7 Great Children’s Museums for Northwest Families

Interactive, hands-on fun

Confession: I didn’t get children’s museums for a while. My 2-year-old would happily play with pots and pans at home, so why would I pay admission to a kids museum just so he could play with fancier toys (and potentially ruin his yen for playing with kitchen gear)?

It wasn’t until friends invited us to Imagine Children’s Museum in Everett when he was about 3 years old that my light-bulb moment occurred. As he moved from delightedly tossing handkerchiefs up the air maze to playing veterinarian to climbing outside to quietly making beaded bracelets in the art studio, I became a convert to the variety of hands-on play experiences that children’s museums offered. (Did I mention that he never, ever did art at home, and that while he bopped around I got some solid social time with my friends?)

Children’s museums became an essential part of our play menu, especially in the rainy months.

This isn’t accidental, of course. According to the Association of Children’s Museums, early children’s museums (the first opened in 1899 in Brooklyn) were part of a progressive education movement that promoted the then-revolutionary concept of child-centered environments and learning experiences. (Think Maria Montessori.) In our increasingly plugged-in world, kids museums offer a time-tested, real-world antidote to the allure of screen time.

Pop into a local children’s museum for playtime or make a day of it with a trip to one a bit farther from your home:

• KidsQuest Children’s Museum, Bellevue
• Imagine Children’s Museum, Everett
• Children’s Museum of Tacoma, Tacoma
• Seattle Children’s Museum, Seattle
• Hands On Children’s Museum, Olympia
• KiDiMu, Bainbridge Island
• Children’s Museum of Skagit County, Burlington

First stop: Eastside play palace

Editor’s note: This article was originally published in 2018 and updated most recently on April 30, 2025, by ParentMap’s family fun editor, Meredith Charaba, with a thorough fact-check.

KidsQuest Children’s Museum, Bellevue

Why go: In 2017, KidsQuest Children’s Museum re-opened in its gleaming new building in the heart of downtown Bellevue. It features huge windows, beautifully (and spaciously) designed exhibits and an adventurous, two-story ropes-and-ladders climber in the opening gallery. Kids of all ages will love cranking boxes up and down conveyor belts and launching paper airplanes in the On the Go Gallery; building with real tools next door in the Recycled/Rebuild room; running the cash register at the Bellevue Mercantile; doing physics experiments on water; and much more.

Other highlights include lots of seating for grown-ups, an outdoor area with lots of “loose parts” for kids to build with; and fun sideline exhibits such as long Matchbox car ramps behind the Paccar semi (in the On the Go gallery). The Tot Orchard on the second floor has a small climber, blocks and other toys, and a quiet area for nursing.

Bottom line: It’s totally worth a drive from points beyond the Eastside, and has lots of attractions and activities for big and little kids.

Fees and discounts: Admission is $16.75 for ages 1 and older, with discounts for Microsoft Prime cardholders and military. Membership starts at $150 for one child and an adult. Reservations are encouraged; you can make them online. 

Good to know: The dedicated museum parking lot is small, and the museum is popular, so try to target your visit during a less crowded time, such as a weekday morning. At two stories, with clearly defined exhibit spaces, it can be tricky to keep track of more than one child.

Nearby fun: Bellevue downtown library is next door (but don’t park there!) and a fun park, Ashwood Playfield, is across the street. Bellevue Downtown Park and its fantastic, inclusive playground are a quick hop away.

More info: Visit KidsQuest’s website for hours, special events and more details; find the museum at 1116 108th Ave. N.E. in Bellevue.

Next stop: Just imagine

Imagine Children’s Museum, Everett

Why go: Imagine Children’s Museum’s 33,000-square-foot expansion more than doubled the museum’s previous play space and it shows. At over 60,000 square feet, its current area dwarfs the size of other local children’s museums (which average around 10,000–20,000 square feet). Visitors can spend hours in the museum and still only scratch the surface.

