Museums are for KIDs!
How do things work?
Who shares the earth with me? What does art say to me? Who do I want to become?
Museums tackle the big questions that young minds ask
KidsQuest children’s museum
UPCOMING EVENTS
Summer Nights
Explore curated activities with new themes weekly! Engage with 25+ exhibits, interact with live animals, special guests, snacks, & more! Select Fridays, JUL - AUG.
Art Everywhere
Artists make their mark! Draw like Pollock, ship Mondrianinspired boxes, and explore a Warhol takeover in the Bellevue Mercantile during this colorful Museum-wide event.
Curiosity Cart: Science of Art
Enjoy free and engaging staff-led activities twice daily, 7 days per week. Playful art and science activities like color mixing, gelli prints, or capillary action!
What kids will love:
Hop behind the wheel of a semitruck, climb 25 feet in the air, work as a team in the Bellevue Mercantile. Play with clay in the Art Studio or build with repurposed materials in Recycle Rebuild. Venture up the Story Tree, cozy up with a book, & develop reading skills.
The Details
Website: KidsQuestMuseum.org
What parents will love:
Socialize and connect with your community! Watch as children engage in independent play and tackle exciting STEAM concepts through hands-on play. Engage with caregivers, educators, and Museum staff! Help your child combat summer learning loss with regular visits to your neighborhood educational resource!
Address: 1116 108th Ave. NE, Bellevue, WA 98004; Adjacent to the Bellevue Library and Ashwood Park
Hours: Open 7 days a week, 6/30-8/26. Special events and programming occur on various days & times. Check the website for the most up to date information!
Cost: To guarantee play we suggest reserving tickets online. Members: FREE; Children Under 1: FREE; Children over 1: $16.75; Adult Ticket: $16.75
Free/Discounted Days: Discounted tickets and memberships available every day! Visit: bit.ly/KidsQuestAccessDiscounts for more information.
Special Events: Bubblefest, Summer Nights, Water Week, Mud Week, and our traveling STEAM carts full of unique activities designed to unlock curiosity and creativity. Check our website for the most up to date information.
Summer Camps: Yes
After-School/Weekend Classes: Yes
Programs for schools/homeschoolers: bit.ly/KidsQuestSchoolAgedPrograms
Family-Friendly Features: Low-sensory Afternoon on the third Thursday of every month or low-sensory resource kits available for use on-site anytime. Book a birthday party or reserve a private event and enjoy the luxury of having the entire Museum to yourself. KidsQuest Memberships include unlimited visits, early camp access, and special discounts!
Museum Café: Our expertly stocked Museum Store is full of educational games, toys, & light bites or drinks for both children and adults.
Rocky Reach Discovery Center
SCAVENGER HUNT
Don’t miss these five exciting treasures at the Rocky Reach Discovery Center
Steamboat Captain
Steer a steamship through a treacherous stretch of the Columbia River rapids.
Fish Viewing
Look a salmon — and other fsh — in the eye through huge viewing windows.
Fish Tales
Get your hands on fshy innards (minus the slime!)
First People
Travel back in time and learn about the First People of the Columbia.
Hydropower
Know How
Crank a turbine and use your own power to create electricity.
What kids will love:
Look a live salmon in the eye; steer a steamship through the Columbia River rapids; get your hands on salmon innards; run, jump and play in shady Rocky Reach Park.
The Details
What parents will love:
Safe, go-at-your-own-pace “edu-tainment” — we make the magic of hydropower fun! Easy parking and in/out from Hwy 97A.
Website: chelanpud.org/learning-center/rocky-reach-discovery-center facebook.com/VisitRockyReach; IG @VisitRockyReach
Address: 5000 State Hwy 97A Wenatchee, WA 98801
Hours: Tuesday-Sunday 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m
Cost: FREE! A public power beneft. Rocky Reach Dam is owned by the people of Chelan County.
Free/Discounted Museum Days: Every day
Special Events: Salmon Festival: Saturday, September 20, 2025 Fall Harvest Round-up: Saturday, October 25, 2025
Summer Camps: Yes. There are still spaces remaining in our Summer Science classes! Join us for a journey into clean energy as we explore hydropower, wind power, and solar power. Campers will ignite their passion for science through hands-on experiments, activities, and challenges. Call (509) 661-8437 to learn more and register.
After-School/Weekend Classes: Yes
Programs for Schools/Homeschoolers: We offer a variety of hands-on, interactive STEM educational feld trips and science presentations for school and homeschool groups, designed to inspire and challenge students of all ages. Call us to book your feld trip today.
Family-Friendly Features: Four foors of free(!) hands-on fun, acres of beautifully landscaped park and playground
Museum Café: Yes. Rocky Reach Café: Enjoy breakfast, lunch, or a freshly-baked treat for purchase. Open Tuesday-Saturday 9:30am-2pm.
SPARK museum of electrical invention
HIGHLIGHTS
Get electrified!
Explore static electricity with thrilling live demonstrations that make science unforgettable — and hilarious. This is science you can feel (and laugh about).
Step into history!
Docents bring vintage inventions to life with hands-on demos that fascinate kids and parents alike — learning truly becomes an experience here.
Become an inventor!
Curious kids become confdent creators as they explore hands-on experiments. At SPARK, imagination meets real science in a fun, supportive environment.
What kids will love:
Older kids will love SPARK Museum’s immersive, handson exhibits that dive deep into science, invention, and electricity. With engaging docents who bring history and technology to life, the experience sparks real curiosity and excitement — perfect for curious minds ready to go beyond basic play and explore how the world works.
The Details
Website: sparkmuseum.org
Address: 1312 Bay St Bellingham, WA 98225
What parents will love:
Parents will love that SPARK Museum isn’t just for kids — it’s designed to ignite curiosity in everyone. Hands-on exhibits educate, entertain, and inspire visitors of all ages. Whether you’re exploring electricity, sound, or inventions, parents often fnd themselves just as engaged (if not more!) than their children. Come play together!
Hours: 11:00 am-5:00 pm Wednesday-Sunday; MegaZapper Show, Saturdays and Sundays at 2:30
Cost: General Admission: $6 for children (12 and under); $10 for adults; $5 additional for MegaZapper show
Free/Discounted Days: No but passes are available from the local library
Special Events: Yes! Keep an eye on the website and sign up for our monthly newsletter!
Summer Camps: Yes
After-School/Weekend Classes: No
Programs for schools/homeschoolers: sparkmuseum.org/education/feld-trips
Family-Friendly Features: Interactive science and history exhibits for all ages
Museum Café: No
Burke museum of natural history and culture
The Details
Website: burkemuseum.org
Address: 4303 Memorial Way Northeast, Seattle WA 98195
Hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. (closed Monday)
Cost: $0-$24
Free/Discounted Days: First Thursday of every month
Special Events: Please visit our website for the most up to date event schedule.
Summer Camps: Please visit our website for the most up to date educational opportunities.
Family-Friendly Features: Interactive exhibits, visible workrooms, birthday parties, play spaces, arts and crafts, public programs, and educational opportunities.
Museum Café: Off the Rez, Native Indigenous food made from scratch, by hand.
What kids will love:
Dinosaurs, animals, microscopes, scientists at work, crafts, fossil digs, and play spaces.
What parents will love:
Exhibits, visible workrooms, public programs, behind-the-scenes opportunities, educational offerings.
Children’s Museum of Skagit county
The Details
Website: SkagitChildrensMuseum.net
Address: 432 Fashion Way, Burlington, WA 98233
Hours: Check our website for current information!
Cost: Infants under 12 months: Free; Children 12 months or older and adults: $10.75/person; Military/Seniors (65 years old): $9.75/person; Museum’s For All $3.00/person, up to 4 people (EBT, WIC, CHIP, Provider One, Apple Health, or Foster Parent cards. Proof of eligibility will be required.)
Special Events: Current information online!
Summer Camps: SkagitChildrensMuseum.net/education/camps
After-school/Weekend Classes: Current information online!
Family-Friendly Features: Interactive exhibits and activities for kids of all ages to learn through hands-on play. Celebrations and events throughout the year. Museum Explorers Preschool. Museum store. Memberships available.
Advertisement funded by lodging taxes. VisitSkagitValley.com, VisitBurlingtonWA.com
What kids will love:
A real tug boat, semi-truck, crane and so much more to explore in the Main Street exhibits-Café, Dental Offce, Doctor’s Offce, Bank, Design Studio, Grocery Store and Construction Site. Create in the Art Studio, discover the Reading Room, Toddler Farmyard, Barn, STEAM Lane, Theatre Stage, Music Studio, and Train exhibits.
What parents will love:
The exhibits are as much fun for adults as they are for children! The museum offers opportunities and resources for parents to engage with their children, learn more about the community, in an atmosphere that feels welcoming and relaxed. Exhibits are flled with components that inspire curiosity, exploration and fun!
Hands on Children’s Museum
The Details
Website: hocm.org/
Address: 414 Jefferson St. NE Olympia, WA 98501
Hours: Monday-Saturday: 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday: 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Cost: Save $1 on general admission by purchasing your ticket online. General (18 mo.-64 years): $19.95; Seniors (65+): $18.95; Military (w/valid ID): $17.95
Free/Discounted Days: On the First Friday of the month, 4–8 p.m., admission is just $1. Access Admission is available every day. $3 each EBT/SNAP, WIC or Free/Reduced School Lunch Program for guests who qualify, sponsored by WSECU.
Special Events: Summer Splash: June–Aug.; Boo Bash: Oct.; Noon Years: Dec. 31; Ice Adventures: Jan.; Spring Break: April
Summer Camps: hocm.org/summercamps
After-School/Weekend Classes: Check website
Programs for schools/homeschoolers: Field Trips Available
Family-Friendly Features: Preschool, Sensory Friendly Hour Sundays, Sensory Friendly Room Saturdays Museum Café: Yes
Imagine Children’s Museum
The Details
Website: ImagineCM.org
Address: 1502 Wall St., Everett, WA 98201
Hours: Tuesday-Sunday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Cost: $22 per person, $19 Seniors (65+) and active Military, FREE for children up to 2
Free/Discounted Days: Free Community Access Night every third Friday from 5 to 9 p.m. See website for more.
Special Events: Visit ImagineCM.org/calendar for a full calendar of events!
Summer Camps: Yes, kids ages 3-11.
After-School/Weekend Classes: Yes, sign up at ImagineCM.org/enews_signup for weekly updates.
Programs for schools/homeschoolers: ImagineCM.org/feld-trips
Family-Friendly Features: Something for every age, sensoryfriendly resources, and a welcoming space for all.
Museum Café: Divy’s Food Truck on the third foor offers hot food, grab-and-go options, plus coffee for adults. Tables are available for families bringing their own food.
What kids will love:
Over 150 exciting exhibits in 10 beautiful galleries. Half-acre outdoor play area. Year-round activities, guests, and special events. Don’t miss Summer Splash! Festival of Fun with animal encounters, visiting artist, and special activities June – Aug.
What parents will love:
Washington’s award-winning museum on Olympia’s waterfront. East Bay Plaza with 250’ interactive stream. Near downtown, Famer’s Market, and Percival Landing. Clean and beautiful. Fresh foods, in the Play Day Café. Featured in several Blippi videos.
What kids will love:
The PNW’s largest children’s museum, Imagine offers 68,000 square feet for kids to climb, build, pretend and explore! From airplanes to tugboats, they’ll learn about the people and places that shape the Puget Sound. This summer, don’t miss a special hands-on exhibit based on a beloved TV character.
What parents will love:
Voted the number one place for family fun in Snohomish County, Imagine offers more than just play. Exhibits spark curiosity while connecting kids to the region they live in. The Museum is clean, welcoming, and thoughtfully designed. Conveniently located just off I-5 at exit 192.
PHOTO © BILLY HUSTACE PHOTOGRAPHY
Kids Discovery museum
The Details
Website: kidimu.org
Address: 301 Ravine Lane NE, Bainbridge Island, WA 98110
Hours: Summer Hours: Mon-Thu 1-5 p.m., Fri-Sun 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Cost: Members FREE; Infants (under 12 months) FREE; Resident rate $9, Grandparents/Seniors $8; Non-Residents $11, Grandparents/Seniors $10; Military $8, Museums for All $3
Free/Discounted Days: Every First Friday of the month is Pay-What-You-Will
Special Events: First Friday Art Walk, Cultural Museum Pop-Ups, Sippy Cup Socials for Members, Halloween Costume Swap, The Holidays at KiDiMu, Noon-Year’s Eve, Fam Jam, KiDiMu in the Community, MiniMu, Summer Camps, Sing Along and Sounds, and Preschool at KiDiMu
Summer Camps: kidimu.org/summercamps
After-School/Weekend Classes: No
Programs for schools/homeschoolers: MiniMu, Guided Walks at the Bloedel Reserve, Sing Along and Sounds, The Preschool at KiDiMu, kidimu.org
Family-Friendly Features: Birthday Parties/After-Hour Events, Field Trips, Educational Pop-Ups
Museum Café: Yes
MOHAI
The Details
Address: 860 Terry Ave., Seattle
Hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily; Summer Extended Hours: Thursdays, July and August, 10 a.m.-8 p.m.
Cost: Admission is free from 5-8 p.m. on frst Thursdays to MOHAI’s regular galleries. Admission to select special exhibits is included with regular MOHAI admission of $25 for adults, $20 for seniors (65 and above) and military (with ID); $19 for students; free for children 14 and under (when accompanied by an adult) and MOHAI members. As part of the Museums For All program, low-income families can visit for a minimal fee of $2 per person with an Electronic Benefts Transfer (EBT) card.
Programs for schools/homeschoolers: MOHAI’s wide range of hands-on educational programs make local history come alive for students at every grade level. Diverse offerings include onsite museum feld trips and off-site Portable Museum rentals, with scholarship funding support available for those who qualify. mohai.org/education/
Family-Friendly Features: Join MOHAI as we tinker, experiment, and create our way through history. Explore in the Idea Lab in the Bezos Center for Innovation or at home using the templates and videos. Activities change every other month.
Museum Café: Stop in for a bite at Gourmondo at MOHAI. Open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily. First Thursdays of the month 10 a.m.-8 p.m.
What kids will love:
KiDiMu offers hands-on exhibits for every learner. Budding scientists explore STEM displays, while creative minds enjoy the Light Wall, Art Studio, and Creation Station. Imaginative kids love Our Town and HOME play spaces.
What parents will love:
KiDiMu, in downtown Winslow near shops and eateries, offers fun for all ages. Parents enjoy exploring all exhibits. The museum is clean, safe, and features an outdoor space for fresh-air play.
What kids will love:
Create, collaborate, and explore at the Bezos Center for Innovation where young visitors can tinker and solve real-world problems in the Idea Lab and use Exploration and Innovation Packs to discover history in fun, hands-on ways.
What parents will love:
MOHAI’s big open foor plan allows kids to get their wiggles out as they explore. Hands-on interactives supplement in-depth exhibit content to entertain everyone in the family.
The Museum of Flight
The Details
Website: museumoffight.org
Address: 9404 East Marginal Way South, Seattle, WA 98108
Hours: 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Cost: Free-$29 (Proud participant of Museums For All, Library Free Museum Pass Programs, and more. Additional discounts available, see website under “Hours & Admission”)
Free/Discounted Days: First Thursday of Every Month, 5-9 PM
Special Events: R2-D2 Builders Club Expo (July 12), Space Patch Design Workshop (July 19), Jet Blast Bash (Aug. 2-3), Family Workshops (Weekends)
After-School/Weekend Classes: Variety of options for K-12 including programs for BIPOC, girls in STEM and credit-bearing programs, visit museumoffight.org/Education
Programs for schools/homeschoolers: Engaging feld trip options for all learners, visit museumoffight.org/Education or email Education@museumoffight.org
Family-Friendly Features: Explore airplane and space exhibits, children’s play area, walk-thru aircraft like the Concorde and Air Force One, Aerospace Education Center for career and educational program information.
