Favorites For Family Biking

This easy bike loop combines fun and funky Seattle sites with delicious eats for adults and kids alike—plus just enough exercise to make bedtime a cinch.

 

DAY ONE

A modern hotel room scene features a wooden headboard with a mounted reading light turned on, illuminating white pillows and sheets. A portion of a lampshade is visible on the side.

Steps away from the water, the Staybridge Suites Seattle-South Lake Union is a residential style hotel that is a great fit for kids and pets. With seaplanes and wooden boats nearby, morning walks and evening strolls along South Lake Union are sure to delight.

For more hotels like the Staybridge SLU, The Westin Seattle, Sheraton Grand Seattle, and Inn at Queen Anne are also in the neighborhood.

A scenic view of a waterfront with a city skyline in the background. A bicycle is parked by a railing, and people are sitting and standing nearby, enjoying the sunny day. A sailboat is visible on the water, and the sky is clear and blue.

Pedal Anywhere Seattle is a local bike shop that rents adult and kids bikes, right down the street from the SLU Staybridge. They deliver and pick up bikes, helmets, and bike locks, so if you decide you want breakfast before you start biking, you can have them meet you at the restaurant instead.

More in the mood for a cute sit-down breakfast? Drive to Norm’s Eatery and Ale House, and enjoy the Belgian waffles and dog-friendly atmosphere.

On the left, an old rusty industrial site with tanks and chimneys, with a bicycle parked on grass. On the right, several penguins swimming underwater, with a logo in the bottom corner.
A family, all wearing masks, is enjoying a visit to a park. The father is pointing at something in the distance, holding a child on his shoulders, while the mother stands beside him. Lush greenery surrounds them.

Your first stop is Woodland Park Zoo. Purchase timed-entry tickets in advance, bike the scenic two miles to get there, and get up close and personal with the penguins at the Humboldt exhibit.

Three cocktails in glasses with salted rims sit on a wooden table. Each drink is garnished with a lime wedge. The drinks have different colors: clear, light brown with chili powder on the rim, and pink.
Tacos topped with meat, crumbled cheese, cilantro, and sauce, served on a metal plate with lime wedges on the side.

On weekends, Pablo y Pablo opens at noon, and serves up hearty Mexican fare perfect for a day of biking. When you’re ready for lunch, order ahead and pedal over to the restaurant. Pro-tip: Grab the xoxo cocoa hot chocolate for the kids and the prickly pear Paloma for the adults. Pablo y Pablo is located right next door to Gas Works Park, the premier picnic spot.

A person holding a small child is overlooking a large body of water with a city skyline in the background on a clear day. The scene includes grassy land in the foreground and multiple tall buildings in the distance.

Pick up your lunch and bike to Gas Works Park. Complete with retro steam art and the perfect kite flying hill, this historic park is a great spot to eat and an even better spot to play.

A flock of birds flying over a cityscape featuring a distinctive tower and skyline, alongside an industrial scene with large metal structures on a grassy area, set against a clear blue sky.

Kids love playing tag in the wide-open spaces, and parents will enjoy the breathtaking views.

Connecting Gas Works and Lake Union Park is Cheshiahud Lake Union Loop, a 6-mile biking and walking loop that allows for killer views of the lake and passes more than 35 smaller “pocket” parks.

A plate with a slice of pizza on a wooden table outside a restaurant. The foreground shows a concrete ledge with decorative logs and the background features a row of barrels, patio lights, and a building with windows.

Gas Works is a one-mile ride from Frelard Pizza, the Fremont outpost of Ballard Pizza Co and an outdoor staple. Kids love their Carbonara pizza and adults love their rotating selection of draft beers. Grab a table near their outdoor fire pit to relax.

A pizza with a golden crust topped with white cheese, slices of prosciutto, and cracked eggs is served on a metal tray. It is placed on a wooden table with a yellow geometric design overlaying the corner of the image.

From Frelard, you can have Pedal Anywhere Seattle pick up your bikes, or, you can bike back to the hotel, and have them pick them up there. If you parked at Norm’s you’re a 3-minute ride away from your car.

A serene evening scene over a large body of water, featuring a white yacht and a seaplane flying overhead. A single bird floats in the foreground. The horizon shows a city skyline under a sky with scattered clouds.

Looking for a serene, end-of-day walk? Take the kids to see the wooden boats on South Lake Union at sundown to make the perfect backdrop for winding down.

A person wearing blue gloves hands a boxed item through a car window. Below, a slice of pie with whipped cream and a lime garnish sits on a plate.

Top off the day with A La Mode Pies. Grab a slice of the Blue Hawaiian for a treat that delights adults and kids alike.

DAY TWO

A box of assorted donuts, including glazed, sugar-coated, and ones topped with red sprinkles, sits on a light surface. Small pink cake balls are nestled among the donuts. The box is made of brown paper.

Raised Doughnuts opens at 9am on weekends and 7am on weekdays. Get there early and try their famous Raspberry Doughnut Holes—before they sell out. If you’re there on a weekend, try a slice of one of their delicious Raised Cakes—the flavors change every week, so check their Instagram @raisedcakes for details.

A green and white cake with a large, textured design sits on a wooden table. Beside it, a black abstract sculpture with a central hole is placed outdoors, with a blurred background of trees and the sky.
A round brick tower surrounded by lush green trees and shrubs. People are visible near the base of the tower, adding a sense of scale. The scene is serene with natural greenery.

Dig in to your breakfast at Volunteer Park, a short drive away. For Soundgarden fans, the “Black Sun” sculpture that sits in this park was the inspiration for their smash-hit “Black Hole Sun.” Take in the historic sculpture and start planning your next Seattle adventure together.

About the Author

I Know A Place

Looking for more ways to adventure in Seattle? We've asked some of Seattle's underground experts to give us their favorites. CHECK OUT THE SERIES >>

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