What unexpensive family activies are there in Seattle area?

Answer 1

+ watching the rain and puddle jumping should be high on the list. Visiting a fish market is a must. going to a fish bake would also go on my list (you have to eat anyway) Going up the space needle might be fun for the kids to get a different perspective on the rain. White water rafting, but not at this time of year. It all depends on your budget.
Have Fun

Answer 2

I recommend Ballard Locks, and the ferries that go across Puget Sound. You can also try the salmon hatchery here in Issaquah, the Seattle Aquarium (not too pricey), and many similar spots. There are tons of museums, parks, and more hiking spots than I can count within a short drive of Seattle. If you'd like to venture a little further away, the Johnston Ridge Observatory at Mount St Helens is very interesting. Enjoy!

Answer 3

Well it depends on your kids' ages. I took mine to Northern Cascades National Park, which most of the road going into them are closed during this time of year. My kids liked riding the ferry to Seattle from the Puget Sound. They also liked to hang out at the different places around the ferry places. There is also the space needle. Very expensive to go in but my kids absolutely LOVED the park near it. It is humongous! It has an extremely large fountain that goes into the ground that everyone played in but the weather is too chilly right now to do it in. It is in front of the stadium. But my kids, ages 13 and 10 at the time, kept asking me to take them back every weekend. There are lots of places like the pike place market downtown Seattle which is great. They can also go on tours of retired ships, like the one in Bremerton right by the ferry. We even took the kids for a drive up the 101 from the Puget Sound. There are buffalo fields out there that are cool to see. There are elk crossing signs, lots of casinos. I could go on forever. There is also fishing that is great there.

Tacoma is not too far and it has some neat things. There is a museum that has a glass bridge called Chihuly Bridge of Glass. See the third source!

The second source is an old Q/A from here that has the top places to go to from Seattle all in one day!

Oh and another place to take the kids for a drive if they might like to see air craft carriers up close is the Naval Base in Puget Sound. See the fourth source. You do not have to go onto the base to see it. Also the source refers to the right the Keyport base. You can go there and go into the museum. I never actually went inside the museum but my son had went on a field trip there and liked it.

Answer 4

Ferry rides with the vehicle
Enchanted parkway at Christmas is beautiful. One of our family traditions when kids where small.
Sunday drive to Mt St Helens
Whale watching in Spring.
Cascade loop drive.
Seattle Center fountain for a picnic.
Crystal Mt during summer. Ride the ski lifts for breathtaking views
Pike Market / monorail rides.
Let kids climb all over the Fremont Bridge troll.

Answer 5

I highly recommend the science center (be sure to see an IMAX movie while you're there!), zoo, and aquarium; in that order. They are soooo much fun! They are $36 total if you get a City Pass. Also included is admission to the flight museum and harbor cruise. That might be better for just adults, though. The kids might like it, but I'd think not as much as the others (unless they are boys in case of the former or tuckered out in case of the latter).
http://www.citypass.com/city/seattle.html

Seattle Center is also by the science center and there's an arcade there. And check out Winterfest; it's free, and there is SO MUCH to do!
http://www.seattlecenter.com/winterfest/

Answer 6

Seattle has great parks and playgrounds and they are all free. My favorite kid-friendly parks are:
Carkeek Park (great playground, beautiful view, small beach)
http://www.ci.seattle.wa.us/parks/parkspaces/Carkeek.htm

Golden Gardens (playground, picnic area, beautiful beach)
http://www.cityofseattle.net/parks/parkspaces/Golden.htm

Camp Long (climbing rock, nature activities, etc.)
http://www.seattle.gov/parks/Environment/camplong.htm

A list of all Seattle parks:
http://www.seattle.gov/parks/parkspaces/parklist.htm

As someone already mentioned, Seattle Center is also a great place to take the family, especially this time of year. The Seattle Center House has music and dancing activities everyday through the new year ---completely free! They also have $1 carasoul rides, and ice skating rink, and the International Fountain.
http://www.seattlecenter.com

If you live in Seattle or travel here often, I'd recommend buying a family membership to the Woodland Park Zoo and/or the Seattle Aquarium. Both are great family activities, with lots of extras for members...
http://www.zoo.org
http://www.seattleaquarium.org

Another option would be to use one of the pools or join in on the activities at one of the many activity centers. Here in Green Lake, we have an indoor pool and for the family to swim, it only costs $3.75 for an adult and $2.75 for each kid (it's cheaper than lunch at McDonalds!)...Here's a list of pools and community centers:
http://www.seattle.gov/parks/centers/default.htm

The list could go on and on, but hopefully that will help you find something fun to do with your family!