It's impossible to explain all the little parks, beaches, and kid hangouts in Seattle, but here are the top ones. Kids under 12 years old will like the zoo, the aquarium, and the Seattle Center. Kids under 5 or 6 years old will definitely like the Children's Museum. Teens will like exploring the Seattle Center if they have a little money, a pal, and some autonomy.
Seattle Children’s museum
Any parent with little kids (up to around 5-6 years old) will love having a safe space where antsy kids can run around and freely play with toys, fake food, little playhouses, dress-up clothes, and arts and crafts goodies.
The Seattle Children's Museum is at the Seattle Center (area just north of downtown hotels). The Space Needle is, also, at the Seattle Center, so it's easy to find when walking. If nobody wants to do the walk, take the monorail. Highlights of the Seattle Children's Museum:
The Children's Museum is in the basement of the Center House. If traveling with children of different ages, mom can take the squirts to the Children's Museum, dad can take the elementary / middle schoolers somewhere else, and teens who are ok on their own (with a pal or two) will like exploring the Seattle Center.
At the Seattle Center:
The Seattle Aquarium
The Seattle Aquarium is on the waterfront, within walking distance of most hotels, and it has good exhibits of sea life found in Pacific Northwest waters. They have a cool "touch tank", with starfish, sea urchins, and slimy anemones; and great exhibits of:
The aquarium is just below the Pike Place Market. Teens will like exploring The Market, but take squirmy youngsters down to the waterfront aquarium. Bring jackets. It can be cold on the water.
The Seattle Zoo
Seattle’s Woodland Park Zoo is several miles from downtown. Visitors can get there by car or bus (bus system is good), and it’s a great place, even for adults; plus it's quite educational. They have fabulous habitats for the animals (gorillas and lions come to mind) so these gorgeous creatures are not too “caged in”. (It looks like the lions can get at the giraffes, but they can't.) Ask zoo volunteers which animals to see at different feeding times.
Woodland Park Zoo Highlights:
Two or more teenagers will like roaming the zoo on their own.
Free Activities
If it’s too nice to stay inside, but the family is looking for free places to wander, try one of these trails for walking, biking, or rollerblading:
Seattle is a fabulous place for kids. And, it’s a great place to raise a family because the area is filled with Microsofties, Amazon employees, and other people who have fled overcrowded metropolises and resettled here to raise their children.
Author Sunil S.
Seattle Children’s museum
Any parent with little kids (up to around 5-6 years old) will love having a safe space where antsy kids can run around and freely play with toys, fake food, little playhouses, dress-up clothes, and arts and crafts goodies.
The Seattle Children's Museum is at the Seattle Center (area just north of downtown hotels). The Space Needle is, also, at the Seattle Center, so it's easy to find when walking. If nobody wants to do the walk, take the monorail. Highlights of the Seattle Children's Museum:
- Global Village: They have little shops and playhouses representing Ghana, the Philippines, and Japan. One of the all-time-kiddie-favorites is the “grocery store” with little shopping carts and a “checkout counter” to scan fake food.
- Discovery Room: A “toddlers only” area with climbing structures and a water-play table with toys.
- Arts and Crafts Room: This is a hit for older kiddies. They can draw or paint, play with clay, or build a “recycled material" sculpture.
- A Stage: Kids can dress up and put on their own plays.
- A little fake mountain for climbing: Boys love this.
The Children's Museum is in the basement of the Center House. If traveling with children of different ages, mom can take the squirts to the Children's Museum, dad can take the elementary / middle schoolers somewhere else, and teens who are ok on their own (with a pal or two) will like exploring the Seattle Center.
At the Seattle Center:
- Food Court: Same building as the Children's Museum. Family-friendly fast food (some is edible) and yummy caramel apples.
- International Fountain: If it's hot, this is a great place for older kids and (some) teenagers. It is a huge music-blasting fountain that shoots water in somewhat random patterns. The game is to go down to the fountain and run around without getting wet (impossible). It's, also, a good place to hang out and eat junk food (in cooler weather).
- Space Needle: Best for older kids and teens. It's a tourist trap so eat at the Center House (or McDonalds across from Space Needle).
- Science Center: This can be hit or miss depending on current exhibits. The Butterfly House is great. So is the IMAX.
- Experience Music Project: Hip for teenagers.
The Seattle Aquarium
The Seattle Aquarium is on the waterfront, within walking distance of most hotels, and it has good exhibits of sea life found in Pacific Northwest waters. They have a cool "touch tank", with starfish, sea urchins, and slimy anemones; and great exhibits of:
- Puget Sound fish (current feeding time in the dome - 1:30pm)
- Small Fry Salmon
- Graceful seals (see them underwater)
- Silly sea otters
The aquarium is just below the Pike Place Market. Teens will like exploring The Market, but take squirmy youngsters down to the waterfront aquarium. Bring jackets. It can be cold on the water.
The Seattle Zoo
Seattle’s Woodland Park Zoo is several miles from downtown. Visitors can get there by car or bus (bus system is good), and it’s a great place, even for adults; plus it's quite educational. They have fabulous habitats for the animals (gorillas and lions come to mind) so these gorgeous creatures are not too “caged in”. (It looks like the lions can get at the giraffes, but they can't.) Ask zoo volunteers which animals to see at different feeding times.
Music for Kids from Around the Globe
Life and Music of Tito Puente - King of Latin Music
Woodland Park Zoo Highlights:
- Gorillas
- Elephant House
- Tropical Rainforest Dome
- Petting Farm (summer)
- Willawong Station (cool birds)
- Raptor Shows
- Hippos
- Zoomazium for little kids - indoor playground
Two or more teenagers will like roaming the zoo on their own.
Free Activities
If it’s too nice to stay inside, but the family is looking for free places to wander, try one of these trails for walking, biking, or rollerblading:
- Greenlake (near zoo)
- Alki Beach (West Seattle - take pedestrian ferry)
- Burke-Gilman Bike Trail (near Gasworks Park)
- Olympic Sculpture Park and Elliot Bay Trail (northern edge of Seattle Waterfront)
Seattle is a fabulous place for kids. And, it’s a great place to raise a family because the area is filled with Microsofties, Amazon employees, and other people who have fled overcrowded metropolises and resettled here to raise their children.
Author Sunil S.
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