Museum Café: Yes
Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI)
The Details
Website: OMSI.edu
Address: 1945 SE Water Avenue, Portland, Oregon 97214
Hours: Summer Hours: Sunday-Friday 9:30 am-5:30 pm, Saturday 9:30 am-7 pm
Fall/Winter Hours: Tuesday-Friday 9:30 am-5:30 pm, Saturday 9:30 am-7 pm, and Sunday 9:30 am-5:30 pm
Cost: General Admission: Adult (14+) $20, Senior (63+) $17, Youth (3-13) $15, Infant (Under 3 years) Free; Free to Members
Free/Discounted Days: $5 Days the frst Sunday of every month
Special Events: Throughout the year, check out omsi.edu/whats-on
Summer Camps: Yes
After-School/Weekend Classes: No
Programs for schools/homeschoolers: omsi.edu/school-community-programs
Family-Friendly Features: Experience science-fueled fun for all ages!
Museum Café: Yes
What kids will love:
Planes, spacecraft and rockets! Sit in a pilot’s seat, walk inside airplanes, simulator rides and virtual reality experience ($), and hands-on crafts.
What parents will love:
Free hands-on craft workshops (Sat/Sun), big galleries to roam in, aerospace career information and programs and more!
What kids will love:
Touch a Triceratops bone, change fre color, try Morse code, and more! Explore fun experiments with OMSI educators. Teens 13–18 can get creative in the Teen Tech Center—an exclusive space just for them.
What parents will love:
Whether experimenting in handson labs, exploring immersive exhibits, touring a real submarine, splashing and climbing in our science playground, or gazing at the stars in our planetarium, there is something for everyone at OMSI.
Pacifc bonsai museum
The Details
Website: pacifcbonsaimuseum.org
Address: 2515 South 336th St., Federal Way, WA 98001
Hours: Tuesday through Sunday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Cost: Free (donations appreciated)
Free/Discounted Days: Everyday
Special Exhibits: Small Talk: All the dirt on growing mini-but-mighty trees and Building Wonder: Bonsai Treehouses by Dave Creek
Programs for schools/homeschoolers: pacifcbonsaimuseum.org/learn/feld_trips/
Family-Friendly Features: ~60 bonsai are on display year-round; children and parents alike fnd the tiny trees captivating and enchanting; experience the exhibits at your own pace; interpretive materials available to read about each bonsai; a clean, well cared for outdoor museum; fat, fne gravel walkways are stroller/wheelchair accessible.; with free admission for all!
Museum Café: No
White River Valley Museum
The Details
Website: wrvmuseum.org/
Address: 918 H Street SE, Auburn, WA 98002
Hours: Open Wednesday – Sunday from Noon – 4PM
Cost: FREE!
Special Events: Check our website for a complete list of events.
Summer Camps: Yes
After-School/Weekend Classes: Yes
Programs for schools/homeschoolers: wrvmuseum.org/feld-trips-group-tours
Family-Friendly Features: Kid friendly hands-on activities and immersive history exhibits for the whole family, an annual Christmas tree exhibit, and dozens of free family programs throughout the year.
Museum Café: No
What kids will love:
Chat with talking trees! The Small Talk exhibition lets kids imagine asking bonsai trees questions and getting answers through fun anime-style characters. Try handson activities like bonsai wiring and soil sifting. Marvel at six incredible miniature treehouses built into bonsai trees by Dave Creek, lead character designer for Bob’s Burgers.
What parents will love:
STEM education disguised as pure fun! Kids learn about botany, patience, and nature care while being thoroughly entertained. Beautiful, peaceful museum setting offers screen-free time in nature without a long drive. Educational value combined with artistic wonder from a professional animator’s whimsical treehouses.
What kids will love:
Kids love climbing aboard the caboose, wandering through the cabin, doing a scavenger hunt, exploring the kid’s only tents, and riding Sandy the mechanical horse.
What parents will love:
An easy, worry-free museum experience in a great park, right behind a King County Library. You can make the day of it or pop in for half an hour. Come on a summer Sunday to also enjoy the Auburn Farmer’s Market.
SCAN TO PLAN YOUR VISIT:
