It may be for children, but that doesn’t mean it’s amateur. All shows feature equity actors and many are world premieres. In fact, SCT is the home of the country’s second-largest resident theater company for kids, but that won’t mean as much as the smile on your grandchild’s face as you both lose yourselves in a 90-minute show. Past shows have included A Tale of Two Cities and Goodnight Moon.
Contact no: (206) 441-3322
Location: 201 Thomas Street, Seattle, WA 98109
Learn more here.
Punch and Judy aren’t the only game in town — this family theater introduces grandchildren of all ages to the art of puppetry while putting on five shows a year ranging from familiar fare like Madeline and the Gypsies to Coyote Sings. They even offer a baroque marionette opera that may be better suited for the older set. The season runs from October to May; shows run just under an hour.
Contact no: (206) 523-2579
Location: 9123 15th Avenue NE, Seattle, WA 98115
Learn more here.
“Charles and Emma Frye were early Seattle art collectors and business leaders. They loaned a number of works from their private collection to various Seattle events, and they hosted a number of art and charitable events in their home. The Frye museum opened in 1952, with the former Frye collection forming the basis of their exhibits.
However, as part of maintaining the collection, the museum has also tried to maintain the spirit of civic responsibility that Charles and Emma Frye had in hosting the various events at their home, as well as their charitable works. The museum now features a mixture of contemporary works plus items from the collection of Founding Frye Collection. The museum has an extensive public outreach and education part of its work, and there are considerable efforts by the museum to use art work to reach out to marginalized parts of the local society. This may be seen by some of the works on display here.”
Contact no:(206) 622-9250
Location: 704 Terry Avenue, Seattle, Washington 98104
Learn more here.
The best time to go to this Asian cultural heritage institution in the International District is the third Saturday of the month when admission is free and there are craft-related events. Grandchildren (and grandparents) might be able to try their hand at making lanterns during the Lunar New Year.
Contact no: (206) 623-5124
Location: 719 South King Street, Seattle, WA 98104
Learn more here.
Sure there are plenty of planes on displays, but if you really want your grandchildren to understand what it was like growing up during World War II, take them to the J. Elroy McCaw Personal Courage Wing where they can see news reels, hear music of the era, talk to actors/pilots and learn some aviation history along the way. Older children will enjoy the museum’s many flight simulators.
Contact no: (206) 764-5720
Location: 9404 East Marginal Way S, Seattle, WA 98108-4097
Learn more here.
If your grandchild is a science buff with a special interest in telecommunications, this little-known institution will be right up his/her alley. Originally called the Vintage Telephone Equipment Museum, it not only traces the history of telephony, but also shows how this invention that we can’t get along without works.
Contact no: (206) 767-3012
Location: 7000 East Marginal Way S, Seattle, WA 98108
Learn more here.
A great way to start a day at the Seattle Center, the hands-on museum gets a kid’s creative juices flowing with traveling exhibits such as Bob the Builder Project: Build It and Moneyville. There are also eight permanent exhibits that your grandchildren will want to drag you to again and again including the nautical themed displays in Discovery Bay for the smaller set and Imagination Studio. A $55 membership allows you to bring as many grandchildren as you want again and again.
Contact no: (206) 441-1768
Location: 305 Harrison Street, Seattle, WA 98109
Learn more here.
There’s just something about dinosaurs that drives young kids crazy and the Burke has Seattle’s only year-round display of dinosaur bones and eggs with four full skeletons. On weekends, University of Washington graduate students do demonstrations in such areas as mammology, geology, and archaeology and bravely field questions from all comers, including your grandchildren.
Contact no: (206) 543-5590
Location: Northeast 45th Street and 17th Avenue NE, Seattle, WA 98195-3010
Learn more here.
It’s always been the grandparents’ job to introduce their grandchildren to cultural events like the symphony; whether the grandchildren want to go or not. This interactive children’s museum at the foot of Benaroya Hall, the home of the Seattle Symphony, makes the job much easier with exhibits that allow kids to conduct a virtual orchestra, play instruments, and even listen to symphonic music
Contact no: (206) 336-6600
Location: 200 University Street, Seattle, WA 98101
Learn more here.
If you and your grandchildren are science fiction fans, this small space is the place to go. It not only traces the history of the genre back hundreds of years, it categorizes and features thousands of film props showing the necessary elements of a good sci-fi film covering transportation, communication and attire. The bridge from the original Star Trek television show is just one of the treasures on hand. Holographic displays of the cities from The Jetsons and Blade Runner will make you both “ooh” and “aah.”
Contact no: (206) 724-3428
Location: 325 Fifth Avenue N, Seattle, WA 98109
Learn more here.
