Top Accommodations in Seattle:

These are some of our favorite hotels in the various areas of the city if you want to make it an overnight trip.

• Hyatt Regency Hotel ( Down in the shopping district
• The Edgewater (on the Seattle Waterfront)
• Warwick Seattle (sometimes on Groupon if you’re looking for great deals)
• Embassy Suites (down by the sports arenas and Pioneer Square – great free breakfast )

If you are looking for somewhere specific to stay in Seattle, be sure to check out our Pacific Northwest Travel group and ask in there for lots of great personalized recommendations!

If you are interested in the big attractions in Seattle, be sure to check out the Seattle CityPass to save money on those

Staycation Seattle Center Area Ideas

The Seattle Center area offers many great options to enjoy the summer. The fountain at the Seattle Center is one of my kids’ favorite areas to hang out on a hot day. You can then explore the Gates Foundation Visitor Center across the street completely free and much more! These are our favorite free and cheap ideas for this area, but be sure to scroll down for some of Seattle’s bigger attractions also located in this area (Space Needle, EMP, Pacific Science Center & more).

If you want to know more about how to get around the downtown Seattle area, check out the transportation here.

• Seattle Center International Fountain offers both water play for kids in the summer. We review it in the Artist at Play Park review next.

Cheap or free fun:

• Check out the Artists at Play playground, with a 35-foot Climbing Tower, colorful Labyrinth, ADA-accessible Carousel, child-inspired musical instruments, listening stations, sound swings, play mounds, and “story lines” that offer child-friendly amusement in keeping with the mission and purpose of Seattle Center.
• There are many events going on year-round. You can find a schedule of what will be happening on the day you plan to visit here. 
• Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Visitor Center is located just across the street from the Seattle Center (the Artist At Play Park area). Admission is free to this interesting center, which highlights work being done around the world with the help of the foundation. There is parking onsite (if you plan to use paid parking) and there are a handful of interactive exhibits for the kids to not only enjoy but learn at. Our visits to the Seattle Center almost always include a stop in here, and my kids love it.
• I love to stop by the Seattle Grind for their Cardamom Latte (they make a handful of syrups in-house, like this one and a Lavender Latte that is great too). They also have phone charging stations if you need those!
• Frye Museum– They offer free admission and free parking (big perk in downtown Seattle!)Tons of contemporary art and artwork to see!
• Jump on the monorail for a round-trip ride, or to head over to the shopping district and market area.

Attractions in the area:

These are the main attractions you will find in this area.

• Pop Culture Museum
• Pacific Science Center (with IMAX showings),
• The Space Needle is always fun to see, at least once! Make it a really special visit and have dinner there!
• and Chulily Garden and Glass
• Seattles Childrens Musuem
• Visit the Seattle Childrens Theater

Close to the Seattle Center :

• The Center for Wooden Boats– The Center for Wooden Boats is a resource for all who love sailing or wooden boats, and it has things to do for free. Admission is free and allows you the chance to get up close to the collection of non-motorized boats. Free sails take place every Sunday on Lake Union. They also offer free reading time for kids and more!

Visit the Amazon Sphere & Amazon HQ Tours

Ok, this one is still on my bucket list, but I have heard great things about the visits, and it looks super cool. You can reserve your spot to participate in a public tour of the sphere two Saturdays each month here. These are free but must be reserved in advance. You can also reserve a spot to do an unguided tour for free on more dates (can schedule up to 30 days in advance). You will need to bring your id to check in. Be sure to check out the full FAQ here.

You can also schedule to tour the full Amazon HQ campus here (they have a dog park, it includes Spheres, and more). These tours are available on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

The other spot you will want to be sure to check out (and it is included in the Amazon HQ tour) is Amazon Understory. This is their visitors center, and is free to all, and includes interactive experiences as well. It is a self-guided, museum-style exhibit.

Lastly, stop in to check out the Amazon Go Store. There is no need to check out at this store. You just sign into your Amazon Go app before entering the store, and then grab what you want and go. The app automatically checks you out!

If you want to do a food tour in the area, we did the South Lake Union Street Food Tourand that was fun.

Seattle Waterfront – Fun For All Ages

The Seattle Waterfront offers some great spots to eat, parks, ferries, the Aquarium, The Great Wheel, Wings Over Washington and Boardwalks just for starters. You can then take an elevator or walk up some stairs to enjoy the Pike Place Market, The Post Alley, and then you are about a 10 minute walk from Seattle’s Shopping district. There is FREE valet parking available for up to 3 hours when you shop, dine, or enjoy all that the Seattle Waterfront has to offer!

