10 Things to Do in Seattle with Kids

Seattle seems to be designed so that the little ones can spend a unique vacation, enjoying every day a new activity where the main goal is to make them happy.

To help you a little bit with your agenda, I will tell you about some stops that I consider a must, such as interesting museums for kids and teens. There is a lot to do and see in Seattle as a family, so a good time is guaranteed.

Booking tickets to Woodland Park Zoo allows for a wonderful experience and allows children to get up close and personal with the animals. In addition, the keepers offer short informative talks and answer questions about the animals and their characteristics.

For children, a visit to the zoo is always an activity with a special charm. In the case of Woodland Park, they have the opportunity to feed the animals and, in some cases, even give them a pet and receive a funny gesture in return. But they will also learn about plants and butterflies, thanks to a specially dedicated area.

There are many activities offered by this visit, you just have to pay attention at the entrance to know the itinerary. Most of them are free, except for those indicated in the list displayed there.

Information of interest

• Location: West entrance 5500 Phinney Ave N, Seattle, WA 98103, United States. South entrance 750 N. 50th Street, Seattle, WA 98103.
• Hours: May-September 9:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. September through April from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Closed only on December 25.
• Entrance fee: about 25 euros.
• Travel time: a little more than 4 hours.
• Recommendation: it is especially advisable to visit it when visiting Seattle in summer because of the good weather.

Chocolate is one of the favorite sweets of children (and adults) and discovering where it comes from and how the magic happens that makes it come into our hands is quite an adventure. At the Theo Chocolate Factory you can learn all about the exquisite chocolate.

You will learn about the elaboration of the sweet and finally you can take a walk through the facilities during production. Before closing there is a delicious tasting to end a complete visit. For the little ones, the activity is accompanied by stories that include chocolate and fun adventures.

You can also sign up for a class to make your own chocolate bonbons. And if you visit the factory if you are in Seattle in October, it will have an extra special touch for Halloween. Plus, you can also book the chocolate tour of Seattle if you're left wanting more.

Interesting information

• Location: 3400 Phinney Ave N, Seattle, WA 98103, USA.
• Directions: Several bus and public transportation lines pass near the factory.
• Hours: 10:30 am to 6:00 pm.
• Cost of the tour: about 15 euros.
• Travel time: the tour lasts one hour.

Undoubtedly, these are two of the places that children will enjoy the most during a trip to Seattle. On the one hand, Space Needle is a symbol of the region, being a structure with 184 meters high with a viewpoint from which you have the best 360º panoramic view of the city. In addition, its futuristic design will impress children

Chihuly Garden and Glass, on the other hand, is a space created by artist Dale Chihuly just below the Space Needle. It has a total of 8 galleries, but the part that will please the little ones the most is its large garden and glass greenhouse. All in all, it's a space that can be enjoyed by young and old alike.

If you decide to include these two sites in your Seattle itinerary, I recommend booking a combined ticket to the Space Needle and Chihuly Garden and Glass to get a better price.

Walking around the city and wandering the streets is one of our favorite things to do as adults when we go sightseeing in any city. However, kids are not big fans and get bored quickly.

But in Seattle there is an option to keep everyone happy: download the self-guided treasure tour. All you need is a smartphone and a group of 2 to 5 family members or friends to enjoy it.

The tour consists of different tests that you have to pass while you walk around the city of Seattle and get to know its most important points. And if you are a large group of more than 5 people, you can split up and compete to see who gets the best score. I assure you that the little ones will really enjoy it.

The Seattle Aquarium is one of the most charming places in the city, ideal to enjoy with young and old alike. They will be able to discover curiosities and facts about life at the bottom of the sea, in an active and fun way.

In addition to exhibits of the various marine animals, including fish, invertebrates, mammals and birds that live in this habitat, the aquarium has touch pools where you can experience and touch stars, anemones and other species. You can even see how some animals feed!

You also can't miss the virtual swimming experience with humpback whales in the Family Activity Center, adjacent to the underwater dome habitat. This activity usually runs from 10:00 - 11:45 am and 1:00 - 5:15 pm daily.

Information of interest

• Location: 1483 Alaskan Way Pier 59, Seattle, WA 98101, USA.
• Hours: 9:30 am - 6:00 pm daily. Last access to group of visitors is at 5:00 p.m.
• Entrance fee: between 20 and 30 euros. The ticket will show an entrance time that must be respected punctually, and once inside, you can stay as long as you want.
• Tour time: about 1:30 to 2 hours.
• Recommendation: the museum has different climates according to the different areas, so it is recommended to dress in layers to better adapt to each one. It is also interesting to purchase tickets in advance.

Seattle Aquarium ticket tips

You can use a CityPass to get a better price. This is a special pass created by a U.S. company that puts together packages by city, where it includes tickets to the main attractions for a lower cost.

Kids will love the experience of climbing aboard a Boeing 737 and being able to touch with their own hands the real instruments and accessories once used by pilots throughout the history of aviation. In the Museum of Flight, the details are carefully thought out so that the whole family will have a great time.

Inside, hundreds of curiosities related to aviation, air transport and even space await you. Among the 175 airplanes, there will be some combat models of the First and Second World War, a glider, the first Boeing 747 and a MacCready Gossamer Albatross II of human propulsion.

