Summer is officially in full swing, and that means more families are hitting the road or the airport for fun, family vacations! With so many wonderful places to see and visit in the United States, how do you narrow down where to go for family-friendly activities and experiences?
Seattle, Washington is an excellent place for families looking for quality entertainment, delicious food, and an abundance of outdoor excursions. The bustling city is on many people’s travel bucket lists for a reason!
With so many things to do and see, let’s explore just a few of the best options for families visiting the area. After reading this article, you should be well-versed on all the best things to do in the city.
Culinary Experiences for The Family
Seattle is often referred to as one of the best cities for fresh, high-quality seafood. Sitting right on Puget Sound, the city has constant access to a large variety of fish and shellfish that is readily available to tourists and locals alike in restaurants across the city.
Seafood is not the only food that Seattle does well. The city is full of excellent restaurants, coffee shops, and markets that all offer exciting culinary experiences.
Pike Place Market
Perhaps one of the most well-known places to visit in Seattle, Pike Place Market is steeped in history and is home to hundreds of local vendors, crafters, and small businesses.
It was founded in 1907 and, over the course of the last century, has become known by many as the “soul of Seattle.” This market is the perfect place to explore with your family and grab a bite to eat.
You can find anything from baked goods, sit-down dining with foods from all over the world, local, fresh produce and seafood, and much more! You can also pay a visit to the very first Starbucks, which is located in the market.
Seattle Dog Carts
Another food item Seattle is known for is the Seattle dog. What is that, you might ask. The Seattle dog is a concoction of a hot dog with any number of condiments, but it’s the addition of cream cheese that sets it apart.
There are numerous places around Seattle where you can experience this culinary delight. Local street vendors are probably the most popular way to indulge in a Seattle dog. You can walk up to any one of them, and most are open late into the night, so you’ll be able to grab one whenever the craving hits.
Food Tours
Food tours have become a very popular thing to do when visiting any new city. Seattle is no exception. There are different types of tours that cater to various culinary interests and experiences, so you can be sure there will be one that the whole family will enjoy.
Want to experience Pike Place Market with a guided tour? There is a food tour for that. Eat Seattle, for example, offers chef-guided food tours through the market, so you’ll hit all the best vendors and try can’t-miss foods and produce.
There are food tours that offer a mixture of outdoor adventure and fantastic foods if that sounds more appealing. The options are endless!
Seafood Experiences
As stated above, Seattle really is one of the best places to try seafood. There’s no shortage of restaurants serving a variety of dishes made with fresh, locally caught fish and more, such as Pike Place Chowder or Seattle Fish Guys.
Pike Place Market is a great place to try and purchase quality seafood as well. Or, if you have some spare time, you can head down to the docks and purchase fish from the people who caught them.
Outdoor Activities and Entertainment Fun
Seattle sits in the pacific northwest region of the country, which has sprawling mountains, lush forests, and the ocean, all within driving distance of the city. There are plenty of options that the whole family will enjoy!
Whale Watching
Since Seattle sits on the Puget Sound, water activities are hugely popular with both visitors and locals. Whale watching is one of the activities that are great for families, and many companies in the area provide tours daily, such as Island Adventures Whale Watching.
Hiking
Hiking is a wonderful activity for those more adventurous families. There are tons of state and some national parks that surround the Seattle area.
Olympic National Park, North Cascades National Park, and Mount Rainier National Park are all easy to get to from Seattle and offer hiking trails and more at different difficulty levels (vacationidea.com).
Boating
Kayaking in the Puget Sound can be a perfect way to spend the afternoon when visiting Seattle. There are different companies that offer tours as well as self-guided excursions.
If kayaking is not your thing, certain companies in the city will offer hot tub boats. Yes, you read that right. They are smaller boats that have hot tubs built in so you can lounge in the warm water while taking in the sights. Both of these experiences should be booked ahead of time.
Live Entertainment
Of course, like any major city, Seattle is full of live entertainment experiences that are appropriate for all ages. Catch an outdoor show at various beautiful parks across the city, or you can experience a live stage show at any number of the theaters the city has to offer.
Museums are also a great way to spend a few hours on your trip to Seattle. The area has plenty of great ones to offer, such as The Museum of Flight, The Seattle Children’s Museum, and the Seattle Aquarium (visitseattle.org).
Tickets to these museums and the aquarium can be purchased on-site or, ahead of time online.
Conclusion
If you’re planning a trip to Seattle with your family, you’ll have no shortage of fun things to do and amazing foods to eat. With a little research and the help of this article, you’ll have the perfect itinerary planned out in no time, and you’ll be counting down the days until your trip begins!