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Seattle is one of those Pacific Northwest cities that families keep putting off because they assume it never stops raining.
It does rain. But not the way people think.
Seattle gets less annual rainfall than New York City. What it gets is gray drizzle from October through April. The summers, though, are gorgeous. June through September, you are looking at highs in the mid 70s, long daylight hours, and mountain views that go on forever.
This is a city that was built around the water. Ferries, houseboats, waterfront parks, the Puget Sound stretching out to the Olympic Mountains. Kids feel it. There is a scale to the landscape here that makes everything feel a little bigger than expected.
And then there is Pike Place Market, which has been running since 1907 and is still the beating heart of the city.
✈ Seattle · Trip at a Glance
• • •
🌎 Region: Pacific Northwest, Washington State
📝 Language: English
💰 Currency: US Dollar ($)
☀ Best Months: June through September
⭐ Family Rating: ★★★★★
Getting Around
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) is about 14 miles south of downtown. The Link Light Rail runs from the airport to the city center in about 40 minutes for $3.25 per adult. Rideshare runs $35 to $50 depending on traffic and time of day.
Inside the city, the Link Light Rail covers the main corridor from the airport through downtown to the University District and beyond. Base fare is $2.25 to $3.50 depending on distance. The Seattle Monorail connects downtown Westlake Center to Seattle Center (Space Needle area) in about two minutes for $3.50.
Ferries are a big part of getting around the region. Washington State Ferries run from downtown to Bainbridge Island and Bremerton. The Bainbridge crossing takes 35 minutes and costs $9.45 per adult. Kids under 5 ride free.
You do not need a car if you are staying in the city. Between the light rail, buses, ferries, and rideshare, everything is covered. If you want to do day trips to Mount Rainier or the San Juan Islands, rent a car for those days.
Link Light Rail from SEA
Airport to downtown Westlake Station, about 40 minutes. $3.25 adults, $1.50 youth (6 to 18). Trains run every 8 to 15 minutes.
Washington State Ferries — Downtown Seattle to Bainbridge Island, 35 minutes. $9.45 adults, walk-on. Cars from $16.60.
Where to Stay
Most families base in downtown Seattle near Pike Place Market, or over in the Seattle Center area near the Space Needle. Downtown puts you in walking distance of the waterfront, the market, and the Pioneer Square neighborhood. Seattle Center is where the museums cluster.
Hyatt Regency Seattle
Right in the middle of downtown, a block from the convention center and walking distance to Pike Place. Big rooms by city standards, indoor pool, and a solid family base. Around $220 per night.
Graduate Seattle
In the University District near the Burke Museum and the UW campus. Quirky, fun design that kids notice. Lower prices than downtown and easy light rail access. Around $160 per night.
The Edgewater Hotel
Sits right on the water at Pier 67. You can see the ferries and the Olympic Mountains from the room. It is one of the most iconic hotels in Seattle. Around $350 per night.
Hampton Inn & Suites Seattle Downtown
Walking distance to Pike Place with free breakfast and clean, simple rooms. One of the better value options in the city center. Around $180 per night.
What to See
Pike Place Market
This is where you start. Pike Place has been running since 1907 and it is still the center of the city. The fishmongers throw fish. The flower stalls are overflowing. There is a tiny shop that sells only hot sauce and another one with hundreds of comic books.
Kids love it because there is always something happening. The market is layered, with lower levels full of oddball shops, poster stores, and a magic shop. The original Starbucks is here too, at 1912 Pike Place, if you want to see where it started.
Rachel the Pig, the bronze piggy bank near the main entrance, collects money for the market’s social services. It has raised over $30,000 some years.
Get there before 10am to beat the crowds. Saturday mornings are the busiest.
Seattle Center and MoPOP
Seattle Center is the campus that includes the Space Needle, the Museum of Pop Culture, the Pacific Science Center, and the Chihuly Garden and Glass. You could spend a full day here without running out of things to do.
The Space Needle observation deck is $37 for adults and $28 for kids 5 to 12. The views are stunning on a clear day, with Mount Rainier to the south and the Olympics to the west. The rotating glass floor on the lower deck is a hit with kids who are brave enough to stand on it.
MoPOP (Museum of Pop Culture) is the Frank Gehry building that looks like a smashed guitar. Inside there are exhibits on Nirvana, Jimi Hendrix, sci-fi film, indie video games, and rotating pop culture shows. $38 adults, $28 youth. It is a standout museum for families with kids over about age 7.
Pacific Science Center is the one for younger kids. Butterfly house, planetarium, IMAX, and hands-on science exhibits. $27.95 adults, $21.95 kids 3 to 15.
The Waterfront
Seattle rebuilt its waterfront in 2024 and the result is a wide, walkable stretch of parks, piers, and public spaces running along Elliott Bay. The old Alaskan Way Viaduct highway is gone, replaced by green space and views.
The Seattle Great Wheel is a 175-foot Ferris wheel on Pier 57. $18 adults, $12 kids 4 to 11. On a clear evening, the sunset views from the top are incredible.
