MOHAI Idea Lab photo credit Nikki Womac

Among the several fun attractions on the downtown waterfront, the state-of-the-art “flying theater” at Wings Over Washington offers immersive virtual-reality journeys high above the state’s most dazzling sights. Then you can enjoy a classic bayside meal at iconic Ivar’s Acres of Clams, which has a kids’ menu (with a coloring page) that’s a smaller version of the main menu, serving up Ivar’s classic true cod fish and chips and easy grilled cheese and fries.

Explore Pacific Science Center and learn how the brain and body connect by experimenting with sound, seeing stars at the planetarium, or watching an IMAX movie—Boeing Theater has the biggest screen in the state. Discuss what you’ve learned over cheeseburgers, hand-cut fries, and a thick shake at Dick’s Drive-In, a beloved local chain famous for its affordable, simple, and fresh menu.

Head to the hot shop at Belltown’s Seattle Glassblowing Studio for short and sweet crafts classes. Kids ages 5 and up can make cast or pressed glass pieces in just 15 minutes per item, and those 11 and up can create their own glass keepsake. Nearby festive Ohana’s savory Hawaiian comfort food always hits the spot. The little ones can go for appetizers like tacos, lumpia, or sliders; tweens and teens might enjoy the spicy tuna hand rolls or kalua pork sandwiches.

Anchoring scenic Lake Union Park, the 50,000-square-foot Museum of History & Industry (MOHAI) intrigues visitors of all ages with its fascinating exhibits about the city’s rich heritage of tech and industrial innovation. The interactive Idea Lab and hands-on Discovery Packs—with props, books, and activity suggestions—are perfect for young visitors up to age 10. Nearby at Flatstick Pub, kids are welcome daily until 7 pm to play minigolf, duffleboard, and other games while noshing on mini corn dogs, pizzas, and wings.

courtesy Southtown Pie

Saunter through The Museum of Flight and the Kids’ Flight Zone, where they can strap into a hang-gliding simulator or sit in the cockpits of a real helicopter or fighter aircraft. Don’t miss the MiG-21 Project, South African artist Ralph Ziman’s transformation of a decommissioned Cold War–era, Soviet-designed fighter jet into a flying riot of color with tens of millions of glass beads. From here, it’s a five-minute drive to South Town Pie. Pizza (by the slice or whole) is the star here, but small plates like meatballs and mac and cheese also please younger palates.

Kids and dinosaurs go together like peas and carrots, and the Burke Museum is a mesmerizing place to pursue this topic—the paleontology floor has one of the best-preserved T. rex skulls in the world and the only genuine dinosaur fossils on display in Washington. Eat at the Burke’s in-house Off the Rez, which offers frybread tacos (choice of meat wrapped in pillowy fried dough) and sides, or give nearby Agua Verde Cafe a try, serving up Baja-style Mexican food overlooking Portage Bay and lots of kid-friendly options, like cheesy quesadillas.