Top 10 Adventures to Have in Seattle with Your Family
by Amber Guetebier
From an eclectic art scene to world-renowned outdoor adventures, Seattle, Washington makes an incredible destination for all kinds of families. It offers something for everyone, including treats, cultural heritage and stunning beaches. It is the perfect place to plan a family getaway, for a weekend, a week, or longer!
Unsure of where to wind down and relax amidst your daily activities? Marriott Bonvoy’s portfolio of hotels in the Seattle area makes for a comfortable pit stop and are perfectly located near the city’s best restaurants and attractions.
To help you map out your next vacation, here are our favorite things to do in the region.
1. Discover Unique Cultural Heritage
Visit the Suquamish Museum to learn about the first inhabitants of "the place of the clear salt." Discover the history, traditional ways, and contemporary life of the Suquamish. The Northwest African American Museum celebrates the past, present, and future of Black history. Look for regular interactive storytimes. Learn about the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander heritage of the Seattle area at the Wing Luke Museum of the Asian Pacific American.
2. Seek Out Secret Gardens
Discover a hidden waterfall at the twenty-acre South Seattle Kubota Garden. For a quiet place to relax, visit the Chinese Garden on the campus of South Seattle Community College.
3. Explore Dynamic Art
Explore art at the Asian Art Museum, and the Seattle Art Museum. Don’t miss the Seattle Art Museum’s outdoor Olympic Sculpture Park. The Frye Art Museum is a hidden gem for art lovers. And no visit to Seattle is complete without a wander through the Chihuly Garden and Glass, located right near the famed Seattle Space Needle.
Climb the short-and-sweet, pet-friendly Snoqualmie Falls trail (1.5 miles) to take in one of the most iconic waterfalls in the area. If you’re up for a bit more of a hike (and maybe a swim) the 5-mile round trip hike to Cherry Creek Falls is worth every minute.
6. Find the Best Coffee in America
Or at least enjoy trying. You probably already know that Seattle is the hometown of Starbucks, but don't think that's the only brew in town. Seattle is littered with coffee shops, all of which were making pour-over years before the rest of the country caught on. Up on Capitol Hill, there's Espresso Vivace. Near Chinatown, you’ll discover Hood Famous Cafe and Bar, where you’ll find Filipino treats and pandan lattes, and iced calamansi espresso tonics.
7. Eat, Drink, and Be Merry
Seattle is home to hundreds of outstanding restaurants and you won’t have trouble fulfilling nearly any craving. After exploring the crafts, fruits, and flowers, eat your way through Pike Place Market. Head further afield to Plum Bistro, where vegans will find a menu catered to them. Eat your fill of fresh oysters at The Walrus and the Carpenter. For a chance to try the only Malaysian restaurant in Seattle, head to Kedai Makan (they don’t take reservations).
8. Enjoy Breathtaking Views
It stands to reason you’ll head to the top of the Space Needle to snap a selfie but don’t pass up the chance to ride Seattle’s iconic Great Wheel, too.
9. Find Outdoor Adventures & Hidden Beaches
Seattle is right on the ocean so you’ll have a blast kicking your feet in the sand at one of Seattle’s many beautiful beaches and oceanfront parks. Rollerblade, bike, or scooter along a paved trail at Alki Beach. In nearby Kirkland, you can beat the crowds and enjoy the playground at Juanita Beach, then head into the protected waterfront perfect for kayaking.
10. Visit the Animals
Between whale watching in the Puget Sound and the Woodland Park Zoo, animal lovers everywhere will get their fix in Seattle. There’s also the Kelsey Creek Farm, an animal sanctuary run by the city of Bellevue.
Ready, set, start planning your next trip! Look to Marriott’s vast portfolio of hotels in and around the Seattle area for lodging that’s close to all of these amazing activities.
