13+ Enjoyable Issues To Do in Seattle With Youngsters

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 prospect 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 the most effective time to go to the Emerald Metropolis and the Pacific Northwest generally. The climate is usually heat however not too sizzling, and the rain isn’t normally an issue. Nonetheless, in the event 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 usually within the low 70s with virtually no humidity. Whereas it’s a fantastic place to go to any time of 12 months, summer season permits you to get pleasure from extra outside actions.

Disclosure: We’ve skilled a few of these actions without charge due to Seattle CityPASS. This submit accommodates affiliate hyperlinks.

A purchase order/click on by one among these hyperlinks (together with on the map) might 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 supplied me with two complimentary passes for our journey. If these items to do in Seattle with youngsters are in your listing, you might contemplate buying them in your journey. Though issues are at all times topic to vary, proper now the passes embrace the next:

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

There’s additionally a brand new C3 ticket that features a alternative of any three points of interest from an inventory.

If you’re planning on doing at the very least most of those included actions, the Seattle CityPASS generally is 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, you’ll have to alternate these tickets for a timed ticket. It’s very simple 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.

13+ Issues to Do in Seattle With Youngsters

Area Needle

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

To go to the Area 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 might be in, nonetheless, you’ll be able to keep so long as you’d like till shut.

There are a number of totally 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 typical ticket.

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

On the high of the Area 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 greatest to reach early if doable 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 every day, it’s positioned proper within the heart of city by the waterfront.

As you stroll by the assorted stalls and outlets, you’ll discover produce, fish, meat, cheeses, and honey, in addition to nonperishables like paintings, crafts, and souvenirs. In case your room has a kitchen, you might wish to choose up some gadgets for dinner.

Pike Place can be house to the well-known gum wall. Whether or not you contemplate it gross or cool, you might wish 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 totally 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 lodge if you’re staying close by. It’s undoubtedly a lot simpler.

Pacific Science Middle

In case your youngsters love science and interactive displays, you’ll wish to go to the Pacific Science Middle proper in Seattle Middle. Adjoining to the Area Needle, the Pacific Science Middle is made up of a number of buildings providing a lot for teenagers to get pleasure from. 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.

Once 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 once you get the tickets. You’ll pay for IMAX tickets, however the planetarium exhibits are free. You simply have to just be sure you get a reservation time.

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

Highlights embrace the tropical butterfly backyard, the tinker tank, the wellbody academy, and the residing 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 in the event 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 Middle after your go to. Inside the armory, you’ll discover a meals court docket with plenty of meals choices.

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

Hiram M Chittenden Locks

For a novel 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 that you could stroll by. In the summertime months, you might wish to go to the salmon ladder to see the salmon swimming. It’s greatest 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 Manner, the Seattle Aquarium is a enjoyable place to go to with youngsters. Little youngsters will certainly adore it, though my teenagers actually loved the go to as effectively.

The aquarium affords interactive displays, feedings, and extra. As you stroll in, you’ll have the ability to see an aquarium stuffed with 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 exterior, and you’ll see birds, harbor seals, river otters, fur seals, and sea otters. My teenagers particularly liked seeing these interactive animals.

The aquarium does have some every day actions together with a diver present, storytime, and a possibility to satisfy among 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 applications, you might spend a little bit extra time. It’s a fantastic 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 listing of points of interest. Whereas I’d achieved lots of the issues to do in Seattle up 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. 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 occasions on the waterfront kiosk.

As you board the boat, you’ll take a household image that you could then buy. Then, you’ll be able to select the place to take a seat. For the most effective views, I’d advocate the highest stage.

There’s a restroom and snack bar on the boat, and waiter service is accessible in the event you don’t wish 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’ll be able to 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 Standard Tradition

One of many latest issues to do in Seattle with youngsters is on the Museum of Pop Tradition, positioned at Seattle Middle by the Area 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 stuffed with memorabilia of widespread tradition.

The musical roots of the museum are nonetheless obvious as you go to the assorted displays. These embrace Prince, Pearl Jam, and Nirvana displays, 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 films, in addition to a science fiction exhibit with memorabilia from these films.

I feel MoPOP might be most loved by older youngsters and adults. My teenagers liked it, however it might be a little bit boring for little youngsters. When you are there, you’ll be able to dine on the Tradition Kitchen by Wolfgang Puck, which affords quite a lot of totally different gadgets for adults and youngsters.

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 acquire Funko Pops, you’ll wish to make the brief tour. Funko HQ affords a retailer stuffed with numerous Funko Pops, together with some exclusives and the chance to make your personal Pop (both a monster or Freddie Funko – the Funko mascot).

The shop isn’t open on Mondays, and also you’ll wish to verify the web site for hours throughout your go to. See this submit for all the pieces you’ll want to learn about visiting Funko HQ.

Museum of Flight and Boeing Way forward for Flight Aviation Middle

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

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

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

We tried to go to the Way forward for Flight Aviation Middle throughout our go to, however the tickets have been all bought out for the day. I’d undoubtedly advocate reserving them prematurely as a result of it’s a well-liked place, regardless of the situation exterior the town. When you go to Funko HQ, you’ll be able to mix it with a visit to the Way forward for Flight Aviation Middle for a enjoyable day journey.

Fuel Works Park

If you’re searching for a spot to get your youngsters’ vitality out, you’ll wish to go to Fuel Works Park. This free public park is positioned on the waterfront and is within the former house of a Seattle Fuel Gentle Firm plant. It’s not positioned proper downtown – you’ll have to drive there.

The park options a number of constructions that youngsters can climb on, together with some giant swings. The ability has picnic tables that you could reserve prematurely, in addition to restrooms. Complimentary parking is accessible proper close to the park.

As you drive by this space, you might also wish to go to Fremont. There’s a statue of a troll below a bridge in Fremont that youngsters might get pleasure from seeing.

Seattle Waterfront

Throughout your journey to Seattle, you’ll wish 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 plenty of enjoyable issues, together with outlets and eating places. The waterfront can be the place you’ll find 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 stunned 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 purchasing and consuming down there.

Chihuly Backyard and Glass

This exhibition corridor, backyard, and glasshouse is without doubt one of the newer points of interest in Seattle Middle. It’s greatest for the oldest youngsters – youthful youngsters gained’t recognize the displays and can should be watched round all the glass.

My youngsters, my husband, and I liked it, nonetheless. Chihuly’s work is beautiful and distinctive, and this museum does a improbable job showcasing all the pieces among the many fantastic thing about Seattle. It takes about an hour to undergo. Along with the displays, Chihuly Backyard and Glass additionally supply a present store and cafe.

There are many different issues to do in Seattle that we weren’t in a position to get to, together with visiting Mercer Island, Alki Seashore, Inexperienced Lake, and going to the authentic Starbucks.

The place to Keep in Seattle

Seattle is stuffed with plenty of family-friendly lodges. Throughout our go to, we stayed on the Lodge FIVE – a Staypineapple Lodge. It’s positioned between Pike Place and Seattle Middle, so it was simple for us to stroll between the 2 places.

Different well-rated lodges within the space embrace 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 alternative.

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 High Pot Donuts, which has a number of places in Seattle. There was one block from our lodge, and we stopped a number of occasions for espresso and donuts.

Continuously Requested Questions About Touring to Seattle

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