Alki Trail

• Neighborhood: West Seattle
• Distance: 7.6 miles (out and back)

Flat, paved, and scenic, with postcard-quality views of the Olympic Mountains, the downtown skyline, and the activity in Elliott Bay.

Alki Trail route. (Image courtesy SDOT)

Chief Sealth Trail

• Neighborhoods: Beacon Hill, Rainier Beach
• Distance: 8.8 miles (out and back)

Expect hills, curves, gardens and surprising viewpoints on Lake Washington and Seattle. This trail has 800 ft elevation gain. Construction: Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) plans to build new green stormwater infrastructure at the intersection of S. Kenyon St and the Chief Sealth Trail in 2026.

Tendering of the planned green stormwater infrastructure along the Chief Sealth Trail, near Wing Luke Elementary. (Image courtesy Seattle Parks and Recreation)

Washington Park Arboretum

• Neighborhood: Montlake, Madison Park, Capitol Hill
• Distance: 2.3 miles for the loop trail, up to 1 mile each way for the waterfront trail.

Contemplate trees in all their variety (there are more than 50 species of maple alone), or take a boardwalk out on the lake to outlying islands. The Japanese Garden, located at the south end of the Arboretum, has an entrance fee but has family-friendly events throughout the year. Closures: Check more upcoming closure updates here that may cause delays.

The trail is stroller and wheelchair friendly. (Image: Seattle’s Child)

Discovery Park

• Neighborhood: Magnolia
• Distance: Biggest loop: 4.5 miles (Discovery Park and Lighthouse Loop)

You can explore meadows, find secret ponds, forest-bathe or enjoy broad beaches that grow wide at low tide. Bathroom available. Dogs are allowed on leash, the path is partially paved. Construction: No current projects, but the Visitor Center is closed until further notice.

Take in the views along this trail at Discovery Park. (Image: Joe Mabel)

Carkeek Park

• Neighborhoods: Broadview, North Beach/Blue Ridge
• Distance: Up to 3 miles

The most popular walking route in this woodsy waterfront park follows the course of Piper’s Creek, a salmon-bearing stream. Carkeek Park has 220 acres of lush forest, meadows, wetlands, creeks, and beach. You can access the beach by a railroad pedestrian bridge that overlooks the train tracks, and if you’re lucky, you can watch trains pass by. Note: The Carkeek Park Visitor Center is no longer open for public use.

Construction: Winter 2024/2025, Carkeek Park Playground Renovation will be under construction. The play area will be closed throughout construction. Learn more about the project and updates here. In Spring 2025, construction will begin on the Carkeek Park Railroad Overpass Pedestrian Bridge, learn more here.

Union Bay Natural Area

• Neighborhood: University District, Laurelhurst
• Distance: 1-mile loop

This area of cottonwoods, meadows, and wetlands next to the University of Washington is a haven for birds and those who love to watch them. More about the trail: Take your kids on a summer nature walk in the Union Bay Natural Area. Construction/Closures: Check for real-time road closures or delays that may impact the drive here.

Dogs are allowed on leash. (Image courtesy University of Washington Botanic Gardens)

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Check out these 7 kid-friendly restaurants around Seattle.

Fat’s Chicken and Waffles

(Central District)

If you’re craving something savory, like shrimp and grits (or red beans and rice, or catfish, or a fried-green-tomato sandwich), or a mix of sweet and salty, like fried chicken and waffles, you’re in luck for dinner or brunch at this Seattle Southern favorite. One of many popular kid-friendly Seattle restaurants, children love the fabulous mac and cheese and fried fruit pies for dessert. Highlight: The honey butter chicken biscuit sandwich. Open now for dine-in. 2726 E. Cherry St.

Elliott Bay Brewing Company

(West Seattle, Lake City Way, Burien)

The pub fare for grownups — rotating chili specials, the tempura fish and chips, and the burgers — is outstanding, and the kids’ menu is about as extensive as I’ve seen, including chicken tenders as well as the fancier grilled chicken with sautéed veggies. (Extra perk: In a brewpub, no one can hear your kid screech.)

