Seattle’s a fantastic place to visit with teenagers. It’s a big city that’s packed with Pacific Northwest quirkiness and charm.
We used a recent three day holiday weekend as the opportunity for a mother-daughter road trip to Seattle. The trip reminded me that you don’t have to go far, or use a bunch of precious paid vacation days, to make memories with your kids.
Want to make the most of a short weekend? Here are a few fun things we did on our girls getaway:
Stay Downtown
Our first bit of advice is to book yourself at a centrally located hotel in downtown. We checked into Hotel Theodore (1531 7th Avenue) which fit the bill for what we wanted: comfort and convenience.
Hotel Theodore’s a boutique hotel in the heart of downtown. The rooms are updated and spacious. The hotel has a vintage vibe, but with all the modern amenities.
Attractions like the Seattle Art Museum, the Seattle Aquarium, and Pike Place Market are within walking distance. Hotel Theodore’s also just a few blocks from the Westlake Center monorail stop, making it easy to get to Seattle Center. I highly recommend parking your car for the weekend and getting around by foot, monorail, or Lyft. You can also borrow a bike from the hotel.
Explore Pike Place Market
Beloved by locals and tourists alike, we always stop at Pike Place Market (85 Pike Street). It’s the perfect place to get a quick bite. While there are delicious sit down restaurants, you’ll also find many food stands and counter service locations. Sometimes our family chooses to eat at the same place, but often times we split up allowing everyone to eat what they want.
Of course, there’s plenty of shopping at Pike Place Market, too. We like to buy fresh flowers and food souvenirs here, but you’ll also find local arts, clothing and more.
KidTripster Tip: The famous gum wall is located next to Pike Place Market. Signs inside the market will point the way. As gross as it is, my kids always want to stick a piece of gum to the wall.
Take a Food Tour
Seattle has a superb food scene. It can be overwhelming to figure out just where to eat. For that reason, we recommend joining a food tour to sample some of the best of the city.
Local chefs lead the Eat Seattle food tours. There are a couple of different tours available including the Market Tour of Pike Place and Street Foods of South Lake Union. We had so much fun doing the tour of Pike Place Market, that on our subsequent Seattle trip we joined the South Lake Union tour. Both were very different and lots of fun. You’ll get hearty samples at each stop and leave with full bellies.
[ Related: 8 Fun Things To Do in Seattle ]
Step Inside the Spheres
The Spheres (2111 7th Avenue) is a sprawling indoor greenhouse in the middle of downtown. It houses more than 40,000 plants from over 30 countries. The green space is a calming respite from the bustle of the city.
The spheres first opened in January 2018. Typically only accessible to Amazon employees, the company opens the spheres to the public on the first and third Saturday of each month. The spheres are free to visit and reservations open 15 days in advance.
KidTripster Tip: The community banana stand sits just outside the spheres near Amazon’s Seattle headquarters. It offers free bananas to anyone who wants one.
DIY a Souvenir
Souvenir shopping is one thing, but souvenir making is something else. At Elm Candle Bar (910 E Pike Street), you can craft your own candle. If you have a teen who’s into scents and/or crafts, this is a really fun experience.
If you’re not super crafty, no worries. It’s very easy! You’ll start by deciding which product you want to make. Choices include candles, diffusers, and room sprays. Then you’ll peruse the wall of scents to pick your favorites. Once you’ve gathered your list, you’ll head to the bar where a scent expert will help you curate the perfect aromatic combination. The next steps include mixing the perfume oils, then mixing it into hot wax.
The entire experience lasts about an hour. The cost depends on what you make, but ranges from $30-50.
Get Caffeinated
There are plenty of places in Seattle to get caffeinated. It is after all the birthplace of Starbucks. Fans of Starbucks will want to check out the Seattle Roastery (124 Pike Street). There are just three Starbucks Reserve Roastery locations in the U.S., and only six in the the world. The first one opened in Seattle. It’s a massive space with unique food and beverage offerings. Visitors can sign up for tastings and tours. And of course, there’s a huge shop.
KidTripster Tip: The original Starbucks (1912 Pike Place) is another favorite tourist stop in Seattle. You’ll find it at Pike Place Market. This location opened in 1971. It’s popular with tourists, expect to see a line out the door.
See the City From Above
The Emerald City truly sparkles from 605 feet above. We recommend that everyone take the elevator to the top of the Space Needle (400 Broad Street) to see for themselves.
The Space Needle’s a worldwide icon, built for the 1962 World’s Fair. It offers panoramic views of the city from an outdoor and indoor deck. The Loupe is the world’s first (and only!) rotating glass floor.
The cost of entry starts at $35 for adults and $26 for kids depending on the day or time of your visit. As you approach the elevator, check out the photo timeline of the project displayed on the walls of the entry queue.
KidTripster Tip: Be sure to take advantage of the free photo opportunities at the Space Needle. You’ll be offered a photo just before you go up the elevator. There are also selfie cameras positioned around the observation decks. The photos are free to download.
Go Museum Hopping
Seattle has a wide variety of museums ranging from art to aerospace and more. It may be hard to pick just one, so explore a few of them. You can find several museums conveniently located around Seattle Center. We especially enjoy the gorgeous Chihuly Garden and Glass.
February’s an ideal time to visit Seattle. During Seattle Museum Month in February, guests who spend the night at a participating downtown hotel receive half-price admission to more than 20 of the region’s top museums – including the Woodland Park Zoo and the Seattle Aquarium. The museum pass is good for the entire month, for up to four people.
[ Related: Seattle Museum Month is a Great Day for Families ]
The author was a guest of Visit Seattle for the purposes of this article. All opinions are her own.