Here are our favorite free and frugal ideas for this area:

• Tour the waterfront area. When the cruise ships are in it can get busy, but there are street vendors out too.
• Ye Olde Curiosity Shop – Ye Olde Curiosity Shop is a store, but also a bit of a museum that has been around a long time!. You can see Sylvester the mummy, a collection of shrunken human heads, and other surprising and interesting items.

• Olympic Sculpture Park – They also offer free public tours throughout the year (60-minute tours), so be sure to check their calendar for that too! It opens up 30 minutes prior to sunrise and closes 30 minutes after sunset!
• Coast Guard Museum on Pier 36– Lots of Coast Guard-related items, including clocks, old uniforms, ship wheels, and much more!

Attractions in the area: 

• Visit the Seattle Aquarium
• Wings over Washington – fun Disney-like ride next to the wheel
• The Great Wheel on the waterfront
• Water Tours (like on the Argosy to see Tillicum Village, take a ferry, or book the Victoria Clipper)!

Here is a video of the Sunset Tour if you want to do that from the waterfront! We also have this review of visiting Tillicum Village. It is a little older, so some things may have chaged, but it will give you an idea of what the tour is like to see if you want to do it.

And catch the FREE watefront shuttle to get from one end to the other if you want as well.

Then Head Up To The Market!

There are a couple of ways to access the market from the waterfront, or vice versa. The most popular way is the stairs and elevator in the new overlook they installed in 2024. You will find this near the aquarium, and it provides easy access between the two areas.

The Pike Place Market is full of flowers, fresh produce, fish markets, restaurants, and more. It’s a must-visit at least once.

And don’t forget a visit to the original Starbucks Reserve Roastery while there!

 

Ideas for the Heart Of Downtown

Downtown Seattle (sometimes referred to as the Shopping District), boasts the 5th Avenue Theater, Benaroya Hall, The Seattle Public Library, Westlake and Pacific Place Malls, Sky bridges, and great shopping.

• Visit the large fish tanks in Nordstrom. There are two of them in the Children’s Department. It’s also very close to the sky bridge, which my kids love to walk across, to head into Pacific Place Mall.
• The Original Selfie Museum is fun for those who like quirky things. Get discount tickets here!
• Catch a show at the Paramount, 5th Avenue, Benoraya Hall or smaller theaters. Be sure to grab the $5 Teen Tix offer if you have a teen with you.
• Volunteer Park Conservatory– A great landmark with lots of sights!
• If you love coffee, visit the Monorail Espresso, one of Seattle’s original Espresso Bars and my favorite cup of java in the city!
• Free 90 Minute Toursof the restored Paramount Theater! Come out on the first Saturday of each month at 10 am for your free guided tour!
• Free  Tours of the Seattle Public Library – If you have not been to the Seattle Public Library, it’s worth a stop to view the architecture of the building. There are many picturesque spots in the library, in addition to all the other benefits public libraries usually have.
• Seattle Streetcar – This is super fun for families to explore the sights of Seattle, where kids 5 and under ride FREE and adults are only $2.25 or $4.50 for a day pass (kids just $1.50 per ride).

 

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Check out some fun ideas to explore with kids in the Pioneer Square area in the video above.

Pioneer Square, the Train Station & Sports Arenas

Pioneer Square has a few attractions that can be fun for families, especially if you are attending an event at one of the larger arenas and looking to fill time outside of that.

Quick note on safety – this is an area that should be fine, but I would go during the heart of the day with kids, and save nights for when there is a big event. 

They include:

• Visit Smith Tower or Sky View Observatory to see sweeping views of Seattle (that is the Smith Tower in the video above)
• The Klondike Gold Rush Museum
• Seattle’s Underground Tour (also on the Get Out Pass for Washington)
• Occidental Park or the Waterfall Garden
• Last Resort Fire Museum
• King Street Station – beautiful architecture and a working train station

China Town / International District

Chinatown in Seattle is a truly authentic experience. There are wonderful restaurants, great markets and festivals too! Another benefit of visiting Chinatown is that parking rates are much more affordable in the International District than they are in Downtown Seattle.

