Things to do in Seattle with Kids

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On a recent trip to the Pacific Northwest, we found ourselves with a full day in Seattle. There were so many things to see there that we could have spent months and months exploring the city. However, with only a few days we found a few kid-friendly spots that our boys really enjoyed. Use our guide below to learn more about family-friendly things to do in Seattle with kids.

We loved our view of Seattle from the whale watching boat.

Pike Place Market

Seattle has a wonder waterfront! There are dozens of shops filled with bright flowers, delicious food, and plenty of souvenirs. We spent a few hours just walking around. We even found the famous flying fish at the Pike Place Fish Market and tried the “best clam chowder in the world” at a small shop called Pike Place Chowder. It really was delicious!

Pike Place Market is an awesome place to explore.
There are tons of shops, but make sure to find the “flying fish.”
Seriously the best clam chowder that I have ever had.

The Gum Wall is located right near the Fish Market. You have to venture down below and into a narrow alley, but it is easy to find. We’re just not sure why so many people want to see so much chewed up gum!

Also near Pike Place Market is the Seattle Aquarium and the Seattle Great Wheel. We looked at these two spots from afar, but with only one day, we were only able to look.

Yes, it’s a wall covered in gum.
The Seattle Great Wheel and Seattle Aquarium are right next to Pike Place Market.

Ballard Locks

One of the most interesting and inexpensive things we did in Seattle was visit the Hiram M. Chittenden Ballard Locks. We only paid a few bucks for parking, and we got to stroll the botanical gardens, watch the locks in operation, view the salmon above and below the water, and complete the Junior Ranger program. We spent 2-3 hours at the Locks.

Ballard Locks is a free adventure.

The Space Needle

The Space Needle is expensive, but it was one of the most memorable things we did in Seattle. Standing on the glass floor and looking down was even more exciting than looking out over the city of Seattle. If this is your first trip to Seattle, definitely splurge on this destination.

The Space Needle is such a unique tower.

The Space Needle is located in the Seattle Center. There is a lot to do downtown and you could easily spend the day. Here are a few other things located near the Space Needle.

The Seattle Center has a ton to do, as well as a fun play area.

Seattle Mariners Game

There is nothing quite like going to a baseball game. The park in Seattle is beautiful and modern, and we felt safe the entire time we were there. Parking was expensive, but the ticket price wasn’t bad at all. You’ll find us at a baseball game in every city we visit!

We love going to a baseball game as a family.

Whale Watching

Seattle has a lot of different whale watching tours, but the best news is that you can see orcas year round. We were there when other whales weren’t really around, but we were able to see a lot of orcas, as well as some small porpoises. We used the company Puget Sound Express, and we enjoyed our tour, but we chose them base on their departure times. There are many companies to choose from. If you have the time and don’t mind the expense, a whale watching tour in Puget Sound is a lot of fun!

I wished I had been on the research boat!
Watching the orcas swim through Puget Sound was one of the highlights of our time in Seattle.

National Parks

We also took some time to drive out to the 3 National Parks that are near Seattle. They were all amazing. So if you have the time to explore, check out:

A visit to Mount Rainier is worth the drive.

We did not have enough time to explore the amazing city of Seattle as much as we wanted, so we can not wait to go back. It is a beautiful, fun city. We were impressed with the amount of family-friendly things to do in Seattle, Washington.

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This Post Has 3 Comments

  1. Erin

    Hi! Lifelong Seattleite here. Glad you got to visit our beautiful city! I found your blog while planning our upcoming trip to the Utah NPs and just wanted to say THANKS for all the great information!

    1. Natalie Ockey

      Thank you for leaving such a nice comment! We loved Seattle and can’t wait to visit again. Let us know if you have any questions about visiting Utah.

  2. Beth

    When we visited in 2019, we went to the Pacific Science Center (our Thanksgiving Point pass got us in for free; not sure if that’s still the case) while in Seattle. It was REALLY cool! Right by the Space Needle.