13+ Enjoyable Issues To Do in Seattle With Youngsters

I lived in Seattle for a short time in my 20s after I did an internship throughout graduate faculty. Nonetheless, regardless of my fondness for the town, I didn’t get the possibility to return till this a few years later. My youngsters have been wanting to see the websites of this metropolis, and there are such a lot of issues to do in Seattle with youngsters.

Primarily based on our expertise, we felt that the summer season was one of the best time to go to the Emerald Metropolis and the Pacific Northwest normally. The climate is mostly heat however not too sizzling, and the rain isn’t normally an issue. Nonetheless, when you expertise a wet day, there are many issues to do.

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

Disclosure: We’ve skilled a few of these actions for gratis due to Seattle CityPASS. This submit comprises affiliate hyperlinks.

A purchase order/click on by way of one among these hyperlinks (together with on the map) could lead to 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.

CityPASS offered me with two complimentary passes for our journey. If these items to do in Seattle with youngsters are in your record, you might take into account buying them on your journey. Though issues are at all times topic to vary, proper now the passes embody 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, the Pacific Science Heart, and the Chihuly Backyard and Glass

There’s additionally a brand new C3 ticket that features a selection of any three sights from an inventory.

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

For some locations with timed entry, you’ll have to alternate these tickets for a timed ticket. It’s very straightforward to do that, and we had no points in any respect. This can be a smart way to save cash on admission for the entire household.

Click on right here to buy a Seattle CityPASS.

13+ Issues to Do in Seattle With Youngsters

House Needle

This icon of Seattle, constructed for the 1962 World’s Truthful, is a must-visit throughout your Seattle household trip. The House Needle went by way of a full renovation in 2018, and it gives wonderful views of the town. It’s top-of-the-line issues to do in Seattle with youngsters.

To go to the House Needle, you’ll have to get a timed ticket. It will offer you a 15-minute window the place you’ll have to enter. As soon as you’re in, nonetheless, you possibly can keep so long as you’d like till shut.

There are a number of completely different ticket choices, together with a day/evening ticket the place you possibly can return within the night, combo tickets with different sights, and a typical ticket.

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

On the high 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 potential as a result of the traces can get lengthy. We arrived very first thing within the morning on the opening and had no traces in any respect.

Pike Place Market

This public market is without doubt one of the hottest locations to go to in Seattle. Open day by day, it’s situated proper within the middle 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 might need to choose up some objects for dinner.

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

You’ll discover the gum wall tucked away within the Submit Alley, down the steps to the left of the Public Market. There are a number of completely different elements to the Submit 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 advocate strolling out of your resort in case you are staying close by. It’s positively a lot simpler.

Pacific Science Heart

In case your youngsters love science and interactive reveals, you’ll 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 teenagers to get pleasure from. There are many hands-on reveals, and it’s additionally an incredible place to go to if there occurs to be a wet day throughout your journey.

Whenever you buy your ticket, you’ll need to choice so as to add a number of exhibits. These embody the IMAX theater in addition to the planetarium. Select the time of the present while 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 while you arrive, since you’ll want to order a particular time. We glided by on our manner out, so we weren’t capable of get time for the expertise earlier than we left.

Highlights embody the tropical butterfly backyard, the tinker tank, the wellbody academy, and the residing reveals. 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 when you plan to attend one of many exhibits and/or do the VR expertise.

In case you are hungry throughout your go to, there’s a restaurant on-site, or you possibly can stroll over to the armory at Seattle Heart after your go to. Inside the armory, you’ll discover a meals courtroom with plenty of meals choices.

Inside the Seattle Heart complicated is without doubt one of the Seattle monorail stops. It travels to Westlake Heart in Downtown Seattle from Seattle Heart.

Hiram M Chittenden Locks

For a novel Puget Sound expertise, drive to the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks (Ballard Locks), situated 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 situated 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 middle the place you possibly can study extra concerning the locks. There’s additionally a botanical backyard that you may stroll by way of. In the summertime months, you might 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 Approach, the Seattle Aquarium is a enjoyable place to go to with youngsters. Little youngsters will certainly like it, though my teenagers actually loved the go to as effectively.

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

Head exterior, 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 day by day actions together with a diver present, storytime, and a chance to fulfill among the marine life animals.

