Family Vacation Washington State

Best Time to Visit: Family Vacation Washington State

What is the best time to visit Washington State? The Pacific Northwest is truly a treasure trove of family-friendly activities and adventures. There is a perfect mix of urban and rural regions with very densely populated areas as well as plenty of opportunities to explore the beautiful vegetation. It definitely has its fair share of national parks and must-see attractions in Seattle. Join us as we uncover the must-see landmarks for a family-friendly vacation in Washington State.

When should you visit? We recommend July as the top month to visit Washington. While it does get a reputation for being gloomy and wet, the Summer months are actually pretty sunny and a lot drier than people might think. July is the driest month in the state with Seattle only seeing an average high of 76 degrees. Because the dry season is shorter, the vegetation still appears just as pretty during this season.

Top Attractions and Things to Do: Family Vacation Washington State

Mount Rainier | Mount Rainier National Park

Mount Rainier is incredibly diverse offering tons of different fun activities and entertainment opportunities for families or individuals. There are over 260 miles of trail which offer stunning views, and wildlife watching involving rodents, black bears, deer, and numerous species of birds. There is a Paradise Area Exploration that attracts visitors for its beautiful wildflower displays that thrive in the Summer. If you or your family are people who love more difficult physical activity, some spots are famous for climbing. Some areas are less difficult, and others are exclusively for experienced mountaineers.

If your family has an interest in photography, there is no shortage of clear and crisp reflection lakes and waterfalls. There are also many areas to take great shots on the mountain! The clear sky in Western Washington during the Summer months allows you to see Mount Rainier very easily from very far distances, even in some areas of Seattle. The waterfalls in Mount Rainier are my favorite.

Olympic National Forest | Olympic National Park

Most people are surprised to learn the Olympic National Park/Forest has an even bigger variety of things to do in comparison to Mount Rainier. You can enjoy a much larger mountain range in comparison to Rainier. Hurricane Ridge offers more wildflowers and plant meadows that complement Rainier. Of course, you have many trails to hike and explore with breathtaking views and scenery, but you also have the Hoh Rainforest which has large, thick, moss-covered trees with moderate temperatures and humidity levels during the Summer months! Lake Crescent gives you the opportunity to explore a glacier-covered lake ideal for kayaking, relaxing, or paddleboarding! There are even hot springs in some areas of the park next to Sol Duc Valley, which also has many waterfalls. The park even extends all the way toward the Pacific Ocean where you can settle down at Ruby or Rialto - the top Olympic National Park Beaches. The rocky and forested shore-side will instantly remind you of The Goonies! The beaches in Olympic National Park are my favorite.

Seattle Space Needle

You saw this one coming. Moving onto the sightseeing in downtown Seattle, the Space Needle is the face of the Pacific Northwest’s largest city. The observation deck at the top offers 360-degree views where you can see downtown Seattle, Mount Rainier, Bellevue, the rest of the bay area including Bainbridge Island, and more. The Atmos wine bar and café at the top give you many different options for a quick snack or alcoholic beverage - including local craft beer. If you do not have a fear of heights (like myself), I highly recommend walking on The Loupe which is the only revolving glass floor in the world. The Space Needle is a lot larger than you think, and this gives you easy access to capture every view possible. If you or your family is visiting for a holiday, be sure to check the Space Needle’s website for information about holiday events.

Pike Place Market

If you are a seafood lover like myself, you are going to love Pike Place Market. Located downtown right on Elliot Bay, the market sells all kinds of seafood that is mainly fresh, locally caught, and very high quality. This includes wild fish, shellfish, shrimp, octopus, squid, and more! There are also tasting tours and unique shops that have artisanal crafts, jewelry, and other vintage goods. The Pike Place Market Heritage Center has lots of interesting information about the history of the market and its astonishing impact on the city/community. The art and culture that you can discover are great for those who do not enjoy seafood.

Original Starbucks

Since Pike Place Market is so big, I typically don’t consider the first-ever Starbucks to be a part of it, but they are right next to each other. Built in 1971 right beside the cobblestone streets in downtown Seattle, it is where the largest coffee chain in the world began! You will know it when you see it because of the preservation of the old late 60s look that still helps it thrive. If you are a coffee-lover like myself, I would highly recommend stopping by the store for a drink. The store is of course always being renovated to preserve the original look without it appearing to be dirty or run-down.

You will get to experience the vintage logo, wooden counters, and nostalgic atmosphere that makes it special. The walls on the inside of the café even have writing and quotes on them that include interesting facts and statistics about the Starbucks chain and its history.

Pacific Science Center

Seattle is a city known for its innovation and technology, which is a key reason why the Pacific Science Center on downtown’s Northwest side is considered one of the best science center’s in the nation. It has an extremely wide range of experiences for both children and adults which include the great IMAX theater and planetarium to the butterfly garden and live science shows. Many interactive exhibits cover STEM-related concepts like the tinker tank, body works, and laser dome. The center is constantly adapting based on the season and the latest findings related to technology and science. That is one of the main reasons why its educational programs promote learning in STEM gives visitors certain experiences that cause them to deepen their curiosity just as much as their new understandings.

Discovery Park | Northwest Seattle

If you do not enjoy nature, you should not be visiting anywhere in Washington State. Even in an urban environment like Seattle, there is no shortage of green spaces or zero-waste initiatives that other large cities tend to struggle with. Discovery on Seattle’s Northwest side is a very large park lifted just up off of the Shilshole Bay with rocky sea cliffs, sandy shores (in some areas), open grass prairies, trails, and forests. The crisp evergreen smell is what attracts its many visitors. Whether you are looking for a spot to exercise, eat, or just hang out, you can not go wrong with the 534-acre “Discovery Park”.

Seattle Mariners Baseball Game

If you are a sports lover or baseball fan, catching a Mariners game in the Summer is a great family-friendly option. With almost a 48,000-person capacity, T-Mobile Park is the third largest MLB stadium of all 30. The stadium has a very unique look with its large retractable roof and it even has some interactive areas for kids. The Mariners are also an exciting team to watch with them having had a winning record in their last four seasons as of January 2025. In certain areas of the stadium, you might even have a chance to see a sunset over Puget Sound if you are attending a night game (whether that is a good or bad thing). Be sure to do your research on the tickets you are buying ahead of time! The Seattle Mariners colors are my favorite thing about the franchise!

Conclusion | Family Vacation Washington State

Thank you for reading our planning guide on “Family Vacation Washington State”. This trip has the perfect mix of enjoying nature as well as getting to visit Seattle and its wide variety of offerings. The state’s natural beauty and innovative urban environments allow tourists to get a lot out of their vacation in just a short amount of time.

While it is likely that you or your family will take more time out of the vacation to continue exploring the state, these eight activities are what I would consider essential travel spots for newcomers.

Written By: Drew S.