Washington State is home to some of the best children’s museums, science centers, and interactive family attractions in the Pacific Northwest. Whether your little ones want a hands-on art experience or the chance to get up close and personal with insects, you’ll find plenty of kid-friendly museums in Washington.
Here are just a few options that provide fun for all ages.
Kid-Friendly Museums in Washington
KidsQuest Children’s Museum, Bellevue
Great for: toddlers to early elementary, creative play, STEM learning
Unleash creativity through hands-on exhibits and guided activities that focus on science, technology, engineering, art, and math at KidsQuest in Bellevue. With more than 25 innovative exhibits designed for children 0-10, families are sure to find plenty of fun. Explore the Atrium Climber, Learning Lab, train tables, a story tree, the Sticks + Stones Outdoor Gallery, and so much more.
Also see: Things to do with kids in Washington
Bug & Reptile Museum, Bremerton
Great for: all ages, insect and animal lovers
Get up close to creepy crawlies at the Bremerton Bug & Reptile Museum. You’ll find live bugs and reptiles on display—from tarantulas to pythons. View the giant ant farm, peek at bugs under a microscope, or don a pair of special glasses that give you bug vision.
Children’s Museum of Tacoma, Tacoma
Great for: toddlers to early grade school, imaginative play, STEM learning
With five different playscapes, little ones will have plenty to explore at the Children’s Museum of Tacoma. They can use their imagination and curiosity for fort building in the Woods area, controlling the flow of a waterfall in the Water area, or creating works of art in Becka’s Studio. Afterward, families can explore other nearby museums, like the Museum of Glass or LeMay – America’s Car Museum.
Mobius Discovery Center, Spokane
Great for: school-age kids, budding scientists and artists
Nurture your child’s curiosity with several hands-on exhibits at the Mobius Discovery Center. From bubbles to bottle rockets, there are plenty of activities to keep little ones entertained. Explore LAUNCH IT and discover the science behind flinging, throwing, and launching, or create a masterpiece in the art studio.
Columbia Gorge Museum, Stevenson
Great for: School-age kids, history and nature explorers
Learn about the natural forces and human history that shaped the Columbia River Gorge at this museum nestled in a national scenic area. Visit the First Peoples Gallery to see art and hear stories about the area’s Indigenous communities. Don’t miss seeing the massive fish wheel and a Corliss steam engine built in 1907. This makes a great stop on a family-friendly road trip.
Rocky Reach Discovery Center, Wenatchee
Great for: School-age kids, fish-ladder viewing, hands-on science outdoors
Located at Rocky Reach Dam, this family-friendly center explores hydropower, salmon migration, and local ecology. Kids can watch salmon pass through the fish ladder or try hands-on energy exhibits. Outdoor picnic spots and river views make it a fun educational outing.
Museum of Flight, Seattle
Great for: all ages, aviation and space enthusiasts
You don’t have to be an aviation geek to enjoy the Museum of Flight. Kids can explore a collection of historic aircraft and spacecraft, including a former Air Force One jet, WWII planes, and a full-size Space Shuttle Trainer used to prepare astronauts for missions. Aspiring pilots can explore aircraft cockpits and try their hand at flight simulators. Additionally, the Kids’ Flight Zone exhibit tailors the experience to younger visitors.
Imagine Children’s Museum, Everett
Great for: all ages, sensory and play-based learning
Everett’s Imagine Children’s Museum features three floors of interactive exhibits. Kids can explore a woodland climbing structure, a waterworks area, a make-believe wildlife veterinary clinic, a hands-on engineering gallery, and even a tinker shop where they can learn to use real tools. Afterward, walk 10 minutes to Funko HQ to pose with larger-than-life backdrops and giant character sculptures from Star Wars, Marvel, Harry Potter, Disney, and more. Families can even build and customize their own personalized Funko Pop! figures.
Spark Museum of Electrical Invention, Bellingham
Great for: school-age kids, curious minds, science and history fans
Discover the magic of electricity with a visit to the Spark Museum in Bellingham. Visitors of all ages are encouraged to engage with the many buttons, switches, and gadgets featured throughout the galleries. Draw lightning to your fingers with plasma globes, explore friction in the static electricity lab, or catch the famous MegaZapper show.
