The best activities for adventure-loving families visiting this Pacific Northwest city
In a city surrounded by water, mountains, forests, and parks, Seattle is an outdoor-loving family’s dream. Add a little art and history, a couple of iconic landmarks, and of course, some high-flying fun, and you’ll quickly learn that one visit here is simply not enough.
KidTripster Tip: Seattle offers a CityPASS, providing 45% savings on admission to five of Seattle’s top attractions: Space Needle, Seattle Aquarium, Argosy Cruises Harbor Tour, Pacific Science Center or Chihuly Garden & Glass, and MoPOP or Woodland Park Zoo. The pass is valid for 9 days.
1. Argosy Locks Cruise
1101 Alaskan Way, Pier 55
Take in the city and all its sights as you travel between saltwater and freshwater aboard an Argosy Locks Cruise. This 2-1/2-hour, narrated tour features Elliott Bay, Lake Washington, and Lake Union. No locks cruise is complete without a trip through the Chittenden Locks, where you’ll experience firsthand the rise or fall – depending on the tide – of the Puget Sound. With a snack bar on board, you and your family can sit back and enjoy. Cost: Youth (3 & under) Free; Youth (4-12) $20; Adult $44; reserve a boat tour in advance online at least one day in advance to get a discount.
2. Bill Speidel’s Underground Tour
614 1st Ave., Pioneer Square
There’s more to Seattle than meets the eye. I suggest going underground. Bill Speidel’s Underground Tour is 75 minutes of entertainment and a little lesson in Seattle history as you explore storefronts and sidewalks buried when the city was rebuilt following the Great Fire of 1889. Cost: Youth (6 & under) Free; Youth (7-12) $10; Youth (13-17) $20; Adult $22.
KidTripster Tip: While kids under 6 years old are free, the guided tour may challenging for little ones’ short attention spans.
3. Safeco Field Tour
1250 1st Ave. S, SoDo (south of downtown)
Get a behind the scenes – or as they say, “behind the seams,” look at one of the premier baseball facilities ever built – Safeco Field, home of the Seattle Mariners. Visitors get access to areas usually closed to the public including the press box, owner’s suite, visitors’ clubhouse, dugouts, and more. The ballpark features a retractable roof and real grass field. Tours usually last a little more than an hour; strollers are welcome. Cost: Youth (3 & under) Free; Youth (4 & up) $10; Adult $12.
KidTripster Tip: Directly across from Safeco Field is Pyramid Alehouse, a great place to catch a pre-game appetizer and beer.
4. Wings Over Washington
1301 Alaskan Way, Pier 57
From Olympic National Park to Mt. Rainer and the San Juan Islands to Snoqualmie Falls, there’s no easier way to take in the state’s most scenic sights than with a seat on Wings Over Washington. This “flying theater” takes you and your family on an aerial adventure. The ride is located in one of the most state-of-the-art theaters in the world. The whole experience lasts about 15 minutes. While reservations are not accepted, the average wait time is usually only 10 to 15 minutes. There is a slight roller coaster-feel to the ride – something to consider if you’re prone to motion sickness. Cost: Youth (11 & under) $13; Adult $17; kids must be 42 inches tall to ride.
KidTripster Tip: This attraction is probably best suited to ages 5 and 12. Your teenager likely won’t be impressed.
Right next to Wings Over Washington, you’ll find the Seattle Great Wheel. The 12-minute ride extends 40 feet over Elliott Bay, providing amazing views of the Seattle waterfront and skyline. Cost: Youth (2 & under) Free; Youth (3-11) $11; Adult $16.
Both attractions sit along Seattle’s waterfront, which has a very touristy vibe, similar to San Francisco’s Fisherman’s Wharf.
5. Future of Flight Aviation Center
8415 Paine Field Blvd., Mukilteo
About 25 minutes north of downtown Seattle, you’ll find the Future of Flight Aviation Center which is the starting point for the 90-minute Boeing Factory Tour. This factory is the only place in North America where you can see jets being assembled. After you take this tour, you’ll never look at air travel in the same way! It’s truly fascinating. Kids need to be at least 4 feet tall to take the tour; parents aren’t allowed to carry kids. Tour and Aerospace Gallery cost: Youth (15 & under) $15; Adult $25; book in advance online.
KidTripster Tip: To see the most action on the factory floor, I’d recommend reserving the first tour at 9 a.m.
If you have a child who’s really into aviation, you also may want to check out the Museum of Flight, home of one of the largest air and space collections in the USA, near Boeing Field.
6. Fremont Troll
Troll Ave. N, under the Aurora Bridge, Fremont Neighborhood
It’s true, not all trolls have rainbow hair and love to sing and dance, especially the one that you’ll find sitting underneath the Aurora Bridge. The Fremont Troll is a must-see sculpture for kids and kids-at-heart. It’s hard not to pose for a picture with this stone-cold statue. The 18-foot-tall troll is made from steel, wire, and two tons of concrete. Inspired by the Norwegian fairy tale Three Billy Goats Gruff, it took four local artists about seven weeks to complete. Don’t fret, this troll won’t “gobble you up.” Cost: Free.
