Planning a vacation to Seattle, and wondering about things to do in Seattle with kids? Well, look no further! My family and I recently traveled to Seattle and found a few fabulous things to do in Seattle with kids which are sure to be a hit with your family too!
Seattle is a really fun city filled with history, a chill vibe, and a family-friendly atmosphere. We found the activities, and the people, to be friendly and welcoming. This is a great trip to plan as a family! Without further ado, here are the activities my kids loved; and us adults enjoyed too!
Things to do in Seattle with Kids: Argosy Cruises
We took a 1 hour cruise with Argosy Cruise Line. They have several types of cruises available, at varying time lengths. We found the one hour cruise to be perfect with kids. Anything longer, and they may have grown restless. The kids enjoyed being on a boat and taking a tour; but they did get tired, so one hour was perfect. You can get advance tickets here.
Things to do in Seattle with Kids:
Chihuly Garden and Glass
My middle child is very artistic, and really wanted to check out the Chihuly Garden and Glass. I was a little bit concerned that my other two children would find it boring, but I was wrong! All three of my kids thought the glass sculptures were really cool, and they enjoyed seeing both the indoor and outdoor portions of the exhibit.
There is a cafe attached to Chihuly, but understand it is on the pricey side; although the food is good. If you are looking for more affordable food, there is a food court across from the cafe, and there are also a handful of food carts. You can find advance tickets for Chihuly Garden and Glass online here.
Things to do in Seattle with Kids:
Museum of Pop Culture
My kids don’t normally enjoy museums, so I was a little bit concerned when we purchased five tickets to the Museum of Pop Culture. I was pleasantly pleased to find they had a special exhibit for Marvel, which we eagerly purchased the extra tickets for. My kids loved the Marvel exhibit, as well as the other exhibits in the museum. Above you will see a smashed guitar from a Nirvana performance, and Jimmi Hendrix’s carry-on bag. There was something for the whole family at the Museum of Pop Culture-loved it! You can find advance tickets online here.
Things to do in Seattle with Kids:
Klondike Gold Rush Museum
The Klondike Gold Rush Museum in Seattle is both educational and fun! Plus, it’s free because it is run by the National park Service. Love that!
Being from California, my kids already know about the gold rush, so it was fun for them to learn a little more then what they learned in school. They enjoyed seeing the exhibits and also watching a movie onsite about Seattle’s part in the Klondike gold rush. This is a must-see when visiting Seattle with kids. It’s great to see your children learn history, and have fun while doing it. Plus, it’s free! Yay! You can learn more online here.
Things to do in Seattle with Kids:
Seattle Great Wheel
The Seattle Great Wheel is a lot of fun. It goes around roughly three times, and you can see a beautiful view of Seattle from the top. It is a bit pricey for what you get; so if it doesn’t fit your budget, it’s something you can skip. On the pier, there is also a carousel and a few boardwalk-style games which are great for keeping the kids busy. You can learn more about the Great Wheel online here.
Things to do in Seattle with Kids:
Bill Speidel’s Undergound Tour
Bill Speidel’s Underground Tour was so much fun! My kids loved learning about Seattle history and going underneath the sidewalks to explore Seattle’s past and present. Our tour guide was entertaining and kept our kids interested. They learned a lot about the local history and had fun while doing it! It’s the first thing they tell their friends about when talking about their trip to Seattle. This is a must-see!
With kids, I recommend going in the morning and getting in one of the first tours of the day. There will be less people in the group and you can see everything without sorting through a large group. It’s easier to be in a small group with kids too. This was our favorite activity during our trip. Be sure to check it out, it’s worth every dime! You can learn more online here.
Things to do in Seattle with Kids:
Seattle Space Needle
The Seattle Space Needle is an iconic monument to see while in Seattle. You can see all of Seattle from the top, and my kids thought it was really cool. If you have small children, keep in mind that the lines are long, so try to go when they open in the morning. Also, it can be pricey, so using the Seattle City Pass might be a good idea. You can find one online here.
Seattle also has a zoo, and a Museum of Flight. We missed those attractions on our trip, but I have heard they are good too.
The Seattle City Pass is a great, money saving option if you plan to see multiple locations on this list. You can learn more about it online here.
These were our favorite things to do in Seattle with kids during our recent trip. Check out our favorite, family-friendly restaurants here. If you have family-friendly recommendations, feel free to leave them in the comments below!
Thanks for stopping by, and safe travels!
XOXO
Cathy
