10 amazing things to do in Seattle with kids

Seattle is a great destination for families. The city is full of culture and natural beauty, and with more than 400 parks, open spaces and exciting attractions, there are plenty of things to do in Seattle with kids.

We explore 10 amazing things to do in Seattle with your little ones! From visiting the zoo to exploring the waterfront, there is something for everyone. Read on for more ideas on how to have fun in this wonderful walkable city!

We never tire of our road trips to Seattle and can’t wait until our next visit to try out some of the delicious foodie spots.

Thinking about a trip to the theme parks in Southern California? Check out our visits to Palm Springs – Amazing adventures with kids in Palm Springs, and Buena Park: Best educational activities in Buena Park with kids,  and Top family-friendly places to eat in Buena Park.

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10 Things to Do in Seattle with Kids

Here are 10 of our favorite family-friendly activities in Seattle to keep everybody entertained.

1. Seattle Center Monorail

For a quick, inexpensive trip between downtown Seattle and the Seattle Center try the monorail. Terminals are located on the upper level of Westlake Center and at the Seattle Center near the Space Needle. For pricing information visit seattlemonorail.com.

The Monorail was built because of the 1962 World’s Fair. It first opened to the public on March 24, 1962, nearly one month before the fair gates welcomed eager visitors. I still remember the thrill of riding it with my mom and dad when I was five-years old.

2. Pike Place Market

Pike Place Market is a great place to start your Seattle adventure. The market has been around since 1907, and is one of the oldest continuously operated public farmers markets in the United States. Kids will love seeing (and smelling) all the fresh produce, flowers, and seafood. Be sure to check out the nearby Gum Wall while you’re there!

And don’t miss the flying fish! This always provides plenty of entertainment.

Watch video: Flying Fish at Pike Place Market in Seattle Washington

If you are hungry, there are plenty of restaurants and fast food vendors inside and outside the market offering lots of delicious treats.

One of the top things to do in Seattle is visit the Pike Place Market. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©

The famous Gum Wall in Seattle near Pike Place Market. Photo: Melanie

3. Seattle Aquarium

Imagine the wonder of an undersea room. The bluish-green glow. Fish swimming all around you. Now imagine this through the eyes of a young child.

We are aquarium people and have had a pass to our local aquarium going on three years now. We were blown away by the Seattle Aquarium! They have massive beautiful touch pools and interactive fun for the kids.

E is a huge Octonauts fan so he loved the undersea viewing control station, the scuba diver dress up area and the crab lab. Of course, he was thrilled seeing his favorite lion fish.

L loved the tropical fish and the fur seals. One fur seal was such a poser near the pacific coral reef and marine mammal exhibits.

The Seattle Aquarium is always hit with kids and one of the top things to do in Seattle. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©

The Seattle Aquarium is always hit with kids and one of the top things to do in Seattle. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©

The viewing windows at the Seattle Aquarium. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©

4. Historic Pier 57

Walk along the waterfront to see the refurbished 1890s pier. There are many kid-friendly family activities to do at the historic Pier 57.

Attractions include a waterfront carousel, the Seattle Great Wheel, and Wings Over Washington, which is billed as “currently the most state-of-the-art theater in the world”.

Wings Over Washington provides an experience soaring over the Pacific Northwest. See Olympic National Forest, Mt. Rainier, San Juan Islands, Snoqualmie Falls and more.

There are several fresh seafood and Northwest dining options, as well as gift shops to wander through.

5. Great Seattle Wheel

Catch excellent city and water views from within a gondola on Seattle’s 175-foot waterfront Ferris wheel, located at the end of Pier 57. Each ride takes about 15 minutes and includes three full revolutions of the wheel. Gondolas hold up to eight riders.

For the VIP experience, buy tickets for Cabin #42, complete with leather bucket seats, a stereo system, and a glass bottom floor, seating up to four adults.

The Great Seattle Wheel has 500,000 LED lights and families can also admire the wheel from afar during light shows. Watch for the full lighting every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evening until 10 p.m. There are also special themed light shows on holidays and any game day evenings.

Did you know that you can reserve a private dinner experience 200-feet above the Salish Sea?

