Big Time Fun For Little Ones

South Lake Union has a mostly fair reputation for being strictly for working grownups. With all its office space and great restaurants and bars, it can be easy to overlook all the fun things for kiddos. Check out these three experiences that will delight the kids in your life.

The Museum of History and Industry, mohai.org

MOHAI has plenty to offer in terms of family fun, but its Kids-Struction Zone is dedicated to its littlest visitors. This hands-on exhibition is for kids aged 2–7 and stimulates curiosity and creativity through building. Rotating pieces like a Duplo table and tool bench, blocks, magnet boards, and more are perfect for active, fun learning.

MOHAI has some great kid-friendly events planned for the summer, too.

On July 9, its free Outdoor Near and Far event takes kids outside to deepen their relationship with nature in Seattle and beyond. Kids can pitch a softball, explore Seattle plants and animals, create art, and more all at Lake Union Park.

And don’t miss Point of View: Lake Union Photo Scavenger Hunt. Kids can explore the natural and built environments of South Lake Union, Seattle’s shifting shorelines, and relationships between people and place. The in-person facilitated experience with MOHAI educators takes place Thursday, August 4 from 6-7:30 pm and Saturday, August 13 from 11 am to 12:30 pm. Register to secure your spot.

Bubbles Galore

Who doesn’t love a bunch of bubbles? Every weekday from 4 to 5pm outside The Spheres and at the Nitro Plaza, hundreds, nay, thousands of bubbles will be going off for the public to enjoy. Head to the heart of SLU with your kiddos to enjoy this fantastical treat.

PlayDate SEA, playdatesea.com

Like with many local businesses, COVID took its toll on PlayDate SEA with long closures and uncertainty about its future. But it’s now back open and fun as ever. Part play space and part coffee shop, this neighborhood gem is a refuge for school closures, cold and rainy days, and just about any occasion for kids needing unstructured play time. The three-story indoor playground with two interactive dance floors and a special ball cannon area will keep kids entertained while grownups enjoy the café area (free Wi-Fi!). PlayDate SEA also does private events and birthday parties. Admission is $14 per hour for kids or $18 all day, and parents get in free.