Jade Garden

(International District)

Dine in this legendary staple in the International District. The clinking of the steel bowls filled with dumplings, boa, rice and veggies are a delight as waiters rush around with wheeled carts offering that day’s dim sum variety. Pork buns are a favorite kid snack as is fried rice and noodles. For the more adventurous try the chicken feet or beef tripe. 424 7th Ave S, Seattle

Mioposto

(Mount Baker, Admiral District, Ravenna, Mercer Island)

My husband and I are East Coast transplants — and visited Naples last year — so we have all sorts of haughty assumptions about pizza. Mioposto is doing a great job, both with feeding the kids and keeping the pizza real. (Noteworthy: the beet, feta and orange salad, and curbside cocktails to go.)

Uneeda Burger

(Fremont)

With shakes for kids and beers for grownups, it’s a burger place you won’t tire of quickly. Highlights include all the burgers, with toppings ranging from plain to the usual lettuce-tomato-onion to the fancy, like blue cheese and caramelized onions. There are a few non-bovine standouts, namely the Buffalo chicken sandwich, quinoa bowls and the rockfish sandwich. 4302 Fremont Ave. N.

The Comfort Zone

(Columbia City)

A mother-daughter team presents soul food with stellar menu items like fish and cheese grits, hush puppies, black-eyed pea dip, oxtails with rice and a variety of po’ boy sandwiches. (Pickier kids love the mac and cheese and cornbread.) 5016 Rainier Ave. S.

Issian Japanese Stonegrill

(Wallingford)

A great adult restaurant you can also take little ones to. Our gourmet child’s favorites have included chirashi don (sashimi on rice), takoyaki (fried octopus dumplings) and grilled baby octopus on a stick, while the fussy one sticks happily with other izakaya fare like yakitori (grilled chicken on a skewer), JFC (Japanese fried chicken) and gyoza. 1618 N. 45th St.

Published July 2020; updated for 2022

For more places to go and things to see check out our 66 days of summer ideas

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Washington Park Arboretum | 2300 Arboretum Drive E. Seattle WA 98112 | Open: Dawn to 8 p.m. | With 230 acres of trails and plant life on the shores of Lake Washington, many species found only at the park, your family will enjoy a day of exploration, discovery and nature. Dogs on leash are allowed.

The Arboretum is open every day until 8 p.m., located at 2300 Arboretum Drive E. in Seattle. (Image: UW.edu)

Kubota Garden | 10915 51st Ave S. Seattle, WA 98178 | Open: Sunrise to sundown | Children will delight in the ponds filled with koi and the bridges over the pond. A beautiful place in Rainier Beach to take family pictures, or snap some shots of your children playing in the garden — Kubota is one of Seattle’s most popular gardens. Dogs on leash are allowed.

 

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Bellevue Botanical Garden| 12001 Main St., Bellevue, WA 98005 | Open: Dawn to dusk | Starting with a  gentle waterfall at the entrance, the different landscapes of this park draw children in. Kids will enjoy the windy paths. Many birds, bees and butterflies can be found here. Dogs not allowed.

Bellevue Botanical Garden (Image: Kathryn Mueller)

Parsons Gardens | 650 W Highland Dr., Seattle, WA 98119 | Open: 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. | This tiny garden park on Queen Anne Hill’s south slope is perfect for a game of hide-and-seek in the large gazebo structure or behind one of the many hydrangeas.

Formerly the family garden of Reginald H. Parsons, Parsons Gardens was given to the City in 1956 by the family’s children. (Image courtesy Seattle Parks and Recreation)

Kruckeberg Botanic Garden | 20312 15th Ave NW, Shoreline, WA 98177 | Open: Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. March – October: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. and November – February: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. | It’ll take you more than one visit to cover this beautiful park in Shoreline. There are four acres here. Go birding, hike to identify trees and plants, and stop at MsK Nursery. The “kids only” website features garden-themed virtual learning resources. Dogs on leash are allowed.

