Fun things to do in Seattle with kids!

Photo via Pixabay by Chuck Reisinger Family vacations are fun, but sometimes it’s hard to find a destination that pleases everyone. In Seattle, the city is full of kid-friendly and family oriented adventures.

The Seattle Aquarium

Recently refurbished, the aquarium is tucked along Seattle’s waterfront and makes for a 90 minutes to 2-hour stop. Kids can touch starfish and sea anemones. Scuba divers swim around the large tank and have show-and-tell with all the marine life. This is a truly enjoyable experience for everyone in the family, and is sure to make some long-lasting memories for your children.

Museums

The city has a slew of great museums. You and your kids will be looking in all directions at The Museum of Flight. Once nicknamed “Jet City,” Seattle has a showcase of airplanes spanning the first 100+ years of flight. Some of the most impressive planes include the first 747 ever built, the original Air Force One, fighters, and bombers. The Pacific Science Center has engaging exhibits like the Tropical Butterfly House and an IMAX theater. If you’re looking for a place for your kids to burn off some energy, take them to the Seattle Children’s Museum, where they can play pretend on the indoor playground. Musical families might enjoy the Experience Music Project, or if you’re more of a movie-going family, check out the Science Fiction Museum to view Star Trek souvenirs, Star Wars artifacts, and scenes from your favorite Sci-Fi movies and books.

The Underground

See the sights of Seattle’s hidden level down beneath Pioneer Square. Wind your way through the maze of buried alleys and storefronts that were once on the surface of the busy streets. This is a great activity if you want to brush up on some of the city’s history.

Ferris Wheel

Not everyone is a fan of heights, but you will get some of the best views of the waterfront and Elliott Bay at the top of the Seattle Great Wheel. The gondolas are fully enclosed and can hold up to 8 people.

Seattle Children’s Theatre

You must take in a show at the Seattle Children’s Theatre. This playhouse has performances that are entertaining for both kids and adults. On queue for the 2016 and 2017 season include:

• The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
• Stellaluna
• The Snowy Day and Other Stories by Ezra Jack Keats
• Into the West
• Seedfolks
• Fire Station 7

Food-Based Tours

Tours are great, but adding food to the mix is even better, especially when it’s a sweet treat! Take a boat ride around Lake Union (only on Sundays) and see some floating homes and Dale Chihuly’s glass studio while slurping on some ice cream. Live in the world of Willy Wonka and Charlie Bucket by touring the working chocolate factory in the Fremont neighborhood. Observe a presentation on the bean-to-bar process, walk through the manufacturing area, and munch on some of the free samples along the way.

Indoor Escapades

Seattle gets an average of 822 hours of measurable rain a year, which amounts to about 3 days a week. So if you’re not equipped with an umbrella or some heavy duty rain boots, you may want to check out some of these fun outdoor-made-indoor places:

• Traxx Indoor Kart Racing: There is a big track for older kids, or there is a smaller, slower track for the young ones
• Seattle Gymnastics Academy: Complete with a foam pit, rope swing, and trampoline (for kids 5 and under)
• iFly Indoor Skydiving
• SkyMania Trampolines
• Gameworks: 2 level arcade with old classics and new video games
• Vertical World: Indoor climbing gym

Good Eats

Here are some good hole-in-the-wall restaurants for even your pickiest eaters:

• Pizza: Tutta Bella
• Hamburgers: Red Mill or Woody’s
• Donuts: Top Pot Doughnuts or Daily Dozen Doughnuts
• Cafés (with playrooms): Mosaic Coffee House, Firehouse Coffee, Wunderkind Café, Vios Café, or Serendipity Café

So let's go and have that Seattle adventure with the family - there is SO much to do, you will find yourself going back again...and again...and again!