Fondly called the Emerald City, Seattle is a bright spot for families with kids. Seattle is one of the largest and most densely populated cities in the United States. It is surrounded by mountains and bodies of water which gives Seattle a welcoming vibe. Families travelling to and those living in Seattle won’t find it difficult to get to know the city and all the adventures waiting for them. Seattle is filled with things to explore even with the kids in tow. We’re telling you as early as now that going to Seattle for the weekend or trying to discover new attractions in the city won’t pose as a challenge for parents like yourself. Large aquariums, special museums, campsites, beaches, amusement parks, shopping centers, indoor play places, parks, zoos, and fountains are just a few places you can take the kids to while in the Emerald City. And don’t worry about the rain (it rains a lot in Seattle) because most entertainment centers for children are located indoors. Catch our drift? In Seattle, there’s no worries about where to treat your kids for some fun over the weekend or in summer breaks. From nature trips to adventure rides, Seattle has it all. To help you out, we have rounded up the best things to do in Seattle with kids.
Cost: $59.44
Wait, what? Did you just say chocolates? Yes! In Seattle, your kids can join a Chocolate Indulgence Tour. Sounds sweet and exciting, right? To start your day filled with amusement in Seattle, take the kids to Pine Street in Seattle and book a Chocolate Tour for them. There are a bunch of places which offer this kind of tour in Seattle, but on top of our list of recommendations is the Savor Seattle. The two-hour tour includes an informative walking tour to give the kids some facts about the history of Seattle, how it has become popular in chocolate-making, how chocolates are made, and where it comes from, and of course tasting different chocolates. They’ll stop at more than 15 different shops for tasting cupcakes, cheesecakes, hot chocolates, salted caramels, pastries, and all other sweets which kids won’t be able to stop savoring. Some of the stops include the famous Cupcake Royale and Fran’s Chocolates. Seattle is home to some of the best chocolates in the United States, and what a lovely way to prove this than a chocolate tour which lets you indulge in delicious chocolatey goodness. We know you’re convinced to treat your kids for this Chocolate Indulgence Tour in Seattle. The tours usually start at 11:00 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. The tour price is $59.44, and it starts at the Cupcake Royale.
Cost: $8 to $10
So your kids are still craving for some chocolates even after the two-hour tour? Don’t worry, there’s another one which they’ll also love. Theo’s Chocolate Factory is voted as the 2015 Best Chocolatier in Seattle, and you certainly won’t let your kids miss the chance to see how the best chocolates in the city are made. Plus, the Theo Chocolate Factory Tour is a lot cheaper than the Chocolate Indulgence Tour, as it costs as low as $10 per participant. During the tour, the kids will be taken to the chocolate factory in Seattle’s Fremont neighborhood where they can witness an engaging presentation of the bean-to-bar process, explore the actual manufacturing area, and get free chocolates and other freebies. If you’re lucky enough to come on a weekend, Theo also offers a Chocolate Story Time ($8) for smaller kids, which include a factory tour and freebies. The Theo Chocolate Factory Tour is so popular among locals and tourists in Seattle and slots are filled swiftly, so book yours in advance. The tour is open for children from ages 6 and above. The Theo Chocolate Shop is open daily, from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., although factory tour schedules vary per season.
Cost: $16 to $25
Planes are something which our little kids enjoy so much, be it riding on a plane, watching plane stories, or flying on a plane. How much fun do you think the kids will have when you take them to the Museum of Flight in Seattle? The world’s largest independent, non-profit air and space museum, the Museum of Flight houses more than 175 aircraft and spacecraft, thousands of artefacts, and a variety of interactive exhibits for its visitors. Going to this museum is sure to make your kids shriek in excitement of seeing small and huge planes just before their eyes. They can even check out the original Air Force One and explore inside the Concorde. They will also be amazed by the Mach3 SR-71 Blackbird Spyplane, Wright Flyer, and a full-size Space Shuttle trainer. But wait, there’s more! The Museum of Flight has a Kids’ Flight Zone where the children can play pilots for a day and pretend to pilot one of two gliding simulators. They can enter a balloon gondola basket, too. Or if curiosity engulfs them, they can send a balloon to the ceiling and conduct high-speed aerodynamic experiments to better understand how planes work high up in the air. Your little boys will also get the chance to know all about how planes are built and what keeps a plane moving.
Likewise, the little ones can enjoy playing at the museum’s soft runway floor and try to taxi by a mini-air traffic control tower. The Museum of Flight is open daily, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Admission tickets cost $16 for children from ages 5 to 17 (4 years old and below can enter for free) and $25 for adults. But… come closer, we’ll let you in on a little secret: The Museum of Flight has free admission on the first Thursday of every month, from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Cost: $69
Flying is an adventure we all love. Being suspended in the air and feeling as if we’re free to roam around are probably the most amazing thing we ever dreamed of doing. Some even go to places to try skydiving just to feel the adrenaline of being high up in the air and falling down safely. But kids can’t do skydiving even if they want to try it. Hence, an alternative is an indoor skydiving experience which is suitable for kids and adults. At iFly Indoor Skydiving in Seattle, kids (ages 3 and above) can experience flying on their own inside the wind tunnel. They also get the chance to wear a flight suit! Take your activity to iFly and let them experience having “wings” and having fun flying. Visit iFly Indoor Skydiving Seattle daily, from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. on Mondays until Thursdays, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. on Fridays, from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. on Saturdays, and from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. on Sundays. Each flight inside the wind tunnel costs $69.
