If you’re planning a trip to Seattle with kids, I’ve got the perfect 5-day itinerary for you!
I grew up visiting my aunt in Seattle every summer (it was such a refreshing escape from the Texas heat!) and now I love bringing my own family back to the PNW. Seattle is packed with beautiful parks, hands-on attractions, kid-friendly restaurants, and so many ways to enjoy the outdoors together.
Here’s how we filled our 5 days in Seattle with kids — plus all the places I recommend for food, fun, and family adventure.
Day 1: Arrival, Pizza + Alki Beach
We arrived on a Sunday afternoon ready for a fun week ahead! After picking up our rental car, we decided not to check in right away. (Pro tip: if you check in around 3–4 pm with kids, it can be hard to get back out again — and then your whole travel day is a wash. I’ve found it’s just easier to stay out straight from the airport!)
So instead, we kept our luggage in the car and jumped right into exploring Seattle.
Lunch at Proletariat Pizza
📍 Proletariat Pizza
This kid-friendly pizza spot in White Center has quick service, a small arcade, coloring pages, and even some healthy options — I am officially a Boring Salad Lady so was overjoyed to grab a salad for myself.
Afternoon at Alki Beach
Alki Beach is one of Seattle’s most popular waterfront spots on the Puget Sound. (And it showed – it was crowded on a warm, sunny Sunday!) The boys ran around, searched for pretty rocks, and splashed in the waves. Rumor has it you can sometimes spot orcas out here (we didn’t, but maybe next time!).
After a few hours, we finally headed to my aunt’s house where we were staying for the week.
💡 My Favorite Travel Tip: Order groceries ahead of time and have them delivered to your Airbnb or host’s house! We stocked up on easy kid meals (yogurt pouches, chicken nuggets, etc.) for low-effort dinners when we didn’t feel like eating out.
Day 2: Ballard Locks, Breweries + a Lake Swim
Seattle in August is perfect — sunny and 75°!
We started our morning with coffee, breakfast, and some playtime at a nearby park, then loaded up the car for a day of exploring.
Ballard Locks + Fish Ladder
The Ballard Locks are where saltwater from the ocean meets freshwater from the lakes, and boats are lifted or lowered to pass through. It’s fascinating to watch! The boys’ favorite part was definitely the Fish Ladder where you can see salmon swimming upstream and learn about the local ecosystem.
On the way back to the car, we even found wild blackberry bushes for a sweet little snack.
Lunch at Reuben’s Brews
📍 Reuben’s Brews
One of my longtime favorite Seattle breweries! It was quiet on a Monday, so we grabbed a few tasters and food and played dominoes.
Afternoon Coffee + Playground Time
Mom and dad needed a pick-me-up (zzzz), so we stopped at Victrola Coffee and then found a nearby playground, complete with a little zip line! The boys were obsessed and kept asking to go back for days. (It’s called Ballard Commons Park at 5701 22nd Ave NW, in case you’re looking! Random, I know…but if you’re a parent you know how a great playground can make or break a day!)
Sunset Swim in Lake Washington
My favorite part of this day? An evening dip in Lake Washington. The boys splashed, my aunt swam with my 5-year-old, and we all enjoyed the evening hours by the water. Perfection. *Tip: if you plan to swim, bring water shoes for the rocky shore of Lake Washington!
Day 3: Pike Place Market, Ferries + Bainbridge Island
The boys couldn’t wait to ride the Light Rail, so we took public transportation into downtown Seattle.
Morning at Pike Place Market
We arrived pretty early at Pike Place right after it opened (highly recommend this with kids — it gets crowded by around 10 am). We watched the fish being tossed, grabbed crumpets, and wandered through the market for about an hour before the boys were over it and ready to move on.
I know that Pike Place is usually listed as one of the top family-friendly activities in Seattle, but in reality it wasn’t the highlight of Seattle for my 3- and 5-year-old boys. Just fyi! Fun for about an hours, but they didn’t want to stay longer than that.
