1. Bremerton Bug and Reptile Museum
If your kids have a natural interest in bugs or reptiles, the Bremerton Bug and Reptile Museum is the perfect place to spend an afternoon. There are plenty of live creepy crawlies to see, including tarantulas, pythons, and an eight-foot ant farm, and kids can even peer through glasses that show what bug vision is like.
The exhibits are interesting enough to keep kids entertained on their own, but the museum also offers scavenger hunts designed to help kids find the most interesting things in the exhibits.
Bremerton Bug and Reptile Museum, 1118 Charleston Beach Rd W, Bremerton, WA 98312, Phone: 360-373-7691
2. Cat Tales
Originally established to provide a safe home for rescued big cats, Cat Tales is an animal sanctuary that is now home to more than 35 big felines as well as a handful of rescued non-feline creatures. The animal population is constantly shifting, but visitors can expect to see big cats like leopards, lions, and tigers as well as other animals like turtles, foxes, and coyotes.
For an additional fee, visitors can also feed one of the sanctuary's tigers, lions, or black bears. Visitors are welcome Tuesday through Sunday year-round, and discounted admission is offered for kids between the ages of 4 and 12.
Cat Tales , 17020 N Newport Hwy, Mead, WA 99021, Phone: 509-238-4126
3. Chihuly Garden and Glass
Located inside the Seattle Center, Chihuly Garden and Glass is a unique exhibit space that showcases the work of glass sculptor Dale Chihuly. The centerpiece of the space is the 40-foot-tall Glasshouse, an airy glass structure that features a 100-foot-long glass sculpture suspended from the ceiling, but there are also eight galleries, an outdoor garden dotted with glass installations, and a theater that plays short films about Chihuly’s work and the art of glassblowing.
After exploring the exhibit and the garden, you can pick up a souvenir in the bookstore or enjoy a bite to eat in the beautifully decorated cafe.
305 Harrison St, Seattle, WA 98109, Phone: 206-753-4940, Map
Activities for Smaller Kids
4. Children's Museum of Tacoma
Designed especially for kids eight and younger, the Children's Museum of Tacoma is full of interactive playscapes that encourage kids to exercise their creativity through self-directed play. There are five main areas for kids to explore, including a water play area, a room full of play tools for inventing things, and an art studio.
Every Friday between September and May, the museum hosts a musical program for kids and their caretakers. The museum is open to the public Wednesday through Sunday, and the museum is open for members only on Mondays. Admission is by donation.
Children's Museum of Tacoma, 1501 Pacific Ave, Tacoma, WA 98402, Phone: 253-627-6031
5. Children’s Museum of Walla Walla
Open since 2004, the Children’s Museum of Walla Walla provides a safe, nurturing environment for kids to learn and explore their creativity through play. The interactive indoor exhibits give children the opportunity to practice preparing healthy meals, learn about physics by playing with magnets, and splash around in an educational water table, and there's an outdoor play area with a fire truck and a ship for kids to play on.
Another highlight of the museum is the rotating seasonal exhibit, where kids can rake leaves in the fall, throw snowballs in the winter, and participate in other seasonally appropriate activities.
Children’s Museum of Walla Walla, 77 Wain Wright Dr, Walla Walla, WA 99362, Phone: 509-526-7529
For Science Fans
6. Future of Flight Aviation Center and Boeing Tour
Only 30 miles outside of Seattle, the Future of Flight Aviation Center and Boeing Tour is the only place in the country where members of the public can tour a commercial jet assembly plant. Visitors can learn about the history and future of human flight through the interactive exhibits in the gallery, but the highlight of any visit is the 90-minute tour of the production plant.
Discounted admission is offered for visitors under the age of 15, but visitors should be aware that children under 4 feet tall will not be permitted to participate in the tour.
Future of Flight Aviation Center and Boeing Tour, 8415 Paine Field Blvd, Mukilteo, WA 98275, Phone: 800-464-1476
7. Mobius Science Center
Best suited to kids 8 and older, the Mobius Science Center provides endless opportunities to learn about science-related topics like medicine, robotics, energy, aeronautics, and more. The museum boasts more than 60 exhibits, many of which feature interactive components that allow kids to do things like build their own flying machines, make pennies float with powerful magnets, and break open geodes to discover the crystals inside. The center is open Tuesday through Sunday, and on the weekends, there are special hands-on lab activities that are open to all visitors who have paid the admission fee.
Mobius Science Center, 331 N Post St, Spokane, WA 99201, Phone: 509-321-7133
Explore and learn about nature
8. Mount Rainier National Park
Home to the highest peak in Washington, Mount Rainier National Park is a true paradise for nature lovers. Most visitors won't make it up to the top of the park's namesake peak, but there are plenty of shorter hiking trails the whole family can enjoy, including the peaceful Hot Springs Trail and the Grove of the Patriarchs Loop Trail. If you have more time, you can also hike the 3-mile Silver Falls Trail, which leads to a beautiful waterfall.
However, it's just as fun to explore the park by car, and excellent stops include the Reflection Lakes, Emmons Vista, and Box Canyon.
Recommended Mount Rainier Tours:
- From Seattle: Mount Rainier National Park Guided Tour – Do on a day tour from Seattle with a professional tour guide. See waterfalls, and wonderful views of Mount Rainier. Price: From $178 per person.
- Seattle: Mount Rainier Park All-Inclusive Small Group Tour – Enjoy a full-day hike with a local guide. The tour includes transportation, lunch, snacks, and drinks. Price: From $344 per person.
- From Seattle: Customized Mount Rainier Tour – The tour includes hotel pickup and drop-off, transportation, bottled water, and snacks. Price: From $195 per person.
9. Mt. Rainier Railroad and Logging Museum
Formerly known as the Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad, the Mt. Rainier Railroad and Logging Museum is a historic railroad located in the charming town of Elbe. Visitors can hop aboard a heritage steam train, which chugs through the forest to another small town called Mineral, where there's a fascinating logging museum with a collection of historic logging locomotives.
The railroad also operates several special holiday trains, including a Charlie Brown-themed ride to the pumpkin patch during the Halloween season and a festive Polar Express train ride during the Christmas season. Discounted tickets are offered for kids between the ages of 3 and 11.
Mt. Rainier Railroad and Logging Museum, 54124 Mountain Hwy E, Elbe, WA 98330, Phone: 360-492-5391
Plan Your Trip