8 Fun Things to Do In Seattle With Kids

Seattle certainly stands out as one of the United State’s most unique and cultural cities. But sometimes all that unique culture can get lost on children and teenagers who don’t really have the world experience to grapple with it yet. So if you are in Seattle and you are looking for fun thighs to do with your kids then today’s article is going to be just the thing for you. Today I have a list of 8 of the absolute best activities you can do with your kids while you are in Seattle. And I tried to get some variety on the list so that way you would have something great to choose from no matter what age your kids are.

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But I’ll wrap up the introduction here and get right to that list of great activities to do with your  kids when you are in Seattle!

1 - Waterfall Garden

An Incredible Piece of Seattle’s History and Natural Beauty

📍 219 2nd Ave S | Seattle | pioneersquare.org

If you are looking for something great you can do outdoors with your kids while you are in Seattle then I would definitely check out the Waterfall Garden. It’s a very serene and calming little area in the city purposely constructed to feature relaxing waterfalls with plenty of areas to sit and relax in the noise of the rushing water. And if your kids are anything like mine, I am sure they will be excited to see any waterfall they can. After all, waterfalls feature very prominently in cartoons. Plus this 22 foot waterfall is nestled right in the middle of Pioneer Square, which itself is full of great lodging, arts and music, shopping, and world class dining. So you can go to see the waterfall, but really make a whole day out of it for yourself and your family.

“Gorgeous little hidden gem in Pioneer Square There are little tables to sit at. This would be a nice, peaceful place to read a book or get some work done outdoors. The waterfall is loud, but in a relaxing, white noise kind of way.” - Yelp Review 

2 - Original Selfie Museum

The First Creative Space Uniquely Designed to Take Your Photos and Videos to the Next Level of Awesomeness

📍 92 Union St | Seattle | originalselfiemuseum.com

If your kids love to be on their phones and post on social media then you are going to absolutely blow them away if you take them to Seattle’s Original Selfie Museum. It’s an art museum where all the installations are unique and authentic Instagram Walls designed for you to have the maximum amount of fun while snapping some selfies. Just be sure that everybody charged their phone up well in advance, because you don’t want one of your kid’s phones dying on them while the other two still have plenty of battery left. It’s just best to avoid that argument before it can even begin. But barring somebody's phone dying unfortunately early, I don’t think you are going to be able to go wrong if you bring your kids to the Original Selfie Museum when you are in Seattle next!

“I absolutely love the place! It's totally worth it! There's a wide variety of selfie sections! You can take selfies with all kinds of props! There's selfie stands for those who travel solo like myself! It's unlike any museum I've ever been to. I'm not even sure if NYC would have anything like this. I highly recommend checking this place out if you're ever in Seattle!” - Yelp Review 

3 - The Ice Box Arcade

Fun for the Whole Family All In One Convenient Location

📍 615 NW Bright St | Seattle | iceboxarcade.com

The Ice Box Arcade is a great thing to do in Seattle with your kids if you are trying to keep them busy for the whole afternoon. The arcade is home to countless video games and pinball machines, plenty of air hockey, and even an expansive beer garden so you can unwind yourself for a little while too while the kids are off trying to set new high scores. They’ve been around since 2017 and have quickly become a favorite with local regulars and travelers alike!

“So glad I came across this neighborhood gem. I was at Bad Jimmy's across the street for an event and gladly ended the night here. Games are a decent price and the place has a cool outdoor area to hang out and take a breather. There's even a separate room with more pinball machines and games. They sell drinks and some local artists goodies at the register too.” - Yelp Review 

4 - Seattle Donut Boat

A Great Way to Enjoy the Natural Water Features Around Seattle

📍 1001 Fairview Ave N | Seattle | seattledonutboat.com

If you would rather get your kids out in the fresh air and enjoy some of the scenic northwest’s beautiful natural landscape then you can always head over to Lake Union right in the heart of Seattle, and rent a boat for the day. Seattle Donut Boat is probably the most popular boat rental service available down on the lake. The nice thing about the donut boats is that they are literally in a donut shape. Which is nice because it means everybody  can kind of sit facing one another instead of being awkwardly spaced out around a normally shaped boat. So it really just helps guarantee that the whole family gets to spend quality time together and enjoy the fresh air and sunshine.

