Seattle · With kids
Seattle with kids: things to do
| Place | Ages | Why it fits |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle Aquarium | Youth ages 4-12; ages 3 and under free | No kids' price stated on the source page. |
| Pacific Science Center | Youth tier ages 3-17 | No kids' price stated on the source page. |
| Woodland Park Zoo | Child ages 3-12 | No kids' price stated on the source page. |
| Museum of Flight | Youth ages 5-17; ages 0-4 free | Listed kids' price: $21. |
Seattle is unusually generous to young travelers: King County Metro and Sound Transit (including Link light rail) are free for anyone 18 and under, and children 5 and under ride free with a paying adult. Summers are mild and dry (July and August highs around 25 C), while winter highs dip to about 8 C, so the museums and aquarium are good wet-weather plans. Seattle Center puts the children's museum and an interactive fountain close together.
This page for Seattle uses only the operator, transit and climate pages linked below, opened on 18 October 2026. Where a ticket page did not state a kids' price, none is printed here.
Sights and what children pay
[Seattle Aquarium](https://www.seattleaquarium.org/visit/plan-your-visit/). Waterfront aquarium. Tickets cost less when bought at least a day ahead, and Toddler Time is a program for the youngest visitors. Age band: Youth ages 4-12; ages 3 and under free.
[Pacific Science Center](https://tickets.pacificsciencecenter.org/pricing-display). Hands-on science center. Prices are set by capacity, attendance patterns, holidays and events. Age band: Youth tier ages 3-17.
[Woodland Park Zoo](https://zoo.org/visit/). Children 2 and under are free but still need a ticket; online ticketing began June 1, 2026 and tickets can be bought up to 60 days ahead. Age band: Child ages 3-12.
[Museum of Flight](https://www.museumofflight.org/visit/hours-and-admission). Aviation and space museum. Admission is free from 5-9 PM on the first Thursday of each month. Age band: Youth ages 5-17; ages 0-4 free. Listed kids' price: $21.
[Seattle Children's Museum](https://thechildrensmuseum.org/visit/prices/). Children's museum at Seattle Center, open Wednesday through Monday per Seattle Center's summer listing. Prices and ages on the museum's pages conflict, so check before visiting.
[International Fountain (Seattle Center)](https://seattlecenter.com/explore/campus-grounds/fountains). Children can play in the fountain bowl and get close to the silver dome; sprays are timed to music. A DuPen Fountain & Splash Pad is also listed at Seattle Center.
Getting around with children
Child fares. King County Metro: youth 0-18 ride free on regular service; a free youth ORCA card covers ages 6-18, and children 5 and under ride free with a paying adult. Sound Transit: riders 18 and under travel free on all its services including Link.
Strollers. Link trains have level boarding at all stations. Stations with platforms above or below street level have elevators, and Sound Transit publishes elevator and escalator status daily, so check before travelling with a stroller.
Airport. Link light rail takes about 38 minutes between Sea-Tac Airport and downtown Seattle, with trains every 8 to 10 minutes for most of the day.
Transit sources: kingcounty.gov, soundtransit.org, soundtransit.org, soundtransit.org.
Weather in every month
| Month | Average high | Average low |
|---|---|---|
| January | 8.9 C | 3.2 C |
| February | 10.2 C | 3.2 C |
| March | 12.3 C | 4.4 C |
| April | 15.2 C | 6.3 C |
| May | 19.1 C | 9.3 C |
| June | 21.7 C | 11.7 C |
| July | 25.2 C | 13.8 C |
| August | 25.3 C | 14 C |
| September | 22 C | 12 C |
| October | 15.8 C | 8.3 C |
| November | 11.2 C | 4.9 C |
| December | 8.3 C | 2.8 C |
Best months: July and August: the mildest, driest and sunniest period of the year, with highs near 25 C.
Source: climatestotravel.com (1991-2020, Tacoma Airport station).
Where to stay
Seattle Center. Seattle Children's Museum and the International Fountain are on the campus.
