Seattle is a fun vacation for the whole family. There are interesting museums for all ages, many flush with cash and high-tech exhibits since the city attracts so much tech talent.
There are also fun outdoor activities to enjoy in the sunshine or, more likely, in the rain. You can walk or bike along the waterfront, get on a boat, ride a ferry, or even a monorail!
Our curated list of the best family hotels is made up of the places I have stayed with my children and enjoyed a great Seattle getaway. While some of the luxury family-friendly hotels offer room service, get out in this very walkable city and enjoy the local cuisine.
Read More: When is the Best Time to Visit Seattle?
Fairmont Olympic Hotel
411 University Street
Seattle, WA 98101
There’s a reason the Fairmont Olympic Hotel is on the top of almost any list. The luxury hotel, on the National Register of Historic Places, has concierge services, arranges babysitting, and offers a full suite of children’s amenities, including connecting rooms and high-end cribs. If you bring the family pet, too, he is treated to the luxe Canine Club. The on-site restaurant at the Fairmont Olympic Hotel, Shuckers, is popular with locals and tourists alike.
- Especially child-friendly
- Dog-friendly
- Indoor pool, hot tub and sauna
- Big fitness center and a spa
- Walking distance from Pike Place Market
Grand Hyatt Seattle
721 Pine St. |
Seattle, WA 98101
This luxury hotel has a club level where you get free breakfast. When we travel with our kids, this is known as the first breakfast. They eat breakfast, then plot where to have a second breakfast. But having the free breakfast, plus snacks throughout the day, is a great value.
The Seattle Grand Hyatt has spacious rooms perfect for families. The blackout shades are great for sleep, but not for anxious kids. We had a suite with a pull-out couch so we could sleep in the dark and our kids could have a night light
- Large, comfy rooms
- From the hotel, you can ride the monorail to the Seattle Center, home of the Space Needle
Kimpton Hotels
Hotel Monaco
1101 4th Ave.
Seattle, WA 98101
Hotel Vintage
1100 5th Ave.
Seattle, WA 98101
Kimpton boutique hotels are both family-friendly and dog-friendly. Hotel Monaco, like all kid-friendly hotels in this chain, has child-sized bathrobes.
At the evening happy hour, they offer kids free milk or juice. My kids liked that one night, there was live music accompanying the drinks. And at the free coffee bar in the morning, you can get a cup of milk for your children.
Hotel Vintage, another Kimpton Hotel we’ve stayed in, has in-line skate rentals in addition to the free bikes.
Both hotels offer Mini Me Milk Fridges. If you are nursing, you can store breast milk in these fridges, which they send to your room for free. Kimpton also has mini bars in every room and if you have a kid with you, you can stash a cheese stick or a yogurt in there.
- Morning coffee in the lobby
- Free evening happy hour
- Child-size bathrobes
Eco Family Friendly Hotel: Hyatt at Olive 8
1635 8th Ave.
Seattle, WA 98101
The eco-friendly boutique hotel, Hyatt at Olive 8, has a green roof and uses energy-efficient lighting and natural light throughout. Rooms are large enough for families, and the on-site restaurant emphasizes local, ethically sourced, consciously produced food, with lots of gluten-free choices.
But green doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy yourself. A swimming pool is high on the list of family-friendly amenities. Not only is there a large indoor pool at the Hyatt at Olive 8, but it is saltwater. This is important to us with a child who is hyper-allergic to chlorine. All the bath amenities in guest rooms are hypoallergenic.
- Indoor saltwater pool
- Hypoallergenic bath products
Moxy Seattle Downtown
1016 Republican St.
Seattle, WA 98109
Traveling with teens? The hip Hotel Moxy in South Lake Union has small guest rooms, all with king-sized beds. But the hotel is all about fun; the ‘check-in desk’ is really a bar, and the large lobby has games throughout. I stayed here with my teen daughter and we had a great time.
The Moxy does have cribs so young couples who still think they are cool can stay here with their babies.
- The downtown Seattle hotel is walking distance to The Spheres.
- Hip place to bring teens
- Foosball in the lobby
SheBuysTravel Tip: Moxy is part of the Marriott chain, so get your points!
The Edgewater Hotel
2411 Alaskan Way
Seattle, WA 98121
This is the top pick of my SheBuysTravel colleague, Cathy Bennett Kopf, whose daughter lives in Seattle. The Edgewater is known as the rock and roll hotel since it’s been THE place to stay for touring bands including Led Zeppelin and Pearl Jam. The Beatles, in an iconic photo, are pictured fishing out of one of the hotel’s over-water rooms.
Guests can borrow a turntable, vinyl and guitar to rock out like their music idols. But, sadly, window fishing is no longer permitted.
It’s a great choice for families because it’s located on Pier 67, adjacent to the Bell Street Cruise Terminal and a 15-minute stroll from the popular attractions in Miner’s Landing including The Seattle Great Wheel and Wings Over Washington.
- Six Seven Restaurant and Lounge is one of the top dining spots in Seattle with breathtaking Elliott Bay views
- Steps from the cruise terminal and Miner’s Landing
- Pet-friendly
- Daily amenities fee includes ZYBRA bicycle use, wifi, fitness center
Read More: 8 Best Pacific Northwest Luxury Resorts for an Unforgettable Stay
More Hotel Options In and Around Downtown Seattle
The Seattle area is a very popular family getaway destination. If the above hotels are sold out, or too expensive, consider these other Seattle hotels:
The Westin Seattle
- This downtown Seattle hotel has an indoor pool. The Westin Seattle was designed by the same architect who designed The Space Needle
Hyatt Regency Seattle
- The pet-friendly LEED Gold-Certified hotel Hyatt Regency Seattle offers electric vehicle charging.
Four Seasons Hotel Seattle
- The luxury Four Seasons Hotel Seattle is one of the few downtown Seattle hotels with an outdoor pool
The Paramount Hotel
- Great for the art-loving family, The Paramount Hotel is filled with local art. It has large rooms with mini-fridges.
The Mediterranean Inn
- The Mediterranean Inn, in the Queen Anne neighborhood, has kitchenettes in every room and a rooftop terrace. Although you aren’t in downtown Seattle, the Mediterranean Inn provides free bike loans.
What to Do in Seattle: Tops with Little Kids
- Seattle Aquarium
- Space Needle
- The Pacific Science Center
- Pike Place Market
Seattle’s Best for Older Kids
No one outgrows Pike Place Market. We go here every time we are in town. When our kids got older, they wanted to see the sculptures at Chihuly Garden and Glass and The Museum of Pop Culture and the latest exhibit at the Seattle Art Museum.
Free Seattle Attractions for Everyone
No matter what age kids you travel with, reserve a free visit to The Spheres. This Amazon building, open by reservation on every first and third Saturday of the month, is filled with over 40,000 plants from cloud forests. Whatever you think of the company, you can enjoy the indoor botanic garden. This is a great place to hang out when it’s raining…because it’s Seattle and it always rains!
Another one of the free local attractions is the Seattle Central Library. The glass and steel building is filled with artwork. There is a large Children’s section, a Seattle room where you can learn about the city’s history, and a Zine collection of self-published titles.