“Had a great time on a donut today. The shop is very easy to find and there are plenty of parking. 6 of us were on the cinnamon and it was very fun and still pretty roomy. You can bring your own drinks and snack. It was nice to be on the water on a lovely sunny day. The water was pretty choppy but it was still very enjoyable” - Yelp Review 

5 - Animal Encounters

Western Washington’s Favorite Animal Program

📍 Issaquah, WA 98027 | animalencounters.com

Animal Encounters is kind of a mix between a regular zoo and a petting-zoo. But what makes it so unique is that they offer curated encounters specifically tailored to your interests. You can choose from cuddly mammals, reptiles, bugs, or request any combination of the 3 that you would like. If you kids are animal lovers by nature then this is a great thing to do with them next time you are in Seattle!

“The petting zoo from Animal encounters was so cute! They had so many different animals and explained what each of them were. They made sure there weren't too many people in the petting zoo at once so that the animals weren't overwhelmed. They also provided hand sanitizer before and after you entered. We especially loved the wallaby and baby goat!” - Yelp Review 

6 - The Slime Factory

A Fun Way to Spend the Afternoon In Seattle for Young And Creative Kids

📍 3929 Factoria Square Mall SE | Bellevue | theslimefactory.com

The Slime Factory is honestly exactly what it sounds like. It’s a place you can take your kids where they get to create their own weird slime concoctions. But they really go all out here and turn the children into little scientists with lab coats and protective eyewear and everything. They’ll get to try their hands at creating a few different slime concoctions by following along to the provided recipes, but after the slimes are made they get to take them to a topping station with all sorts of charms and accessories they can add to it. There’s also a whole slime pool your kids can dunk themselves in if they are brave enough. And there’s plenty of photo booths and Instagram opportunities so you can be sure to capture this memory.

“I took my 3 and 5 year old here on a busy weekend and it was so much fun! My kids had a blast showing off their independence (making their own slime) and creativity. The employees there were all so kind and patient. The whole environment was very welcoming and we are definitely coming back!” - Yelp Review 

7 - Hourglass Escapes

A Great Thing to Do In Seattle With Kids A Bit Older

📍 3131 Western Ave | Seattle | hourglassescapes.com

If your kids are in their pretteen/teen years then you should definitely consider taking them to Hourglass Escapes. It's an award winning immersive escape room experience that will surely create plenty of lasting memories for you and your family. They offer a bunch of differently themed escape rooms so just be sure to book ahead to make sure you can get the one you want. 

And I know plenty of people out there don’t think an escape room sounds fun, I know I was one of them until just a few weeks ago when I did my first escape room with friends and it was a ton of fun. I really think your whole family will enjoy the experience and all the teamwork required to succeed can be a real bonding exercise.

“We did the Mystery at Innsmouth and it was a fantastic experience. This is definitely a must-do room if you're visiting Seattle! Absolutely amazing service, and the room was freaking incredible!” - Yelp Review 

8 - Monster Mini Golf Bellevue

A Classic Way to Spend An Afternoon With Your Kids in Seattle

📍 4080 Factoria Square Mall SE | Bellevue | monsterminigolf.com

I mean it’s always a pretty safe bet that kids will have fun playing mini-golf. So if nothing else on the list has stood out to you, or you’re just looking for more things to try, be sure to check out Monster Mini Golf Course in Bellevue. They have an indoor 18 hole glow in the dark course filled with monsters ranging from spooky to funny, which I think makes it a good fit for the whole family!

“Great place to play. Young or adult it's fun. I tried their mini golf and they said that it's what they are known for.  For ticket prize, they have great option and reasonable” - Yelp Review 

And There You Have A List of 8 Really Fun Things to Do In Seattle With Your Kids!

I hope something on the list today looked like the perfect option of what to do with your family while you are in Seattle. I tried to get some variety on the list because I never know how old someone’s kids might be so I try to make sure there’s something for families with young kids, as well as some good options for families with teenage kids. So hopefully I was able to help set you and your family on the path to making lifelong memories the next time you are in Seattle!