Things to do with kids in Seattle

45 family-friendly places in Seattle: zoos, aquariums, playgrounds and more.

Ranked with the travel guide's picks and well-known places first. Showing the top 40 of 45.

DrinkCapitol Hill-Central District
Ada's Technical Books & Café
A delightful combination of bookstore and café. The bookstore is long on technical books, or technical takes on every other genre. For example, they have a children's book, Goodnight Lab, an homage to Goodnight Moon featuring science labs. The café has the usual range of teas, coffees, and pastries. There are tables scattered throughout, which people use for eating, working or reading.
Sun–Thu 8AM–9PM, Fri Sat 8AM–10PMMedium latté etc $5
BuyNorth
Asian Family Market
formerly Asian Food Center
A large supermarket with an extensive selection of Chinese and other East Asian produce and ingredients.
DoBallard
Ballard Commons Park
Ballard Commons Park features a playground, skate bowl, water feature, engaging public art, relaxing seating areas and lawns and ADA accessible walkways.
EatNorth
Burgermaster
Designed to be a drive-thru, but there's limited seating area inside. American style burgers & sandwiches that is not the fast food norm; it is a 60-year-old local family brand that has higher standards. Other items include milkshakes, fish & chips, salads, and snacks.
Sun-Thu 11AM-11PM, Fri Sat 11AM-midnight
SeeUniversity District
Burke Museum
Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture
Washington's oldest and largest natural history museum. In addition to exhibits on evolution and dinosaur skeletons, there is an emphasis on native peoples of the Northwest Coast, local ecosystems and windows into the day-to-day work of researchers. Most galleries have non-linear arrangements that reward wandering to whatever catches your eye. Highlights include colorful contemporary and historic crafts from Native artists, a well-preserved T. rex skull and the only dinosaur fossil found in Washington.
Tue-Sun 10AM-5PM, first Thu of each month 10AM-8PM$24 general, $22 seniors, $16 students and youth, children 3 and under free, free for everyone first Thursday of every month
EatCapitol Hill-Central District
Cafe Lago
Established Italian restaurant popular for vegetarian lasagna, apple-wood fired pizza, and fresh hand-made pasta (they have an employee dedicated solely to making pasta). An excellent environment for families, they even have paper tablecloths for kids to draw on.
Sun Mon 5-9PM, Tue-Thu 5-9:30PM, Fri Sat 5-10PM
SeeCapitol Hill-Central District
Cal Anderson Park
A very popular park on sunny days. It includes a signature fountain and pond, a basketball court, tennis and softball fields, and a playground. Great for peoplewatching, and you can often see groups of people doing activities varying from hackeysack to drum circles to freeze tag to bike polo to twirling around with colorful scarves.
EatWest
Chelan Cafe
Famous for their rib-sticking breakfasts, the Chelan is your basic family diner with legions of fans. Their Eggs Benedict is very popular and they have great pancakes, too.
Mon-Fri 6AM-7:30PM, Sat-Sun 6AM-1PM
SeeQueen Anne-South Lake Union
Chihuly Garden and Glass
This museum provides a look at the inspiration and influences that inform the career of artist Dale Chihuly. The on-site exhibition hall contains eight galleries and three drawing walls, offering visitors a comprehensive look at Chihuly’s significant series of work. The centerpiece of the museum is a glasshouse with a suspended 1,400-piece, 100-foot-long sculpture. Also on the grounds is a lush garden, which serves as a backdrop for four monumental sculptures and other installations.
Mon-Thu 10AM–10PM, Fri-Sun 10AM-11PM; last ticket sold one hour prior to closing; combined tickets with Space Needle available$19 adults, $17 seniors, $12 children, children 3 and under free
EatSouth
El Quetzal
Family-friendly, but not your standard Tex-Mex, lots of amazing specials and good for large groups. Connected to a full bar with its own menu and unique drink specials.
EatNorth
Family Donut
Very good family-run doughnut shop with excellent donuts and coffee.
Mon-Fri 5AM-7PM, Sat 6AM-5PM, Sun 6AM-2PM
DoBallard
Golden Gardens Park
A wonderful saltwater beach park in Ballard, past the locks and Shilshole Marina. Water around here is too cold to swim except for crazy and determined kids during the hottest months, but you can wade a little, walk the beach, make sand castles, claim a fire pit, and watch wind surfers and ships go by. On clear days there is a magnificent view of the Olympics on the other side of Puget Sound. Kids of all ages have endless muddy fun trying to dam up or re-route the fresh water stream flowing across one end of the beach.
