In the Pacific Northwest is a city packed with tours, experiences and fun for the entire family. Seattle might be easily recognized as the home of the Space Needle and Seattle Seahawks, but this city has multitudes of sights, attractions and views to keep entire families happy during a trip.
The city proper has a number of iconic sights and landmarks, including the Space Needle, Seattle Great Wheel, Museum of Pop Culture and much more. Just outside Seattle, Mt. Rainier National Park offers a full day of adventure.
Families with older children or kids who can handle lots of walking will love a visit to Pike Place Market. This market features several levels of niche shops, ranging from a boutique pet supplies shop to a comic book store packed with board games, comics and more. The top level is the most famous from the tourism perspective. If you have ever tuned in to a professional sports game played in Seattle at primetime, you will recognize the fish being thrown at the market. This is Pike Place Market, and the fish are always flying.
The market is also an excellent place for the family to get something to eat. There are enough options to satisfy the entire group, no matter how eclectic their tastes may be.
Nearby the market is Seattle’s iconic Pier 55. These piers have some of the best tourist attractions in the city. The Seattle Aquarium is one of the several world-class museums in the city, and fans of marine life should definitely not miss it. Pier 58 is home to the Seattle Great Wheel, a giant Ferris wheel allowing for great views of the city. Wings Over Washington is a neat little ride next to the wheel. The ride is similar to Walt Disney World’s Soarin’. The big difference is, on Wings, the views are from the Pacific Northwest. If the family wants to see some whales, this is also the best place to catch a whale-watching cruise into Puget Sound.
Seattle is an incredibly diverse town, and the experiences expand well past the shoreline.
Taking the family to Seattle means getting every member of the family to see one of the most famous buildings on the West Coast. The Space Needle is located near several other must-see museums and Seattle stops. At one point, the needle was the tallest building in the world at 605 feet tall. It offers a 360-degree view of Seattle. Recent renovations give the needle a new look, so even if you have seen the needle before, returning with your family will give you a whole different perspective on the historic building.
If the kids are a little older, don’t miss the opportunity to take the entire family to the Museum of Pop Culture. Featuring exhibits on superheroes, horror, legendary musicians and much more, this museum is the perfect place for families to bond over their mutual love of all things popular. Sticking to that theme, the Seattle Pinball Museum is located in Seattle’s Chinatown and lets guests play all of the pinball they want for a flat entrance fee. Games range from some of the oldest pinball games around to state-of-the-art, new games.
If you are willing to take the family a little outside of the city, there are lots of great attractions in the area.
Mt. Rainer National Park, Seattle, Washington © Tusharkoley | Dreamstime.com
If your family is keen on adventure, making the trek to Mt. Rainier National Park will be well worth the one-hour car ride. The mountain itself is not especially remarkable in terms of sheer size. It is not the tallest peak in the country, let alone the world. The mountain is impressive compared to the flatland surrounding the park, though. To top it off, the mountain is an active volcano.
The park features a number of stops on the way to the highest possible point, allowing for guests to get out and take short walks to impressive lookouts and disembark for more extensive hikes. As long as you are in the area, these views and experiences should not be missed by any member of the family.
Seattle might not be on every family’s list of must-see U.S. cities, but that does not mean it shouldn’t be. With such close proximity to Canada, it is possible to visit a different country on your trip Northwest, as well as the rich city of Seattle.
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