Family Vacation In Seattle
My family and I just returned from a 6 day trip to Seattle. My wife and I have each been to Seattle a few times, but this was our oldest son’s first time, so we thought it would make a fun family vacation. We were right. We are avid travelers and had visited many other historical landmarks on previous vacations, but it was our youngest son’s first time in Seattle , so we wanted to be sure that our vacations included fun for the whole family . Visiting family is always a fun and memorable experience. We wanted to make sure our stay was great and that we used this as an opportunity to see Seattle. Here is our experience with family vacation in Seattle, WA.
There’s something about Seattle that calls the heart. Maybe it’s the friendly people or the beauty of the surroundings, but there is no perfect time in your life to visit Seattle than in autumn and winter. The weather is just right— not too hot, not too cold, not too wet and not too dry. This makes it one of the best seasons to visit in my opinion as you can explore on foot without sweating out or buying many sweaters.
Family Vacation In Seattle
If a vacation is what the need is, then you should consider planning a trip to Seattle for your next family vacation. It’s the perfect place to escape from the daily grind, and it has so much to offer everyone in your family. The city is one of the leading tech hubs in the United States and has a reputation for its modern culture and diverse community.
Seattle Washington can be a popular family vacation destination – especially in the summer. The Emerald City located on the Puget Sound is popular as the birthplace of Starbucks and the grunge music movement, but there is so much more to experience there and it can be a really fun place to visit with kids.
Seattle is known for its rainy weather, but you can also experience some gorgeous sunny days. In my opinion, the summer is the best time of year to visit, because you are most likely to experience some beautiful weather, along with full days of daylight. Keep in mind that it may be a bit cloudy – even when it’s not raining.
The average high temperature in the summer is in the low 70s, while the average low temperature is in the high 50s. It can be great weather to walk around, but be sure to pack some sweatshirts or sweaters for the evenings.
Planning around the weather can be tricky. If you know there is a rainy day or two during your visit, you’ll want to shift your Seattle itinerary to do indoor activities on those days. But everyone else will do that too, so you’ll want to arrive early.
Outdoor activities, including the Space Needle, are best done when the weather is clear. Check the weather forecast close to your trip so you can plan accordingly.
Disclosure: We received two free CityPASS passes during our trip to Seattle. This post contains affiliate links and a purchase through one of these links may result in a commission paid to us at no additional cost to you.
Seattle Itinerary With Kids
You may want to purchase a Seattle CityPASS for each member of your family if you are planning to visit most of the attractions listed below. These passes allow you to visit a selection of popular activities and attractions for one discounted price. It can be worth the price if you plan to visit all or most of these activities. Here’s what is currently included (note that these can change at any time, check their website for the latest):
- The Space Needle
- The Seattle Aquarium
You’ll also be able to choose three from the following:
- Argosy Cruises Harbor Tour
- Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP)
- Woodland Park Zoo
- Chihuly Garden and Glass
How Many Days in Seattle?
If you are planning a visit to the Pacific Northwest area, you may wonder how many days in Seattle is enough? While you can definitely fill the days no matter how many you plan, my recommendation is that you include four days in your Seattle itinerary.
You can always add more or fewer days depending on your availability and interest in the various activities in the area. We have optional activities in Seattle and the surrounding area listed at the bottom. Choose these depending on how many long days you want to have.
Here’s our recommended Seattle itinerary with kids – for a four day trip. Depending on the weather forecast, you may want to switch these days around.
Day 1 in Seattle
Day one can either start when you arrive, or your first full day. Because we fly in from the East Coast, we are typically in Seattle pretty early in the morning. But, if you arrive in the later afternoon or later, you may want to start day one after a good night sleep.
You’ll probably want to begin your Seattle itinerary with some of the more iconic activities in the area. A great place to start is at Pike Place Market. Here, you can see the Pike Place Fish Market, pick up some food for lunch or for your room, and check out the gum wall. The original Starbucks is also nearby.
After walking through Pike Place, head through the back and down the stairs to Alaskan Way, a road along the waterfront. There are some fun shops and restaurants in that area. You can also visit the Seattle Aquarium.
The Seattle Aquarium is located right on the water, and offers both indoor and outdoor exhibits. It doesn’t take too long to explore, but definitely take your time checking out the various animal exhibits. We especially love the otters and seals.
Right now, the Seattle Aquarium is open 9:30-6pm. You’ll want to visit their website in advance to reserve a ticket with your timed entry.
Alaskan Way is also where you’ll find the Seattle Great Wheel, a ferris wheel located on Pier 57. These wheels can be fun if you want to see the area from above. It’s not a must-do, but can be fun for families.
There are many restaurants along Alaskan Way and near Pike Place, so you’ll have plenty of options for lunch and dinner. Our favorite is Elliott’s Oyster House, located right on the waterfront. They also have outdoor seating which can be a great option if it’s a nice day.
Day 2 in Seattle
Almost every Seattle vacation plan will include a trip to the iconic Space Needle. Located in Seattle Center, the Space Needle is an extremely popular destination. It was completely renovated several years ago, and now includes The Loupe, a rotating glass floor.
Planning the exact timing of your Space Needle visit is important. For a daytime visit, morning is great because the lines are shorter. The evenings are also great for a completely different view and experience.
Although we’ve put the Space Needle on day two, it’s important to visit on a clear day. You’ll get the best views of the city when the cloud cover is minimal.
If you think that you’ll want to visit both in the morning and then later in the day, there is an option to purchase a day/night pass. You’ll be able to visit in the morning and then come back later in the day for less money than buying two tickets. You can spend a much time as you need exploring.
Make sure you have enough time to explore the Space Needle before moving on to the next attraction. Chihuly Garden and Glass Museum is located next door to the Space Needle in Seattle Center. It’s a beautiful glass museum with both indoor and outdoor Chihuly sculptures.
While my kids (a teen and a preteen) loved walking around the Chihuly Garden and Glass, I probably wouldn’t take very young kids. It’s definitely appropriate for older kids and adults.
During our visit to Seattle, we visited the Space Needle when it opened and then headed over to the Chihuly. We finished there right around lunchtime.
There are lots of lunch options near Seattle Center. For something casual, there’s the Armory Food & Event Hall – a food court with something for everyone.
With these two activities, you’ll have the afternoon free to get in your car and explore the Seattle area. We’ve listed some options for afternoon trips below.
Day 3 in Seattle
The Museum of Popular Culture (MoPop), opened its doors in 2000 as the Experience Music Project. It’s since expanded to more than music. The unique museum is one of my favorites to visit – it’s a really fun place for people of all ages.
Permanent exhibits at the museum include the following:
- Pearl Jam: Home and Away
- Sound Lab (currently closed)
- Hendrix: Wild Blue Angel
- Indie Game Revolution
- Nirvana: Taking Punk to the Masses
- Fantasy: Worlds of Myth and Magic
- Infinite Worlds of Science Fiction
- Scared to Death: The Thrill of Horror Film
- Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame