Do your kids love museum trips, too? Check out these 7 tips on how to enjoy a day at the Seattle Children’s Museum. It’s definitely a trip they won’t forget!
This 7 Best Tips to Enjoy a Day at the Seattle Children’s Museum post was written by family travel expert Marcie Cheung and contains affiliate links, which means if you purchase something from one of my affiliate links, I may earn a small commission that goes back into maintaining this blog.
In my 3-year-old’s circle of friends, we are in the end stretch of “birthday season.” It’s been such a fun adventure exploring the different indoor play space areas in the Seattle area. I was especially excited to revisit the Seattle Children’s Museum at the Seattle Center with the whole family. The last time I was here, my oldest was 16 months old and wasn’t interested much in the museum. I was really looking forward to seeing what he thought now.
The tricky part is that we have been spending time at the Kidsquest Museum in Bellevue, which is brand new and has many windows. That made the Seattle Children’s Museum look very dated and neglected. It’s also located on the basement level of the Armory (formerly the Center House), so there isn’t any natural light.
However, I really appreciated the elements that represented Seattle. They have a winding train table that features not only the cities of the Seattle area but also the Sound Transit stations. They also had a cutout of a Link Light Rail train at a pretend station. We also saw part of a City bus where kids could climb inside.
I think my favorite part of the Seattle Children’s Museum is its Global Village cultural area. I love any exhibit that encourages children to explore the world and understand other cultures. It definitely could use a facelift, but I loved the interactive components. They feature the countries of Ghana, the Philippines, and Japan. All three countries represented in this exhibit have a house, shop, and mode of transportation for kid-sized exploration.
We went to their story time, where a staff member read Rosie Revere, Engineer. I loved that it promoted STEM and was a story we hadn’t heard before. But, my son lost interest after a few minutes and wanted me to read him a story about airplanes. I was impressed at the assortment of books they had available.
I also thought of the mini Metropolitan Market. Usually, my son loves playing grocery store and has spent hours doing so at other museums and play spaces. I thought they had a great assortment of pretend food items, grocery carts, and check stands that really scanned items. This day, he was all about the trains, so it was a brief stop.
We spent our last few minutes at COG City. This exhibit area was renovated in 2014 and is all about cause/effect and the science behind motion. My son loved scooping up the balls and placing them in air flow pipes (the ones that were working.) He also had fun cranking the conveyor belt (with and without balls on it.)
Because there is more competition in terms of amazing children’s activities in the Seattle area, I’m glad that the Seattle Children’s Museum is striving to enhance the experience of families. They are currently in partnership with the Museum of History and Industry on their Seattle Boomtown, Jr. exhibit. I got to see the facade, which is the beginning of what looks like an extraordinary exhibit highlighting Seattle’s history. They are creating a place for children and their families to explore the boom of our great city. This “small town” will feature a department store, a stable/blacksmith, a barber shop, and even a school!
7 Tips for Seattle Children’s Museum
- Take the Monorail. If you’d like to make it a whole event, park at Westlake Center and take the 2-minute Monorail ride. Kids ages 4 and under ride free! It was an easy way to get my son out of the Museum so we could head home.
- Park your stroller. There is a large space inside the museum for stroller parking. It’s much easier than trying to push one through the Museum. I wore my baby in our Tula carrier the whole time.
- Check their Program Schedule. They usually offer a staff-led activity every hour.
- Pick up a free ticket for the Imagination Studio. We didn’t have time for this, and I regret it. When you arrive at the Museum, pick up a time ticket for each group member for any available time slot (the tickets are free!). Be sure to allow your child’s painting, clay sculpture, or other creation a chance to dry while you finish exploring the rest of the Museum.
- Let your child guide you. My son primarily wanted to play at the train table (even though we have one at home), but he was happy there. We explored other areas but ended up back at the train table.
- Grab lunch in the Armory. They have tons of kid-friendly options, and the food comes out pretty quickly.
- Get a hand stamp. If your kids (and yourself) have energy after lunch, head back to the Museum and just show your hand stamp. Or come back after nap time.
Seattle Children’s Museum Wrap-up
The Seattle Children’s Museum was fun and exciting for the whole family. The museum admission offers a gateway to a world where imagination and education intertwine.
Perfect for field trips or family outings, the museum manages to provide features that cater to a wide range of interests, from the whimsical train tables to the enriching Global Village.
The museum, constantly evolving, plans to add more engaging experiences, proving it’s more than just a place to visit; it’s a space where memories are crafted and curiosity is kindled. Whether it’s a day out with the family or an educational field trip, the Seattle Children’s Museum is a testament to the city’s commitment to nurturing young minds.
Looking for more things to do in Seattle with kids? Visit other interesting museums like the Seattle Space Needle, Pacific Science Center, Burke Museum, and Seattle MoPOP Museum!
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That was great story , I don’t have kid yet even married for 5 years . I like to read your story and some of great tips of things to do there .
Thanks for sharing
Thanks! Kids are a trip and definitely change how we go out and about!
I love your pics. This museum looks awesome!!! Great article!!
Thanks! It’s perfect for the toddler to preschooler crowd!
Sounds like a blast! Will have to keep in mind if I am ever in the Seattle area!
It’s a great place for kids!
Sounded like a great day. Great article
Our 3yo had such a fun time! Great stop at Seattle Center!