Seattle Children's Museum

Nestled at the base of Seattle Center, the Seattle Children's Museum is one of the most beloved family destinations in the Pacific Northwest. Designed entirely for children ages 0 through 8, the museum prioritizes hands-on exploration, imaginative play, and early learning across more than a dozen themed exhibit spaces.

The museum's flagship experience is Global Village, a series of immersive rooms designed to look like homes from countries including Japan, the Philippines, Ghana, and Mexico. Kids can dress up, handle everyday objects from different cultures, and experience what daily life looks like around the world — a uniquely enriching experience that goes beyond a typical museum visit.

Cog City, the museum's STEM and engineering zone, challenges kids to build, test, and problem-solve with ramps, gears, and water channels. The Mountain Forest exhibit recreates a Pacific Northwest ecosystem where kids can dig for fossils and meet lifelike animal models. The Neighborhood exhibit lets young visitors role-play as firefighters, doctors, and chefs in a kid-scaled community.

For the youngest visitors, the Infant and Toddler area (Cog City's dedicated baby zone) provides a safe, stimulating space separated from older kids' activities. The entire facility is stroller-accessible, with changing tables in restrooms and staff trained to support families with infants.

Located at Seattle Center, the museum pairs naturally with a visit to the Space Needle, Pacific Science Center, or a ride on the Seattle Monorail, making it easy to build a full day of family exploration without a car. Whether you're a local family looking for a reliable rainy-day outing or visitors wanting to give young kids a break from adult-oriented sightseeing, the Seattle Children's Museum consistently delivers.