Spacecraft won't be lacking either, starting with a realistic replica of the Orbiter space shuttle. And the best thing is that there are very good audio guides that are very useful for visitors who speak languages such as German, Japanese, Russian, Spanish and French.

Information of interest

• Location: 9404 East Marginal Way South, Seattle, WA, 98108-4046.
• Hours: Open daily from 10 am to 5 pm.
• Cost of admission: approximately 25 euros.
• Tour time: about 2 to 3 hours to fully enjoy the museum.

The Museum of Pop Culture is a colorful place where young and old can enjoy the best samples of this modern underworld. The themes are varied to suit all tastes, being especially entertaining for older children, teenagers and adults.

Within its walls you will find traveling exhibitions, so I recommend you keep an eye on the calendar. There are also permanent halls that are sure to delight everyone.

One of the most striking rooms is the Science Fiction and Fantasy room. There you will find interactive kiosks and more than 30 elements that are icons of the best movies of recent times such as Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Marvel, Alien, Dungeons and Dragons and much more.

Information of interest

• Location: 325 5th Avenue N in Seattle Center. Paid parking and a variety of public transportation routes, including the Seattle Center Monorail.
• Hours: 10:00 am to 5:00 pm.
• Entrance fee: 20 to 30 euros, depending on the exhibitions and dates selected for the museum visit.
• Travel time: just over 4 hours to tour the entire museum.

Artist at Play Playground is a large playground that offers the little ones all kinds of fun challenges, typical of the best playgrounds. It was designed by a number of artists who were inspired by the opinions of children who were interviewed about their ideas for their ideal space.

The result is this colorful plaza located between the Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP) and Seattle Center Armory. Admission is completely free and there are musical games, a large climbing tower, swings, a maze and a carousel, among many other attractions.

It is an ideal space for the little ones to run, jump and play to their heart's content, spilling all the energy that characterizes them. To avoid accidents, the floor is made of soft pavement and, for greater comfort, it also has free restrooms.

Information of interest

• Location: 305 Harrison St, Seattle, WA 98109, United States. Seattle Center.
• How to get there: Several bus routes and public transportation are available. Parking is also available nearby.
• Hours: Open from 6:00 am to 11:00 pm.

If by any chance you thought that a market is not exactly a fun stop for kids, it's because you haven't heard of Pike Place Market. It is a space located in the heart of the city, with a varied market that offers fresh products, mini-shops with curiosities and a lot of life and movement.

As for the little ones, the most charming stops are The Giant Shoe Museum, Market Magic, The Wall of Gum and the Golgen Age Collectibles Comics store, where they will also find figurines and interesting objects of their favorite superheroes.

Lunchtime is also ideal at Pike Place Market, especially if your children are lovers of macaroni and cheese. Beecher's Mac'n'cheese restaurant serves the best.

Information of Interest

• Location: 85 Pike St, Seattle, WA 98101, United States.
• Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., although some restaurants may open as early as 7:00 a.m. and offer breakfast, while others stay open until midnight. Closed only on Thanksgiving and Christmas.

The Seattle Children's Museum opened its doors in 1979 with just one exhibit. Today it offers more than 11 sections where children ages 6 months to 10 years can learn, explore and have fun.

Among the exhibits you will find simulations of markets, mountains, clinics and many other curiosities with which the little ones can interact. One of the most interesting spaces is dedicated to Native American cultures, a section where stories that tell their beliefs and experiences are represented.

It should be noted that the museum is designed primarily for children, but all ages are welcome to enjoy this space full of curiosities. Be sure to visit it especially if you are in Seattle at Christmas, because in this place the decor is a charm and the atmosphere of the museum is completely transformed.

Information of interest

• Location: 305 Harrison Street, Seattle, WA 98109, Seattle Center, under the Space Needle.
• **Good to know: Paid parking is available nearby and in the building itself. For public transportation, take bus routes 2, 48, or 8.
• Hours: 10:00 am to 5:00 pm Monday through Friday and 10:00 am to 6:00 pm Saturday and Sunday.
• Entrance fee: about 10 euros.

If your family likes climbing, the Stone Gardens is a must-see where you are guaranteed to have a great time.

In this climbing wall, the goal is to get as high as you can, but don't worry, there are climbing walls designed for children and adults, with all safety standards.

In addition to its indoor spaces, it also has an outdoor climbing wall, as well as a guided climbing course service for all levels. And if you and your family love the mountains, remember that you can book a trip to Mount Rainier from Seattle.

Useful information

• Location: 2839 NW Market St, Seattle, WA 98107, USA.
• Hours: Monday to Friday from 6:00 am to 10:00 pm. Saturdays from 8:00 am to 7:00 pm and Sundays from 8:00 am to 7:00 pm.

The Pinball Museum is a perfect place to share with the family and enjoy a different kind of afternoon. Inside this place you will find more than 50 arcade games, from the most modern to the vintage ones that gave birth to this generation.

For the price of admission you can use them as many times as you want, with no time limit. It is an ideal stop for children over 7 years old and teenagers, not to mention adults who love this type of games.

Inside the museum you can also buy snacks, drinks and even craft beers for adults. Can you ask for more for a perfect getaway?

Interesting information

• Location: 508 Maynard Ave S, Seattle, WA 98104, United States. The area has several parking lots nearby.
• Hours: Friday to Monday, 12:00 noon to 6:00 pm.
• Entrance fee: about 15 euros.