UPDATED MARCH 2023 but hours and offerings change so check the websites for latest info before going!
Seattle Inside Activities for Kids
PLAY: WEST SEATTLE
Outer Space Seattle: Come in and play on a cleverly designed, custom-built, space-themed playground! A parent or adult guarding is required to stay on the premises during open play visits. No reservations required. Grown-ups are welcome to climb into the playground with their kids. Socks & signed waivers are required for all. 2820 Alki Ave SW #2, Seattle, WA 98116.
206-397-4591, www.outspaceseattle.com
Hours: Monday – Friday*, 9 am – 1:00 pm (Wednesday until 12:30 pm), Friday Evening, 6:15 pm – 8:15 pm, Saturday Evening, 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm NOTE: Hours change when Seattle Public Schools are closed. Check the home page for updated schedules during school breaks
Ages: 1 – 12 years
Cost: Kids 1-12 years old $14 + tax , kids under 1 year free, Adults free
Food: No
Drop-Off: No
Read more about Outer Space: A Stem-focused, inclusive indoor playground.
SKATE: NORTHGATE
Kraken Community Iceplex: Public ice skating sessions are available daily at Kraken Community Iceplex. 10601 5th Ave NE, Seattle, WA 98125, https://www.krakencommunityiceplex.com/public-skating/
Hours: Hours vary. Check the Kraken Public Skate Calendar for exact days/times.
Ages: Open to all ages and skating levels.
Food: Yes
Drop-Off: Yes
PLAY: SOUTH LAKE UNION
PlayDate SEA: An 8,000-square-foot indoor playground with an attached café serving pizza, smoothies and other bites. It features dance floors and structures for climbing and crawling. 1275 Mercer St., Seattle, WA, 98109. 623-7529; playdatesea.com
Hours: Open daily 11 am to 7 pm
Ages: 0 to 14 years
Cost: $14 an hour per child; $18 per child for all day; Adults are free
Food: Yes
Drop-off: No, except for preschool classes
Wi-Fi: Yes
PLAY: PHINNEY RIDGE
Zoomazium at Woodland Park Zoo: Combine a visit to the zoo with a fun playtime inside at the Zoomazium. Explore a mountain cave, cross a rope bridge, stage puppet shows, climb a 20-foot tree at this interactive, nature-themed indoor play area at the zoo. 601 N 59th St., Seattle WA 98103. 206-548-2520; zoo.org/zoomazium
Hours: Daily 9:30 am to 3 pm daily except closed Tuesdays
Ages: 0 to 8 years
Cost: Free with zoo admission (kids 0-2 are free, Summer Admission: kids 3-12 are $12.25; 13 and up, $19.95)
Food: At the nearby food court
Drop-off: No
Wi-Fi: No
ART AND GAMES: BALLARD
Mox Boarding House (multiple locations): Games reign supreme at Mox Boarding House. Games can be checked out for free from a lending library and taken for a test drive in the café. There are daily events offered, such as Board Game Night and Pokémon League. 5105 Leary Ave. NW, Seattle WA 98107. 206-523-9605; moxboardinghouse.com/seattle
Hours: Monday-Thursday 11 am to 10 pm, Friday 11 am to midnight, Saturday 10 am to midnight, Sunday 10 am to 10 pm
Ages: All
Cost: Free games while dining
Food: Yes
Drop-off: No
Wi-Fi: Yes
ART AND GAMES: CHINATOWN
Seattle Pinball Museum: Part museum, part art gallery, and all arcade, Seattle Pinball Museum houses more than 50 vintage arcade games. Although kids have to be older than 7 to play, the flat-rate admission/unlimited game play once inside makes for a perfect afternoon outing. 508 Maynard Ave. S, Seattle WA 98104. 206-623-0759; seattlepinballmuseum.com
Hours: Sunday, Monday, Friday, Saturday, Noon-6 pm
Ages: 7 and up
Cost: Ages ages 7 to 12, $17; Adults, $20
Food: Yes
Drop-off: No
Wi-Fi: No
MUSEUM: UNIVERSITY DISTRICT
Burke Museum: Located on the University of Washington campus, this natural history museum boasts a whopping 16 million artifacts. The dinosaur exhibit is a favorite for children — it features the first dinosaur fossil ever discovered in Washington. 4303 Memorial Way NE, Seattle, WA. 206-543-7907; burkemuseum.org
Hours: Tuesday-Sunday 10 am to 5 pm
Ages: All
Cost: Ages 4-17, $14; Student (non-UW), $14; Senior (62+), $20; Adult, $22. Ages 3 and under are free; UW student, faculty, staff and retirees are free; First Thursday of each month is free;
Food: Yes
Drop-off: No
Wi-Fi: No
MUSEUM: SEATTLE CENTER
MoPop: This pop culture museum will appeal to both parents and school-age children. In addition to exploring current exhibits, they can record their own music in the interactive Sound Lab, try out 20 kid-friendly video games and play with shadow puppets. 325 5th Ave. N, Seattle,WA. 206-770-2700; empmuseum.org
Hours: Daily 10 am to 5 pm except Wednesdays
Ages: All
