Visiting Seattle with Teens

Of all the cities we have visited as a family, I have to say that I was most excited when we planned our Pacific Northwest vacation. Maybe it was the allure of traveling to a part of the US that I had never been. The city has so much to offer, with a number of attractions that are especially appealing to tweens and teens. We didn’t get to do all of these on our trip, but #7 is definitely on my list for a future visit. Read on to learn about ten fun ideas for things to do with teens in Seattle.
*This post was updated March, 2023

Be sure to check attractions ahead of time, as some are now requiring advanced reservations or timed-entry tickets.

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1. Take a tour of Pike Place Market. Starting with a guided tour is always a good way to get to know a city, and you can’t go wrong starting at the iconic Pike Place Market (you know, the place where they throw the fish!) Enjoy samples while learning about the history and hidden secrets of the Market. Free Tours by Foot offers a good overview of some of the many tours, including the Savor Seattle Food Tour which I really enjoyed!

2. Visit the Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP). First off, the design of the building is something I’m not even sure how to describe. The museum itself holds great appeal to teens, especially the popular Sound Lab, where we all enjoyed being rock stars in a music studio. Plus the Infinite Worlds of Science Fiction exhibit has tons of cool artifacts from the movies and television. It’s definitely a museum like no other.

3. Go to the Top of the Iconic Space Needle. A visit to the Space Needle, built for the 1962 Seattle World’s Fair, is just something you have to do when in town. Take the elevator up 520 feet to the observation deck, where on a clear day you can view the city in all directions. If you know you are planning to visit several attractions that include the Space Needle and MoPOP, consider purchasing a CityPASS® ticket for discounted admission. Once you visit the first attraction, you have nine days to use the CityPASS® ticket for a total of five attractions. The C3® ticket allows you to visit any 3 attractions (excluding MoPOP). Advanced reservations may be required at popular attractions.

View of the Space Needle - from Visiting Seattle with Teens: 10 Fun Ideas

4. Hop on a Ferry. If you’ve never been on a ferry boat, Seattle is the perfect place to take a ferry ride. Visitors can opt for a short ride over to Bremerton via the Washington State Ferries or a high speed ferry like the Victoria Clipper that travels to places like the San Juan Islands. Make it a day and add a whale watching tour to your trip. The one-hour Argosy Cruises Harbor Tour is also an option to see that view of the city from the water. It’s one of the attractions included in the Seattle CityPASS ticket.

5. Visit the Museum of Flight. Space explorers and aviation buffs will enjoy the popular Museum of Flight. The space is filled with over 175 aircraft and spacecraft, along with artifacts and stories. The website has a feature that allows you to help customize your visit based on criteria like age, whether you are a first time visitor, and specific interests such as Space, Commercial Aviation or Military History. A number of specialty tours and experiences are also available for an extra fee.

6. Stroll through the Hiram M. Chittenden-Ballard Locks. This place is unique for two reasons: 1) It’s not often that you get to watch salmon swimming upstream, and 2) you can get up close and watch ships both small and large as they pass through some of the busiest locks in the US. Explore the Salmon Education Center which was recently renovated. The salmon are generally running from June through September but there is no guarantee. Note that the fish ladders may be closed for cleaning in mid-May. It is also the location of the Carl S. English Jr. Botanical Garden.

Hiram M. Chittenden Locks - Visiting Seattle with Teens: 10 Fun Ideas

7. Head Underground for a Tunnel Tour. For a different view of Seattle, try a Beneath the Streets Tour. The tour covers about 4 city blocks underneath Pioneer Square, with knowledgeable guides sharing history and architectural tidbits along with tales from the past. It’s best to book tickets ahead of time, and is recommended for kids 12 and up.

8. Chihuly Garden and Glass. Showcasing the work of Dale Chihuly, whose work can be found in over 200 museum collections worldwide, this exhibition includes 8 galleries, an Exhibition Garden, and the famous Glasshouse structure. Don’t miss a live, glassblowing demonstration at the hot shop. For added fun, take the monorail from downtown. If you aren’t using a CityPass, you can purchase a combination ticket that also includes entry to the Space Needle Observation Deck.

Save 47% or more on Seattle’s 5 best attractions with CityPASS – Shop Now!

9. Ride the Great Wheel. More and more cities are adding an observation wheel attraction, and many people think the views on the Seattle Great Wheel, which stands 175 feet tall, can’t be beat. If the weather is nice, consider taking a ride. On weekend nights, the Seattle Great Wheel is typically lit up with over 500,000 LED lights.

10. Take a Tour of T-Mobile Park. Major League baseball fans may enjoy a game and/or a tour at the home of the Seattle Mariners. One hour public tours are available from April – September on days where there are no games, with a limited tour schedule on game days.