 

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Seattle Children’s PlayGarden | 1745 24th Ave. S. | Open: Dawn to dusk (except when summer camps are in session | This one acre gem at the old Colman Playfield allows children with disabilities along with their typically developing peers to both safely and adventurously engage with nature. There’s an edible sensory garden, playground, water feature, a tree fort, an interactive music installation and a menagerie that includes a resident goose, chickens, ducks, and bunnies. Look online for camps hours, and for info about its preschool program, open play sessions, summer camps, art classes and more.

Entrance to Seattle Children’s PlayGarden. (Image: Allison Peterson)

Seattle Japanese Garden | 1075 Lake Washington Blvd. E. | Open: Tuesday through Sunday, with seasonal changes in hours | Admission: Free for children under 5, $10 for adults, $6 for youth 6-17, disabled, seniors and college students with ID | This 3½-acre formal garden located inside the Washington Park Arboretum was the earliest postwar Japanese-style public garden on the West Coast. It has trails for peaceful strolling, and kids love crossing the small footbridges and spotting koi in the pond. Family Saturday programs provide family-friendly cultural experiences every month and offer free admission to the garden for youth 12 and under from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. No dogs allowed at this park.

(Image courtesy Seattle Japanese Garden)

Bloedel Reserve | 7571 NE Dolphin Dr., Bainbridge Island | Open: year-round Tuesday through Sunday | Admission: $22+ for adults, $10+ for older students, $5+ for children 5-12, and free for children 4 and under | This tranquil 140-acre site on the north end of Bainbridge Island includes 12 distinct environments, from forested woodland to a bird marsh to a fairyland-like moss garden. Groomed trails snaking through the property encourage spontaneous meandering. Bloedel is considered a “living museum” and as such, eating food, picking flowers and wheels of any kind aren’t allowed; the experience is more zen than zoo. No dogs allowed at this park.

Visit Bloedel Reserve on Bainbridge Island. (Image courtesy: Keith Brofsky)

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That’s where Seattle company Mystery steps in with their date-night-in packages. Filled with dinner for two from a local restaurant, activities for the evening and other products from local retailers, part of the date-night fun is finding out what’s in the box.

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They’re now offering a Seattle Solidarity Box, featuring 11 items from local, Black-owned small businesses.

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For an interesting but classic treat, check out Shug’s Soda Fountain & Ice Cream located in the heart of Pike Place Market. Sourcing local ice cream and sorbets from Lopez Island Creamery, the shop offers flavors like Curious George and Sunday Market, along with shakes and malts. 1525 First Ave.

Sweet rewards await at Cold Plate in the University District, offering Thai-style ice cream and other treats. Sweet cream poured on a cold slab, mixed and rolled into cylinders. Top with fresh fruit, decadent sauces and sprinkles … mmm, mmm, good! 5240 University Way N.E.

Craving soft serve with a twist? Head over to Nana’s Green Tea, offering matcha ice cream swirled with chocolate or vanilla and a smattering of boba. 1007 Stewart St., Suite 103

For more ideas try: Where to find ice cream this hot Mother’s Day weekend.

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“Instead of smelling like tear gas, on Sunday downtown Seattle smelled like paint remover and cleaning chemicals,” Trujillo wrote on his Facebook post about the scene.

After a night of alarming images on our TV screens, it was a glorious thing to see proof that in this community, good things are happening.

Seattle has serious problems. Many of its residents live subjected to systemic racism that robs them of opportunities, damages their health, and threatens their very lives. A housing shortage and high cost of living means that people who make even middling incomes often struggle to get by. And COVID-19 and the economic downturn make life harder.

Seattle has strengths

But our city has strengths, too:

We volunteer. The Corporation for National and Community Service consistently ranks Seattle in the top 10 among cities for volunteering.

Kids grow up here with volunteering as part of life. Many an elementary schooler can tell you about clearing weeds, planting trees or watching their parents help build a playground. There’s also a high school graduation requirement: 60 hours of volunteer work.

We are conscientious recyclers. We divert more than 60 percent of what we throw away to recycling or composting. Our kids are surprised when they find there are places people don’t sort all their waste after a fast-food meal. Our lawns turn brown each summer while we save water. Whenever someone makes a list of America’s greenest cities, Seattle is on it.

