Family Weekend in Seattle, WA

Space Needle

Originally built as a cultural centerpiece for the 1962 World's Fair, this Seattle landmark draws in visitors of all ages. It was constructed to represent humanity's Space Age aspirations and stands at 605 feet in the air. Once atop the sauce-shaped "top-house", visitors can take in the 360-degree panoramic views of the city, as well as Mount Rainier, the Cascades and the Olympic Mountain ranges. Open year-round and transportation from downtown is now easier and quicker with the new Monorail system.

Artists at Play Playground

Following a visit to the Space Needle, follow the walking signs north to this fun and quirky playground. Cool slides and climbing structures made this a favorite stop for our family. Rain sticks, a carousel and various types of swings also make this a good option for children between 3–10 years old.

Pacific Science Center

Make the most of your visit to this diverse museum by planning to spend most of the day here. With a tropical butterfly house and a salt-water tide pool, exhibits are captivating and engaging. Little ones can enjoy water play, musical composition and science exploration in the Just For Tots area. Older kids can journey back in time with the dinosaurs, put their engineering skills to use in the Tinker Tank and find their place in space and beyond in Destination: Outer Space.

Pike Place Market

Foodies and non-foodies alike will revel in all the delicious things to consume. Pike Place is loaded with fresh food vendors ranging from local fruits, honey, fish and meats, dry goods, and jarred goods. There are also plenty of craft vendors selling their handmade treasures — a perfect opportunity to pick up a unique souvenir. With so much going on, don't miss out on the performing artists — sometimes balloon artists, sometimes Elvis impersonators. If you dine at one of the restaurants, you may want to opt for a grab-and-go dessert from one of the vendors to enjoy at the picnic tables along the pier for a stunning view of Elliott Bay. Our selections came from Three Girls Bakery, Le Lanier (directly across the street from the actual market), Daily Dozen Doughnut Co. and a bag of popcorn from Cobb's for later.

Gum Wall

What Seattle guide does not mention the Gum Wall? Grossed out by the smell and mere idea of walking all over other people's gum, we decided to skip this stop, but when we walked past, it was buzzing with visitors. It can be fun to stick your chewed gum on a designated place on the wall, take a selfie and tip-toe away. If you want to leave your mark, do so before or after visiting the Market — it's right underneath the main entrance.

Klondike Gold Rush National Historic Park

This was our family's favorite stop! Located on the corner of 2nd Avenue and Jackson, this free and self-guided museum details Seattle's involvement in the 1890 gold rush. There are two floors for the exhibit, a scale where you can weigh your worth in gold and a 20-minute movie that sums everything up. Plus, younger visitors can earn their Junior Ranger badges.

Tide Pooling at Golden Gardens

Just seven miles north of Pike Place Market, lies Golden Gardens, a public park sprawling with hiking trails, sandy beaches, two wetlands, a rugged coastline and even a separate off-leash area for dogs. If driving, park at the northern end of the lot, then walk past the turtle pond and around the bend for the best pools. Look out for piddock clams spitting out water, green anemones and mottled sea stars in shades of orange, brown, red and purple clinging to rocks. Pro tip: always check the tide levels and visit the pools when the tide is below sea level. NOAA Tides and Currents is the site we use to check levels.

Day trip

Day Trip to Port Angeles in Olympic National Park

This is an outdoor day trip focused on exploring the hiking trails in the town of Port Angeles, in the northern part of Olympic National Park. Rent a car and drive just 2.5 hours northwest to the town of Port Angeles on the Olympic Peninsula. Get an early start and leave Seattle on the Bainbridge Ferry, which will cross the Puget Sound to Bainbridge Island. Once on the island, you will follow route 101 to Port Angeles. It may seem complicated, but it's actually quite easy and there is plenty of signage to guide you. The kids will love driving the car onto the ferry, parking and going to the second floor of the ferry for the views and then driving the car off the boat. There is a snack shop with coffee, hot chocolate, fruit, cheese and meat boxes, cereals, pre-made sandwiches and soups on the boat. Lake Angeles Trail, Waterfront Trail, Olympic Discovery Trail, Lake Crescent and Madison Falls Trail are all within a 30-minute drive from town. We opted to explore Lake Crescent, a calm, pristine lake surrounded by several hiking trails into a forest area. The water is clean and clear enough to swim in, though a bit cold. And there are bathrooms at the parking lot. Pro Tip: Grab sandwiches from one of the local shops in Port Angeles before heading to the trails. There aren't many dining options and you don't want to drive back until you're ready to head home.

