Winter Activities in Seattle, WA
Winter in Seattle, WA — top activities include Chihuly Garden and Glass ($35-40), Moore Theatre ($25-75), Rob Roy ($14-20), 5th Avenue Theatre ($30-120), and Ballard Farmers Market (Free entry). Seasonal attractions typically run November through February, while indoor venues operate year-round.
Hands-on museum for ages 0-8 in the lower level of the Armory at Seattle Center. Global village play areas, construction zone, art studios. Under 1 free. 6% revitalization fee added to tickets.
305 Harrison St, Seattle, WA 98109 · Wed-Mon 10am-5pm, closed Tuesdays · Ages 0–8
Big science museum at Seattle Center. Hundreds of interactive exhibits, planetarium, laser dome shows, butterfly house. General admission includes unlimited planetarium and daytime laser shows. Prices vary by date. Toddlers free.
200 Sue Bird Ct N, Seattle, WA 98109 · Daily 10am-5pm
92-acre zoo with 300+ species including grizzly bears, penguins, snow leopards, and gorillas. Nature play area, carousel, seasonal butterfly garden. Prices vary by day so book online. Under 2 always free.
5500 Phinney Ave N, Seattle, WA 98103 · Sep-Apr: Daily 9:30am-4pm; May-Sep: Daily 9:30am-6pm
175+ aircraft and spacecraft including a Concorde, Air Force One, and space shuttle trainer. Flight simulators and a kid-friendly aviation pavilion. Under 4 free. Free first Thursdays 5-9pm.
9404 E Marginal Way S, Seattle, WA 98108 · Daily 10am-5pm
Pacific Northwest marine life on Pier 59: sea otters, harbor seals, octopus, jellyfish. Touch pools for tide pool creatures. Ocean Pavilion has tropical reef and shark exhibits. Under 3 free. Prices vary by day and time.
1483 Alaskan Way, Seattle, WA 98101 · Daily 9:30am-6pm, last entry 5pm
Free playground at Seattle Center with separate areas for ages 2-5 and 5-12. Musical instruments, climbing structures, 30-foot climbing tower. Fully accessible. Open year-round.
305 Harrison St, Seattle, WA 98109 · Daily, dawn to dusk
Free splash fountain at Seattle Center where kids run through water jets shooting from a dome. Built for the 1962 World's Fair. Packed on warm days. Lawn around it works for picnics. Open year-round, water jets seasonal.
305 Harrison St, Seattle, WA 98109 · Daily, open year-round
Rem Koolhaas building with a dedicated kids floor. Free storytime, crafts, and STEM activities. Weekly story times for ages 0-5 include Spanish sessions. Kids love the bright-red escalator spiral.
1000 Fourth Ave, Seattle, WA 98104 · Mon 10am-6pm, Tue-Thu 10am-8pm, Fri-Sun 10am-6pm
Natural history museum on the UW campus. Dinosaur fossils, live butterflies, Pacific Northwest cultural artifacts. Open labs where kids can watch scientists work. Under 3 free. Free first Thursdays.
4303 Memorial Way NE, Seattle, WA 98195 · Tue-Sun 10am-5pm, closed Mondays. First Thu 10am-8pm
175-foot Ferris wheel on Pier 57. Enclosed, climate-controlled gondolas with Elliott Bay and Olympic Mountain views. About 15 minutes, three rotations. Glass-bottom VIP gondola costs extra. Under 3 ride free.
1301 Alaskan Way, Seattle, WA 98101 · Daily 11am-9pm, hours vary seasonally
534-acre park with a renovated playground (ages 2-5 and 5-12), zip line, cargo nets, and trails to a lighthouse and beach. Stroller-friendly easy trails. Ranger-led nature walks on weekends. Fully accessible playground.
3801 Discovery Park Blvd, Seattle, WA 98199 · Daily 4am-11:30pm
Hands-on children's museum in downtown Bellevue for ages 0-8. Kid-sized grocery store, waterways, construction zone, art studio, toddler areas. Open late Fridays until 7pm. Under 1 free. King County Library museum pass gets you a discount.