Another list we’re proud to always be on: America’s most LGBTQ+-friendly cities.

We respect safety regulations. After the Seahawks won the Super Bowl in 2014, the one fan celebration video that became famous was of a crowd of revelers in Ballard waiting patiently for the light to change before crossing the street. Many a city has been thrown into rioting by a historic sports victory, but Seattle didn’t even jaywalk.

This may be why we did a good job of containing the coronavirus pandemic when it emerged among us. It was the first outbreak discovered in the U.S., but thanks to people staying home and taking precautions, nowhere near the worst. We listened to local health experts, put on face masks, gave each other space, and we likely saved thousands of lives.

We want to make a better world. We throw huge political demonstrations, even when our population is being stalked by a deadly virus. Day after day, at the beginning of June, thousands of people filed down arterial streets, crowds of masked faces as far as you could see. On June 12, a weekday, an estimated 60,000 marched silently in the rain. Following behind on many marches: crews of volunteers bearing pickers and trash bags, removing litter.

Seattle can get things done

This past decade, Seattle passed a series of generous education levies, and took steps to give all kids here equal access to education.

The Seattle Preschool Program, which provides early childhood education on a sliding fee scale, reached 1,700 children this past year, and it plans to expand. The city also funds the Seattle Promise program, which gives public school graduates two free years of college at Seattle Central, North Seattle, and South Seattle colleges. Starting next school year, this program will include graduates of every Seattle public school.

In 2019, Washington passed the Workforce Education Investment Act, making public colleges vastly more affordable for those with medium or low incomes. For the neediest students, tuition is free. These are tangible changes that will change lives for thousands of Seattle kids and families.

We clearly have a lot more work to do to demolish systemic racism, build a place where all Seattle kids truly have equality of opportunity, and where no family fears homelessness or hunger. But if one thing is clear from 2020 so far, it’s that people in Seattle are capable of pulling together to make the city better.

For one thing, Seattle is home to some astounding people. Just look at who showed up downtown that Sunday morning in late May.

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Did you know that you can enjoy Washington’s many and varied state parks without sleeping on the ground and cooking over a fire? (Unless, of course, you want to.)

At least two dozen state parks, most of them on the west side of the state, rent what they call “roofed accommodations,” which include yurts, cabins and houses, both historic and contemporary.

Where might you go? That depends on your family’s travel style, and what you’re looking for in a not-quite-roughing-it getaway:

Cama Beach State Park

This park on Camano Island has simple, cozy waterfront cabins. You can wear yourselves out trooping along the many trails and, of course, exploring the beach. (The park next door, Camano Island State Park, also has cabins for rent, but not as many.) Then you can roast hot dogs and marshmallows on the grill outside your cabin, and fall asleep to the sound of the waves.

Fort Worden and Fort Flagler

At these two state parks near Port Townsend, you can rent the homes where military officers once lived with their families. Send the kids out to march on the parade ground, and look for deer, while you enjoy the view from a big front porch. Fort Flagler also has an extensive network of bunkers built into the ground.

Cape Disappointment

This ocean-front park on the Long Beach Peninsula has both yurts and a former lighthouse keeper’s quarters, right in the heart of Lewis and Clark territory. (There’s an excellent Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center.)

Kanaskat-Palmer State Park

Have you heard of it? Neither had I, until recently. It’s gorgeous, located on the Green River in southeast King County, and it has yurts!

Pro tips

Pack food and goodies and games and get ready to enjoy nature (and very likely some history, too) while not venturing very far from home.

Having your own family cabin is conducive to social distancing, but you’ll need to take care on beaches and in other potentially crowded public areas. (And if you’re like me, you’ll dream of renting one of the old houses for a big family get-together or moms’ weekend. Maybe next year!)

Availability may vary as facilities gradually reopen this summer. Also, read the fine print about the property you’re interested in. Each one is different: You may need to bring your own linens, or there may be limits on how much cooking you can do indoors. Your rental may or may not have a bathroom. Pets are allowed in some places; smoking is not. A few even have TVs, and many are stocked with games.