The Great Seattle Wheel is an experience the entire family can enjoy. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©

6. Space Needle

The Space Needle, built for the 1962 World’s Fair, is one of Seattle’s most iconic landmarks. Kids will love riding to the top of the Space Needle in one of its two glass elevators.

Have you ever explored the world through a telescope from 520 ft in the air? We have! The 360° views from the Seattle Space Needle are breathtaking even with the typical wet West Coast weather. See Elliott Bay, Mt. Rainier, and the Cascade Mountains from the Observation Deck.

10 amazing things to do in Seattle with kids. Photo: Melanie

The real star of the show for us was the Loupe, the world’s first and only glass revolving floor where you can see the sites of the city centre right below your feet. E loved it as he wormed his way across the floor asking, “What is happening?” as if on some bad college experience.  We clearly need to take him on more rides.

Tip: The Space Needle is part of CityPASS and kids under five are free! Take advantage of all the photo ops because they are included in admission and available on the website/app.

View from the Space Needle in Seattle. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©

7. Museum of Pop Culture

If you’re looking for something fun and educational to do with your kids, consider visiting one of Seattle’s many museums. The Museum of Pop Culture, or MoPOP, is a great choice for kids who are into music or pop culture. The museum has exhibits on everything from video games to Jimi Hendrix, and also has interactive exhibits that kids will love.

8. The Children’s Museum at Seattle Center

The Children’s Museum is located in Seattle Center, just next to the Space Needle. It is a hands-on museum that is designed for kids ages 0-12. Kids can explore exhibit areas such as the Early Childhood Garden, Art Studio, and Bubble Room.

Admission to the museum is free for kids under the age of one and only $14 for everyone else.

9. Woodland Park Zoo

Located just north of downtown Seattle, the Woodland Park Zoo is one of the oldest zoos in the country. It is a world-renowned facility that is home to more than 800 animals and 250 different species of animals in quite natural, large displays.

Kids will love seeing all of the different animals from all over the world, including elephants, tigers, gorillas, and penguins. They will also learn about animal conservation at the zoo’s many educational exhibits.

We managed to visit between rain storms for a few hours, but honestly, we could have spent all day here. They have lots of interactive displays and plenty of playground areas for the kids to monkey around and a historic carousel with classic, hand-carved wooden carousel horses.

It’s always sweet to compare your growing child’s hand to a print of their tiny newborn paws or your own, but have you ever compared it to an orangutan?

Before planning your trip to the Woodland Park Zoo check the daily schedule for animal keeper talks and experiences.  The zoo offers many special events throughout the year. Download a map of the zoo.

The Seattle CityPASS offers this premiere attraction so it’s reasonable to visit.

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Woodland Park Zoo is one of Seattle top things to do in the Pacific Northwest. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©

10. Gas Works Park

Gas Works Park, once an old gasification plant, powered most of Seattle in the early 1900s before the import of natural gas. The park sits on the north tip of Lake Union and offers picturesque views of downtown Seattle.

Portions of the original “Gas Works” remain, including the boiler room which was converted to a picnic shelter with tables, fire grills and an open area.  The former exhauster-compressor building is now a large play barn with brightly colored machinery.

Gas Works Park is located at 2101 N Northlake Way, Seattle.

Gas Works Park in Seattle’s Ballard neighbourhood is a great place to get out and explore. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©

Gas Works Park in Seattle’s Ballard neighbourhood is a great place to get out and explore. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©

View of the Space Needle from Gas Works Park. Photo Wendy Nordvik-Carr©

Bonus family-friendly kids activities in Seattle

11. The Museum of Flight

If you are looking for things to do in Seattle with kids that are both fun and educational, you should definitely visit the Museum of Flight, which claims to be the largest private air and space museum in the world. It is located just south of Seattle near Boeing Field. Kids will enjoy seeing over 175 historic aircraft, including a Concorde, Space Shuttle Trainer, and Air Force One.

Air Force One is on loan to the museum from the National Museum of the United States Air Force. Take a virtual tour of Air Force One.

On our next trip to Seattle we want to examine the Apollo Exhibit to see the Moon rocks, the lunar roving “moon buggy,” the only Viking Mars lander on Earth, space suits and the first Apollo command module along with the historic Apollo 12 and 16 F-1 engines and more.

There are also number of virtual remote education programs and STEM activities available.