The Seattle Aquarium at Pier 59 is a manageable size for families. It focuses on Pacific Northwest marine life, with touch pools, a harbor seal exhibit, and an underwater dome. $34.95 adults, $24.95 kids 4 to 12.
Take the ferry to Bainbridge Island from the terminal at Pier 52. It is a 35 minute crossing with views back to the skyline and out toward the mountains. Walk around the town of Winslow on the other side, get ice cream at Mora, and catch the ferry back. It is one of my favorite half day outings in the city.
What to Eat
Seattle is a seafood city. The cold waters of the Pacific Northwest produce outstanding salmon, Dungeness crab, and oysters. But there is more to the food scene than fish. The city has deep ties to Japanese, Vietnamese, and Ethiopian cuisine, and the coffee culture here is serious in a way that goes well beyond Starbucks.
Clam Chowder
Pike Place Chowder has won more awards than any chowder shop in the country. The New England style is thick, creamy, and loaded with clams. A cup runs about $9, a bread bowl about $15. The line is long. It moves fast.
Dungeness Crab
In season from December through April. Whole cracked crab at a waterfront restaurant runs $35 to $50 depending on the season. Sweet, clean, and worth every bit of the mess. Give the kids a bib and let them go.
Teriyaki
Seattle style teriyaki is its own thing. Every neighborhood has a teriyaki shop and most of them are family run. Chicken teriyaki with rice and salad runs $10 to $13. It is the city’s unofficial fast food and kids love it.
Dick’s Drive-In Burgers
A Seattle institution since 1954. No frills, no substitutions, cash only at most locations. A Dick’s Deluxe with two patties, lettuce, mayo, and relish is $4.10. Fries are $2.25. The Wallingford and Capitol Hill locations always have a line.
Nicole’s Perspective
I keep sending families to Seattle and they keep coming back saying they did not expect it to be that good.
The combination of the water, the mountains, the market, and the food scene is hard to match anywhere in the country. It is a big city that does not feel overwhelming. You can walk most of it. The ferry system gives you this incredible feeling of being connected to something much larger, the whole Puget Sound opening up around you.
For families, the Seattle Center campus packs more kid friendly attractions into one spot than almost anywhere I have seen. The Space Needle, MoPOP, Pacific Science Center, and Chihuly Garden and Glass are all within a five minute walk of each other. You can do all four in a day if you start early, or spread them across two mornings.
The day trip to Bainbridge Island on the ferry is something I always tell clients to do. It costs almost nothing, it takes 35 minutes, and the views back to the city from the water are the kind of thing you remember.
Summer is the time to go. June through September, the weather is spectacular and the daylight lasts until almost 10pm. That changes the feel of the whole trip.
Day Trips
Bainbridge Island
A 35 minute ferry ride from downtown. Walk the town of Winslow, visit the art museum, and eat ice cream at Mora Iced Creamery. The ferry ride itself is the attraction. $9.45 adults walk-on.
Mount Rainier National Park
About two hours southeast. The Paradise area at 5,400 feet has wildflower meadows in July and August and easy trails for kids. Entry is $30 per vehicle. Pack layers because the temperature drops fast with elevation.
San Juan Islands
Three to four hours with the ferry from Anacortes. Friday Harbor on San Juan Island is the hub. Whale watching season runs May through September. This one works better as an overnight, but a long day trip is possible.
Leavenworth
A Bavarian-themed village about two hours east in the Cascade Mountains. It sounds kitschy and it kind of is, but kids enjoy the nutcracker museum, the reindeer farm, and the tubing on the Wenatchee River in summer.
Practical Tips
Weather
Pack layers no matter what month you go. Even in summer, mornings and evenings cool down fast. A light rain jacket is worth having year round. The sunniest stretch is mid July through early September.
CityPASS
The Seattle CityPASS is $119 for adults and $89 for kids 5 to 12. It covers the Space Needle, the Aquarium, Argosy Harbor Cruise, MoPOP or Woodland Park Zoo, and Chihuly or Pacific Science Center. If you plan to hit three or more of those, it saves real money.
Coffee Culture
Seattle takes coffee seriously. Beyond the original Starbucks, check out Elm Coffee Roasters in Pioneer Square or Victrola on Capitol Hill. Most shops welcome families, and hot chocolate for the kids is always on the menu.
Tipping
Standard 18 to 20 percent at sit-down restaurants. Many coffee shops and casual spots have a tablet tip screen. You do not need to tip on the ferries or public transit.
How Many Days
Three days covers Pike Place Market, Seattle Center (Space Needle, MoPOP, Pacific Science Center), the waterfront, and the Bainbridge Island ferry. Five days gives you time for a Mount Rainier day trip, the Museum of Flight, and a slower pace through neighborhoods like Fremont and Ballard.
Common Questions
Is Seattle a good city for families?
When should we visit Seattle with kids?
Does it really rain that much in Seattle?
Do we need a car in Seattle?
Which neighborhoods work for families?
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