//
Photo: Cliff from Arlington, Virginia, USA, CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
An independent non-profit museum which hosts popular traveling exhibits and features permanent exhibits and programs geared towards children.
The Seattle Children's Museum in Seattle is located on the lowest floor of the Armory at the Seattle Center. Founded in 1979 with a single exhibit, the museum currently features 18,000 sq feet of play space with 11 exhibits designed for kids 6 months to 8 years. Visitors to the main floor of the Center House can look down into a large open space in the floor which is part of the museum; this was once the site of the bubbleator.
© OpenStreetMap contributors
This museum provides a look at the inspiration and influences that inform the career of artist Dale Chihuly. The on-site exhibition hall contains eight galleries and three drawing walls, offering visitors a comprehensive look at Chihuly’s significant series of work. The centerpiece of the museum is a glasshouse with a suspended 1,400-piece, 100-foot-long sculpture. Also on the grounds is a lush garden, which serves as a backdrop for four monumental sculptures and other installations.
MoPOP
An excellent pop culture museum housed inside a visually striking building designed by Frank Gehry to "evoke the rock 'n' roll experience", with exhibits on all manner of popular culture: film, television, music, video games, fashion, etc. There's a particular focus on science fiction and Seattle musicians, with a sci-fi hall of fame and exhibits dedicated to Jimi Hendrix and Nirvana. Top-notch special exhibits have included the likes of David Bowie, Star Trek, the Marvel comic and movie universe, and Minecraft. There are many interactive exhibits, but don't expect to get a turn without a long wait. Outside, the large playground is a big hit with kids.
A symbol of Seattle, built for the 1962 World's Fair and still a wildly popular attraction. The view is spectacular on a clear day when the sun sets, when Downtown Seattle contrasts beautifully with the ocean to the west and the snow-capped mountains in every other direction. There are floor-to-ceiling windows on both levels, a rotating glass floor ("The Loupe") on the lower level that completes one revolution every 45 minutes, and open-air glass walls where you can lean backwards and take a selfie. The revolving Sky City restaurant has been closed due to renovations, but the wine bar is still open.
The region's largest sports arena is home to the NHL's Seattle Kraken, the WNBA's Seattle Storm, and college men's basketball games of the Seattle Redhawks (Seattle University), as well as a major concert venue. It was built for the 1962 World's Fair. The arena's interior was completely gutted and rebuilt for the Kraken, but its original exterior remains intact, maintaining its historic listing. Tours not available; if you want to see the inside, you have to attend an event.
An interactive science museum featuring permanent and temporary exhibits, a butterfly atrium, IMAX theater, planetarium, and laser shows.
Home of the Seattle Opera and the Pacific Northwest Ballet, each considered among the best in the United States.