Connecting Seattle-area families with local destinations has never been easier or more efficient, thanks to the Link light rail. Read on for practical riding tips and some top spots to visit along the way.
Park at one of the light rail’s free onsite parking garages – just look for stations marked with a P on Sound Transit’s station guide. I prefer to park at a terminus station so we can be the first passengers to board the train and find seats together on our route.
(Image: Allison Peterson / Seattle’s Child)
Tickets can be purchased from kiosks or tap-and-go machines at each train station. Adults are $3 for a single ride (good for 2 hours) or $6 for unlimited rides on a single day. ORCA cards can also be purchased in advance for use on most regional public transportation. Youth ages 18 and younger always ride for free and do not require a ticket. All light rail stations are ADA-accessible, making it easy to bring strollers on board. Trains arrive about every 5 minutes, so passengers can board any train at any time without a time-specific ticket.
(Image: Allison Peterson / Seattle’s Child)
Some garages reach capacity on weekday mornings before clearing out again in the afternoon. The light rail can also get busy on days with major events in Seattle, so do a quick check of the schedule before heading out to the station.
After navigating the train station, it’s time to enjoy the ride! While the train journey itself can be enough fun in its own right, checking out some destinations along the way is a great way to explore new areas. Below are a few of my favorite family-friendly light rail stop adventures.
Westlake Station to Seattle Center or Seattle Waterfront
- Train Line: 1 or 2
- Distance to waterfront: 0.4 miles (10-minute walk)
Make your way to street level and decide which direction you’d like to go. For Seattle Center, simply take the stairs or elevators up to the top level of Westlake Center when you arrive and board the Seattle Center Monorail. Tickets can be purchased at the monorail ticket office (youth ages 6-18 with a valid ORCA card ride for free). Choose your own adventure once you reach Seattle Center: MOPOP, the Space Needle, Seattle Children’s Museum, Pacific Science Center, or playtime at the Artists at Play Playground and International Fountain (bring swimsuits if anyone wants to cool off in the water!).
(Image: Allison Peterson / Seattle’s Child)
Alternatively, take the short walk down toward the Seattle waterfront. Pass through Pike Place Market and pause to grab a snack or a picnic lunch from one of the many market-fresh food stalls. Wind down through Post Alley to admire (or add your own touch to) the infamous Seattle Gum Wall on your way down to the waterfront. For a different route to the waterfront, head out through Pike Place Market’s back entrance near Old Stove Brewing, and pass through Overlook Walk with its built-in slides and stunning views before taking the stairs down to the waterfront near Pier 62.
Seattle Waterfront Overlook Walk (Image: Allison Peterson / Seattle’s Child)
Many options await visitors to the newly revamped Seattle Waterfront: The Seattle Aquarium, an ocean-creature-inspired playground on Pier 58, Argosy harbor cruises, and plenty of shopping and dining. The waterfront is also a great jumping off point for a secondary adventure of riding a water taxi or ferry as walk-on passengers. Bonus: Kids also ride water taxis and ferries for free!
Seattle Waterfront Pier 58 Playground (Image: Allison Peterson / Seattle’s Child)
Mercer Island Station to Luther Burbank Park
- Train Line: 2 (Can transfer from the 1 Line to the 2 Line at the International District/Chinatown Station)
- Distance: 0.4 miles (10 minute walk)
This 77-acre park on the Mercer Island Waterfront has enough to keep kids (and their grown-ups) busy all day! Check out the large playground with a zipline, several miles of walking trails, picnic areas, fishing docks, and pickleball courts (Bring along your own equipment if you want to play!). Walk down to Calkins Point Sand Beach to wade in the water or go for a dip (Despite the name, this is a rocky – not a sandy – beach, so wear proper footwear).
Luther Burbank Park playground (Image: Allison Peterson / Seattle’s Child)
Bellevue Downtown Station to Downtown Bellevue
- Train Line: 2 (Can transfer from the 1 Line to the 2 Line at the International District/Chinatown Station)
- Distance: 0.7 miles (15 minute walk)
Visit the downtown core of the Eastside’s largest city. KidsQuest Children’s Museum offers space for kids to build, splash, climb, create, and learn through the power of play. Head over to The Bellevue Collection for over 200 shops plus dining venues, a soft play kids’ area, Cinemark movie theater, and Lucky Strike.
Bellevue KidsQuest Childrens Museum (Image: Allison Peterson / Seattle’s Child)
Enjoy the urban outdoors at Inspiration Playground, a sprawling all-abilities playground with climbing structures, swings, in-ground “trampolines”, and a seasonal splash park. Continue down to Bellevue waterfront’s Meydenbauer Bay Park where visitors can enjoy sandy beaches, a hilltop playground, and boat watching at the adjacent marina.
Adventure is just a train ride away. Tuck away these tips for your own family train trip, and see where the light rail takes you!
Bellevue Inspiration Playground (Image: Allison Peterson / Seattle’s Child)
