Description

At Museums Free First Thursdays, once a month, on the first Thursday of the month, many  Seattle-area museums offer free admission either for the entire day or evenings only (MOHAI 5 - 8 pm, Museum of Flight 5 - 9 pm)

This is a great way to explore museums on a budget if you don’t mind things being more crowded than usual. And a great way to experience all the museums in our region with your child over several months.

Some of the museums have exhibits that are either designed with kids in mind or have obvious appeal to certain children. (If your daughter dreams of being an astronaut, the Museum of Flight is obviously a great place to be.) Some of them, particularly the art museums and some historical exhibits, are not an obvious attraction for kids,   but that doesn’t mean that kids can’t enjoy them. Kids can be delighted by weird sculptural forms, colorful paintings, or intriguing artifacts.

Take it slowly, don’t try to do too much at a time, and let the kids take the lead. If you are looking at an art museum, ask your kids about what they see, and what it makes them think about. If you are looking at historical exhibits, pick an object and talk about the story behind it.

For a complete list of museums free today, see Seattle's Child Guide to Seattle-area Museums to Explore for Free on First Thursday. 

While it's not a typical museum, on Free Frst Thursday keep in mind the Seattle Japanese Garden - a  lovely place to visit at this time of year with the kids. This 3.5-acre urban sanctuary within Lake Washington Arboretum provides an atmosphere of discovery for young ones; winding paths invite kids to stop and look around at the birds, koi, water, and abundant greenery.