The 2024 Alaskan cruising season has all but ended, and it’s time to start planning 2025! Many Alaskan cruise itineraries begin and end in Seattle, a great destination to explore as part of your cruising vacation. With only a half-day before and after your sailing, here is a list of 6 things you can do in Seattle with kids!
Are you interested in an Alaskan cruise? Contact me or one of the many knowledgeable travel advisors at Kingdom and Cruise Travel to begin planning your Alaskan sailing today!
1. Explore Pike Place Market
Pike Place Market is the obvious choice for your family’s first stop in Seattle. My family took an Uber to the market and grabbed breakfast at Biscuit Bitch, a local chain of delicious, made-to-order biscuits and gravy. If the name alone doesn’t make you laugh, the biscuits are sure to put a smile on your face. While we ate, we visited the many vendors in the market.
2. Watch the fish throwing at Pike Place Fish Co.
As we walked through the market, the famous Pike Place Fish Co. was our next stop. This place draws a crowd, where you can watch fresh fish sailing through the air as the fishmongers fulfill orders. It’s free entertainment, and unlike anything I have ever witnessed before.
3. Stick some gum to the Market Theater Gum Wall
You read that right. After you watch some fish throwing, make your way down the stairs to see the gum wall. We made our own contribution to the gum wall, and the kids thought it was hilarious.
4. Grab a doughnut at Top Pot Doughnuts
Cruise ships typically return to port early in the morning, so you can enjoy another breakfast in Seattle upon your return! We decided to visit Top Pot Doughnuts at their Downtown Seattle Flagship Cafe, where we ate gigantic doughnuts with fun flavors like orange cream and Oreo.
5. See the city from the top of the Space Needle
Next, we took a 15-minute walk to digest our doughnuts and we arrived at the base of the Space Needle! I prearranged a ticket time for the ride to the top of the Space Needle and thankfully we were gifted with a blue-sky day where we could see for miles.
6. Visit the Seattle Aquarium
After we took in the views from the top of the Space Needle, we booked a short Uber ride to the Seattle Aquarium. The kids were able to touch several sea creatures, watch the seals play, and see some pretty cool jellyfish. The aquarium is on the smaller side, so we were able to see all of it in time to head back to the airport for the journey home.
This is just a small part of the overall adventure we had as a family on our Alaskan cruise vacation, and Seattle was the perfect city to bookend this trip of a lifetime. Have you ever been to Seattle or on an Alaskan cruise? We want to hear about it!
Whether you’re interested in Royal Caribbean, Disney Cruise Line, or any other cruise line, your travel advisor at Kingdom and Cruise Travel is ready to plan your adventure!
By Kingdom and Cruise Travel Advisor, Katie Gabbard