Seattle Family Outings by Age Group
Ticket rules in Seattle depend heavily on a child’s age, so this page is arranged that way. The age cutoffs below decide whether a visit costs nothing or a full fare. Amounts are in US dollars before sales tax, and most attractions price by date, so confirm on the official page before you go.
Babies and toddlers
The Seattle Aquarium admits ages 3 and under free. One ticket covers Pier 59, Pier 60 and the Ocean Pavilion, and the doors open daily at 9:30 a.m. with last entry at 5 p.m. The Puget Sound Fish habitat is closed for renovation from 19 October 2026, so ask at the desk which exhibits are open. The aquarium visit page lists current hours.
The Seattle Great Wheel at 1301 Alaskan Way lets children 2 and under ride free. The Museum of Flight is free for ages 4 and under. Free play is easy to find at the Artists at Play playground between the Armory and MoPOP at Seattle Center, though its hours are not widely posted, so check on the day.
Ages 5 to 12
Woodland Park Zoo, at 5500 Phinney Ave N, is open 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily from 8 September 2026 to 30 April 2027. The headline exhibits are the African Savanna with giraffes and zebras, the Assam Rhino Reserve and the Humboldt penguins. There are no elephants. Tickets are sold online only. Child prices run from about $15 to $25 depending on the day. See zoo.org for the calendar.
Pacific Science Center, at 200 Sue Bird Court N, is open Wednesday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The planetarium and the daytime laser shows come with general admission, using free timed tickets. IMAX is a separate charge.
The Seattle CityPASS child ticket (ages 5 to 12) is $119 against $139 for adults. Every attraction needs a reservation, so add the time slots to your calendar as soon as you buy. See the CityPASS Seattle page .
Teens
The Museum of Flight, at 9404 East Marginal Way S, charges $29 for adults and $21 for ages 5 to 17. It is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and the first Thursday of the month is free from 5 to 9 p.m. The Boeing Future of Flight factory tour in Mukilteo has a minimum height of 48 inches (122 cm) and a ban on photos, food and water. Tours sell out, so book ahead. It is worth a read of the Future of Flight visit page before choosing a date.
Getting around with children
Riders 18 and under are free on Link light rail. The Seattle Center Monorail connects Westlake Center and Seattle Center in two stops. Children under 5 ride free, ages 6 to 18 pay $2.00 and adults pay $4.00 one way. Its card readers do not accept contactless bank cards or phone wallets, so bring another way to pay.
Water, wind and weather
Seattle’s piers and beaches look calm, but the water is cold all year. Keep young children back from pier edges and put a life jacket on anyone aboard a kayak, canoe or paddleboard. Washington requires one for every person on board, and children 12 and under must wear it. Bring a waterproof layer for ferry decks and waterfront walks.
Read more: attraction tours in Seattle lists other paid outings, and the 4 day itinerary can help pace a longer family stay. For other options, search Seattle family activities .