Free & Family Friendly

10 Free Family Friendly Things to Do in Seattle Southside

Exciting adventures without the hefty price tag. Seattle Southside is a treasure trove of educational, recreational, and cultural experiences, perfect for families. Dive into local mom Krista's curated list of 10+ family-friendly and free activities, and discover the diverse delights that await you in Seattle Southside.

North SeaTac Park
Angle Lake Spray Park
Museum of Flight
MaST Center Aquarium
Fort Dent Park
Highline SeaTac Botanical Garden
Art In The Park
Southcenter Library Connection
Tidepooling
Outdoor Art

1. Play all day at the North SeaTac Park

This SeaTac park is full of action! My children love bringing their remote-controlled cars to race on their off-road race track. The Seattle RC Racers have organized races, which are also fun to attend. Bikers can challenge their skills with the mountain bike trails and a paved BMX pump track. There’s also a skateboard park, disc golf course, soccer fields, baseball/softball fields, paved walking trails, a picnic area, and a playground and rock-climbing structure near the community center. So, pick your sport, pack some equipment, and have fun!

Parent Tip: Just outside the park is the Highline SeaTac Botanical Garden. It’s open daily from dawn to dusk and is free to visit.

2. Stay Cool at the Spray Park at Angle Lake Park

Cool off at the spray park at Angle Lake Park. It’s open daily from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Memorial Day through Labor Day. The spray park has a variety of engaging features including the Mega Splasher—a 50-gallon bucket that fills until it spills from 20 feet above. Smaller tipping bowls, a spray circle, spray guns, and more gentle sprayers also provide plenty of refreshing entertainment. Angle Lake Park also offers a sandy swimming beach, boat launch, fishing pier, playground, picnic shelter, barbeque area, and open grassy area.

Parent Tip: You may want to keep toddlers away from the Mega Splasher’s intense splash zone.

3. Explore Air and Space at the Museum of Flight*

A new immersive exhibit landed at The Museum of Flight! Home Beyond Earth walks you through what life is like as an astronaut in space and includes hands-on experiences like building your own space station model. This new exhibit runs through January 20, 2025.

Whether you’re curious about space or planes, The Museum of Flight is sure to wow everyone being the largest independent air and space museum in the world. My kids love being able to sit in the various airplane models and cockpits. Another highlight for kids and adults alike is visiting the Tower at Boeing Field where one can learn more about air traffic control. Listen to the live air traffic controllers at the King County International Airport as the planes approach and land within view.

Parent Tip: There are two designated kids’ areas at the Kids Flight Zone and the outdoor play area within the Aviation Pavilion.

*The first Thursday of every month is free from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. and kids ages 0-4 years old are always free. If you have a King County Library card you can reserve a free pass online.

4. Dive Into the Puget Sound at the MaST Center Aquarium*

Walk under the 38’ Gray Whale, get your urchin finger hugs at the two touch tanks, explore over 250 native Puget Sound sea creatures, and explore educational programs and summer camps. See if you can spot the octopus in its tank and ask the volunteers about any new arrivals. There’s always something new to see here as the MaST Center divers go on frequent collecting trips. Its location along Redondo Beach is convenient for exploring the shoreline, walking the fishing pier, and tide pooling during low tides.

Parent Tip: View the museum’s live underwater cameras and you might catch a scuba diver waving at you!

*Open to the public on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for free, but there is a suggested donation of $5/adult.

5. Play and Explore Fort Dent Park

Tukwila’s largest park boasts soccer fields, a picnic area, walking trails, open areas and a playground. Tukwila residents never have to pay for parking but visitors to the area sometimes do (see signs for details). The Fort Dent Bridge is a picturesque and fun spot to cross the Green River. The extensive Green River Trail passes through the edge of this park, making it an excellent stop for biking families.

Parent Tip: Watershed FC Pizza has a restaurant next to the soccer fields and sells pizza by the slice, salad, and brews.

6. Step into Nature at the Highline SeaTac Botanical Garden

Step into this 11-acre oasis, home to the beautiful Seike Japanese Garden and Sensory Garden, Celebration Rose Garden, and more. This garden was formed to preserve two private gardens that were in the path of demolition for a runway at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. The gardens were relocated, providing cultural and recreational value to the community and its visitors. It’s open daily from dawn to dusk and is free to visit.

Parent Tip: Visit the garden’s Instagram page for bloom reports and free events like story times by the King County Library System, concerts, and an annual ice cream social.

7. Experience Art in the Parks

Des Moines and SeaTac offer free summer concerts and movies in their parks. The Summer Concert Series at Des Moines Beach Park has live music and food trucks every Wednesday at 7 p.m. through August 21. Pack your picnic for free concerts at Riverton Heights and Angle Lake Parks on Wednesday evenings from 6:00p.m.-8:00 p.m. in July. Food vendors may be present.

Catch an outdoor movie in SeaTac at Riverton Heights Park or school locations during the month of August as a part of their Friday Flix Series. Bring a blanket, lawn chairs, popcorn, and enjoy! Movies start after sunset (around 8:30 p.m.).

Parent Tip: Bring some bubbles and snacks to keep your kids occupied while you wait for things to kick off.

8. Read and Play at King County Library System Southcenter Library Connection

The library’s children’s section is inviting and has lots of space to spread out. Kids can peruse the large collection of children’s books, play with educational toys and games, and play educational computer games. There are also a couple of interactive play panels geared toward children under four years old. Library hours vary per day and are closed on Sundays.

Parent Tip: If you need to get some wiggles out, stop by Westfield Southcenter mall’s enclosed PlaySpace.

9. Tide Pooling with the Seattle Aquarium Beach Naturalists

Join the Seattle Aquarium beach naturalists in exploring Puget Sound’s marine life during low tide this summer. Beach Naturalists are stationed on scheduled days at these beaches, but there are also great beaches to explore on your own during low tides. It’s a great opportunity to learn how to explore tide pools better and discover more creatures.

You'll need a Discover Pass for Saltwater State Park. You can borrow them for free with your King County library card.

Parent tip: Pack extra clothes, towels, and hand sanitizer. Don rain boots or protective sandals. To protect the creatures gently touch them using one finger. Don’t remove anything from tide pools (except trash), and walk carefully to avoid stepping on creatures. Lots of life shelters under the grass of shallow tide pools.

10. Explore Outdoor Art

Walk, bike, or drive to explore the public art in Des Moines. If flying saucers pique your interest, there are several related pieces. The newest art installation, Raven Discovers Spaceship, features aliens peeping out of a colorful wooden sculpture at 22220 7th Ave. South, Des Moines.

The Maury Island Incident Mural and the latest art addition, “Sparky” (605 South 22rd Street), keep the mysterious legend of the most famous Des Moines UFO encounter alive. In 1947, Harold Dahl reported that flying saucers dropped metal down on him and his dog, Sparky, while boating. Sparky allegedly died from his injuries. Learn more about this incident with an audio walking tour (1.2 miles round trip) and a short drive through Des Moines.

At the south entrance to Des Moines Marina on South 227th Street, you’ll find the “Marinascope” within the South Marina Park. Kids (and adults) will enjoy walking into the giant kaleidoscope made from an old shipping lane buoy with colored glass portholes. Keep walking through the marina to find more public art, including a sea otter, salmon, and orca.

Visit the most controversial and scandalous art piece in Des Moines: The Big Catch sculpture at 21815 Marine View Drive. From afar, a fisherman is gleefully grasping his “big catch,” but as one gets closer, the statue reveals the man grabbing the human breasts on the giant fish. A plaque tells a legend of a woman turned fish saved by the kiss of her fisherman lover. However, the piece of art is open for interpretation, as the late artist never explained its meaning.

The Redondo Arch at Redondo Beach Dr. S. and Redondo Way S. is a rugged eight-ton granite arch tethered by steel cables. This arch metaphorically gateways land and sea while providing a focal point at the two-acre park. It frames the Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains in the distance. The arch once survived a destructive storm in 1991 that took out the pier and seawall. It was successfully hoisted to safety and re-installed after two years of shoreline rebuilding efforts in 1993.

Parent Tip: Because kids love earning prizes, download the Seattle Southside Scenes Trail to learn more about the art and history throughout the area while earning points toward prizes. All you have to do is check in at the locations to earn points. Three points will earn you a pair of socks, and after six points, you can redeem a tote bag. If your kids are more food motivated, make a stop at Mini The Dough-Nut in Des Moines for made-to-order mini donuts with customizable toppings!

Krista Tsai

Author

Krista Tsai

Family and Lifestyle Freelance Writer

Krista is Seattle-area mom of three. Since having her third child, she is taking a break from Clinical Social Work to stay home. She is determined to teach her children her love of biking, skiing, and the beach. You can follow her family’s PNW adventures and travel tips on Instagram.