Seattle Museum Month, February 1-28, offers Seattle visitors staying in one of our 50+ partner hotels an unbeatable value: 50% off admission at more than 25 museums, including many of Seattle’s most popular attractions.
You can go to as many museums as you like during your stay, and up to four people staying in the hotel room are eligible to use the discount, so it’s perfect for trips with friends or family. You’ll find the entire list of museums at seattlemuseummonth.com – but how to choose? Let’s dive in and I’ll try to make some suggestions according to your interests.
Today’s topic is: family fun! Here are some of my recommendations if you have kids in the mix.
First up, the Burke Museum. Re-opened in late 2019 in a newly constructed, purpose-built facility, the Burke offers a new kind of museum experience, making the research and scientific discovery accessible to visitors. With amazing fossils, dinosaur bones, minerals, cultural artifacts, and an engaging team of scientists and researchers to welcome you, the Burke is a must-see!
Courtesy Burke Museum
At Seattle Center, the colorful Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP) is eye-popping inside and out, and will thrill older kids and their parents too. Music fans can dive deep into exhibits on Hip Hop, or Seattle icons Nirvana, Pearl Jam and Jimi Hendrix, while fans of Harry Potter or The Wizard of Oz will delight in Fantasy: Worlds of Myth and Magic. Indie Game Revolution offers an immersion into contemporary video game culture. Maybe zombies, vampires and other things that go bump in the night are more your speed? Then Scared to Death: The Thrill of Horror Film is for you! (Note that this one is for the age 13+ crowd, due to high scare factor & graphic content.)
Indie Game Revolution exhibit at MoPOP Courtesy MoPOP
Also at Seattle Center, the Pacific Science Center has been a family favorite since 1962. From the Tropical Butterfly House, to the Planetarium, the Tinker Tank Makerspace to Dinosaurs: A Journey Through Time, a variety of exhibitions and experiences are ready to delight and inspire.
Pacific Science Center Rachael Jones
Seattle Children’s Museum is also located at the Seattle Center, offering hands-on exhibits and daily programs for kids from birth to age 10, sparking imagination and discovery through exploratory play.
Seattle Children’s Museum Megan Ching
Seattle Aquarium delights visitors young and old on the Seattle waterfront. A leader in hands-on marine experiences and conservation education, the Aquarium makes learning about Puget Sound and our world’s one big ocean fun and engaging. Daily diver shows in the Windows On Washington Waters exhibit introduce the fish that you can find in our Washington waters. Wearing specialized masks, the divers are able to talk back and forth with Aquarium interpreters on the outside of the exhibit, and answer your questions.
Seattle Aquarium Rachael Jones
From the waterfront, you can walk on a Washington State Ferry for a 30 minute crossing to Bainbridge Island, where a short stroll up from the dock leads you to Kids Discovery Museum, which is geared for little ones from 6 months to 8 years.
Courtesy Kids Discovery Museum
A few minutes north of Seattle Center is Woodland Park Zoo, another perennial favorite for all ages. Established in 1899, the Zoo has been an urban oasis and is now a leader in animal conservation efforts. Its 92 acres are divided into bioclimatic zones, featuring natural habitats ranging from humid tropical rain forests and coastal deserts to temperate rain forests like those of the Pacific Northwest, housing a wide range of interesting animals.
bear, bear cub, brown bear, juniper, living northwest trail
Woodland Park Zoo
Find your perfect hotel and learn more about Seattle Museum Month at seattlemuseummonth.com. See our other blog posts for more suggestions for arts & culture lovers, history & heritage buffs, and those seeking one-of-a-kind experiences. With more than 25 participating museums, we’ve got something for every interest. See you in February!
Banner image: Seattle Aquarium
About the Author
Tracey Wickersham
Tracey Wickersham is the Senior Director of Cultural Tourism at Visit Seattle. A volunteer dj & host of a long running music program on KBCS 91.3 FM, she spent 6 years on the board of 4Culture, supporting arts, heritage, public art and historic preservation in King County. You’ll often find her at the Tractor Tavern enjoying great bands, exploring one of the region’s beautiful parks, or in one of Seattle’s many live theater venues.