Favorite eats at Pike Place Market:
– Beecher’s Handmade Cheese
– The Crumpet Shop
– Pike Place Chowder
Jellyfish Playground at Pier 58
After stopping by the iconic Gum Wall, we walked to this incredible waterfront playground. The huge 25-foot wooden jellyfish climbing structure was the highlight!
Ferry to Bainbridge Island
Next, we boarded the ferry to Bainbridge Island — an activity that’s fun all on its own, as we discovered during our family trip to Peaks Island last summer! The boys loved being on the water, alternating between running around on deck and coloring inside. Oh, and I caught an Orca sighting from the deck! So cool!
On Bainbridge, we did a quick nature walk, got ice cream, and visited Calico Toy Shoppe, a darling toy store with a little play area. We picked up a few birthday gifts for my son before heading back on the ferry.
After our return trip, we took the Light Rail home, ate dinner, and went back to Lake Washington for one more quick evening dip before calling it a night.
Day 4: North Cascades National Park + Glamping
Day 4 was one of my favorites! We packed up early and drove a few hours north to North Cascades National Park for a glacier lake boat tour.
The hour-long tour was stunning — we learned all about the hydroelectric dams that power Seattle and saw incredible mountain and lake views. My aunt kept the boys entertained with games of “I Spy” while we soaked up the scenery.
After the boat ride, we enjoyed a lunch (part of the tour package) and a short nature hike. The boys waded in the water, climbed trees, and (of course) ended up running around in their underwear. Classic little boy adventure day.
The Drive To/From North Cascades
I’d be remiss if I didn’t share this fun little snippet with you! On the drive to/from North Cascades National Park we went through Newhalem, a tiny unincorporated town that used to be entirely populated by employees of the hydroelectric project that built the dams we toured.
The real life locomotive is permanently parked there, and kids can climb and play on it.This was probably the top 3 memories for my kids for the entire Washington trip, haha. They had SO much fun and we had to pry them away from this train to get back in the car to drive to our next destination!
Glamping Near the North Cascades
That night we stayed in the coolest glamping Airbnb with two tents, an outdoor kitchenette, and a cozy fire pit. Here’s the exact place we stayed if you find yourself in the area! The boys loved the zip line on the property, and I grabbed takeout pizza from town for an easy dinner. It was one of the highlights of the whole trip.
Day 5: Columbia City + Farewell to Seattle
We woke up in our tents, made pancakes for breakfast, went down the zip line approximately 1 million more times, and packed up to head back to Seattle.
After unloading at my aunt’s house, we spent our final evening in Columbia City.
Dinner + Drinks
Chuck’s Hop Shop Seward Park – great beer selection and a few arcade games downstairs for the kids.
Machine House Brewery – cask ales for the adults and a few toys for the boys to play. We played a lot of Uno on this trip. 🙂
We finished the night with dessert at Molly Moon’s Ice Cream, trying their famous Yeti flavor (granola, caramel, and chocolate chunks — incredible!).
Good night, Seattle. ❤️
Other Fun Things to Do in Seattle With Kids
We didn’t get to do everything on my Seattle bucket list, but here are a few other ideas for next time:
⚽ See a Seattle Sounders soccer game
⚾ Catch a Seattle Mariners baseball game
🧬 Pacific Science Center (great rainy day option!)
✈️ Museum of Flight
🗼 Go to the top of the Space Needle
🧒 Seattle Children’s Museum
Where to Eat in Seattle (Without Kids)
When I’m in Seattle without my kids, I love checking out all the incredible restaurants and coffee shops. You can see my previous Seattle food trip here, and I’ll be sure to update again the next time Nate and I make it back for an adults-only getaway!
If you’re planning a trip to Seattle with kids, I hope this itinerary helps you build a fun and relaxed trip that’s full of outdoor adventures, great food, and lots of family memories.
Seattle truly is one of the best places in the U.S. for a family vacation — and I can’t wait to go back!