Here are our favorite free and affordable picks for the area:

• Hing Hay Park
• Kobe Terrace
• Uwajimaya – Large Asian Market, full of plenty of goodies and an awesome food court!
• Wing Luke Museum (check out the free days below)
• Visit the Seattle Pinball Museum

West Seattle

Positioned across the water from Seattle, you can get there from Seattle by crossing the West Seattle Bridge or by boat. It offers great beach fun, wonderful restaurants, art and more!

• Alki Beach – A favorite local beach, lined with sandy beaches on one side and rocky shores around the corner. There are miles of bike or skating paths, restaurants and coffee shops, beautiful views of Seattle, and more!
• West Seattle Water Taxi – Operates between Seacrest Park in West Seattle and Pier 50 on the downtown Seattle waterfront.  Not only is it a great way to get back and forth from the Seattle Waterfront to West Seattle, but it’s like a mini ferry ride or harbor cruise for a fraction of the cost!
• Alki Lighthouse  – really commemorates the original colonists. History at its best!
• ArtsWest Playhouse & Gallery – a live theater that offers interesting performances.
• West Seattle Art Walk
• California Avenue – full of restaurants, shops, and an old theater for second-run movies!

Museums

Seattle offers so many opportunities to enjoy museums and the arts for free – more than just about any other city I have been to. There are museums that are always free, as well as museums that offer free entrance days. I would also recommend checking out your local library. Many of them offer free museum tickets for library cardholders!

Here is a list of how to get into Seattle area museums completely free:

Always FREE:

• Frye Museum They offer free admission and free parking (big perk in downtown Seattle!)
• Klondike Goldrush Museum In Pioneer Square – Learn all about the beginning of the Yukon Gold Fields and Seattle’s role in their development!
• Coast Guard Museum on Pier 36

Seattle Area Museums offering free admission on the first Thursday of each month: 

• Free Admission To Seattle Art Museum
• Free Admission To Seattle Asian Art Museum (currently closed for renovations, but will reopen in the fall)
• Free Admission To The Burke Museum
• Free Admission To The Museum Of History & Industry
• Free Admission To Wing Luke Museum
• Free Admission To The Museum Of Flight (If you have students check out How to get FREE admission at the Museum of Flight )
• Free Admission To Henry Art Gallery
• Free Admission To The Northwest African American Museum 
• Free Nordic Heritage Museum

Seattle Area Museums offering free admission on the first Friday of each month: 

• Free Entrance To Bellevue Art Museum
• Frye Museum Storytelling In The Galleries – (Frye Museum)

More Free Museum Days:

• Get Free Passes to a variety of local museums through the King County Library programs. You can find these by clicking on the Books & More tab at the top of the site, then clicking “Museum Passes”under Services. Once you choose the date you would like to visit, you will be prompted to enter your library card info.
• Free Family Days At Seattle Asian Art Museum –Admission to the Seattle Asian Art Museum is free on the first Saturday of each month for families.
• Bank of America offers free museum days, where card holders can get in free the first Sat/Sun of each month
• Museum of Flight Free Membership for Students allows free admission for students and an accompanying adult.
• If you have an EBT card, find out what museums that will grant you free admission to here.

Festivals, Fairs and Events

Each year we will update the Festivals and Fairs for the NW article here, with current dates.

Here are the main festivals, fairs and events going on around greater Seattle this summer:

• Seattle International Film Festival– This is an opportunity to view films from famous directors to independent filmmakers, with over 300 films to choose from. Takes place at theaters all around Seattle.
• Northwest Folk Life Festival– Seattle Center. This is a chance to experience the music, art, dance & stories of the Northwest. Activities range from Family Hands-On Activity area, Family Dance Tent, milk carton derby & more.
• Seattle’s Family 4th of July Event – Gas Works Park noon to 11pm or South Lake Union Park 3pm to 11pm.  Both locations are FREE to the public and also feature reserved seating available for purchases.  Both locations will have live entertainment, food booths, and more.  The day ends with the Western Display Fireworks over Lake Union.
• Chinatown International District DragonFest –  non-stop cultural performances including Dragon and Lion dances, Japanese taiko drumming, martial arts demonstrations, the Chinese Girls Drill Team, and much, much, more.  For Seattle’s foodies, we are proud to bring back the 5th Annual $2 Food Walk presented Delta Air Lines with over 40 restaurants offering a wide array of international $3 bites!
• Bite of Seattle –  Seattle Center; FREE admission. A chance to sample 50+ Seattle-area restaurants’ offerings, celebrity chef cooking demonstrations & more. We went to this last year & had a blast trying out yummy foods but it was very crowded & not the easiest to maneuver around the crowds with kids, so this may be more fun for a date night! (Jen)
• White Center Jubilee Days – Enjoy a Dance-a-Thon, Garden Tour, Fireworks, Carnival, Car Show, Parade, Robotics Competition, and more!
• Seafair –  Seattle’s traditional summer festival. A month-long, region-wide barbecue that brings an entire community together in celebration. Events include a Rock ‘N Roll Marathon and 1/2 Marathon, Seafair Triathlon, Seafair Torchlight Night, and much more!
• Bumbershoot – Seattle’s Music & Arts Festival – Seattle Center. This is Seattle’s popular music & arts festival over Labor Day weekend, which features the best in music, film, comedy, dance, theater, visual arts & more. Tickets and VIP packages are available for purchase on the website.