1116 108th Ave NE, Bellevue, WA 98004 · Tue-Thu & Sat 9:30am-5pm, Fri 9:30am-7pm, Sun 11:30am-5pm, closed Mon · Ages 0–8
Free waterfront museum on South Lake Union with classic wooden boats kids can climb on. Two free rowboats daily, first-come first-served. Free Sunday public sailings. Rentable pedal boats, rowboats, and sailboats. Seasonal kids boat building workshops.
1010 Valley St, Seattle, WA 98109 · Wed-Sun 11:30am-7pm (seasonal hours vary)
Seattle history museum with interactive exhibits on the Great Fire, Boeing, and tech boom. Full-size seaplane on the ceiling, periscope with live lake views. Kids 14 and under always free. Free for all first Thursdays 5-8pm.
860 Terry Ave N, Seattle, WA 98109 · Mon/Thu-Sun 10am-5pm, closed Tue-Wed · Ages 0+
223-acre park with salmon-themed climbing structures, a bridge over railroad tracks to the beach, and forested trails. In fall, salmon spawn in Piper's Creek and rangers explain the lifecycle. Playground has separate toddler and older kid areas. Free parking.
950 NW Carkeek Park Rd, Seattle, WA 98177 · Daily 6am-10pm
50+ playable pinball machines from the 1960s to today. Pay admission, play everything, no quarters needed. Best for ages 5+ since younger kids can't reach the flippers. Good rainy-day option.
508 Maynard Ave S, Seattle, WA 98104 · Mon/Thu-Sun 12pm-6pm, Fri-Sat 12pm-8pm, closed Tue-Wed · Ages 5+
Indoor play space at Woodland Park Zoo for kids 8 and under. Tree canopy climbing, wetlands area, toddler zone. Included with zoo admission. Useful on rainy days. Adjacent Family Farm has goats and chickens.
5500 Phinney Ave N, Seattle, WA 98103 · Daily, included with zoo admission · Ages 0–8
Free outdoor market every Sunday, year-round rain or shine. 150+ vendors with crafts, antiques, food, produce. Walk over to see the Fremont Troll under the Aurora Bridge afterward.
3401 Evanston Ave N, Seattle, WA 98103 · Sundays 10am-4pm, year-round
Frank Gehry building with hands-on exhibits on music, sci-fi, fantasy, video games, horror. Kids can play guitar, drums, and keyboards in the Sound Lab recording booths. Nirvana exhibit and superhero galleries for older kids. Under 4 free, WA residents 15% off.
325 5th Ave N, Seattle, WA 98109 · Daily 10am-5pm, closed Wednesdays
Free Victorian greenhouse on Capitol Hill with five rooms of tropical plants, orchids, cacti. Warm and humid, good rainy-day stop. Volunteer Park around it has a playground, a water tower you can climb, and the Asian Art Museum.
1402 E Galer St, Seattle, WA 98112 · Tue-Sun 10am-4pm, closed Mondays
Mexican cafe on Portage Bay that rents kayaks and paddleboards. Calm water with houseboat views and the UW campus. Single kayak $25/hour, double $30/hour. Kids 5+ to paddle. Get fish tacos on the patio after.
