A Museums Piece
With a little planning, you can visit almost any kid-friendly Puget Sound–area museum for free By Elisa Murray Museums and kids: Sometimes they mix, sometimes they don’t. For instance, I have fond memories of taking my then 3-year-old to a blockbuster Gauguin exhibit at the Seattle Art Museum. He was more interested in the escalators, stairs and cars hanging from the ceiling (remember those?), but with a little coaxing, we did a fun walk-through of the special exhibit with no major issues. On the other hand, I have not-so-fond memories of leaving the zoo (of all places!) carrying an inconsolable toddler and a fistful of unused, expensive tickets. That’s why free museum days are such a gift. You don’t have to worry about squeezing your money’s worth out of your admission and can just take off when something goes awry. Many museums around Puget Sound offer monthly (or bimonthly) free days, often with family programs happening on those very same days. And some wonderful museums — hello, Frye Art Museum and The Center for Wooden Boats — are always free. Some offer incredible deals for kids — note The Museum of Flight’s Connections program. Read on for top strategies for saving on museum visits, as well as a list of discounts organized by museum. Before heading out, make sure to check the museum’s website for current hours, operating status and COVID-19 protocols.
Top strategies for seeing museums (and zoos and aquariums!) around Seattle for free Seattle Public Library museum passes ● spl.org
You have to plan a month ahead to snag the hottest tickets from Seattle Public Library’s (SPL) pass program, but it’s worth it. Mark your calendar for 9 p.m., exactly 30 days ahead — that’s when new passes become available. Then, log in to SPL’s museum pass webpage and you can choose a 3 4 / PA R E N T M A P. C O M
