Way forward for Flight Aviation Heart for a enjoyable day journey.

Gasoline Works Park

If you’re in search of a spot to get your children’ vitality out, you’ll positively need to go to Gasoline Works Park. This free public park is positioned on the waterfront and is within the former residence of a Seattle Gasoline Mild Firm plant. It’s not positioned proper downtown – you’ll have to drive there.

The park options numerous buildings that youngsters can climb on, together with some giant swings. The power has picnic tables you could reserve upfront, in addition to restrooms. Complimentary parking is obtainable proper close to the park.

As you drive by way of this space, you may additionally need to go to Fremont. There’s a statue of a troll beneath a bridge in Fremont that youngsters could take pleasure in seeing.

Seattle Waterfront

Throughout your journey to Seattle, you’ll positively need to go to the Seattle waterfront. It’s positioned downstairs from Pike Place, though elevators and a shuttle bus can be found.

On the waterfront, you’ll discover numerous enjoyable issues, together with outlets and eating places. The waterfront can be the place you’ll discover the Seattle Aquarium and dock for the Argosy Cruises.

There’s additionally the Seattle Ferris Wheel, known as the Seattle Nice Wheel. We didn’t go on the wheel throughout our go to, however I used to be shocked at how inexpensive it was relative to different wheels we’ve visited on trip.

Though it’s a little bit of a stroll down the steps, we visited the waterfront a bunch of instances throughout our trip. It was good train, and we actually loved purchasing and consuming down there.

Chihuly Backyard and Glass

This exhibition corridor, backyard, and glasshouse is likely one of the newer points of interest in Seattle Heart. It’s finest for the oldest children – youthful children gained’t admire the displays and will certainly must be watched round all the glass.

My youngsters, my husband, and I completely cherished it, nevertheless. Chihuly’s work is attractive and distinctive, and this museum does a improbable job showcasing every little thing among the many great thing about Seattle. It takes about an hour to undergo. Along with the displays, Chihuly Backyard and Glass additionally provide a present store and cafe.

There are many different issues to do in Seattle that we weren’t capable of get to, together with visiting Mercer Island, Alki Seaside, Inexperienced Lake, and going to the unique Starbucks.

The place to Keep in Seattle

Seattle is full of numerous family-friendly inns. Throughout our go to, we stayed on the Resort FIVE – a Staypineapple Resort. It’s positioned between Pike Place and Seattle Heart, so it was straightforward for us to stroll between the 2 places.

Different well-rated inns within the space embrace the next:

You can too discover some lodging choices on this map (affiliate hyperlinks).

What to Eat in Seattle

There’s no scarcity of eating places within the Seattle space, and you’ll definitely discover numerous nice choices. As you’d anticipate, seafood, particularly salmon, is a well-liked meal selection.

Surprisingly, the eating places within the touristy areas, like Pike Place and the Seattle Waterfront, are literally actually good. Throughout our Seattle trip, we loved consuming at each Ivar’s and Elliott’s. Each have children’ menus as properly.

We additionally loved visiting Prime Pot Donuts, which has a number of places in Seattle. There was one block from our resort, and we stopped a number of instances for espresso and donuts.

Steadily Requested Questions About Touring to Seattle

Extra sources: Planning a Seattle trip? Learn our Seattle journey suggestions and opinions, together with itineraries, street journeys, and extra.