More on yurt camping: Why you’ll never go back to tents after camping in a yurt.

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City Kid Style
“My passion is upcycling and working at a small scale, so I can help eliminate waste,” says Claudia Cerrato, owner, designer and creator of outfits for City Kid Style. Cerrato hand-sews every garment with materials she finds at thrift stores.

Manzanita Kids
Dave Minnery and his wife Adrienne make heirloom-quality sustainable wood toys, including custom “name” puzzles and modular wood sets, in their home-based woodshop. “We wanted to offer well-designed and -crafted toys that were safe, natural and engaging, while also supporting our family lifestyle,” Dave says.

BusyKidCo
After enduring a terrible experience on an airplane with her toddler, Megan Bergerson discovered the “busy box,” a cardboard container of age-appropriate, mess-free independent activities. You can customize with the child’s name, interests, and favorite colors. “I get excited when I find new things and am constantly thinking of new box ideas,” she says.

The Treasure Corner
Working with up to 200 balloons per display, Doina Lungu spends 3 to 4 hours creating colorful arches, balloon bunches and bouquets. This summer, Doina is excited to get outside and create: “I love to help customers with their event planning, and I love thinking of new design ideas using pastel colors in different displays.”

More local shopping: Support these local Black-owned businesses & non-profits and help make change.

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It’s awkward to write a city guide in June 2020, because we have no way of predicting what is going to be open. While we have a plan for how businesses and institutions are going to return, we don’t know when King County is going to move from one phase of coronavirus precautions to another. Also, the plan for what opens when constantly evolves.

At first, libraries were going to be open in Phase 3. Then at the beginning of June, the talk was about having curbside service for libraries during Phase 2. Pools can reopen in Phase 3, but it appears that Seattle’s outdoor pools and wading pools will not, because they rely on seasonal hiring, and the city currently has a hiring freeze.

As we publish this, most places on the list are open to some degree. You can go to parks (though the parking lot may be closed), many beloved restaurants are open for takeout, and some of the bigger ones have seating. But this situation will pass. Seattle will transform, as cities do. Be safe, smart, and enjoy the reopening!

Downtown

Pike Place Market
So many things about the market as usual – the crowds, the buskers, the fish-tossing, the alleyway lined with discarded gum – are not compatible with a social-distancing lifestyle. The beloved institution, composed of roughly 240 small and eclectic businesses, is open and worthy of exploring. As Seattle continues to open up, the market will be returning to its noisy, colorful self.

Olympic Sculpture Park/Waterfront
You can’t touch the art, but this is a mind-bending place to explore, and you can walk from here to a small beach, set off along the newly refurbished Elliott Bay trail, or see what’s happening on Alaska Way, the touristy waterfront strip that includes the Seattle Aquarium. Last year the state finally demolished a crumbling old viaduct to make way for… parking lots, so far. But there are plans in the works for great parks and plazas, so watch this space.

International District
Come hungry; there are lots of places to eat. Check out the Wing Luke Museum of the Asian Pacific American Experience, if it’s open. You’ll be glad you stopped by the Asian supermarket Uwajimaya for groceries and a look at the fish counter.

Seattle Center
When everything is open, there’s more to do here than there is time in the day. This is the home of the Pacific Science Center, Seattle Children’s Museum, Museum of Pop Culture, Seattle Children’s Theatre, the gigantic Artists at Play Playground, and the monumental International Fountain with its 200 jets making intricate patterns.

West Seattle

A stomp rocket will amuse your kids while you people-watch at Alki Beach. Photo by Joshua Huston

Alki Beach
In a city surrounded by waterfront and lakefront, this broad band of sand along Puget Sound is the premier beach haunt. A nearby area of businesses catering to the beach crowd adds to the festive atmosphere.

Lincoln Park
This triangle-shaped, 135-acre park is bordered on two sides by Puget Sound. Within, explore a lush forest on a network of trails.