We spent about an hour and a half within the aquarium. It was busy however not too crowded. In case you are planning to see one of many exhibits or applications, you might spend slightly extra time. It’s an incredible place to go to with younger kids.

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 sights. Whereas I’d accomplished lots of the issues to do in Seattle prior to now earlier than I had youngsters, 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. It’s also possible to improve to one of many longer excursions that transcend the waterfront. You’ll have to make a reservation for one of many occasions on the waterfront kiosk.

As you board the boat, you’ll take a household image that you may then buy. Then, you possibly can select the place to take a seat. For one of the best views, I’d advocate the highest stage.

There’s a restroom and snack bar on the boat, and waiter service is on the market when you don’t need to rise up. Through the hour-long journey, you’ll get some narration concerning the waterfront and the historical past of Seattle. We actually loved the journey and advocate it.

Argosy Cruises board proper by the kid-friendly Seattle Aquarium, so you possibly can mix a visit if you find yourself on the waterfront. We began our morning with the cruise, had lunch, after which went to the aquarium.

Museum of Common Tradition

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

The musical roots of the museum are nonetheless obvious as you go to the varied reveals. These embody Prince, Pearl Jam, and Nirvana reveals, in addition to a Sound Lab that older youngsters will actually get pleasure from.

There’s additionally a horror movie exhibit with memorabilia from among the hottest horror motion pictures, in addition to a science fiction exhibit with memorabilia from these motion pictures.

I feel MoPOP might be most loved by older youngsters and adults. My teenagers cherished it, however it might be slightly boring for little youngsters. While you’re there, you possibly can dine on the Tradition Kitchen by Wolfgang Puck, which gives quite a lot of completely different objects for adults and children.

Funko HQ

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

In case your youngsters gather Funko Pops, you’ll need to make the quick tour. Funko HQ gives a retailer full of varied 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 test the web site for hours throughout your go to. See this submit for every thing you have to find out about visiting Funko HQ.

Museum of Flight and Boeing Way forward for Flight Aviation Heart

Seattle is house to Boeing, and within the space, you’ll discover two completely different experiences that aviation lovers will get pleasure from.

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

There’s additionally the Boeing Way forward for Flight Aviation Heart, situated exterior of Seattle in Mukilteo. The aviation middle additionally features a tour of the business 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 offered out for the day. I’d positively advocate reserving them prematurely as a result of it’s a preferred place, regardless of the situation exterior the town. When you go to Funko HQ, you possibly can mix it with a visit to the Way forward for Flight Aviation Heart for a enjoyable day journey.

Gasoline Works Park

In case you are in search of a spot to get your youngsters’ power out, you’ll need to go to Gasoline Works Park. This free public park is situated on the waterfront and is within the former house of a Seattle Gasoline Mild Firm plant. It’s not situated proper downtown – you’ll have to drive there.

The park options a number of buildings that children can climb on, together with some massive swings. The power has picnic tables that you may reserve prematurely, in addition to restrooms. Complimentary parking is on the market 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 below a bridge in Fremont that children could get pleasure from seeing.

Seattle Waterfront

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

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

There’s additionally the Seattle Ferris Wheel, referred to as the Seattle Nice Wheel. We didn’t go on the wheel throughout our go to, however I used to be shocked at how reasonably priced 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 occasions throughout our trip. It was good train, and we actually loved procuring and consuming down there.

Chihuly Backyard and Glass

This exhibition corridor, backyard, and glasshouse is without doubt one of the newer sights in Seattle Heart. It’s finest for the oldest youngsters – youthful youngsters gained’t admire the reveals and can should be watched round the entire glass.

My youngsters, my husband, and I cherished it, nonetheless. Chihuly’s work is attractive and distinctive, and this museum does a implausible job showcasing every thing among the many fantastic thing about Seattle. It takes about an hour to undergo. Along with the reveals, 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 authentic Starbucks.

The place to Keep in Seattle

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

Different well-rated motels within the space embody the next:

What to Eat in Seattle

There’s no scarcity of eating places within the Seattle space, and you’ll actually discover plenty of nice choices. As you’d count on, 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 good. Throughout our Seattle trip, we loved consuming at each Ivar’s and Elliott’s. Each have youngsters’ menus as effectively.

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 occasions for espresso and donuts.

Often Requested Questions About Touring to Seattle

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