I might be biased but I can’t imagine a more family-friendly city than our city and there are so many things we can do in Seattle with kids. Here are some of the family-friendly places in Seattle that we love to visit. I put these in alphabetical order so it’s a hefty list-Eating out in Seattle with kids and family-friendly hotels are both pretty popular if you’re visiting the area and want to know where to eat with kids in tow
A-z places in Seattle with kids
Afternoon Tea-Cafe Flora, Queen Mary Tea Room
Airport! (We have an awesome airport in Seattle!)
this is also where we celebrated our guys’ first birthday. They have a bathhouse you can rent in advance. This made it easy to gather on the beach with family and friends. And we had it catered by the Husky Deli which is still one of our favorite places to go in the area. (especially their Coffee Oreo ice cream)
Argosy Cruises I don’t know why it took us forever to try these sightseeing cruises but we went on both the Locks Cruise and the Harbor Cruise and they are really fun (and as of June 2022 kids 3 years old and under were free with adult admission.)
The Farmer’s Market in Ballard is one of our favorites and this is a cool ever-changing neighborhood that we often frequent. Trader Joe’s in the Ballard Blocks is one of our usual stops.
Ballard Locks-it is incredible that a visit to the Ballard Locks is free. We love to watch the ships as they take a ride in the ‘elevator’
Bainbridge Island and maybe you might also want to bike there from Seattle. Or if you play soccer you might end up going there for a soccer game.
Bill and Melinda Gates Visitor Center
Best Bathrooms in Seattle with kids
Best Seattle Memberships for families who travel
Bus (and ride the ferry and take light rail and the monorail) for free!
Center for Wooden Boats in Seattle with kids
Easy drivable getaways from Seattle: Seabrook, Iron Springs Resort, Cannon Beach, a five day Olympic Peninsula Roadtrip idea, The Gorge, Suncadia, Leavenworth tiny homes, KOA in Astoria,
Ella Bailey Park (let the kids play and get a great view of the Seattle Skyline!)
the Park at Expedia along the Waterfront
Expedia Beach Park and where to park. This would be a great place to bring your bikes and park your car if you want to ride with kids. We used to do this when our guys were small except it wasn’t a covered parking lot at the time and now there are even more spots. This is steps away from the bike path along Seattle’s Waterfront and you can get all the way to the Olympic Sculpture Park without seeing a single car.
Imagine Children’s Museum in Everett
Kenmore Air- Take a flight to a destination or even take a scenic flight just for fun.
Mohai-the park nearby this museum is great for kids to run around (just watch out for geese poop) and you can also stop by the center for wooden boats too. South Lake Union restaurants are a short walk away. Getting a MOHAI Membership is also reciprocal with many museums across the United States so if you’re into travel you might want to get a membership here to support your local city museum and get free admission in other places.
MOPOP –the MOPOP Museum is also by one of the coolest playgrounds in Seattle, the Artists’ Playground as well as the Seattle Monorail, Children’s Museum and Space Needle. A current exhibit is Hidden Worlds and Minecraft is now touring somewhere else in the world.
A National Park in downtown Seattle you can visit-the Klondike GoldRush National Historic Park!
Nordic Museum– located in Seattle’s Ballard neighborhood, this museum is also close to the Locks and Golden Gardens.
Pike Place Market and the notorious Gum Wall
Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium
Salish Lodge and Snoqualmie Water Fall
Saving Money at Seattle Restaurants with kids with Kids Supper Club (this was a good idea but I don’t think they are doing this anymore.)
Seabrook – a roadtrip from Seattle with kids with awesome accommodations for families. This is one of our favorite places to stay.
Seattle Art Museum and the best membership level to get for families who travel
Secret Garden at Pike Place Market
Seattle Center: The Seattle Center has everything you could want if you’re traveling with kids. Good food in the Armory, the Children’s Museum (where we had the boys’ 4th birthday!), the Pacific Science Center, the EMP, the Space Needle, the Monorail and the Children’s Theatre.
Space Needle– the Space Needle recently underwent a multi-million dollar renovation and now even has the first rotating glass floor.
Snoqualmie Pass-year round outdoor adventures in the mountains about an hour from Seattle. Eat at the Commonwealth or Laconia Market and take a hike at Gold Creek Pond or bike through the Snoqualmie Tunnel.
Tacoma museums, including the Museum of Glass and the leMay Car Museum
Theo Chocolates- Seattle now has a few chocolate factories but Theo Chocolates was one of the first. Here are five other chocolate factories in Washington State that you can visit too.
Tutta Bella– the original kid-friendliest restaurant in the city. It now has multiple locations and even take home dinner ingredients too.
This is one of the coolest free parks in Seattle. It is affiliated with the Seattle Art Museum and in the summer months there are many free programs here as well. The sculptures in the park are fun to look at and if you have a bike you can make this as a part of a bike ride along the waterfront.
Whidbey Island -another great roadtrip idea from Seattle for families.
A Wind Farm- if you head east of Seattle you can even see a working Wind Farm.
Here’s where we want to go this summer in Seatle:
And here are some places where I’ve shouted some of our favorite places out some more:
Peek: My Perfect Day in Seattle
The World Is a Book: 5 fun and Free in Seattle
Kids on a Plane: Things to do with Kids in Seattle
Red Tricycle: Country Village (Country Village closed in 2019)
HI,
Just found your blog while searching for Life in Seattle with kids. There is a possibility that we move to the USA from India (our present location). SO i was checking out best cities to move in with 2 children – 10 year girl and 5.5 year boy.
May be your blog is a good place for me to find some answers.
Though my brother n his family are in NYC, I dont want to be there as its too noisy, rushed up, etc.
Want a more peaceful, beautiful, lots of adventure & extra curricular activities, good libraries, museums, parks, etc kind of place. I love photography n wish to have my cafe in future. Me n my daughter are vegetarians. And we believe in organic/farm fresh eating. SO, please do give your inputs.
Many thanx,
Love,
Anuja
I’m a little biased but I do think it’s a lovely place for families. There are so many neat things to do. You can have city kids and raise chickens if you want to. There are good schools and so many neat things to do and it feels like there are always new places to explore. I am really thankful we live here:)
Try the Boeing Museum of Flight with kids–it’s great!
We visited Seattle recently with our little ones, and loved it. Looking forward to heading back this summer!
Can’t wait to hear what you love when you come back:). Summer time in Seattle is perfect!