Cost: Prices are lower for planned ahead visits online; Ranges from around $25 to $35 depending on the time slot
Food: Yes
Drop-off: No
Wi-Fi: Yes
MUSEUM: SEATTLE CENTER
Pacific Science Center: This Seattle institution has educated and entertained all ages since it opened at the Century 21 World’s Fair in 1952. It is filled with hands-on exhibits that kids will love, including a science-themed playground, a saltwater tide pool, a butterfly garden and an Imax movie theater. There’s a special area just for tots, where they can engage in experiments designed specifically for the smallest scientists. 200 2nd Ave. N, Seattle WA 98109. 206-443-2001; pacificsciencecenter.org
Hours: Wednesday-Sunday 10 am to 5 pm
Ages: 3 and older
Cost: $17.95 to $19.95 for youth (3-17), $22.95 to $27.95 for adults (18-64), $21.95 to $25.95 for seniors (65+)
Food: Yes
Drop-off: No
Wi-Fi: Yes
MUSEUM: FIRST HILL
Frye Art Museum: Specializing in 19th- and 20th-century American and European art, the Frye offers storytelling and art activities for children between the ages of 2 and 5 on the first Friday of each month. Storytellers from Seattle Children’s Theatre provide a dramatic narrative, followed by a session where art educators from the Frye help kids create art based on the story’s themes. 704 Terry Ave., Seattle. 206-622-9250; fryemuseum.org
Hours: Wednesday-Sunday 11 am to 5 pm
Ages: All
Cost: Free
Food: No
Drop-off: No
Wi-Fi: Yes
MUSEUM: SOUTH LAKE UNION
MOHAI (Museum of History and Industry): Explore Seattle history from the city’s founding to the present day. Be sure to snag an Exploration Pack when you enter the museum — it includes dress-up items, a museum scavenger hunt and other interactive activities. 860 Terry Ave N, Seattle WA 98109. 206-324-1126; mohai.org
Hours: Daily 10 am to 5 pm
Ages: All
Cost: Free for kids 0-14, $17 for students and military, $18 for seniors (65+), $22 for adults
Food: Yes
Drop-off: No
Wi-Fi: Yes
MUSEUM: SOUTH PARK
Museum of Flight: The museum features everything from the first Boeing 747 to the original Air Force One — but children will really love the Kid’s Flight Zone, a permanent exhibit where they can use simulators and test their piloting skills. 9404 E. Marginal Way S, Seattle, WA 98108. 206-764-5700; museumofflight.org
Hours: Daily 10 am to 5 pm
Ages: All
Cost:Infants to age 4 are free, $18 for 5 to 17 years, $22 for seniors (65+), $26 for adults. FREE 5 pm to 9 pm on the first Thursday of every month
Food: Yes
Drop-off: No
Wi-Fi: Yes
MUSEUM/AQUARIUM: WATERFRONT
Seattle Aquarium: The waterfront aquarium is open (despite major construction on a total makeover of the waterfront area) and features a tank showcasing a wall of Northwest sea life, adorable otters and touch tanks. Toddler Time is free with aquarium admission. Children 5 and under can dress up like sea creatures, paint and play with ocean-themed toys. 1483 Alaskan Way, Seattle WA 98101. 206-386-4300; seattleaquarium.org
Hours: Daily 9:30 am to 6 pm, check online for dates for Toddler Time
Ages: All
Cost: ages 4 – 12, $18.20 to $26.70 ; Ages 13 and older, $25.95 to $37.95; , Infant to 3 years free,
Food: Yes
Drop-off: No
Wi-Fi: No
MUSEUM: DOWNTOWN
Seattle Art Museum: With three spacious floors filled with art from all over the world, SAM has plenty for kids to view. Need a break from the art scene, head to the Knutson Family Room where there’s an opportunity to view a digital interactive connected to American Art: The Stories We Carry. 1300 1st Ave., Seattle WA 98101. 206-654-3100; seattleartmuseum.org
Hours: Wednesday-Sunday 10 am to 5 pm
Ages: All
Cost: 0 to 14 are free, $19.99 for teens 15 to 19 and students, $29.99 for adults; $24.99 for military and seniors (65+), free admission on the first Thursday of each month
Food: Yes
Drop-off: No
Wi-Fi: Yes
MUSEUM: SEATTLE CENTER
Seattle Children’s Museum: Leave plenty of time to explore this 22,000-thousand-square foot play space with a make-believe theater, animal hospital, and grocery store, an interactive mountain exhibit, a separate area for toddlers, and a cozy reading area. Daily educational programs are available and are free with the cost of admission. Located in the lower-level of the Armory Building at Seattle Center, 206-441-1768; thechildrensmuseum.org
Hours: Sunday – Saturday: 10 am-5 pm EXCEPT CLOSED TUESDAYS
Masked up Mornings
Effective Wednesday, April 3 2023, Masked up Mornings will take place on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays. On these days masks are required until noon for people ages 3 and up. Masks optional at other times.
