Seattle, Washington - Best Family Trips

In operation for over a century, Seattle's iconic Pike Place Market showcases farmers and craftspeople, as well as businesses and restaurants.

Photograph by Dean Fox, Photolibrary

With its lush greenery, Seattle has been nicknamed “The Emerald City.” Located on both Lake Washington and Puget Sound, there are plenty of outdoor attractions. Don’t miss out on the famous meatloaf sandwiches at Three Girls Bakery in Pike Place Market. Located in the Queen Anne neighborhood, the MarQueen Hotel has Old World furnishings and eat-in kitchens in the guest rooms and suites.

Where to Play

Kayak around Lake Union. (You might recognize this lake from Sleepless in Seattle. It’s where Tom Hanks’s character lived on his houseboat.) At the Seattle Aquarium, you’re surrounded by sharks and other fish in the Underwater Dome, a 360-degree tank. There are plenty of interactive exhibits and programs for the little ones at the Seattle Children’s Museum. At the Pacific Science Center, touch creatures from Puget Sound, stargaze in the planetarium, or catch a show in one of two IMAX theaters. Of course, no trip to Seattle is complete without a visit to the city’s most recognizable landmark, the Space Needle. The 360-degree views from the observation deck include Mount Rainier and the Olympic and Cascade Mountains, as well as ferries cruising Elliott Bay and, with the help of telescopes, someone buying a hot dog from a street vendor.

At Day’s End

To work up an appetite, take a stroll around Powell Barnett Park. The park’s playground features slides and climbing structures, as well as a Frisbee field.