Cost: $53 to $78
A unique adventure Seattle can offer your whole family is the Bellevue Zip Tour. This tour combines an adrenaline-pumping activity, a zip line, and a nature trip. Since this activity is done outside and in the forest, make sure you have a clear weather in Seattle on the day you schedule for the tour. Included in the 2.5-hour Bellevue Zip Tour are a series of zip lines and bridges through the forest. As you speed through the zip line, you’ll enjoy admiring the trees as well as the views of the city. To complete the tour, you’ll have to cross 6.5 zip lines with a length of 76 to 450 feet and 2 bridges. The highest zip line you’ll get to cross during the tour is around 80 feet high. For sure, the kids will have fun whizzing through the forest in a zip line. The Bellevue Zip Tour is open for kids and adults who are up for a thrilling ride on top of the forest. Children from age 9 to 13 should be accompanied by an adult during the tour. Tickets cost $53 for guests aged 9 to 17 and $78 for adults.
Cost: $19.95 to $29.95
The ocean has always fascinated us of its beauty, mystery, and biodiversity. Exploring the wonders of the underwater world is something every kid craves to do, especially on vacations and school breaks. Thankfully, the Seattle Aquarium is there to keep the kids entertained and amused with marine life. The Seattle Aquarium features a 40-foot and 55,000-lbs Window on Washington Waters so the kids can look into a 120,000-gallon exhibit of Northwest sea life, including colorful rockfish, salmon, and sea anemones. Other things they can do while exploring the Seattle Aquarium are touching live sea anemones, crabs, and starfish in the Life on the Edge tide pool exhibit, taking a virtual trip to the tropics in the Pacific Coral Reef exhibit, watching diver shows and animal feedings, and experiencing the Underwater Dome. With an exquisite variety of sea creatures at the Seattle Aquarium, kids can spend a few hours here and leave refreshed and more appreciative of animal life. There’s also a gift shop and a café where kids can share with you the best experience they had at the exhibits. The Seattle Aquarium is open daily, from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Tickets cost $19.95 for youth (ages 4 to 12) and $29.95 for adults (ages 13 and above).
Cost: $9.25
Yes, another museum in Seattle makes it to our list. But don’t be quick to judge that this museum is an uninteresting one. Specifically designed for the kids, the Seattle Children’s Museum welcomes kiddos of all ages, from a 10-month-old baby to a 10-year-old primary student. Within its 18,000 square feet building, this museum allows for a fun-filled exploration and learning time. With around 11 hands-on exhibits and a large play area, the Seattle Children’s Museum promote play-based learning, especially in the fields of science and technology, arts, and culture. They can also climb on a mountain, create clay sculptures, shop in the grocery store, explore weights in the post office, perform onstage in the theater, travel to countries, go to the eye clinic, or build from blueprints in the Dunn Lumber exhibit. Indeed, there are all sorts of activities your kids can do while inside the museum. This is also the best way to pass the time when it’s raining in Seattle. You can visit the Seattle Children’s Aquarium at the Seattle Center daily, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on weekdays and from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on weekends. Admission tickets cost $9.25 for every guest, child or adult.
Cost: $8.5 to $13
Located on the Seattle Waterfront, the Seattle Great Wheel offers a spectacular view of Elliot Bay and downtown Seattle. When it’s raining outside or even when the sky is bright, take your whole family for an intimate family ride in the Seattle Great Wheel. The Seattle Ferris wheel is one of the largest wheels in the country measuring 175 feet tall. It has 42 gondolas, and each gondola can accommodate up to 8 people. The entire ride lasts for 12 minutes, long enough for you to share with your kids’ happiness as you slowly go up and watch the city and the waterfront below. You can ride the Seattle Great Wheel at any day, from 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. on Mondays until Thursdays, from 11:00 a.m. to 12 midnight on Fridays, from 10:00 a.m. to 12 midnight on Saturdays, and from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. on Sundays. Tickets cost $8.5 for a child and $13 for an adult.
Cost: $7 to $21
In one way or another, your kids will ask you to do something active and daring. If that time comes, take them to Traxx Indoor Kart Racing in Mukilteo and do kart racing together. And yes, even children as young as 3 years old can participate in the race. Even though it sounds adventurous (and it is), the safety of the kid racers are the center’s first priority, so kid karts only go up to 10 miles per hour on a separate children’s track. Hence, you shouldn’t worry they’ll be flagged for over speeding or bumping other karts. Make sure, however, that you all wear closed-toe footwear when you visit the Traxx Indoor Kart Racing Facility for safety reasons. The activity lasts for around 30 minutes, and costs $7 for children with ages 3 to 5, $9 for those aged 6 to 10, and $21 for all other guests.
