Things to do with kids in Seattle
Crossing the bridge from the Eastside, the easiest plan is to cluster your stops: around Seattle Center there's the free Artists at Play playground and fountain, the Children's Museum, Pacific Science Center and the Monorail; on the waterfront, the aquarium, the Central Library and the ferry to Bainbridge.
The toddler version: ride the Monorail to Seattle Center, play in the fountain and the playground, and retreat to the Children's Museum if it rains. The big-kid version: the butterfly house at Pacific Science Center plus the Ocean Pavilion at the aquarium. To run around, the grassy hill at Gas Works with seaplanes overhead, or Volunteer Park for the water tower and the conservatory.
- 16 places
- 10 free
- 16 stroller-friendly
- closest is 5 min away
16 places
Drive times from Seattle
Ferry to Bainbridge Island
5.0Seattle · 5 min drive
3.5 h · stroller-friendly
$ · Parking: Garages near Colman Dock about $20/day; 10-minute walk from Pioneer Square light rail station
Seattle Aquarium
5.0Seattle · 5 min drive
2.5 h · stroller-friendly · reservation needed
$$$ · Parking: Waterfront garages about $15-25; 10-minute walk from Symphony light rail station
Seattle Central Library children's center
4.0Seattle · 5 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Library garage about $7/hour (cheaper on Sundays); 5-minute walk from Pioneer Square light rail station
Seattle Monorail
5.0Seattle · 10 min drive
1 h · stroller-friendly
$ · Parking: Garages around Westlake about $15-25/day; or the Seattle Center garage
Seattle Children's Museum
5.0Seattle · 10 min drive
2.5 h · stroller-friendly
$$ · Parking: Seattle Center garage about $15-25/day
Washington Park Arboretum
4.0Seattle · 10 min drive
2 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free lot at the Graham Visitors Center; separate lot for the Japanese Garden
Gas Works Park
4.0Seattle · 10 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free lot (full on weekend afternoons)
Seattle Center & Artists at Play playground
4.0Seattle · 10 min drive
2 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Seattle Center garage about $15-25/day; metered street parking on weekends
Volunteer Park Conservatory and water tower
4.0Seattle · 10 min drive
2 h · stroller-friendly
$ · Parking: Free street parking inside the park
Pacific Science Center
4.0Seattle · 10 min drive
3 h · stroller-friendly
$$$ · Parking: Seattle Center garage about $15-25/day
Bellevue Downtown Park & Inspiration Playground
5.0Bellevue · 15 min drive
2 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Small free park lot (often full); Bellevue Square garage free for the first 3 hours
Bellevue Square Kids Cove
5.0Bellevue · 15 min drive
1 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Mall garage free for the first 3 hours
Meydenbauer Bay Park
5.0Bellevue · 15 min drive
2 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free park lot (small, full on weekend afternoons)
Luther Burbank Park
5.0Mercer Island · 15 min drive
2 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free lot
Seward Park old-growth loop
5.0Seattle · 15 min drive
2 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free lots at the entrance and the south end of the peninsula
Green Lake Loop
5.0Seattle · 15 min drive
2 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free lakeside lots (east shore / by the community center), fairly tight on weekend mornings
💡 Good to know
- Downtown parking is expensive; taking Link from South Bellevue or parking in the Seattle Center garage beats hunting for a spot on the waterfront.
- Seattle Center and the waterfront are much busier on game and concert days; glance at the calendar before you go.