33 Fun Things to Do in Seattle With Kids (By a Local)

You’ll find plenty of fun things to do in Seattle with kids — whether you’re traveling with your toddler or teens! I’m a Seattle local who worked in childcare for a decade. I’m familiar with the popular family-friendly activities, plus under-the-radar spots that only local families know about.

A lot of the best Seattle attractions are good for kids. That said, this list will focus specifically on how to keep your little ones entertained. Let’s dive in!

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Best Things to Do in Seattle With Kids

Seattle Center

Enjoy an epic playground, kid-friendly museums, and city landmarks all in one spot.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (206) 684-7200 | Website

There’s so much at the Seattle Center that’s great for kids! It’s part of why Queen Anne is one of the most family-friendly places to stay in Seattle. The attraction has museums, a playground, and the Seattle Children’s Theater, plus festivities year-round.

Take the monorail from Westlake Center to get here. It’s a fun (and fast) ride that will drop you off between the Museum of Pop Culture and the Space Needle. Speaking of the Space Needle, kids will love riding to the top where you can admire 360-degree views of the city.

After taking in the views, let the kids play, climb, and swing at the epic Artists At Play Playground. Bring a swimsuit in the summer so they can run and splash in the International Fountain. Head to the food court in the Armory to cool off and enjoy lots of kid-friendly snacks at lunchtime.

Check out my Seattle Center Guide to get more insider tips on the best way to spend a day at this attraction.

Seattle Aquarium

Learn all about the many marine animals in Puget Sound.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (206) 386-4300 | Website | Hours: 9:30 am – 6 pm daily | Entrance: (prices change daily & seasonally): $31.95+ adults, $19.20+ youth ages 4-12, free, children 3 and under

Seattle Aquarium is a no-brainer for kid-friendly visits. It’s right on the Seattle waterfront and has plenty of engaging exhibits.

Whenever I take kids here, we spend a lot of time at the touch tanks where you can (gently) feel sea stars, anemones, sea cucumbers, and a few other critters. Try to time your visit with one of the daily talks if you’re visiting with kids who may be budding marine biologists. I’m partial to the ones about the harbor seals and otters.

The Seattle Aquarium isn’t particularly big, so you can count on getting in and out without feeling overwhelmed on a trip. There’s also a play area inside with toys and books if little kids get restless.

Pacific Science Center

Check out STEM exhibits, laser shows, and a butterfly house at this popular Seattle Center attraction.

Closeup view of the beautiful butterfly on the leaves — *A butterfly from the Tropical Butterfly House in PacSci*

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (206) 443-2001 | Website | Hours: 10 am – 5 pm daily | Entrance: (prices change daily & seasonally): $22.95+ adults, $17.95+ youth ages 3-17, free, toddlers under 3 | 👉 Get Pacific Science Center tickets on Viator

Kid-friendly activities abound at the Pacific Science Center! Curious kids will love the interactive exhibits on topics ranging from outer space and sound to dinosaurs and the human body.

The Tropical Butterfly House is one of the best exhibits. You can get up close to hundreds of beautiful butterflies, observe them snacking on fruit, and get some great photos (especially if they land on you).

The Planetarium and Laser Dome Shows are hits with kids and adults. Both are included with general admission for daytime visits. Snag tickets for a documentary or movie at PacSci’s IMAX Theater if you’re coming in the evening or are searching for a rainy-day activity.

Museum of Flight

Learn about the city’s aviation history and step inside vintage planes at a huge museum.

The Museum of Flight is a huge air and space museum with dozens of planes displayed on the ground and suspended from the ceiling. Sure, it has amazing spacecrafts and information on the history of aviation. But there are two things I think kids will especially love.

The first is the chance to step inside a former Air Force One, the first Boeing 747, and a British Concorde. The second is the flight simulators. Good luck getting the kids (and yourself) away from the latter!