Coffee + breakfast

Victrola Roasters

We are heavy morning coffee drinkers, but light breakfast eaters, so this was a perfect spot for our group. With a location just down the street from us, we grabbed a couple rounds of coffee and light breakfast fare that we took with us on the go. The kids enjoyed ham & cheese croissants, blueberry bread, slices of quiche and breakfast sandwiches. Their menu also included a variety of bagels, salads, turkey, tuna and veggie sandwiches, and an array of sweets like cinnamon rolls, scones and danishes. We didn't try any but all looked delicious. The cafes are spacious with plenty of sitting room, and if you're tight on time, you can order ahead online.

Lunch

Beecher's Handmade Cheese

This Seattle staple offers a cheese-centric menu where grilled cheese sandwiches and macaroni and cheese are favorites. There is a counter for standing room with a view of the professional cheesemakers hard at work. Or, opt to grab-and-go and picnic across the street along the pier. Stop back in to take some pre-made meals and a selection of cheese back home.

Ivar's

On Pier 54, Ivar's flagship restaurant has been serving locals and visitors alike since 1938. We can feel the history as you walk through the space on your way to your table. Although the service we received was not memorable, the food was definitely a hit. Our group loved the bowls of clam chowder while the kids gobbled up crispy Cod Tacos. We also enjoyed a family-style spread of appetizers, like the Pacific Ahi Poke served with crispy wontons, fish ceviche, Coconut-Crusted Shrimp and Crab and Artichoke Dip.

Lowell's Restaurant

We were torn between Lowell's Restaurant and the Athenian Seafood Restaurant, both located steps from each other in Pike Place Market. We heard excellent reviews of each, and so it came down to wait time- Lowell's had a slightly shorter wait than the Athenian. The line ended outside the actual restaurant, but once it moved, we could see the menu posted on a large chalkboard as soon as you walked in. They open at 8 am for breakfast, offering an assortment of benedicts, tacos, hashes and classic omelets and scrambles. We visited for lunch and dined on Clam Chowder (of course, after all, when in Seattle....), Steamer Clams with white wine and garlic, Seafood Salad, Fish & Chips and their Tuna Melt, while the kids had burgers. A creative and fun Bloody Mary menu is also worth a look — we ordered a Smoked Salmon Mary and a Chili Mary, both unique and delicious. Order and pay at their counter and pick your seat — nearly every table in the house has a water view!

Pack a Picnic From DeLaurenti

One of our best meals was toward the end of our stay when we wanted to revisit the Italian deli, DeLaurenti's, we stopped into previously, but didn't purchase from. Their deli cases are full of Italian meats, cheeses, pickled veggies and colorful salads. There is a wide selection of dry and canned goods, like pastas, beans and caponatas, fresh Italian bread loaves and cookies and sweets. Head upstairs and grab a bottle or two of wine. Pack it all up in either a DeLaurenti or Pike Place canvas tote that you can keep as a souvenir. We headed back to our hotel lobby, ordered drinks at the bar and enjoyed our picnic picks. An alternative is to walk behind Pike Place, and find a spot along the cement bleacher-style seats facing the water or snag a picnic table.

Dinner

Six Seven

Perched on Pier 67 and overlooking Elliott Bay, Six Seven offers guests seasonally inspired cuisine with a top-notch wine list. The menu is simple, but every dish was thoughtfully prepared extraordinarily well. We started with an oyster tower and their BLT Wedge Salad, followed by the Filet of Beef with Roquefort and Black Cod. The kids shared a 'simply put' filet of beef with mashed potatoes. We almost didn't order dessert, but thankfully added their Lemon Ricotta Cheesecake and Honey Lavender Crème Brûlée- it was the best dessert experience of our trip!

Tavolàta, an Ethan Stowell Restaurant

Our family fell in love with the Ethan Stowell collection of Italian restaurants and just so happened to stumble upon three of them during our stay. Tavolàta was the first concept we enjoyed, specializing in fresh pasta dishes with a rustic twist. We ordered a host of appetizers, including the Beet Salad, Tavolàta Salad, Chickpeas and Mussels, and each was equally exquisite. I still dream of their baked Gnocchi alla Romana topped with fresh tomato and melted mozzarella. We visited the Belltown and Capitol Hill locations and enjoyed slightly different menus at each.

Bombo Italian Kitchen is the second concept we came across in downtown Seattle. We devoured the Wagyu Beef Carpaccio, Antipasto, Chop Salad and the Mushroom Arancini before the kids dipped into the pizzas and the rest of us enjoyed rounds of their pasta. The Tagliatelle with brown butter, sage and parmesan, and the Beef Cheek Lasagna were our favorites.