With so much to explore, this is a good spot to bring a backup pair of hands or set some parameters around meet-up spots if you have more than one child to keep track of.

Fees and discounts: Admission costs $22 per person. Babies younger than 2 years old enter free. Show your EBT card and photo ID to receive admission for up to 4 family members for $5 per person.

Good to know: Imagine runs fun programs and workshops, such as Little Science Lab. A monthly sensory play time is offered; register online. 

The museum is geared toward kids ages 1–12, with a maximum allowed ratio of six kids to one adult caregiver. Strollers are not allowed on the exhibit floors and need to be left in the car, but a few carriers are available to borrow from the front desk.

Nearby fun: Pick up a coffee at Loft Coffee Bar, a huge pastry at Choux Choux Bakery or some snacks at Sno-Isle Food Co-Op. If you visit on a Sunday from May through October, don’t miss the Everett Farmers Market right up the street. Watch glass artists for free at the Schack Art Center or pop into the Funko headquarters just down the block. If you need more play time in Everett, check out the colorful Emma Yule Park playground or the wonderfully inclusive playground at Forest Park.

Info: Visit Imagine Children’s Museum’s website for hours and details; find it at 1502 Wall St. in Everett.

Next stop: Play as you wish

Children’s Museum of Tacoma, Tacoma

Why go: At 10,000 square feet in size, the Children’s Museum of Tacoma isn’t huge, but it has a huge draw. Since it opened about a decade ago, it has offered pay-as-you-will admission and has no plans to change that anytime soon. This means that you can stop off for an hour, without worrying about whether you’ve gotten your money’s worth. The museum is built around four playscapes (Woods, Water, Invention and Voyager) and favorite activities include the wood-cabin tunnel, water table, marine vessel with tower, air pipes, Lego table and art studio — called Becka’s Studio.

Fun fact: In 2021, an outpost of this museum opened on base at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Children’s Museum at JBLM. It’s the first children’s museum in the U.S. to open on a military base and it’s dedicated to serving base families with kids. Like its sister museum, admission here is pay-as-you-will. Note that you need base access to visit the museum.

Fees and deals: Admission is pay-as-you-will; make a donation of any size as you enter. Membership starts at $130 and members receive perks such as entry on member-only Mondays. In keeping with its equitable admission policy, the museum’s wider organization, GreenTrike, offers other special programs, including a free child-adult outreach program called Play to Learn at locations across Pierce County.  

Nearby fun: The rest of Tacoma’s Museum District is a short walk away, including the Washington State History Museum (with an awesome model train layout); Tacoma Art Museum (with a free art studio in the lobby); and the Museum of Glass (with its Chihuly Bridge of Glass and Hot Shop).

Info: Visit the Children’s Museum of Tacoma’s website for more information; find the museum at 1501 Pacific Ave. in Tacoma. 

Next stop: Center of fun

Seattle Children’s Museum, Seattle

Why go: The Seattle Children’s Museum, a kid-favorite spot, is located on the lower level of the Seattle Center Armory building (formerly known as the Center House, to old-timers). Long-time museum lovers and newcomers alike will enjoy the wide range of exhibits, including the Neighborhood, with a veterinary office, post office, market and more; Tribal Tales, dedicated to the Coast Salish tribes; and the Mountain, a place to climb and adventure (out of the rain). Cardboard City — a place where kids can plan out an entire city with streets, neighborhoods and more — is under construction and scheduled to open this summer. 

Fees and discounts: Admission is $15; babies younger than age 1 enter free. Memberships start at $105 per year for two people.

Nearby fun: Seattle Center has something for all ages! After the museum, take your second stop at the phenomenal Artists at Play playground. Bigger kids love MoPop, Seattle Children’s Theatre offers amazing shows for a variety of ages, and the Laser Dome at the Pacific Science Center has shows that will delight the eyes and ears. 

Info: Visit the Seattle Children’s Museum’s website for hours and more details; find the museum at 305 Harrison St. in Seattle.