EatNorth
Grateful Bread Bakery & Cafe
Grateful Bread is a bakery and cafe that offers handmade bread and pastries, as well as espresso and panini sandwiches. It is predominantly a family spot, especially during the period right before and after school. It is locally owned and has a very casual atmosphere.
Mon-Fri 7AM-7PM, Sat 7:30AM-6PM, Sun 8AM-6PM
EatWest
Husky Deli
This throwback deli counter and specialty grocer has been family owned and operated since 1932. In the summer, line up for a scoop of the classic made-in-house ice cream.
EatCapitol Hill-Central District
Italian Family Pizza
Very good East Coast style pizza with large servings and cheap beer served all day in a restaurant operated by East Coast transplants. Relocated from downtown Seattle to a larger restaurant in First Hill.
Daily 11AM to 8PM
EatPioneer Square-International District
Itsumono
Family-run pub with a homely menu and atmosphere. Get your favorite Japanese entrées like tempura, teriyaki, donburi, noodles, and sushi (or an obento with an assortment of everything), or have some beer or shochu and linger for a while ordering small plates.
Lunch Tue-Fri 11:30AM-2PM, dinner Tue-Thu, Sun 5PM-9PM, Fri-Sat 5PM-10PM; Mon closed
DoNorth
Lake City Summer Festival and Parade
Lake City has a great street fair in late summer, complete with street vendors, food, music and a parade with local kids and performers on up to the SeaFair Pirates. It has a small-town feel while the streets are lined with all sorts of families and crazies from the neighborhood. Fun for all.
August
SeeCapitol Hill-Central District
Lakeview Cemetery
Incorporated in 1872, Lakeview Cemetery is set on a hillside with views of Lake Union, the Cascades, Lake Washington and the Olympic Mountains. The site holds the final resting places of Seattle's first families, many with diverse backgrounds. Many come to pay tribute at the graves of Bruce Lee and his son Brandon.
Summer 9AM-8PM; spring 9AM-6PM; winter 9AM-4PMFree
SeeCapitol Hill-Central District
Madison Park
Activities include swimming, bathhouse, restaurants, tennis court (with lights), and great views of the floating bridge and the Cascades. Lifeguards patrol the area during the summer, which creates a safer playground for kids, but it's still a beautiful park to hang out for teens and adults.
4AM-11:30PM
SeeDowntown
Miner's Landing at Pier 57
Named for once being the main departure point during the Seattle gold rush, Miner's Landing now hosts a food court and a variety of gourmet restaurants, a sports merchandise store, a carousel for kids and the Seattle Great Wheel.
SeeSodo-Georgetown
Museum of Flight
A massive air and space museum, near the original Boeing factory. The museum consists of an indoor area that is further divided into the history, jet age, airport operations, and space travel, and an outdoor section where you can sneak inside retired airplanes. The collection includes 131 aircraft and spacecraft ranging from wood and fabric crates to the SR-71, Space Shuttle Trainer, a retired Air-Force One and a Concorde. It's arguably better than even the Smithsonian's Air and Space Museum in the other Washington. Tours to the vicinity of the airport inside a van are available, but most spots do not allow cameras for security purposes! The Museum offers a large educational outreach program including weekend family workshops, the Aerospace Camp Experience (ACE) summer day camp, and an aviation high school.
Daily 10AM to 5PM except 1st Thu of month 10AM to 9PM$20 adults, $12 youth (5-17), children (4 and under) free, $17 active military and seniors (65+). Lower fares available for groups of more than 10 people. Free on first Thursday of the month from 5PM until 9PM
SeeQueen Anne-South Lake Union
Museum of History and Industry
MOHAI
The museum focuses on the history of Seattle and the greater Puget Sound region, with exhibitions focusing on the maritime history of the city and the rise of the region's technology industry, as well as a set of changing exhibits.
Daily 10AM–5PM, Thursdays until 8PM$25 adults, $20 seniors, children under 14 free; free first Thursday of the month
SeeQueen Anne-South Lake Union
Museum of Pop Culture
MoPOP
An excellent pop culture museum housed inside a visually striking building designed by Frank Gehry to "evoke the rock 'n' roll experience", with exhibits on all manner of popular culture: film, television, music, video games, fashion, etc. There's a particular focus on science fiction and Seattle musicians, with a sci-fi hall of fame and exhibits dedicated to Jimi Hendrix and Nirvana. Top-notch special exhibits have included the likes of David Bowie, Star Trek, the Marvel comic and movie universe, and Minecraft. There are many interactive exhibits, but don't expect to get a turn without a long wait. Outside, the large playground is a big hit with kids.