National, State and City Parks in Washington

If you are from the Northwest, then it is easy to take for granted what natural beauty surrounds us. We have a number of parks as well as great programs which run in many of the parks throughout the summer!

• Take advantage of the free National Park Entrance days. And, don’t forget that as part of the Every Kid in a Park initiative, all 4th graders and their families have free admission for a year to America’s national parks.
• Or the State Park free days
• Blake Island – First come usage. Camping available. Only accessible via boat.

(Jen and I took blog pictures from Kerry Park, and that is the view of Downtown you can get if you trek up there. It’s a great spot for pictures with the city in the background!)

• Kerry Park – on Queen Anne with great views of downtown Seattle, especially on a gorgeous day with Mt Rainier clear!

• Oxbow Park– in Georgetown, and home to the worlds largest Cowboy Hat & Boots (known as Hat n Boots Historic Buildings)! Plus you can visit their trailer park mall, indoor beach and more!
• Kubota Japanese Gardens
• Schmitz Preserve Park <

More City Parks:

• Occidental Square – 117 South Washington St
• Hing Hay Park – 423 Maynard Ave S
• Freeway Park – 700 Seneca St
• Pioneer Square – 100 Yesler Way
• Westlake Park – 401 Pine St (they have added a kids playground here!)
• Waterfront Park – 1401 Alaskan Way
• Denny Park – 100 Dexter Ave N
• Lake Union Park – 860 Terry Ave N
• Victor Steinbrueck Park – 2001 Western Ave

Beaches, Pools & Lighthouses – Perfect for Staycation Seattle Visits

Sunny days may be fewer here in the Northwest, but when they show up we have some great beaches and water activities to enjoy it!

Here are some  of our favorites:

• Find a list of Seattle area outdoor pools, indoor pools and wading pools here
• You can also check out our Master List of Waterparks in the NW here
• Find a list of Seattle area beaches and amenities here
• Alki Beach & Lighthouse
• Golden Gardens
• strong>Madison Park  Beach – There’s a nice grassy area for sunbathing, restrooms, and a diving board with diving boards.
• Seward Park Beach- This is one of our families favorites, for beach play, picnic structures, playground and more. Park is huge, you have to drive it. It can get crowded on nice days.
• Madrona Beach
• Magnuson Beach
• Discovery Park Lighthouse

Sightseeing / Attractions

Open Air Markets

The markets are a wonderful way to purchase everything from fresh produce and meats to great flowers and keepsakes. They are also lots of fun to just to hang out and people watch. There are often street performers you can enjoy and other events. Turn your grocery shopping into a fun day out!

• Pike Place Market
• Fremont Sunday Market
• Ballard Market
• International District Night Market
• Madrona Farmers Market
• Wallingford Farmers Market

Staycation Seattle Tips

So now you know where to go…here are some of our favorite tips for saving while getting here and throughout your day on a Staycation Seattle!

• • Marcie In Mommyland shares how the free waterfront shuttle works here, and it is a great resource for getting around once you are down in the area.
  • Plan your trip around one of the Free parking days in Seattle, or when street parking is free in Seattle (Sundays and after 8pm)
  • Find Parking rates here, so you can plan for the best rates ahead of time.
  • Check out these printable walking itineraries for various Seattle neighborhoods, to make the most out of your visit.
  • Consider taking mass transit rather than pay for parking. You can ride a bus or use the Light Rail or Sounder train.
  • Park in West Seattle (free street parking in the neighborhoods) and ride the Water Taxi over to downtown