One of the best things to do in Seattle with kids is visit the Seattle Museum of Flight. This is the Apollo Exhibit with the Command Module. Courtesy Photo

12. Fremont Troll

For something a little different, head to Fremont and check out the Fremont Troll. This 18-foot-tall sculpture is made from rebar, wire, and concrete, and was created in 1990. Kids will love climbing on the troll and taking pictures with him!

The Fremont Troll in Seattle is a great find and worth checking out. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©

13. Ballard Locks

Hiram M. Chittenden Locks are free and one of the city’s most popular visitor attractions. These 107-year-old locks raise and lower boats between salt and fresh water between six to 26 feet.

The locks maintain the water level of Lake Washington and Lake Union, prevent the mixing of sea water from Puget Sound with the fresh water of the lakes and assist boats as they move from the Puget Sound to the lakes and vice versa.

Watch salmon make their way up the fish ladder from the viewing window or just watch pleasure boats go through the locks.

The best time to witness the migration of three types of salmon, Coho, Chinook and Sockeye, is from July until November. The fish ladder is drained every year, usually in May, for two weeks or longer.

Discover 7 of the most impressive canal locks in North America

Ballard Locks in Seattle is one of the most impressive locks in North America. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©

14. Discovery Park

We did not have time to visit Discovery Park, but we would be remiss if we did not mention Seattle’s biggest park. Sitting on the shores of the Puget Sound, the park has 534 acres of natural beauty and is a fantastic free place for kids to explore.

The park offers incredible views of Mount Rainier, Cascade and the Olympic Mountain ranges. It has a historic lighthouse, sea cliffs, sand dunes, two miles of protected rocky tidal beaches (best viewed at low tide), 12 miles of walking trails to explore forests, meadows and more.

Where to stay in Seattle

An important consideration of any vacation is finding a comfortable place to rest your heads and catch up on sleep after spending the day adventuring. (I’m still not sure if this is a thing with kids, but stay with us.) On our recent escape to Seattle, we were lucky enough to stay at the Hyatt Regency Downtown and experience their Regency Club.

We can’t rave enough about our stay in the Pacific Northwest’s largest hotel! The service, location and accommodations were all on point with modern west coast flair. They seem to have imagined every detail to make your Seattle experience both memorable and unique. From thoughtful black and white fine art images of local attractions, vegan and cruelty-free toiletries, in-room Keurig serving Starbuck’s Pike Place Roast, to perfectly planned clean and modern rooms.

The location is perfectly placed in a very walkable city (especially valuable considering the somewhat challenging and expensive parking situation in the downtown core). Equal walking distance to the top attractions (namely, Pike Place and the Space Needle), within two minutes of a major shopping area and the monorail or metro (even with a toddler in tow). Lots of nearby restaurants; though you may not need to eat out because in-house dining offers just about everything you could every want for. The friendly and helpful valet and concierge round out the experience. .

Tip: Hyatt Regency Club Lounge is an exclusive luxurious add-on to your stay. The club lounge is open throughout the day offering a comfortable indoor/outdoor space to enjoy breakfast, evening hors d’oeuvres, desserts, and honour bar. There’s even an outdoor fire pit to curl up next to on cool evenings. The lounge offers much needed pampering during your perfect city escape.

Seattle CityPASS

 Visitors wanting the “full Seattle experience” often choose to purchase a Seattle CityPASS to get the most for their money. Included in the CityPASS are admission tickets to many of Seattle’s most popular attractions including the Space Needle, Seattle Aquarium, Argosy Cruises’ Harbor Tour and two option tickets with the choice of visiting the Pacific Science Center or Chihuly Garden and Glass, and the second option of visiting the Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP) or Woodland Park Zoo. The cost of Seattle CityPASS is $168.63 for adults and $126.12 for children, equaling 47% or more in savings. For more information, visit citypass.com.

Do you have any favorite things to do in Seattle with kids? Let us know in the comments below!

Wendy Nordvik-Carr and Melanie were guests of Visit Seattle, which did not preview or approve this story.

Find more places to explore in the area: Scenic trails of Whatcom Falls Park, Bellingham, Washington, Discover 10 Best B.C. Provincial Parks Near Vancouver, Top 10 day trips from Vancouver you will want to explore