Hi friend!

Big cities with kids can feel overwhelming—and honestly, I was a little nervous about safety before going to Seattle. But where we stayed and the area surrounding the Space Needle felt super safe and family-friendly. There were lots of other families around, which instantly put me at ease.

With the right location and a simple plan, Seattle ended up being one of the easiest big-city stops we’ve ever done as a family. We fit in plenty of fun without running ourselves ragged.

Here’s exactly how we spent one day in Seattle with kids—and why it worked so well.

🏨 Stay Close to the Action

We booked a room at the Hyatt House right next to the Space Needle, and I can’t recommend it enough for families. Besides a quick trip on the monorail, we could walk to everything we wanted to see that day, which meant no extra driving or parking stress.

It also had family-friendly amenities, including a delicious complimentary breakfast and rooms with enough space for all of us.

🌆 Stop 1: The Space Needle

Of course, we started with Seattle’s most famous landmark. The kids loved riding the elevator to the top, standing on the glass floor, and spotting all the views from above.

Pro Tip: Go early if you can—it wasn’t too busy first thing in the morning AND it's cheaper too!

🎠 Stop 2: Artists at Play Playground

Right next to the Space Needle is one of the coolest playgrounds we’ve been to—Artists at Play. It’s full of climbing structures, slides, and spots for kids of different ages. Our boys could run, climb, and play while I enjoyed stunning views of the Space Needle and the Museum of Pop Culture!

There are also plenty of snack stands nearby, which is perfect when the kids suddenly get hungry or thirsty. 🍿 🥨 🥤

🥗 Stop 3: Seattle Center Armory Food Hall

This stop was a lifesaver. The Seattle Center Armory is a big food hall with tons of options—so everyone could pick what they wanted to eat, and we didn’t have to wait forever for table service. The kids could move around, and we could eat at our own pace.

The best part? This entire area is packed with things to do—all within easy walking distance.

The Armory is in the same area as the Space Needle, Artists at Play playground, Pacific Science Center, Chihuly Garden and Glass, and the Seattle Monorail (which makes it easy to zip over to Pike Place Market).

And if you’re looking for even more kid-friendly fun, the Seattle Children’s Museum is also located inside the Armory.

🚋 Stop 4: Ride the Monorail to Pike Place Market 🐟 💐

After lunch, we hopped on the Seattle Monorail, which leaves right from the Seattle Center Armory in the Space Needle area. The ride itself was fun for the kids and only took a couple of minutes. 🚝

From there, it’s a short walk to Pike Place Market, where we:
✔ Watched the famous fish-throwing vendors 🐟
✔ Took a quick look at the quirky Gum Wall ​
✔ Browsed a few stalls and soaked up the market energy

If you have time, you could also walk to the waterfront for the Seattle Aquarium or the Great Wheel—both totally doable from the market.

👏 Why this Seattle day worked for us:

• We stayed within one walkable area (Space Needle + Monorail) instead of crisscrossing the city.
• We picked one “big attraction” + simple, fun stops to balance excitement and downtime.
• Convenient food options and play spaces kept the kids happy (and us sane).
• There’s so much in one walkable area that you can easily fill a full day—or come back for more if you have extra time.
• We even had time for a late-afternoon break back at the hotel, which made the day feel relaxed instead of rushed.
• And we wrapped up early enough to avoid overtired meltdowns.

Seattle was such a fun way to wrap up our Pacific Northwest trip—and this laid-back day near the Space Needle was one of the highlights.

Would you add any of these stops to your Seattle list?

Stay tuned for more packing tips, behind-the-scenes travel hacks, and inspiration to make your trips stress-free and fun. I’m all about helping you make family travel as smooth as possible, so you can create memories without the headache.

Thanks for being part of the Travel Tuesday community, and I can’t wait to connect again soon!💕

✨ Want to make planning even easier?

Grab our complimentary travel itinerary planner and start mapping out your next adventure.

​

​

May you LOVE your adventure!

​

Home - Loving This Adventure