206.386.4320
Hours:(Ticketing Hours) 9:30am-5pm (exhibits close at 6pm)
Cost:Adults $19; Children (4-12) $12; (3 & under) free.
Ages:All Ages
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Seattle (Downtown)
Seattle Aquarium555
in Seattle, WA 98101about Seattle Aquarium:
The Seattle Aquarium, built on a pier that boasts excellent views of Elliott Bay, offers a mix of older exhibits that still shine after all these years, and exciting new exhibits with thoughtful features for kids.
Seattle Aquarium expanded in 2007 and remodeled the east end of Pier 59. A new entrance on Alaskan Way leads into the Puget Sound Great Hall, an airy room featuring the new Window on Washington Waters exhibit. The 120,000 gallon exhibit boasts a 39' x 19' viewing window filled with rockfish, salmon, perch, urchins, anemones, sea stars and hundreds of their marine friends.
Renovations also include an expansion of the Aquarium's gift store and a new Aquarium Cafe, serving a variety of family friendly fare to Aquarium visitors.
The exhibit Life on the Edge is in a large deep-blue painted room with two large tide pools. Wild Outer Coast mimics a coastal tidal pool filled with sea weeds, colorful anemones and urchins, fish, crab, and giant mussels. A wave sweeps into the pool periodically, to show how the rushing water affects its inhabitants.
Inland Seas features five interlocking shallows filled with native sea stars of all hues, feathery sea pens, sea slugs, and the foot-long predatory moon snail, whose tirelike egg casings you sometimes see on shore during low tide. Kids can reach in and touch any of the creatures in the pools, and naturalists are on hand to answer questions.
Toward the back of the room, visitors can view milk-white moon jellies in a unique ring shaped exhibit, look at specimens of marine creatures, and get their hands on please-touch exhibits.
Other exhibits feature the Giant Pacific Octopus, seals, and sea otters that can be viewed underwater in a naturalistic setting. This last exhibit, called Sound to Mountains, features hands-on activities for kids and an innovative play area. Most children can also spend hours in the cool, damp-feeling Underwater Dome, pointing out the ferocious-looking wolf eels and dozens of other Puget Sound fish, swimming all around and above them.
Naturalists are on hand around the aquarium to answer questions, and animals are fed on a regular schedule during the day. Times are posted prominently around exhibit spaces. The aquarium also has Beach Naturalists stationed at area beaches during the summer.
Admission deals: If you want to visit the Aquarium and take an Argosy Harbor Cruise, ask about combination packages. The Aquarium is also a CityPass attraction.
Marine Camps: day programs for youth ages seven to 15 are offered during summer and winter school breaks. For more information, call the registrar at 206.386.4353.
Classes: Story- and family times offered throughout the year. Check our calendar for listings.
Birthday parties (weekends): You bring the cake and the Aquarium provides sea creatures; two-hour room use; party invitations; ID wristbands for your party to visit the Aquarium; and same day admission to Seattle Aquarium exhibits. Cost is $200for up to 15 guests (ages three & up) and $5 per additional guest.
Seattle Aquarium expanded in 2007 and remodeled the east end of Pier 59. A new entrance on Alaskan Way leads into the Puget Sound Great Hall, an airy room featuring the new Window on Washington Waters exhibit. The 120,000 gallon exhibit boasts a 39' x 19' viewing window filled with rockfish, salmon, perch, urchins, anemones, sea stars and hundreds of their marine friends.
Renovations also include an expansion of the Aquarium's gift store and a new Aquarium Cafe, serving a variety of family friendly fare to Aquarium visitors.
The exhibit Life on the Edge is in a large deep-blue painted room with two large tide pools. Wild Outer Coast mimics a coastal tidal pool filled with sea weeds, colorful anemones and urchins, fish, crab, and giant mussels. A wave sweeps into the pool periodically, to show how the rushing water affects its inhabitants.
Inland Seas features five interlocking shallows filled with native sea stars of all hues, feathery sea pens, sea slugs, and the foot-long predatory moon snail, whose tirelike egg casings you sometimes see on shore during low tide. Kids can reach in and touch any of the creatures in the pools, and naturalists are on hand to answer questions.
Toward the back of the room, visitors can view milk-white moon jellies in a unique ring shaped exhibit, look at specimens of marine creatures, and get their hands on please-touch exhibits.
Other exhibits feature the Giant Pacific Octopus, seals, and sea otters that can be viewed underwater in a naturalistic setting. This last exhibit, called Sound to Mountains, features hands-on activities for kids and an innovative play area. Most children can also spend hours in the cool, damp-feeling Underwater Dome, pointing out the ferocious-looking wolf eels and dozens of other Puget Sound fish, swimming all around and above them.
Naturalists are on hand around the aquarium to answer questions, and animals are fed on a regular schedule during the day. Times are posted prominently around exhibit spaces. The aquarium also has Beach Naturalists stationed at area beaches during the summer.
Admission deals: If you want to visit the Aquarium and take an Argosy Harbor Cruise, ask about combination packages. The Aquarium is also a CityPass attraction.
Marine Camps: day programs for youth ages seven to 15 are offered during summer and winter school breaks. For more information, call the registrar at 206.386.4353.
Classes: Story- and family times offered throughout the year. Check our calendar for listings.
Birthday parties (weekends): You bring the cake and the Aquarium provides sea creatures; two-hour room use; party invitations; ID wristbands for your party to visit the Aquarium; and same day admission to Seattle Aquarium exhibits. Cost is $200for up to 15 guests (ages three & up) and $5 per additional guest.
tips:
Avoid the crowds and stop by the aquarium in the late afternoon or early evening. We often have exhibits to ourselves, and the Giant Pacific Octopus and other creatures like the sea stars seem more active towards nightfall.
getting there:
From north: Travel southbound on I-5 to Union Street exit. Travel west on Union Street to Second Avenue. Turn left on Second Avenue to Madison Street. Turn right on Madison Street. Drive to waterfront (Alaskan Way). Turn right onto Alaskan Way and head north about five blocks. Aquarium is on the left. From south: Travel northbound on I-5 to Madison Street exit. Head west on Madison Street to the waterfront. Turn right onto Alaskan Way and head north about five blocks. On foot: From downtown, head to Pike Place Market. Walk down Pike Street Hillclimb to waterfront. Aquarium is across the street. Public Transportation: Metro buses run along First Avenue. The Waterfront Streetcar runs along the waterfront to and from the International District, Pioneer Square, the Washington State Ferry Terminal, and the Aquarium. Parking: Metered spaces available along Alaskan Way and under the Alaskan Way viaduct. Pay lots under viaduct.
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