Downtown near Westlake. Link from Sea-Tac reaches Westlake station in about 38 minutes, and youth ride free on Metro and Sound Transit.
Free entries and listed prices
Kids' prices that the pages state, lowest first: Museum of Flight at $21.
Adult and resident prices, extra-fee exhibits and promotions are in the sight notes above where the source gave them; confirm the date-specific price on the operator page before you buy.
Age bands to check before you book
- Seattle Aquarium: Youth ages 4-12; ages 3 and under free
- Pacific Science Center: Youth tier ages 3-17
- Woodland Park Zoo: Child ages 3-12
- Museum of Flight: Youth ages 5-17; ages 0-4 free
No age band or kids' price was stated for: Seattle Children's Museum; International Fountain (Seattle Center). Check the operator page for those before you plan the day around them.
Choosing your dates
On the monthly table, the warmest average high is 25.3 C in August and the coolest is 8.3 C in December. The spread between the two is 17.0 C, which is the number to weigh when you choose dates. The source's pick, repeated from above: July and August: the mildest, driest and sunniest period of the year, with highs near 25 C.
Questions
What are the best toddler stops in Seattle?
Children 3 and under are free at the Seattle Aquarium, Toddler Time runs there, 2 and under are free at Woodland Park Zoo, and 0-4 are free at the Museum of Flight.
Where can a family save money in Seattle?
Public transit is free for everyone 18 and under, the Museum of Flight is free 5-9 PM on the first Thursday of the month, and the International Fountain at Seattle Center is a playground in itself.
What can we do on a rainy day?
Museum of Flight, Pacific Science Center and Seattle Aquarium are indoor options. Winter highs sit around 8 to 10 C, and only July and August are described as the driest period.
Do children pay on Link and buses?
Riders 18 and under travel free on Sound Transit and King County Metro; a free youth ORCA card applies to ages 6-18.
When is the best time to visit Seattle with children?
July and August, the mildest, driest and sunniest months according to Climates to Travel, with highs near 25 C.
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Sources
- Seattle Aquarium: official site (checked 18 October 2026)
Seattle Aquarium: Waterfront aquarium. Tickets cost less when bought at least a day ahead, and Toddler Time is a program for the youngest visitors. Age band: Youth ages 4-12; ages 3 and under free.
- Pacific Science Center: official site (checked 18 October 2026)
Pacific Science Center: Hands-on science center. Prices are set by capacity, attendance patterns, holidays and events. Age band: Youth tier ages 3-17.
- Woodland Park Zoo: official site (checked 18 October 2026)
Woodland Park Zoo: Children 2 and under are free but still need a ticket; online ticketing began June 1, 2026 and tickets can be bought up to 60 days ahead. Age band: Child ages 3-12.
- Museum of Flight: official site (checked 18 October 2026)
Museum of Flight: Aviation and space museum. Admission is free from 5-9 PM on the first Thursday of each month. Age band: Youth ages 5-17; ages 0-4 free. Listed kids' price: $21.
- Seattle Children's Museum: official site (checked 18 October 2026)
Seattle Children's Museum: Children's museum at Seattle Center, open Wednesday through Monday per Seattle Center's summer listing. Prices and ages on the museum's pages conflict, so check before visiting.
- International Fountain (Seattle Center): official site (checked 18 October 2026)
International Fountain (Seattle Center): Children can play in the fountain bowl and get close to the silver dome; sprays are timed to music. A DuPen Fountain & Splash Pad is also listed at Seattle Center.
- Seattle transit: fares and airport (checked 18 October 2026)
King County Metro: youth 0-18 ride free on regular service; a free youth ORCA card covers ages 6-18, and children 5 and under ride free with a paying adult. Sound Transit: riders 18 and under travel free on all its services including Link. Link light rail takes about 38 minutes between Sea-Tac Airport and downtown Seattle, with trains every 8 to 10 minutes for most of the day.
- Climates to Travel: monthly climate (checked 18 October 2026)
Best months for Seattle: July and August: the mildest, driest and sunniest period of the year, with highs near 25 C.