Family Fun in Seattle, Washington
The Seattle Aquarium is located on Seattle's wonderful waterfront and recently refurbished, the aquarium is a good stop for 90 minutes to 2 hours. Kids can touch starfish and sea anemones and (with a bit of luck) see different animals during feeding time. The scuba divers that swim in a large tank and do show and tell with different sea life and are a hit with many kids.
Pike Place Market is a Seattle institution, and while it attracts a lot of tourists, it retains its charm. Locals still shop here, and the seafood, fruit, vegetables, and flowers are top-notch and fairly priced. The market is open from early morning until early evening but is at its best just before lunch. Stop by and pick up a map at the information booth at First and Pike; and the volunteers who work there are really friendly, and can answer (just about) any Market-related question.
The Museum of Flight is a great museum for all ages, you'll see airplanes spanning the first 100 plus years of flight. Get a look inside a Concorde, the first 747 ever built, the original Air Force One, fighters, bombers, and, well, pretty much anything that has wings or propellers. There's a Kids Flight Zone, several flight simulators, and always changing featured exhibits. The museum is located 10 minutes by car south of downtown Seattle. There's lots of free parking available. Bus #124 will also get you here from downtown. If you own your own plane there are 5 fly-in parking spots available. The museum is open from 10 am to 5 pm every day.
The Woodland Park Zoo is a great zoo within a relaxed and beautifully laid-out park, so be prepared to spend a good part of a day here. Monkeys, gorillas, Komodo dragons, and giraffes are the big draws for us and so much here your family could easily have a totally different greatest hits. Zoomazium is a fun indoor climbing playground for babies, toddlers and pre-schoolers, and a great place to burn off energy on a rainy day. There are restaurants within the zoo, or bring your own food and have a picnic on one of many grassy areas. Bus #5 goes from downtown Seattle right by the zoo. The zoo is open 9:30 am to 6 pm from May 1 to September 30, and 9:30 am to 4 pm from October 1 to April 30.
The Pacific Science Center is a museum full of hands on science fun. Great for kids aged 2 and up. (There's a special play area for toddlers.) The Tropical Butterfly House and IMAX Theater are probably the highlights. Located on the grounds of Seattle Center where there are lots of places to eat. The Armory is across from the center and houses several great restaurants. You can easily take the Monorail here from downtown Seattle. It's closed Tuesdays, open from 10 am to 5 pm Monday, Wednesday to Friday, and 10 am to 6 pm Saturday, Sunday, and holidays.
The Museum of History and Industry recently relocated and completely refurbished, this is one of Seattle's best museums and a fantastic destination for both kids and adults. The exhibits are hands-on, detail rich, and very well done. The museum charts the history of the region though the development of major companies and industries. It's located next to Lake Union and easily accessible by the South Lake Union Trolley. Children 14 and under are free. Open 10 am to 5 pm daily. The First Thursday of each month open from 5 pm- 9 pm with Free Admission. Visit the Center for Wooden Boats next door on South Lake Union.
Ride the Ferris Wheel on the Seattle Waterfront. There are amazing views of the Seattle waterfront and Elliott Bay from the Seattle Great Wheel. Don't worry about the rain. The gondolas are fully enclosed, and hold up to 8 people. Pro tip: skip the ticket queue by buying online. Tickets are good anytime, and have no expiration date. Be sure to arrive with paper tickets in hand, though. If you've only got a confirmation code, you'll have to wait in line anyway.