South Park
If you happen to be at this end of town around a mealtime, check out the strip of affordable restaurants on 14th Avenue South near South Cloverdale Street. Along with some of the best Mexican joints in town, you’ll find highly rated spots for burgers, pizza and kebabs.

Southeast Seattle

Lake Washington Boulevard
When the Olmsted brothers drew up the plan for Seattle’s parks, the chain of greenery along Lake Washington Boulevard was what they were aiming for. A trail along the lakefront connects a series of beaches, parks and small green spaces to pause in.

Columbia City
This colorful, energetic stretch of Rainier Avenue hosts an independent cinema, a jazz club, and many lovely places to eat, and hosts a hopping Wednesday farmers market in-season.

Beacon Avenue
The stretch of Beacon near the Beacon Hill light rail station is host to a diverse collection of small restaurants. It’s easy to find something affordable and kid-friendly, and easy to take out for a picnic at nearby Jefferson Park.

Central Seattle

Pack some sidewalk chalk and enjoy the wide-open space of Jimi Hendrix Park. Photo by Joshua Huston

South Massachusetts Street between 23rd and 25th Avenues
On the north side of the street: the Northwest African American Museum and the beautiful Jimi Hendrix Park. On the south side of the street, past a playfield: Seattle Children’s PlayGarden, an ingenious space geared for young children of all abilities.

Capitol Hill
The area surrounding the Capitol Hill light rail station is the historic heart of Seattle’s LGBTQ+ community, and hub for the arts, food, fashion and protest. In June, part of it became a police-free enclave of politics, feeding the hungry, and making art, including a beautiful “Black Lives Matter” mural on the blacktop of East Pine Street. Go see it.

Volunteer Park
A classic city park at the north end of Capitol Hill, where you can enjoy a summer day on the lawn, climb a cedar tree, check out some iconic public art, and take in a cool view of downtown.

Queen Anne/Magnolia

Queen Anne Avenue
With Blue Highway Games at the north end and Queen Anne Book Company at the south end, the avenue’s commercial strip atop the hill is a good bet for parents shopping for gifts.

Fishermen’s Terminal
The home port of Seattle’s fishing fleet is a great place to explore with a child entranced by boats and machinery. Stop at Little Chinook’s and dine on some expertly fried fish and chips as you watch the action.

Discovery Park
It’s less than 5 miles from the Space Needle, but the wild landscape of Discovery Park, the city’s largest public park at 534 acres, feels like a world apart. Big enough for an afternoon hike on nearly 12 miles of walking trails, this park contains forest, meadows, beaches and views across Puget Sound.

Northwest Seattle

Green Lake
The home of Seattle’s favorite 2.8-mile running and walking loop is also a place to swim, row, paddle, fish and enjoy the bird life.

East Ballard industrial area breweries
The cluster of small breweries in East Ballard includes several places where parents can enjoy a pint while their kids enjoy simple food-truck fare, or play nearby. Two good spots: Populuxe Brewing and Peddler Brewing Company.

Flying a kite is a great way to spend an afternoon at Gas Works Park. Photo by Joshua Huston

Gas Works Park
This scenic spot overlooking Lake Union‘s north end makes dramatic use of its industrial past. What had been contaminated soil is now a lawn-covered hill, capped with a sundial. People fly kites off it on windy days and sled down it when it snows. Other concrete-and-steel remnants of the coal gasification plant that once stood on the site now remain as monuments.

Northeast Seattle

Magnuson Park
This hub for sports also includes a children’s garden, wetland areas teeming with birds, and a popular beach.

U District
The University of Washington attracts students from all over the world, and the restaurants in this neighborhood cater to them. Biang biang noodles, dosas, pupusas and bibimbap are among the many wonderful tastes to try here.

Burke-Gilman Trail
This multi-use, 20-mile trail from Ballard to Bothell draws as many as 5,000 daily commuters at peak times, and is also a favorite route for families looking for bike adventures with few cars in sight.

More of Seattle to explore: 7 kid-friendly restaurants to try this summer, Parent review: Go visit the reopened Woodland Park Zoo!

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