Hands On Children’s Museum, Olympia
Great for: all ages, interactive play, nature connection
Not far from the Capitol campus, the Hands On Children’s Museum includes 150 interactive exhibits spread out over two floors and a half-acre of outdoor play space. Whether your child loves to build, climb, or craft, the activities here won’t disappoint. Kids can learn about forests, build and launch paper rockets, and more. The Tide to Trees Climber is a great way for kids to explore and burn off some energy.
World Kite Museum, Long Beach
Great for: elementary and up, kids curious about culture and art
Dive into the fascinating 2,500-year-old history of kite flying at the World Kite Museum. Located along the sandy shore of the Long Beach Peninsula, the museum is home to more than 1,500 kites from 26 countries, ranging in uses from scientific experimentation to entertainment.
Seattle Children’s Museum, Seattle
Great for: toddlers through early grade school, imaginative play, early learning
Let your kids learn through play at the Seattle Children’s Museum. Little ones can explore multiple hands-on exhibits as well as enjoy programming that changes throughout the year. Explore the power of air, learn about nutrition at the child-sized Market, craft a masterpiece in the Corner Workshop, discover the stories and art of Washington’s many tribal communities, and so much more.
Nutcracker Museum, Leavenworth
Great for: school-age and up, art and culture lovers
Located in scenic Leavenworth, the Nutcracker Museum is a fascinating experience for all ages. Adults and kids can marvel at more than 9,000 nutcrackers crafted in more than 50 countries and made from many different materials. Kids will love the nutcrackers based on Disney characters, heroes, and more. For even more fun, roam the museum in search of specific items as part of a nutcracker scavenger hunt.
Northwest Railway Museum, Snoqualmie
Great for: train lovers, school-age
All aboard! Journey through Washington’s railroad history at the Northwest Railway Museum. Explore historic locomotives and railcars, learn about the role of trains in the region’s development, and discover railway artifacts. Families can also climb aboard a historic train for a scenic ride through the Snoqualmie Valley on select dates throughout the year.
The Whale Museum, Friday Harbor
Great for: school-age and up, animal lovers, natural history enthusiasts
Travel to San Juan Island for a better understanding of the surrounding waters’ inhabitants at the Whale Museum. The Gallery of Whales takes on the natural history of marine mammals—particularly the area’s orcas—through exhibits, models, and artifacts such as real whale skeletons. Pair your day at the museum with a scenic hike or whale-watching excursion.
LeMay – America’s Car Museum, Tacoma
Great for: Car lovers, school-age and up
Car enthusiasts of all ages will find plenty to explore at LeMay – America’s Car Museum. Get an up-close look at vintage and modern vehicles, from classic Fords to sleek sports cars. Kids can get hands-on in the Family Zone, featuring interactive activities and imaginative play, while older visitors can test their driving skills in racing simulators.
Northwest Carriage Museum, Raymond
Great for: school-age kids, history lovers
Experience the primary mode of transportation of the 19th Century through an extensive collection of horse-drawn carriages, buggies, and wagons at the Northwest Carriage Museum. Other highlights include an 1890 schoolhouse, blacksmith shop, and period clothing
Pacific Science Center, Seattle
Great for: school-age kids, science lovers, an all-day museum experience
Delve into innovative exhibits and hands-on learning at the Pacific Science Center. Visit the Tropical Butterfly House, tackle creative engineering challenges in the Maker & Innovation Lab, or explore the wonders of space and the human body. Kids can also enjoy live science demonstrations, catch an IMAX movie, or journey through the solar system during a planetarium show.
Railroad Depot Museum, Ritzville
Great for: school-age, kids who love trains and history
Bring your train-loving kid to this museum to revisit the railroad era that was an integral part of Ritzville’s history. You’ll see a restored Northern Pacific cupola caboose, a ticket office, telegraph equipment, and other memorabilia.