Summer (Memorial Day-Labor Day) 10AM-7PM daily; rest of year 10AM-5PM daily$28 adults, $25 seniors/students, $22 military, $19 youth, children 4 and under free. $2 discount if purchased online. Additional $8 for special exhibit. Outdoor playground free
SeeBallard
National Nordic Museum
Documents the history of Scandinavian immigration to Seattle, with rotating art exhibits and a permanent collection of historical artifacts. Julefest includes discounted admission and a Christmas market.
Tue–Sun 10AM–5PM$20 adults, $16 seniors, $15 college students, $10 children above 5 yrs, under 5 free
SeeSouth
Northwest African American Museum
Short but powerful museum on the history of Blacks in the Northwest.
Wed 11AM-5PM, Thu 11AM-7PM, Fri-Sun 11AM-5PM$7 adult, $5 children 4-12, students, seniors; free the first Thursday of every month
BuyBallard
Phinney Books
A local neighborhood institution; carries a well-curated selection of books across many categories, including children's books.
Mon-Sat 10AM-7PM, Sun noon-5PM
EatPioneer Square-International District
Purple Dot Cafe
This is not a fusion restaurant, but rather a Macau style restaurant. Which explains why you can order your Hong Kong style dishes with spaghetti and cream sauce. Purple Dot is open until really late on the weekends, where packs of 80 lb. red-faced co-eds can be spotted stumbling around in their glittery halter tops. The restaurant's decor may remind one of a Hong Kong style Mickey Mouse Club, with its colorful curved furnishings and fiesta patterned carpet. But at Purple Dot, the draw for authentic food overpowers the teeny bopper atmosphere, as during the day there are just as many families as there are clubbers at night. Wash down the Cajun chicken wings with an iced lemon tea, or stick to Cantonese soul food like jook and wonton mein.
Sun-Thu 9AM-1AM, Fri-Sat 9AM-3:30AM
SeeDowntown
Seattle Aquarium
Showcases native fish and mammals of the Pacific Northwest. Among the highlights are the Windows on Washington (WOW) exhibit, two touch tanks featuring animals of the inland sea and outer coast, and a display that holds two giant pacific octopuses, gill sharks and Pacific coral reefs. The outdoor exhibit upstairs features a collection of birds, harbor and Northern fur seals, as well as river and sea otters. At a separate area on the lower level, you can go inside an underwater dome to get up-close with swimming animals from the Puget Sound.
Exhibits open 9:30AM-6PM; last admission at 5PM$21.95 adults, $14.95 children (4-12), children 3 and under free
SeeDowntown
Seattle Art Museum
SAM
The museum displays a good assortment of art from the Pacific Northwest and around the world. Though the permanent exhibitions only occasionally delve deeply into a specific subject (such as the enormous variety of pieces in the porcelain room), extensive special exhibitions fill the gap. Tours available.
Tue Wed Fri-Sun 10AM-5PM, Thu 10AM-9PM, closed MonSuggested admission: $19.50 adult, $17.50 senior/military, $2.50 students/youth, children 12 and under free. Admission is free on first Thursday of the month
SeeCapitol Hill-Central District
Seattle Asian Art Museum
SAAM
An offshoot of downtown's Seattle Art Museum, SAAM displays a portion of the permanent collection balanced with rotating, consistently well-curated special exhibitions. The focus is usually on Chinese or Japanese art, reflecting long-established ties across the Pacific, but does include works from as far as India and the Middle East. The Art Deco building (the Seattle Art Museum's original home) is an attraction in its own right.
Fri-Sun 10AM-5PM$15/adult, $13/seniors, $13/military, $10/student, children free, last Fridays free, all tickets +$3 if not bought in advance
SeeQueen Anne-South Lake Union
Seattle Children's Museum
An independent non-profit museum which hosts popular traveling exhibits and features permanent exhibits and programs geared towards children.
Mon-Fri 10AM-5PM, Sat Sun 10AM-6PMGeneral exhibits: $7.50, $6.50 seniors, children under 1 free; no adults admitted without a child
SeeCapitol Hill-Central District
Seattle Japanese Garden
A small, formal Japanese garden within the grounds of the Arboretum.
Hours vary seasonally: generally Tue-Sun 10AM until sunset. Extended hours from May to September, closed December to February; check the link above for more detailed information$6 adults, $4 children over 5 years and seniors
SeeSouth
Seward Park
This wooded Olmsted park takes up a large peninsula surrounded by Lake Washington. Attractions include kids activities in the summer, great scenery, and a 2.5 mi paved level path that circles the whole peninsula.