👉 Pro Tip: Go to the Museum of Flight on the first Thursday of the month to do Seattle on a budget. The Museum of Flight (and several others) are free on First Thursdays. Alternatively, you can reserve free tickets through the Seattle Public Library if you’re a resident!

Woodland Park Zoo

Learn about countless animals and their habitats at a fun, conservation-focused zoo.

A wolf wandering in the forest at Woodland Park Zoo — *One of the Woodland Park Zoo’s wolves*

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (206) 548 2500 | Website | Hours: 9:30 am – 6 pm (summer), 9:30 am – 4 pm (fall-spring), Daily | Entrance (prices vary daily & seasonally): $17.96+ adults, $12.29+ children ages 3-12, free under 3

The Woodland Park Zoo is a gem. Animal-loving families will adore this north Seattle attraction. Come here to see brown bears from the Northwest, tigers and tapirs from Asia, and Peruvian penguins! Attend daily zookeeper talks to see animal ambassadors and learn some fun facts.

Oh, and don’t worry about going here on a drizzly day. Take the kids to the Zoomazium, an animal-themed indoor play space where they can run off some excess energy.

Before snagging tickets, make sure to check the zoo’s calendar for family-friendly events. WildLanterns in the winter is always a big hit and there are plenty of kid-friendly concerts during ZooTunes in the summer.

💰 Save Some Money: The Seattle CityPASS is a good way to save money on several of the best attractions for kids. Get discounts for the zoo, aquarium, Space Needle, and more if you purchase one on your visit!

Bainbridge Island

Take a day trip across the water to go troll-hunting, and frog-spotting, and enjoy some top-tier parks.

View of the city skyline from the back of the ferry on a sunny day — *The view from the back of the ferry on the way to Bainbridge*

📍 Google Maps | Website | Entrance: ferry tickets, $9.85, walk-on, $17.50+ (one-way), driving

Go to Bainbridge Island for a super fun and simple family day trip! It’s just 30 minutes away, and you don’t even need a car to experience the best of Bainbridge. I recommend walking on the ferry to cut down on expenses.

Spend time in Winslow if you visit without a car. Go to the Kids Discovery Museum, get goodies from Blackbird Bakery, or go frog-spotting – you’ll spot several frog statues around town.

Bainbridge is also a good spot for troll hunting! You can find the island’s resident troll, Pia the Peacekeeper, nestled in Sakai Park. Just keep in mind that it’s 3 miles to walk there and back to the ferry terminal.

Driving? Plan for outdoor adventures on one of Washington’s popular islands. You can venture out to Fay Bainbridge Park, which has a waterfront pirate ship playground. Or visit the massive Battle Point Park which has soccer and baseball fields, tennis courts, and plenty of room to picnic.

Family-Friendly Attractions

Pike Place Market

Explore, eat, and shop your way through Seattle’s famous market.

The author Chelsea Booker posing with the bronze market pig statue — *Me posing with Billie, one of the bronze market pigs*

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (206) 682 7453 | Website | Hours: 8 am – 6 pm Mon-Sat, 8 am – 5 pm Sun | 👉 Book a Pike Place Market Food Tour on Viator

Seattle’s best attraction has something for everyone, families included! Visit Pike Place Market for a few hours of fun.

Let kids take pictures with Rachel, the bronze pig mascot, and then watch the famous flying fish at Pike Place Fish Market. Check out the gross (but eye-catching) gum wall. Then, wander down to Golden Age Collectables to peruse the comic books, posters, Funko Pop toys, and more. There are several candy shops and a magic shop down there, too.

Families with older kids should book a Pike Place Market food tour. It’s led by a chef who will guide you through the maze of a market. You’ll learn all about its history and fill up on generous samples from food vendors along the way.