Next stop: Please touch

Hands On Children’s Museum, Olympia

Why go: My son’s eyes light up whenever I mention “that museum in Olympia” — what we call the terrific Hands On Children’s Museum. It’s among the biggest in the Puget Sound area and really does seem to have it all: an emergency area with fire truck, helicopter and cop car; a tugboat; a climber/slide to the third floor; and a maker space where kids can design and build with all kinds of recycled materials. Step outside and you’ll find another half-acre of fun. Kids can climb a lighthouse lookout tower, build with driftwood, race on the trike track (adults, too) and set sail in the fantastic Megan D.

Fees and discounts: General admission is $19.95 at the door (save if you buy your tickets online); babies younger than 18 months of age enter free. EBT cardholder access costs $3. Membership starts at $155 (for one adult and one child) and many other variations exist. Hands On offers tons of special programming, including First Friday Night.

Good to know: Hands On has a small but good café onsite. In the summer, a reclaimed-water stream runs in front of the museum, where kids can splash and wade without paying an admission charge. Also in the summer, the museum offers special, super-fun Summer Splash programs.

Nearby fun: The free-admission WET Science Center (designed for older kids) is across the street. Olympia’s truly fabulous farmers market (open weekends all year) is a short drive away. Older kids may enjoy a free tour of the state’s Capitol building.

Info: Visit the Hands On website for hours and more details; find the museum at 414 Jefferson St. N.E. in Olympia.

Next stop: Play island

KiDiMu, Bainbridge Island

Why go: Location, location, location! Just a short walk from the Winslow Ferry Terminal on Bainbridge Island, the small-but-mighty Kids Discovery Museum — call it KiDiMu (“kiddie-moo”) — works well as part of a day trip to the island. And for some families, its small size — 5,000 square feet — will be a big draw. 

Fees and discounts: Admission is $8–$9; membership starts at $125 (one adult and one child); Museums for All memberships (or single-day admission) are available for families who participate in EBT, CHIP, Provider One or WIC, or who are foster families. The membership covers the cardholders and all dependent children in the household.

Good to know: KiDiMu’s exhibits are designed for kids from 6 months to 10 years old. The museum offers a variety of fun camps and special events and you can even hold your birthday party here!

Nearby fun: Next door to KiDiMu, the Bainbridge Art Museum is always free and always has something geared toward kids. A short walk away, the Bainbridge History Museum features sculptures and artifacts outside that kids enjoy exploring. If you bring a car, cruise over to terrific and accessible Owen’s Playground, the one-of-a-kind ferry play structure at Battle Point Park or the lovely Bloedel Reserve. Kid-friendly trails help families explore the island, too.

Info: Go to KiDiMu’s website for hours and details; find the museum at 301 Ravine Lane N.E. on Bainbridge Island.

Next stop: Go north, young kids

Children’s Museum of Skagit County, Burlington

Why go: If you’re headed to or through the Skagit County area, the Children’s Museum of Skagit County is a solid get-the-wiggles-out stop for families with younger kids.

Kids love the diner space and other hands-on exhibits here. Special events include a snowy Winter Wonderland event in December where the museum brings in real snow from nearby Mount Baker. Facilities include a party and classroom space, a breastfeeding room, a family restroom and more.

Fees and discounts: $10.75 per person; babies younger than 12 months enter free. Memberships start at $140 per year.

Good to know: On the second Tuesday of the month the museum offers Community Access day. Admission is “pay what you can,” and the museum is open from 10 a.m.–5 p.m.

Nearby fun: Time your day trip for one of Skagit Valley’s signature events, the Tulip Festival, happening every April. Take a walk on a kid-friendly nature trail or stay overnight at a trendy unplugged cabin destination. Foodie haven Bow/Edison beckons with great eats and Padilla Bay Estuarine Center offers hiking and environmental education.

Info: Visit the Children’s Museum of Skagit County’s website for hours and more details; find it at 448 Fashion Way in Burlington.