SeeDowntown
Sky View Observatory
Columbia Center
This observatory sits on the 73rd floor of the Columbia Center, one of the tallest buildings on the West Coast and the tallest public observation deck in the Pacific Northwest, sitting 932 feet (284.2 meters) above the ground and more than 330 feet taller than the Space Needle. Great views are offered from the top and some people claim the view is better from here than from the Space Needle. Another advantage over the Space Needle is that this building isn't well known as a tourist attraction, so there's usually little to no line to get to the top. Tickets are available for purchase online ($2 less expensive or in the atrium at the Columbia Center). There is a cafe in the observation deck serving sandwiches and drinks (including beer and wine) and a food court at the bottom of the Columbia Center.
Daily 10AM-8PM (check website for extended summer hours and special hours for holidays)$22 adults, $19 seniors and military with ID, $16.for kids 5 to 13
SeePioneer Square-International District
Smith Tower
Built in 1914, the Smith Tower was Seattle's first skyscraper, and the tallest building on the West Coast for nearly half a century before being overtaken by the Space Needle. Uniformed attendants operate the old copper and brass elevators from which you can peer into the different floors and offices as you ascend, an experience most people today have probably only witnessed in old movies. The outdoor Observatory on the 35th floor wraps completely around the four sides of the tower, providing panoramic views of the Olympic and Cascade mountain ranges, including Mt. Rainier, as well as of Elliott Bay, Downtown Seattle, and Pioneer Square. The interior of the 35th floor contains a speakeasy-themed bar, formerly known as the Chinese Room for its ornately carved ceiling and a number of decorative flourishes imported from China in the early 20th century. There is an excellent 45 minute guided tour with a very knowledgeable and entertaining tour guide (separate admission fee) about Seattle's history from the 1920s and beyond that is available. Also, there is an excellent independent coffee shop (Caffe Vita) in the Smith Tower (hours M–F: 7AM-5PM, Sa–Su: 8AM–3PM). Washington state residents can get admission for only $18 (with Washington state ID) and after 4pm Monday to Thursday admission is available to all for only $18 to the observation deck and bar only (museum not included for this price).
Mon-Wed Noon-7PM, Thu and Sun Noon-8PM, Fri and Sat Noon-9PMSelf tour and observatory: adults $27, seniors/military $24, students/children 5-13 $21, under 5 Free, locals with Washington state ID $18. Guided 45 minute tour is additional
BuyBallard
Snapdoodle Toys
The most complete toy store in Seattle, with a huge selection for both kids and adults. Don't expect your typical fast food toy giveaways. Formerly Top Ten Toys, sold to Snapdoodle but basically the same store in spirit with the same merchandise.
SeeCapitol Hill-Central District
Streissguth Gardens
A small, family-maintained garden on the northwest side of Seattle's Capitol Hill, on a steep hillside. Noisy but offering great views over Lake Union, Downtown Seattle, and the Olympic Mountains in the distance.
DoSodo-Georgetown
T-Mobile Park
Since 1999, T-Mobile Park has been home to the Seattle Mariners baseball team and is one of the finest ballparks in the country. Right field bleacher seats enjoy a panoramic view of Downtown and Elliott Bay. An element of the unique atmosphere is the train whistle that sounds each time a Mariners' home run occurs. The stadium offers anything from traditional ballpark dogs and the famous garlic fries to fine gourmet fare and local beers. The aroma of food is everywhere inside the park. There couldn't be a better way to spend a summer evening with friends and family in Seattle. Take the elevator to 300 level to the Rooftop Boardwalk and see great views of the Puget Sound and downtown skyline and check out the free Mariners Hall of Fame on the 100 level for interesting exhibits and photos of Mariners players and memorabilia. You can tour the stadium for $10, $5 children ages 3-12. Schedules vary by season, but there are always tours at 12:30PM and 2:30PM, except during game days. You can buy the tickets online or at the Mariners pro shop.
EatSodo-Georgetown
The Corson Building
The Corson Building is trying very hard to develop a rural setting in a very urban surrounding. This is a very chef inspired and driven restaurant and your only opportunity for fine dining in Georgetown. Dinner is served at certain times (check website) and at communal tables. You generally get to choose between two entrees and are left to the devices of the chef for the rest of the meal which is served 'family style' on large platters and/or in bowls passed between diners. Wine pairings and flights of wine are offered for an additional cost.
Wed-Sun 6:30PM-10PM. Brunch available Sun 9:30AM-2PM
EatNorth
Toyoda Sushi
Off-the-wall family-run restaurant specializing in fresh sushi & sashimi. Sit at the bar to see its making and if you aren't picky, ask for whatever they want to make & they will serve you. Specials are spicy tuna bowl and chef's choice. Free appetizer and miso soup.
Wed Thu Sun 5-8:30PM, Fri Sat 5-9PM

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Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Seattle (CC BY-SA 4.0).