Expect the Unexpected: 10 Unusual Seattle-Area Spots to Take the Kids

Looking for something fun to do with your kids other than taking a walk or going to the playground? Hey, we get it. While your kids probably enjoy the routine, for us adults, the usual family-friendly activities can get rather dull at times. Explore these unique activities and places for a pick-me-up! 

Take selfies with your favorite characters at Funko HQ 

Since 1998, Funko has created more than 15,600 different Funko Pops (the first was a bobblehead of the Big Boy restaurant mascot) and created a need many of us never knew that we had. From superheroes to Disney princesses to sports stars and cereal mascots, Funko sells them all. 

The best place with the largest selection of Funko Pops (and the most fun) is at Funko HQ in downtown Everett. The large store is fun enough on its own, but the company went way out of its way to make this pop culture shopping experience something to remember. 

Funko is sort of a pop culture museum with larger-than-life Funko replicas put out on display just waiting for you to take a selfie. You can jump in and ride with Batman out of the Bat Cave, avoid The Hulk busting out of a wall and pose with Elsa or Tiana. Hang out with Harry Potter, Luke Skywalker and more.

Location: 2802 Wetmore Ave., Everett
Hours: Open daily, 10 a.m.–7 p.m. 

Peruse the unique collection at The Snackin Shack 

Jaxen “Snacks” McInnis experienced his true calling in life when he opened The Snackin Shack on Halloween in 2023. Located in downtown Everett, this free micro museum is huge with content. It is the only museum in the U.S., nay, the world, that is dedicated solely to snack foods and beverages. More than 600 items in their original packaging and promotional materials have been stuffed into this tiny space. 

What you can find at The Snackin Shack is truly amazing. Sure, all the “normal” snacks are there, but you’ll also find some really unique offerings as well, such as Vlasic Pickle Balls, Spicy Cinnamon Toast Crunch, and Hot Pockets for ranch salad dressing lovers. Of course, with all of those snacks for “display only,” Jaxen also sells snacks to go. 

Location: 2916 Hoyt Ave., Everett
Hours: Open Thursday–Sunday, noon–4 p.m.

Make chocolate creations with the Chocolate Man 

Bill the Chocolate Man is an award-winning chocolatier who loves to share his craft with others — even children. He is known for both his imaginative truffles and large-scale chocolate and sugar sculptures. 

You’ll smell Bill’s shop long before you see it within the Lake Forest Park Town Center. Inside, you’ll find all sorts of creative confections to purchase for gifts or for yourself. 

Most classes that he offers are for adults, but every month he offers two classes for kids (one on Saturday and another on Sunday) that are often designed around an upcoming holiday. The brave soul says that parents are not actually required for the kids to take these classes. (Reservations are required.) Together with Bill, your kids will learn how to make things like suckers, chocolate pizza, chocolate-covered Oreos and even truffles — all decorated by the little artists themselves. And what they learn, they can repeat (more or less) at home. 

Location: 17171 Bothell Way N.E., Suite A130, Lake Forest Park 

Check out what Bigfoot wears at the World Famous Giant Shoe Museum 

We’re assuming that Bigfoot wears shoes, right? What better place to see those shoes than at the World Famous Giant Shoe Museum located at Pike Place Market. This tiny museum has been at the market for years and boasts having the world’s largest collection of giant shoes. 

The story of how this museum came about goes like this: Danny Eskenazi had learned that his grandfather had once owned a wingtip worn by the world’s tallest man, Robert Wadlow. While looking for that shoe (he even offered a $1,000 prize for anyone helping him find it), he came upon others that now fill the exhibit.

Since viewing shoes won’t take up a lot of time, you might as well explore other things at the market, from flying fish to two over-the-top piggy banks to the oldest comic shop in the world. 

Location: 1501 Pike Pl., Seattle

Escape a room with Scooby at Escapology

We adults love escape rooms (well, some of us do), but most of them are not designed with children in mind. The new Escapology location in Lynnwood features one adventure set in “kid mode” with a character kids are familiar with in the “Scooby-Doo and the Spooky Castle Adventure.” 

The story is set with the town of Crystal Cove being tormented by monsters and the local baroness has gone missing! When arriving at a spooky castle, the Mystery Incorporated gang get locked outside while you are locked inside. With the help of magical portraits inside the castle, kids can communicate with their cartoon friends to help them look for clues. 

The kid mode is designed for kids ages 7–14 only, but they are generous enough to allow parents inside for support. (You can even play the game in regular mode if you’d rather.) 

Location: 18602 Alderwood Mall Pkwy., Suite 1120, Lynnwood

Hunt for gnomes and trolls 

Take your kids for a walk that leads to an adventure of sorts in the Valley of the Gnomes. Crossing the trestle bridge that overlooks a valley is pretty cool on its own. However, it appears that the land is inhabited with a variety of ceramic gnomes that have been tucked away in hiding spots along the route and are visible from the bridge. It’s a bit of a mystery how these little fellas got here in the first place. You can find a similar gnome trail in Maple Valley.

If “tiny” is not your idea of a good time, then go “big” and look out for the Thomas Dambo trolls. Several have been spotted in the area (with another 100 or so spotted throughout the world) and will be around for at least another year. Locally, you’ll find these guys in Sakai Park on Bainbridge Island, Lincoln Park in West Seattle, the Rainier Trail in Issaquah, Point Robinson on Vashon Island, the National Nordic Museum in Ballard and Nordic Northwest in Portland. If you haven’t seen what these gentle giants look like, they are all pretty incredible. 

Valley of the Gnomes location: 3906 E. Pine St., Seattle 

Laugh at Archie McPhee’s Rubber Chicken Museum collection 

Yes Virginia, there really is a world-famous rubber chicken museum and it’s been here in Seattle since 2018. A passion project of rubber chicken expert Kirk Demarais, this museum is located within Archie McPhee’s store. Here you’ll learn a little history of the rubber chicken and its connection to the Northwest. 

Like the other museums on this list, this free museum is not particularly huge, but it does feature some rubber chicken collectibles, with samples of some of the smallest and largest of the quirky toys. While there, you’ll find all kinds of other things you never knew you needed, such as underwear for squirrels. 

Note: Guests are asked to squeak the chickens only once as the noise is prone to drive the employees crazy. 

Location: 1300 N. 45th St., Seattle 
Hours: Open Sunday–Thursday, 11 a.m.–6 p.m.; Friday–Saturday, 11 a.m.–7 p.m. 

Become a human video game character at a Pac-Man themed park 

A smallish section of Summit Avenue on Capitol Hill has been underutilized for years, so Seattle’s “Pavement to Parks” program came up with nine different ideas to dress it up. What they came up with is a life-size replica of the iconic Pac-Man game where you can run away from Inky, Blinky, Pinky or Clyde, or chomp on some power pellets and chase them like Pac-Man throughout the 2,600-square-foot maze. 

After the kids have run themselves crazy, stop on over at the Raygun Lounge and play the real thing.

Location: 110 Summit Ave. E., Seattle 

Sip cocoa with a kitty at Seattle Meowtropolitan Cat Café 

Hello, kitty! Tell your kids that you’re going to take them out for hot chocolate and watch them flip out at the Seattle Meowtropolitan Cat Café. 

Enjoy a Meowca, Catpuccino, Meowcciato, Chai Tea Catte or Hot Pawchocolate (decorated with a cat-themed design) while you watch the kitties through the windows. But if you want the purr-fect date, make a reservation for the Cat Lounge so that you can play with those kitties while sipping your beverages. 

According to Seattle Meowtropolitan, the cats are typically the most active during the first session or late in the day. With that said, felines will usually sleep anywhere from 12–16 hours a day, so don’t be surprised if they are a little sleepy when you come. It’s a tough job acting all cute and stuff, but someone’s got to do it. That only makes the cats easier to snuggle with. 

Neko Cat Café offers a similar experience on Capitol Hill. 

Location: 1225 N. 45th St., Seattle
Café hours: Monday and Wednesday–Sunday, 10 a.m.–8 p.m.; Tuesday, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. (Espresso bar closes 45 minutes before closing.) 
Regular sessions: Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, 11 a.m.–8 p.m.; Tuesday, 11 a.m.–5 p.m.; Friday–Sunday, noon–6 p.m. (Last sessions scheduled one hour before closing. Ages 6 and older.) 

Take your dog out for coffee at Coby’s Café 

While there are plenty of bars in Seattle that are dog-friendly, Coby’s Café just might be the coffee shop dedicated to two kinds of clientele — humans and their pooches. 

Serving a variety of coffee drinks and snacks, the café is divided into two spaces: the coffee bar and the dog lounge. (Food and drinks are prepared on one half, food and drinks can be consumed with dogs in the other half.) They do a fine job of keeping everything sanitary. There is even a menu for the pups, including the Pawcha Latte and Woofles (made with oat flour, coconut milk, unsweetened applesauce and spinach powder). 

Don’t have a dog? No problem. The owner tells us that they get a lot of dogless families coming in each week to get their “dog fix.” She says that it is a great way to learn more about the potential breeds that you’re interested in, plus it helps kids learn to be respectful around dogs and how to interact with them appropriately.

Location: 101 Nickerson Street Building B, Suite 200, Seattle 
Hours: Open Tuesday–Thursday, 11 a.m.–7 pm; Friday, 11 a.m.–5 p.m.; Saturday–Sunday, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. 

Bonus: Pet an exotic animal at the Outback Kangaroo Farm 

Note: The Outback Kangaroo Farm is typically open each year from March to October, but is closed for the season. Keep it in mind for next spring!

Located up north, The Outback Kangaroo Farm is unlike your typical zoo. Open seasonally, the farm offers 40-minute tours that will allow your family to get up close and personal with kangaroos, wallabies, wallaroos, rabbits, llamas, lemurs, alpacas, Nigerian dwarf goats, peacocks, mini donkeys, parrots and emus. You’ll also learn a lot of interesting facts too. (And believe it or not, if your family falls in love with one, you can even take steps to purchase one and bring it home with you, but first things first.) 

Location: 10030 State Route 530 N.E., Arlington 
Hours: Tours are offered seasonally, Thursday–Sunday, at 10 a.m., noon, 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.