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~Hoppin'~ Tips for Visiting Seattle with Kids

by Leap on August 22, 2019 8

With the great outdoors and amenities of a major city, Seattle is a popular destination for families to visit. Whether you're into hopping through the evergreen forests, exploring museums or people-watching at a local cafe, Seattle has you covered. If you're hoppin' over to Seattle with the tadpoles, then you'll need to be fully prepared regarding transportation, things to do, weather and more! Our top tips for visiting Seattle with kids will have you leaping to the Pacific Northwest in no time.

Tips for Visiting Seattle with Kids

Airports & Transportation | Weather | Fun Activities | Safety || Kid-Friendly Hotels

Tips for Visiting Seattle with Kids - Seattle Skyline

Airports and Transportation While Visiting Seattle with Kids

Public transportation is abundant in Seattle and makes navigating around the city fairly simple ... which is definitely good news for those visiting Seattle with kids. The city has the Link light rail, which travels through downtown from Angle Lake Station to the University of Washington. It makes several stops downtown and even at Sea-Tac Airport. Fare for the light rail starts at around $2.25. Other modes of transportation around Seattle include the Seattle Center Monorail, Seattle Streetcars and King County Metro Transit bus services. The buses travel throughout downtown and to further neighborhoods in King County. Four children up to 5 years old ride free with a paying adult!

Tips for Visiting Seattle with Kids - Seattle Monorail

To use Seattle's public transportation, you can purchase an all-day, unlimited regional transit pass for $8 per day (the card also costs an extra $5 when you first purchase it). These passes work for all public transit in the city, except for Seattle Monorail and Washington State Ferries. We've found that if you're mostly sticking to the downtown area, Seattle's public transportation does the trick! Rush hour in downtown leads to horrific traffic and there are few parking spots — which is why we recommend walking or using public transportation if you're staying downtown.

There's also, of course, the option of renting a car. And like many other major cities, Seattle offers taxis and ride sharing (like Uber and Lyft). When visiting Seattle with kids, renting a car is very convenient if you plan on exploring surrounding areas outside of downtown Seattle, such as going to the lakes and mountains or traveling to a nearby town. If you're going to rent a car or use taxis/ride-sharing with tadpoles that need car seats, then you'll want to know the rules that apply to you.

The following rules apply to both private cars and taxi cabs:

  • Washington state law requires that everyone in a motor vehicle (with the exception of buses, etc.) wear a safety restraint.
  • Children under the age of 8 (unless they are 4 feet, 9 inches tall, whichever comes first) must sit in an appropriate child restraint system (car seat or booster seat).
  • Children over the age of 8 or are at least 4 feet, 9 inches tall must use a safety belt correctly.
  • Children less than 13 years old must ride in the back seat.

On Metro Transit, Link light rail and Seattle Monorail:

  • Children are not required to sit in a car seat/booster seat.
  • On trains, be ready to hop on quickly, as the doors only stay open for a short time!
  • If you have a foldable stroller, consider folding it up when boarding trains or buses. It can make the boarding process easier since there are a few steps to climb.
  • Drinks must be covered. Eating is not allowed.

Seattle Area Airports

The Seattle area has three airports that serve the city and surrounding areas. While one is much larger than the others, you can easily access Seattle (depending on where you are flying from) from them.

Seattle-Tacoma International Airpot (SEA) is about 13 miles south of downtown Seattle and is the largest airport in the Seattle area. Sea-Tac has three terminals that are connected through the Satellite Transit System. To access Seattle from this airport, you can reserve a ride-share, grab a taxi, rent a car or hop on the bus. You can also board the Link light rail from Sea-Tac to get to downtown.

Seattle Boeing Field Airport (BFI) is a much smaller airport than Sea-Tac. Most people that fly into this airport are coming from the Pacific Northwest or Canada. BFI is only 5 miles from downtown Seattle, so if you're visiting Seattle with kids from either of the regions that usually fly into BFI, then you might consider this airport over Sea-Tac. This airport is also home to the Museum of Flight; check it out if you decide to fly to BFI.

Paine Field Snowhomish County Airport (PAE) is smaller than BFI. It's about 35 miles north of Seattle. Its passenger terminal is brand new and smaller (plus it has a fancy modern design), but it has some major airlines such as United and Alaska flying in.

Know the Weather Before Visiting Seattle with Kids

It's no secret that Seattle is known for its rainy and foggy days! So when visiting Seattle with kids, you'll need to be fully prepared on what to pack. Bring plenty of rain gear: umbrellas, rain jackets, durable/waterproof shoes and ponchos. If you're visiting during the months of January and February, pack winter gear (coat, hat, gloves, boots, etc.). These are usually the coldest months for Seattle.

Tips for Visiting Seattle with Kids - Rainy Seattle

When visiting Seattle with kids during warmer months (such as April and May), the days usually start off cooler and then warm up to pleasant temperatures. You'll still want to pack some layers, but it'll definitely be warmer during these months. For summer (June, July and August), pack shorts, sandals and cool shirts. Always bring a light sweater. While Seattle isn't exactly known to be scorching hot during the summer, you should still bring items such as sunscreen if you're vacationing then.

Fun Activities for Visiting Seattle with Kids

Hop on a Tour

Do you love chocolate as much as we do (and as much as our tadpoles do)? Then the Chocolate Indulgence Tour is right up your alley! The tour makes stops for all of the chocolatey desserts you can imagine, including cupcakes, cheesecake and tons more. This is a great activity for parents and tadpoles alike; you can't go wrong with chocolate.