1303 NE Boat St, Seattle, WA 98105 · Kayak rentals: Mar-Oct daily 10am-dusk (weather dependent) · Ages 5+
Open since 1939, next to Pike Place
1426 1st Ave, Seattle, WA 98101 · Show nights, check schedule
Nirvana and Pearl Jam played here
2505 1st Ave, Seattle, WA 98121 · Mon-Sun 5pm-2am on show nights
SIFF cinema in a 1915 Masonic Temple
805 E Pine St, Seattle, WA 98122 · Daily, showtimes from 3pm
Play instruments in the Sound Lab
325 5th Ave N, Seattle, WA 98109 · Daily 10am-5pm, closed Wednesdays
Free First Thursdays — kids 14 and under always free
1300 1st Ave, Seattle, WA 98101 · Wed & Fri-Sun 10am-5pm, Thu 10am-8pm, closed Mon-Tue
Basement stand-up, all-ages Sun-Thu
109 S Washington St, Seattle, WA 98104 · Shows Sun-Thu 8:30pm; Fri-Sat 8pm & 10:30pm
Free live music nightly in the MQ Lounge — no cover charge
216 Union St, Seattle, WA 98101 · Show nights; MQ Lounge open from 4pm on show nights
Great sound, Barboza downstairs for smaller shows
925 E Pike St, Seattle, WA 98122 · Show nights, doors typically open 7-8pm
2,807 seats, gorgeous 1928 interior
911 Pine St, Seattle, WA 98101 · Box office Mon-Fri 10am-6pm; show times vary
Art Deco movie palace, now 1,000-seat concert venue
1303 NE 45th St, Seattle, WA 98105 · Show nights, check schedule
Glass sculptures in a garden, best at night
305 Harrison St, Seattle, WA 98109 · Mon-Wed 10:30am-5:30pm, Thu 10:30am-5pm, Fri-Sat 10am-7:30pm, Sun 10am-6:30pm
Always free — Seattle's only no-charge art museum
704 Terry Ave, Seattle, WA 98104 · Wed-Sun 11am-5pm, Thu 11am-8pm, closed Mon-Tue
Watch free live sessions from touring artists at indie radio's HQ
472 1st Ave N, Seattle, WA 98109 · Mon-Fri 7am-6pm, Sat-Sun 8am-6pm
Dive bar, live music every night since 2000
5433 Ballard Ave NW, Seattle, WA 98107 · Daily 5pm-2am on show nights
Kids always free, seaplane on the ceiling
860 Terry Ave N, Seattle, WA 98109 · Mon/Thu-Sun 10am-5pm, closed Tue-Wed. First Thu 10am-8pm
Converted church, sliding-scale tickets
4272 Fremont Ave N, Seattle, WA 98103 · Event nights only, check schedule
Free rowboats daily on South Lake Union — no reservation needed
1010 Valley St, Seattle, WA 98109 · Wed-Sun 11:30am-7pm (seasonal hours vary)
Seattle's oldest theater, built 1907
1932 2nd Ave, Seattle, WA 98101 · Show nights, check schedule
Free first Thursdays, kids always free
1400 E Prospect St, Seattle, WA 98112 · Wed-Sun 10am-5pm, Thu 10am-8pm, closed Mon-Tue
Ballard's roots music home — Monday night square dancing
5213 Ballard Ave NW, Seattle, WA 98107 · Show nights, doors typically 7pm
$25 student rush, shows have gone to Broadway
1308 5th Ave, Seattle, WA 98101 · Box office Mon-Fri 10am-6pm, show times vary
50+ vintage pinball machines with unlimited free play
508 Maynard Ave S, Seattle, WA 98104 · Mon/Thu-Sun 12pm-6pm, Fri-Sat 12pm-8pm, closed Tue-Wed
Free gallery crawl, first Thursday each month
Pioneer Square, Seattle, WA 98104 · First Thursday of each month, 6-8pm
Tour the preserved 1910 hotel rooms upstairs
719 S King St, Seattle, WA 98104 · Thu-Sun 10am-5pm, closed Mon-Wed
Free national park museum in Pioneer Square — tiny but fascinating gold rush history.
319 2nd Ave S, Seattle, WA 98104 · Daily 10am-5pm
All Washington state farmers — year-round, every Sunday rain or shine.
5300 Ballard Ave NW, Seattle, WA 98107 · Sundays 9am-2pm, year-round
Belltown speakeasy with serious cocktails — dark, moody, no sign out front.
2332 2nd Ave, Seattle, WA 98121 · Daily 5pm-2am
Look for the unmarked door — bathtub inside, gin cocktails, Prohibition vibes.
2205 2nd Ave, Seattle, WA 98121 · Mon-Thu 5pm-1am, Fri-Sat 5pm-2am, Sun 5pm-12am