Seattle Great Wheel

Take in gorgeous views from 175 feet above the ground.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (206) 623-8607 | Website | Hours: 11 am – 10 pm Monday-Thursday, 10 am – 11 pm Friday-Saturday, 10 am – 10 pm Sunday | Entrance: $23 adults ages 12-64, $18 youth ages 3-11, free children 2 and under

The Seattle Great Wheel is a great stop if you’re wandering along the downtown waterfront. This giant Ferris wheel takes visitors 175 feet in the air to look out over Puget Sound and downtown Seattle.

You’ll ride in a private, climate-controlled cabin, making this comfortable enough to do year-round. Let kids take pictures and point out sights as the Ferris wheel makes several revolutions. You’ll have a good time whether you go on a warm and clear day, during sunset, or later in the evening.

Ballard Locks

Cruise through one of the city’s most popular attractions.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (206) 780-2500 | Website | Hours: 7 am – 9 pm daily | 👉 Book Your Ballard Locks Tour on Viator

The Ballard Locks allows boats to pass from Lake Washington to Puget Sound, seamlessly moving from freshwater to saltwater. Come here on a sunny day to walk atop the locks and get a firsthand glimpse of how they work.

While here, look out for wildlife like seals, sea lions, and herons. Head to the Ballard Locks Fish Ladder to watch salmon jumping upstream to spawn in early fall.

One of the best ways to experience the Ballard Locks is by going through them. Book a tour to do this! The locks tour will take you from the Seattle waterfront to the locks on a 2-hour journey. You’ll learn about the city and see famous Seattle landmarks along the way.

T-Mobile Park

Root for Seattle’s favorite baseball team (and get a photo op with the Moose).

The author Chelsea Booker and her husband, posing with the Moose mascot — *Me and my husband, excited to finally get a picture with the Moose*

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (206) 346-4000 | Website | Entrance: $10+ per person, free, children 2 and under

Bring your family to the home of the Seattle Mariners. T-Mobile Park in Seattle’s SODO neighborhood is a fun place to spend a warm summer day, and tickets are inexpensive so you can do it on a budget.

Take children to the Kids Play Area — it has a playground and TVs so parents can keep up with the game while kids run wild. Or take them to the Kids Corner which has timed running, hitting, and pitching challenges. Don’t leave without visiting the Moose Den for photo ops with the Mariners mascot, the Moose.

Rainy Day Fun

Seattle Children’s Museum

Play, create, and imagine at a museum just for kids.

View of the Settle Children’s Museum from the Armory — *A view of the Children’s Museum from the Armory*

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (206) 441-1768 | Website | Hours: 10 am – 5 pm daily | Entrance: $16 adults & children, free for babies under 1

Toddlers and younger kids will have the most fun at the Seattle Children’s Museum, located in the Seattle Center. The exhibits and rooms are designed to engage their imaginations and get them playing.

Have fun in the theater room, which has costumes, props, and lighting controls. Kids also love the “exam room” and “veterinarian clinic” where they can play the role of a doctor or vet. A “grocery store” with everything from carts and registers to pretend food is another fun place to play.

PlayDate SEA

Let kids run wild at an epic indoor playground where kids can run, climb, slide, and jump.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (206) 623-7529 | Website | Hours: 10 am – 7 pm Mon-Fri, 10 am – 8 pm Sat-Sun | Entrance: $10 all-day play weekdays, $18 all-day play weekends

PlayDate SEA is a godsend for parents who have kids with tons of energy. It’s open late, and is a great escape, especially on cold and wet days. This indoor playground in the South Lake Union neighborhood has a huge play area for kids. It has all the necessities: slides, climbing ropes, tunnels, and plenty of cushioning and mats to prevent rough landings.

Best of all, there’s a cafe and Wi-Fi here, so you don’t need to leave for food and you can get a little work done while the kids play. The food menu includes a variety of kid favorites like pizza, chicken nuggets, fries, and fruit. Plus there are adult beverages like coffee, local craft beers, and wine.

Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture

Check out fossils and dinosaur bones and learn about the state’s natural history.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (206) 543-7907 | Website | Hours: 10 am – 5 pm Tuesday-Sunday (till 8 pm on first Thursdays), Closed Mondays | Entrance: $24 adults, $16 youth ages 4-17, free 3 and under; free for all on first Thursdays

Have a dinosaur-obsessed kid? Take them to the Burke Museum. This natural history museum is where you’ll find Washington State’s only dinosaur bones, including a meticulously preserved T-Rex skull.

The Burke Museum has taxidermy displays of various animals in addition to dinosaurs and fossils. There are interactive exhibits and spaces where kids can make crafts.

One of the best things about the museum is that it doubles as a lab. Peak through windows to watch scientists working on excavations, panning, cleaning up fossils, and more.

Seattle Children’s Theater

Watch kid-friendly performances at a children’s theatre.

Exterior view of the Charlotte Martin Theatre — *The Seattle Children’s Theatre is based in Charlotte Martin Theatre (photo: Cascade Creatives / Shutterstock)*

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (206) 441-3322 | Website | Entrance: varies depending on show, typically around $25 per ticket

Want to take kids to a show but can’t find one they’d like? Seattle Children’s Theater solves this problem since all of its performances are geared toward kids. The theater even has a vast range of accessibility offerings so kids of all abilities can attend.

Shows range from retellings of classics like “A Tale of Peter Rabbit” to modern, kid-friendly musicals. Don’t worry if kids start getting restless during a performance. There’s a quiet viewing room you can take them to when they need a break.

Pacific Northwest Ballet

Watch professional ballet performances of classic stories.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (206) 441-2424 | Website

Go to the Pacific Northwest Ballet at Seattle Center’s McCaw Hall to watch a fantastic show. This ballet troupe puts on several shows a year, but one of the best is The Nutcracker. Seeing it is a tradition for many local families. Visitors will love it too.

Check the website before you visit to get an idea of other kid-friendly shows to see. You’ll have a wider selection to choose from if you’re visiting with teens.

Seattle Bouldering Project

Test your climbing and scrambling skills on a variety of fun walls.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (206) 299-2300 | Website | Hours (Beacon Hill/Poplar location): 6 am – 11 pm Mon-Fri, 7 am – 10 pm Sat-Sun | Entrance: $30 adults, $20 youth ages 13 and under

Take adventurous kids of any age to the Seattle Bouldering Project. There are two gyms — one in Fremont and another in Beacon Hill.

The gyms have a variety of walls for people of all skill levels. Older children can attempt to tackle some of the bigger walls with adults. Bring the younger visitors to the sections with walls designed just for them.

Seattle Art Museum

Peruse a collection of local, domestic, and international art at one of the best Seattle museums.

A family posing for a photo at the SAM’s Olympic Sculpture Park — *My friends and their kiddo on a rainy day walk through the SAM’s Olympic Sculpture Park*

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (206) 654-3100 | Website | Hours: 10 am – 5 pm Wed-Sun (till 8 pm first Thurs), Closed Mon & Tues | Entrance: $29.99+ adults, $19.99+ teens ages 15-19, free children 14 and under; free to all on first Thursdays

The Seattle Art Museum in downtown Seattle is huge. It has several floors worth of local, domestic, and international art, and it’s one of the best museums in the city. The Seattle Asian Art Museum in Volunteer Park and the Olympic Sculpture Park on the waterfront are also parts of the SAM.

Walk through the museum and chat about art with the kids. The Seattle Art Museum has various experiences geared toward families. Check the calendar to see when the next Family Saturday is happening or to look for free cultural performances and celebrations throughout the year.

Teens and Older Kids

Museum of Pop Culture

Check out beloved pop culture memorabilia and learn all about grunge.

The Museum of Pop Culture in the Seattle Center is a great museum for families with older children and teens.

Wander through worlds of science fiction, fantasy, and horror. You’ll see artifacts, memorabilia, costumes, and more from pop culture classics like Lord of the Rings and The Walking Dead.

Music also features heavily in the MoPOP. Check out displays that detail Seattle’s grunge history. There are tributes to Nirvana, Jimi Hendrix, and Pearl Jam, along with a particularly eye-catching guitar sculpture.

Mox Boarding House

Play board games in a cool cafe in the Ballard neighborhood.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (206) 523-9605 | Website | Hours: 11 am – 10 pm Monday-Thursday, 11 am – 12 am Friday, 10 am – 12 am Saturday, 10 am – 10 pm Sundays

Mox Boarding House is part board game store and part cafe — perfect for kids who love to sit and play games for hours. There’s a huge collection of games that visitors can borrow for free and play right away in the store or adjoining cafe. Grab a new copy from the store and take it home with you if you find a game you like!

The food at the cafe is also surprisingly good. The menu includes sandwiches, salads, and shareable appetizers along with adult beverages like beer, cider, mead, and cocktails.

Seattle Pinball Museum

Have an all-you-can-play pinball day at a clever International District museum.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (206) 623-0759 | Website | Hours: 12 pm – 6 pm Thurs & Sun, 12 pm – 8 pm Fri-Sat, Closed Tues & Wed | Entrance: $23 adults, $20 kids ages 7-14

Need a place where game-loving kids won’t want to leave? The Seattle Pinball Museum in the International District is a good bet. This small museum is full of over 50 vintage and modern pinball machines. Just pay the admission fee and you can play as many rounds of pinball as you like.

There are snacks and drinks available (including local beers and ciders), so you can munch, sip, and play for a while. The minimum age to play is 7, so skip this spot if you’re visiting with young children.

Chihuly Garden and Glass

Check out intricate glass art and watch glass-blowing demos.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (206) 753-4940 | Website | Hours: 9 am – 9:30 pm Mon-Wed, 9 am – 6 pm Thu, 8:30 am – 6 Fri, 8:30 am – 9:30 pm Sat-Sun (hours change seasonally, check ahead) | Entrance: $35-42.50 adults, $30-37.50 youth ages 5-12, free children 4 and under | 👉 Space Needle and Chihuly Garden and Glass Combo Tickets

Chihuly Garden and Glass is best for families with mature kids aged 10 and up. A trip to the glass museum will likely be too boring for younger ones (and stressful for adults trying to keep them from touching the glass).

Chihuly Garden and Glass is right next to the Space Needle, which you’ll look right up at when you enter the glasshouse. Wander through to admire intricate glass sculptures. Interested in learning how it’s all made? There are live glassblowing demonstrations right in the museum!

A visit to the Chihuly Museum will appeal most to kids who enjoy art and don’t mind visiting a museum where there’s a lot to see, but not a lot to touch.

Green Lake Park

Swim, play sports, and ride bikes at this north Seattle park.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (206) 684-4075 | Website | Hours: dawn – dusk daily

Green Lake Park is one of the best Seattle parks for outdoor recreation. The large park surrounding the lake has plenty for sporty and active families.

Come for the baseball and soccer fields or basketball and tennis courts. Test out your ultimate frisbee skills in one of the expansive green spaces. A path loops around the lake with lanes for biking, rollerblading, and running.

Greenlake Boathouse has rentals available from April to September if you want to get on the lake. Rent kayaks, stand-up paddle boards, or test out my personal favorite: the water bikes.

Outdoors

Lincoln Park

Play at a forest park playground and swim at an outdoor heated pool.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (206) 684-4075 | Website | Hours: 4 am – 11:30 pm daily

West Seattle’s Lincoln Park is spacious, pretty, and rarely crowded. There are two excellent places to play. Stay in the “forest part” of Lincoln Park for the playgrounds. They’re large and shady with play structures for kids of all ages and abilities. There’s also a zipline and a wading pool.

Down by the waterfront part of the park, you’ll find a long path that’s perfect for riding bikes and scooters. Explore the driftwood-laden shore and watch the ferries.

In the summer, the best place in Lincoln Park is Colman Pool. This outdoor, heated saltwater pool has a waterslide and diving boards. While the rest of the park is usually calm, Colman Pool gets crowded on really hot days. Make sure to arrive early to avoid them.

Discovery Park

Hike pretty trails, explore tide pools, and visit a lighthouse at the largest city park.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (206) 684-4075 | Website | Hours: 4 am – 11:30 pm daily

Seattle’s Discovery Park is over 500 acres and has miles of maintained trails throughout, making it a great place to go on a family hike without leaving the city.

Head to the bluffs where you can soak up views over Puget Sound. Or take a trip down to the beach with pretty, windswept grasses, tide pools, and the historic West Point Lighthouse. You may spot seals, bald eagles, and other wildlife on your visit.

Volunteer Park

Spend a day at a pretty, popular park on Capitol Hill.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (206) 684-4075 | Website | Hours: 6 am – 10 pm daily

Volunteer Park is one of Seattle’s prettiest parks in one of its best neighborhoods.

Hang out at the playground or splash around at the wading pool in the summer. Big shady trees and open fields throughout the park make it a good one for picnics. Go duck spotting in the ponds or climb the steps to the top of the Water Tower Observation Deck.

Volunteer Park is home to the Seattle Asian Art Museum and the Volunteer Park Conservatory. The museum is stunning, with tons of sculptures and artwork to admire. The conservatory is compact but filled with tropical, native, and desert plants. Come in December to see the space decked out in festive colors, along with the model train.

The Center for Wooden Boats

Book a free pea boat rental or take a free ride on the lake in one of the historic boats.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (206) 382-2628 | Website | Hours: 11 am – 7 pm Mon-Fri, 10 am – 6 pm Saturday & Sunday

The pea boat rental program at the Center for Wooden Boats is one of the best free attractions in Seattle. The boats can accommodate multiple kids and adults and are easy to rent online. Boat rentals fill up fast in the summer. Book something as soon as you see open time slots.

Check out the Sunday Public Sail if you’d prefer someone else direct the boat. These are completely free events that are open to the public. You’ll get a chance to ride on one of the historic boats. Hop on a yacht, schooner, or steamboat while a volunteer takes you on a tour around Lake Union.

Alki Beach Park

Spend a warm day playing at the beach.

View of the shoreline of Alki Beach Park on a sunny day — *Alki Beach on a warm day in June*

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (206) 684-4075 | Website | Hours: 4 am – 10:30 pm daily

Alki Beach is one of my favorite beaches in the city, and every kid I’ve taken here has loved it too.

Coming from downtown? The water taxi is the most scenic way to get here. You’ll have views of the gorgeous Seattle skyline on the way over, but you’ll need to rent scooters, walk about 2 miles, or catch a bus to get down to the main strip of the beach once you arrive.

Alki Beach is sandy and perfect for sunbathing and building sand castles. There are volleyball courts, bonfire pits, and a path beside the beach for rollerblading, jogging, or biking. I suggest renting bikes or a surrey from Wheel Fun Rentals for a fun family ride.

Spray Parks and Wading Pools

Cool off during a heatwave at several locations throughout Seattle.

Website | Hours: May – September, hours vary depending on the park

Seattle City Parks open up wading pools and spray parks during the summer. These are great places to bring kids to cool off and play during the heat. You’ll find them at various parks throughout the city, so you can choose one close to you. Bring some water toys, lots of snacks, and towels, and you’re all set.

Out-of-the-Box Local Gems

Southgate Roller Rink

Skate for hours at the city’s best roller rink.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (206) 707-6949 | Website | Hours (Family Skate): Friday-Sunday, hours vary | Entrance: $14 (free skate rental), varies daily

Southgate Roller Rink in White Center is another must-visit spot. This roller skating rink has been around for years. It’s a blast for kids and adults! Go on the weekends for the family skate sessions.

Southgate also offers learn-to-skate classes if kids (or parents) are feeling rusty. Rent some skates, dance to the music, and enjoy food and fun in this beloved local skating rink.

Mighty-O Donuts

Grab sweet treats at this kid-approved local donut shop.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (206) 547-5431 | Website | Hours: 6 am – 3 pm Monday-Friday, 7 am – 3 pm Saturday & Sunday

Mighty-O Donuts is a local donut chain. All of its donuts are vegan and it only uses organic ingredients to make them. Because of this, they’re great for people with dietary restrictions and are delightfully kid and parent-approved.

You’ll find Mighty-O Donuts in various neighborhoods including Greenlake, Capitol Hill, and Ballard. They specialize in cake donuts with a soft and chewy interior and a slightly crisp exterior.

Try French Toast or Raspberry Riot if you can’t decide which flavor to get. Those two are always winners.

Full Tilt Ice Cream

Enjoy ice cream and arcade games in a funky local shop.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (206) 226-2740 | Website | Hours: 12 pm – 10 pm Tue-Sun, Closed Mon

Full Tilt is a popular ice cream shop for Seattle families. The vibe at Full Tilt is funky and laid back, and there’s plenty of fun art to look at.

There are always tons of ice cream flavors to choose from whether you want classic vanilla or ube. Get your ice cream in a cone, turn it into a malted milkshake, or grab a sundae. Adults can have a beer with their ice cream or combine the two for a (surprisingly good) beer float.

One other thing kids love about Full Tilt? The arcade games. Play pinball, Pac-Man, Crazy Taxi, and more.

Seattle Ice Cream Cruise

Ride through the Lake Washington Ship Canal while munching on frozen treats.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (206) 422-0036 | Website | Hours: May 4-October 19, 2025; Sundays at 11 am / 12 pm/ 2 pm/ 3 pm/ 4 pm (occasionally 1 pm & 5 pm) | Entrance: $19-$23 adults, $15-$18 kids ages 12 and under

What’s better than ice cream? Ice cream on a boat! Hop aboard the Seattle Ice Cream Cruise to ride through the Lake Washington Ship Canal while munching frosty treats and listening to an informative guide.

The Ice Cream Cruise departs from Dock 9 at the Fishermen’s Terminal and takes visitors through the ship canal and down to Lake Union. You’ll ride by the city’s floating home community and get a glimpse at the old gasification buildings at Gasworks Park while enjoying your ice cream above or below deck.

This is a great cruise to learn some unexpected and interesting Seattle facts. Hungry before or after your ride? Stop at the nearby Fishermen’s Green Market & Deli for coffee, snacks, and sandwiches.

DubSEA Fishsticks Game

Watch a college league baseball game at a casual, kid-friendly venue.

View of the Fishsticks mascot playing with a kid at the stadium — *The Fishsticks mascot is popular with kids!*

The author Chelsea Booker and her husband at beer garden section of the stadium — *My husband and I in the beer garden section of the stadium*

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (206) 501-7971 | Website | Entrance: $3-14.50 per person, free, kids 3 and under

Grab tickets to a DubSEA Fishsticks baseball game if you want to take kids to a ballpark that’s less crowded than T-Mobile Park. This is a college summer league team that plays at Mel Olson Stadium in White Center. The season typically runs from mid-May through July, and it’s perfect for families with young kids.

The stadium is small and the crowds are more manageable. The whole experience is less overstimulating for kids. Tickets are also inexpensive, especially on Thursdays when you can get them for just $3.

Exploring Seattle with your kids is easy when you know what to do! I hope I’ve given you some great ideas for where to take the kids when you visit. Before you go, check out my list of the best things to do in Washington, which will help you venture beyond Seattle.