Cost: Ages age 1-17, $13, Ages 18 – 65, $13, Over 65 $11, Under 1 free
Ages: 0 to 10 years
Food: Yes (upstairs – not in the museum except party rooms)
Drop-off: No
Wi-Fi: Yes
SKATE: WALLINGFORD
All Together Skatepark: The city’s only indoor skatepark is home to 6,900 square feet of space, including ledges, manual pads, quarter pipes, banks, stairs, rails and a “vert” wall on which to shred. 3500 Stone Way N, Seattle WA 98103. 206-413-5528; alltogetherskatepark.com
Hours: Monday 2 pm to 5 pm, Tuesday 2 pm – 7 pm, Weds 2 pm – 8 pm, Thursday 2 pm to 7 pm, Friday-Saturday 2 pm to 8 pm
Open Skate | Beginner:
Monday – Friday, 12 pm – 2 pm
Open Skate | Ages 12 & Under:
Saturday, 12 pm – 2 pm
Ages: All
Cost: $5-10
Food: No
Drop-off: Yes
Wi-Fi: Yes
PLAY: NORTHEAST SEATTLE
Arenas Sports Inflatable FunZone at Magnuson: Kids run, jump, and slide their way to fun in the indoor playground with multiple bounce houses. 7751 63rd Ave NE, Seattle, WA 98115, Arenas Sports at Magnuson
Note: Kids must wear socks and parents need to register kids.
Hours: Check the website. Special hours during school breaks.
Ages: Kids ages 18 months to 12 years
Cost: Members – $10+tax per child/visit, Non-members – $12+tax per child/visit
PLAY: GYMNASTICS PLAYTIME
Seattle Gymnastics Academy’s Indoor Playground (multiple locations): During open sessions, children have access to most of the academy’s gymnastics equipment for climbing, swinging, jumping, and hula-hooping! Space is limited and filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Drop-in or secure your spot in advance by pre-registering. Entry fees will be processed at check-in. seattlegymnastics.com
Locations: Ballard | Burien | Columbia City | Lake City
Hours: Check HERE to see hours at each location .
Ages: Infant – 5 years
Cost: Cost is $10 per child. Babies under 12 months are FREE
BOWL: WEST SEATTLE
West Seattle Bowl: Each of the 32 lanes at West Seattle Bowl has bumpers available for kids. Add this to their ball ramps (to assist with getting the ball down the lane) and a large selection of lightweight balls, and kids will be ready to take on a day of bowling. Forget socks? The sock vending machine has you covered. 4505 39th Ave. SW, Seattle WA 98116. 206-932-3731; wsbowl.com
Hours: Check the website
Ages: All
Cost: Beginning at $25 per lane, $4.75 shoe rental
Food: Yes
Drop-off: No
Wi-Fi: Yes
SWIM: SEATTLE
Seattle Parks & Recreation Pools Family Swims: There are eight indoor public pools across the city. They all offer drop-in programs such as Family Swims and Pool Playland, as well as lessons. Ballard: 1471 NW 67th St., 684-4094, Evans: 7201 East Green Lake Dr N, 684-4961, Madison: 13401 Meridian Ave. N, 684-4979; Meadowbrook: 10515 35th Ave. NE, 684-4989; Medger Evers: 500 23rd Ave, Seattle, WA 98122, 684-4766; Queen Anne: 1920 1st Ave. W, 386-4282; Rainier Beach: 8825 Rainier Ave. S, 386-1925; Southwest: 2801 SW Thistle St., 684-7440; seattle.gov/parks/pools
Cost: Ages 1-17 years $4.50; Ages 18 – 64 years $6.50; Ages 65 years & older, Children under one year free.
Scholarship/Financial Aid Discount Pricing- Pre-Qualified* $2.50
Check the pool for hours and details about programs
Adjacent to Ballard High School. Features a 25-yard indoor pool with water slide, low dive, rope swing and warm water spa.
Evans (Green Lake)
A 25-yard indoor lap pool on the east shore of Green Lake, with sauna. Same building as the community center.
A 25-yard indoor pool in the Haller Lake/Bitter Lake neighborhood of NE Seattle, with a shallow section and two diving boards.
Just east of Lake City Way in NE Seattle, this 25-yard indoor pool features a rope swing, high dive, water fitness equipment, and sauna.
Next to Garfield Community Center, this 25-yard indoor pool features a rope swing, low diving board, and separate shallow section. and sauna.
On top of Queen Anne Hill, this 25-yard indoor pool has built-in steps for easy entry, a high and low diving board, rope swing and a small sauna.
2 indoor pools: one w/ huge slide, spray features, lazy river, vortex and gradual entry. The other is a 25-yard lap pool w/ diving board. Sauna/hot tub onsite.
A 25-yard indoor pool in the Roxhill neighborhood of West Seattle. High and low diving boards, spa & sauna, and complimentary exercise machines.
PlAY: SEATTLE
Community Centers Tot Gyms and Playrooms: Seattle Parks and Recreation Community Centers across the city offer toddler gym sessions complete with toys, balls, trikes, scooters, push bikes, and more. seattle.gov/parks/children/play.htm
Locations: Check HERE for community center locations and hours
Ages: Infant to 5 years
Cost: FREE
Food: No
Drop-Off: No
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