The Pike Place Market is an iconic attraction of Seattle and can also include interesting information about the city itself. There's no better way to get to know a new city than hopping on a tour (whether it's by foot, bus or Segway)!

Visit a Museum

There are dozens of fun and educational museums located all around Seattle. We frogs definitely recommend hopping over to a museum (or two) when visiting Seattle with kids. Everyone in the family will have a blast at the Pacific Science Center, where you can visit the Saltwater Tide Pool, get up close with butterflies at the Tropical Butterfly House and more.

Tips for Visiting Seattle with Kids - Museum of Flight

The Museum of Flight is also a frogtastic way to spend the afternoon. You and your tadpoles can learn more about the history of flight, starting with the Wright brothers, and see over 175 air and spacecraft. For a unique type of museum, hop over to the Seattle Pinball Museum. Relive the nostalgic days of pinball arcades while you and the kids play on a selection of over 50 pinball machines!

Enjoy the Outdoors

Seattle is a gorgeous city with plenty of natural beauty to be seen and explored. Getting outside is a perfect way to let the tadpoles burn off some energy and get some vitamin D. Enjoy the outdoor green space at Green Lake Park. The park offers boating, swimming, kayaking, rowing and more. The park is also home to lots of local wildlife; it's a great place for bird-watching!

Tips for Visiting Seattle with Kids - Green Lake Park

Spend a pleasant afternoon with the animals at the Woodland Park Zoo. Tadpoles will love seeing all types of animals, from red pandas to mountain goats. Hop over to Discovery Park for miles of beach trails and walking paths. At Discovery Park, you'll also find a lighthouse that dates back to 1881! You'll get picturesque views of the Olympic Mountains, sea cliffs, forests and more.

Be Street Smart When Visiting Seattle with Kids

When visiting any new city, you should be aware of your surroundings and stay close together. Here are some general safety tips for visiting Seattle with kids:

  • Hold hands.
  • Look both ways when crossing the streets, as traffic may be coming from the left or right on a one-way street.
  • Use a crosswalk — no jaywalking!
  • Do not assume cars will stop for you, even if you have the Walk signal.
  • Only use Seattle taxi cabs, airport shuttles or hired cars — do not accept other ride invitations from unmarked cars.
  • Keep valuables in a safe. Do not carry money or ID in a backpack.
  • Avoid dark alleyways.
  • Ask for directions if you are not sure where to go.

Kid-Friendly Hotels

Seattle has a number of kid-friendly hotels to choose from. We recommend taking a look at The Westin Seattle. This hotel is in prime location, near shopping, restaurants, the monorail and more. There's also an indoor pool and jacuzzi the whole family can enjoy after a day of exploring. If you're looking for large suites, check out the Four Seasons Hotel Seattle. The hotel also features an outdoor heated pool with views of the waterfront and some rooms also offer views of the waterfront! The Residence Inn is a great choice for those on a budget and features spacious suites and free breakfast.

Have tips for visiting Seattle with kids? Please share them in the comments section below. 

Related: Tips for Visiting Los Angeles with Kids

Keep hopping!

Keep hopping, Leap!
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Apr 20, 2022 at 3:49 p.m. Cathy Says...

Hi, traveling to Seattle but it looks like there are not discounts for the Space Needle or any other attractions. Is that something that you will be getting soon?

Thanks,

Cathy

Reply
Apr 22, 2022 at 1:39 p.m. FrogBlog Says...

Hi Cathy!

We aren't at this time, but stay tuned and thanks for checking with us! :)

Keep hopping!

Leap

Reply
Dec 23, 2019 at 12:31 p.m. Gigi G. Says...

We are flying in to SEA (for a cruise) with 3 littles (3, 2 and 1/2). What would you recommend as far as transporting to hotel, cruise port and then back to airport if we are not bringing car seats. (Very minimal room on ship to store them!). Thanks :)

Reply
Dec 24, 2019 at 7:39 a.m. FrogBlog Says...

Hi Gigi!

Since Ubers and Lyfts won't come with car seats, you'll need to look into a car service to get the whole fam hoppin' towards the port! There are a lot of options, thank goodness, according to Yelp. Some may offer car seats at an additional charge, and a few offer free rides for kiddos under 2 :)

Hoppy planning!

Mommy Frog

Reply
Aug 29, 2019 at 6:37 p.m. K Bohannon Says...

We are planning a cruise leaving out of Seattle. We want to take a day or two to explore. Are there hotels and transportation close to the cruise ships port.

Reply
Sep 4, 2019 at 3:56 p.m. FrogBlog Says...

Hi there!

Yes, there are many hotel and transportation options near the port. Some even have shuttles! The Edgewater and Seattle Marriott Waterfront are pretty centrally located options.

Hoppy planning!

Mommy Frog

Reply
Aug 22, 2019 at 4:31 p.m. Seattle Native Says...

Plan on spring temperatures for June. Summer here runs from July to mid-September. Also, Paine Field in Everett is a more useful secondary airport than Boeing Field, with direct flights on Alaska from airports up and down the West Coast.

Reply
Aug 22, 2019 at 12:27 p.m. FrogBlog Says...

This is super hopful - thanks, Seattle Native!

Mommy Frog

Reply
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