7. iFly Indoor Skydiving Seattle
349 Tukwila Pkwy., Tukwila
Yes, you can fly! Head to iFly Indoor Skydiving in Tukwila, just south of Seattle. The whole family (ages 3 and up) can don flight suits, helmets, and goggles. After a brief orientation, you’ll step one at a time into a wind tunnel with a professional instructor. Yes, it’s a bit pricey for two, 1-minute flights, but it’s cheaper than real skydiving! Cost: $70/person; family package (10 flights between 5 people, plus video) $300; reserve times online in advance.
8. Savor Seattle Food & Cultural Tour
Pike Place Market
It’s all in the name! The Savor Seattle Food & Cultural Tour offers visitors a great way to see the Pike Place and taste test some delicious local fare, all while learning about the market’s fascinating history. The tour starts at Seattle’s infamous Gum Wall in Post Alley. The entertaining tour guide leads you through the market, stopping to eat at seven hot spots. Be sure to come hungry!
The official tour is 2 hours long. Strollers aren’t recommended due to tight spaces and cobblestone walkways; it’s better suited to older kids who don’t mind walking.
Following the tour, Savor Seattle provides a discount card, good for a number of restaurants and shops in the market. Cost: Starts at $44/person; children (2 & under) who won’t be eating don’t need a ticket.
KidTripster Tip: Are you a chocoholic? Consider the Chocolate Indulgence Tour.
9. Museum of History & Industry
860 Terry Ave. N, South Lake Union
Explore all the wonders and interactive exhibits that the Museum of History and Industry has to offer. Situated on the water in Seattle’s South Lake Union neighborhood, MOHAI maintains a collection of nearly four million artifacts, photographs, and materials focused on the history of Seattle and the greater Puget Sound Region. Cost: Youth (14 & under) Free; Student $17; Adult $22.
Directly in front of MOHAI, you’ll see the Center for Wooden Boats, a museum dedicated to preserving and documenting the maritime history of the Pacific Northwest. CWB also provides sail, paddle, and rowboat rentals to get out and enjoy Lake Union.
10. Seattle Center
350 Harrison St., Downtown
A family could easily spend a day or two exploring all that the Seattle Center has to offer. From downtown, just hop on the easy-to-use monorail to get here.
Right next door, you’ll find Seattle’s most iconic landmark, the Space Needle. Take the 41-second ride up 520 feet to the observation deck, where you’ll enjoy 360-degree views through floor-to-ceiling windows. The Needle recently received a $100-million “space lift.” Part of the observation area now has a glass, rotating floor, allowing you to see all the way to the ground below. Cost: Youth (4 & under) Free; Youth (5-12) $24.50-28.50; Adult $32.50-37.50.
KidTripster Tip: Take advantage of the new, designated selfie stations around the observation decks. Complimentary photos will be emailed to you.
Near the Space Needle, explore Artists at Play, an imaginative playground created by artists, offering free outdoor climbing, swinging, and sliding fun.
One of my favorite art museums, Chihuly Garden and Glass is situated at the base of the Space Needle. Despite its breakable-sounding name, it’s a fantastic spot for kids. Home to the largest collection of glass art by Washington native Dale Chihuly, the eye-popping galleries are absolutely stunning, especially the 40-foot-tall Glasshouse with its suspended flower blossoms. Cost: Youth (4 & under) Free; Youth (5-12) $17; Adult $26.
KidTripster Tip: The Glasshouse is sometimes closed for special events. Check the website in advance, as it’s something that you won’t want to miss.
KidTripster Tip: You can play a free audio tour from your cell phone while you walk through the exhibits. Remember to bring your own earbuds or headphones.
KidTripster Tip: Professional photographers are stationed in the SeaLife Room and Glasshouse to take free photos of your family. You simply stop at a kiosk on your way out and email them to yourself. The photos make a nice souvenir.
A place where kids can be kids, the Pacific Science Center offers hands-on fun for all ages. Among the main attractions, you’ll find the Tropical Butterfly House and IMAX Theater. Cost: Youth (2 & under) Free; Youth (3-5) $14; Youth (6-15) $18; Adult $24.
MoPop, or the Museum of Popular Culture, may look enticing from the outside with its avant garde facade, but inside, it’s an acquired taste. To really enjoy this center, you need to be a fan on Pacific Northwest bands Nirvana or Pearl Jam or have a special interest in magic, horror movies, science fiction or early video games. I frankly found the exhibits to be dated in their presentations and not nearly as interactive as I had hoped. The most engaging section of the museum is the Sound Lab, where you and your kids can play keyboards, guitars, and drum sets. But the area can be very busy, and you often have to wait for your opportunity to jam. Online ticket cost: Youth (4 & under) Free; Youth (5-17) $17; Student (with ID) $23; Adult $26.
For families looking to take in a little theater while visiting the city, look no further than the Seattle Children’s Theatre. Performances are every Friday through Sunday in both the afternoons and evenings. SCT usually has two plays happening at the same time to accommodate various ages. The main stage season runs from September through June. Cost: Tickets start at $20/person.
KidTripster Tip: You can purchase a combo ticket for the Space Needle and Chihuly. Cost: Youth (4 & under) Free; Youth (5-12) $36; Adult $49. Or consider a Seattle Center 4-Pack or Seattle CityPASS for further discounts.
For Seattle’s Top 10 Stays, click here.
For Seattle’s Top 10 Eats, click here.
Nothing says Seattle quite like a ferryboat. So when Kiersten Throndsen and her fiancé found out that you could get married on a permanently moored ferry with the Seattle skyline as the backdrop, they both said “I do!” Now they live in the area with their two daughters.
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