Cost: $10 to $30
Theatre is a powerful tool for artistic expression and emotional healing. This sophisticated form of art has long provided kid and adult spectators with inspiration in ways which are both magical and surreal. Watching a theatre play is something we should let our children experience even while they are young. This way, they’d learn to appreciate art and creative talents. Who knows, you might even inspire them to participate in theatre shows at school? Anyway, the Seattle Children’s Theater is one of the largest theaters in the entire country. As such, it is able to produce its own shows and even implements theater workshops for kids and aspiring artists. The Seattle Children’s Theater has a rotating schedule of kid-friendly shows. You can always check their website for the show offerings they have for the week, because there are always plays targeted at preschoolers, toddlers, and even older kids. Each play lasts for at most 2 hours. You can watch a show for $10 and above, depending on your seat option and the available shows.
Cost: $13.95 to $22.95
Of course a zoo is included in this list. What makes you think otherwise? The Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle is one of the city’s finest spots and an award-winning zoological garden. Inside the zoo are a huge variety of wildlife waiting to be discovered. Your little ones will totally love this place. They can see monkeys, gorillas, giraffes, lions, Komodo dragons, elephants, and exotic animals. The Woodland Park Zoo also has exhibits featuring the animals from Northwest and Western Canada and Alaska. The kids will also be intrigued by the Trail of Vines exhibit which showcases primates. There is also a petting zoo, a family farm, and an outdoor Discovery Loop. Babies, toddlers, and little children can play inside the Zoomazium, too. Likewise, your whole family can enjoy a picnic together while admiring the rich diversity of wildlife inside the zoo. You can visit the Woodland Park Zoo from 9:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (4:00 p.m. in some seasons), for a fee of $13.95 per child (ages 3 to 12) and $22.95 per adult (ages 13 and above).
Cost: $20 to $30
If you happen to visit Seattle on a sunny day, drive to Lake Union to treat the whole family for a refreshing nature trip. Lake Union is a popular lake in Seattle which is home to various fish species. Most local families frequent the lake between April to September to have a picnic, do fishing, and try kayaking or paddle-boarding. Your family can join the bandwagon and let the kids enjoy catching fish and doing kayak. It is a great activity even for adults, so you can feel at peace with yourself and with nature as you sit on a paddleboard at the middle of the lake. There are double and triple kayak, too, so you can take the kids with you to enjoy the calm. Lake Union is open to the public in April until September, from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on weekdays and from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on weekends.
Cost: $9 to $21
Another fun activity sure to pump the adrenaline from your kids’ bodies and satisfy their craving for a vigorous adventure is jumping on the trampolines. To do this, take the kids to SkyMania Trampolines in Kirkland, which has wall-to-wall trampolines for the kids to play on. They can jump and leap as long as they want at SkyMania Trampoline Park. There are special schedules for every age range. For instance, SkyMania Trampolines is reserved only for toddlers on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Fridays, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m., are reserved only for kids aged 10 to 15. The fee for the trampoline park depends on the duration of stay inside: $9 for 30 minutes, $12 for an hour, $17 for an hour and a half, and $21 for 2 hours.
If you think there’s nothing for kids to do in a market, you are wrong. In Seattle’s Pike Place Market, an institution which has been receiving an increasing number of visitors each year, you can take the kids to shop and even learn how to make cheese. The Pike Place Market is home to stalls and shops selling fairly priced flowers, seafood, fruit, vegetables, and other products. It can be noisy and crowded at times, so we recommend you to go to the Pike Place Market just before lunch or in the afternoon. However, it is open from early morning to early evening. You can have your kids watch how to make cheese at the window of the popular Beecher’s Handmade Cheese shop. Famous for its Flagship cheese, the Beecher’s Handmade Cheese offers its visitors a chance to witness how they make cheese from organic ingredients through the shop’s glass-walled kitchen.
Cost: $19 to $28
Your last stop in Seattle could be a rather relaxing and entertaining activity. A visit to the Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP) will keep the kids entertained for about an hour or two as you explore the different displays inside. Inside the museum, kids can check out the Star Trek souvenirs, Star Wars artifacts, and several other items from popular sci-fi movies and books. You can visit the Museum of Pop Culture daily, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on the 1st of January until the 23rd of May, and from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on the 24th of May until the 2nd of September. On other days of 2020, the museum if open from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Seattle has a cool collection of kid-friendly activities to make your family vacation a memorable one. With all its parks, zoos, museums, lakes, forests, indoor play places, and chocolate tours, Seattle undoubtedly is a gem for the children. Truly, the Emerald City is something your kids will love to go back to again and again.
Share your adventures in Seattle with the kids on the comment section below. Have fun exploring Seattle!
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