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City Breaks With Kids

 Things to do in Seattle With Kids

Seattle, Washington is the perfect city for families to explore with kids. The city has a handful of attractions specifically geared for families, as well as attractions that appeal to any age group. From historical tours to modern architecture, nature experiences to interactive museums, there are plenty of kid-friendly experiences for families to enjoy, no matter what their interest.

Seattle Center

One of the best starting off points for families to explore Seattle is to visit the Seattle Center. Located in Seattle’s Queen Anne neighborhood, the Seattle Center is where families can find the iconic Space Needle and the unique Museum of Pop Culture, known locally as MoPop.

Families with young kids can also enjoy the Children’s Museum, which has interactive exhibits geared at stimulating young learners.

On rare sunny afternoons, our family likes playing at the International Fountain, a dome-shaped fountain that plays music as it sprays water. Older kids will appreciate the Chihuly Garden of Glass, which showcases the whimsical glass sculptures of artist, Dale Chihuly.

South Lake Union and Downtown Seattle

The business and commercial center of Seattle is also a popular spot for families to explore. In the neighborhood of South Lake Union, the Museum of History and Industry, also known as MOHAI, allows families to learn about Seattle’s industrial and technical history. For families wanting to see a more recent example of Seattle’s imprint in the tech world, they can take a visit to the Amazon Spheres, located in downtown Seattle.

Further downtown, and closer to the waterfront is Pike Place Market, one of the longest running public markets in the United States. We love visiting the market and sampling the local produce and goods. A ride on the Seattle Great Wheel, the city’s ferris wheel attraction, is a great way to end an afternoon at the market, as well as capture fantastic views of the city skyline.

Also along the waterfront is the Seattle Aquarium, whose exhibits feature a variety of fish, as well as mammals, amphibians, and birds. Our favorite exhibits for little ones are the giant Pacific octopus, and the “Life on the Edge” exhibit, which allows kids to touch animals like starfish, sea urchins, and sea cucumbers.

Pioneer Square and the International District

Continuing further downtown is Seattle’s historic neighborhoods, Pioneer Square and the International District. The best way for families to learn about Seattle’s history is by taking a tour with Bill Speidel’s Underground Tour, which takes families underneath the streets of Seattle. 

Families can also learn about Seattle’s Gold Rush history by visiting the Klondike Gold Rush museum, a US National Park right in the city! And for a look at the role that Asians had in shaping Seattle, kids and parents can spend an afternoon at the Wing Luke Museum.

SoDo

A Seattle neighborhood that is quickly becoming popular among families is SoDo. Seattle’s two stadiums, CenturyLink Field and T-Mobile Park are where families can watch the city’s football, baseball, and soccer teams, the Seahaws, the Mariners, and the Sounders.

Also in SoDo is the Museum of Flight, an aviation museum that exhibits planes throughout the history of flight. Kids can have a chance to go into actual aircrafts and spaceships. Another museum in SoDo that’s popular with families is the Living Computers: Museum + Labs. The museum has computers dating back to the 50’s, and our kids loved playing with the robots showcased in the museum.

Astrid, shares lots more Seattle activities for families in her blog The Wandering daughter.

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